‘And you didn’t know this?’ Natara shouted. ‘How could you not know? Do you even know anything about this woman?’
‘Hush now, Natara,’ his mother snapped. ‘Let Neel talk.’
‘Yes, Natara. I didn’t know. They live in Jo’burg. I’m a fool, okay? What more do you want?’
‘You don’t have to say anything,’ his mother said gently. ‘Just where is Kaavi now?’
‘She’s with me.’
‘At the house?’
‘At the house,’ Neel said.
‘What?’ Natara cried. ‘Neel! Are you insane?’
‘Enough, Natara,’ their mother said sharply. ‘Can’t you see things have changed?’
‘Changed? How, Mom?’ Natara snapped. ‘Come on, Neel’s with her. He’s supposed to be getting divorced!’
‘No, Natara. Her father died. This isn’t the time for talk about divorce or who’s staying with whom. That can wait.’ She paused and in a softer tone, she said, ‘We’re the Narans. That means something. We show up. We support our own. That includes her – Kaavi. She’s still our daughter-in-law, whether we knew she existed or not.’
There was silence and then his father spoke, his voice firm.
‘We’re coming over.’
Kaavi took a long nap and was now in the shower again. She lathered body wash all over and pretended she was okay. Neel had said he had to deal with something and left about two hours ago. She wrapped herself in a towel and went back to the bedroom. Her grey Kurti dress lay on the bed next to her underwear. She sat in front of the mirror and looked at her reflection. She looked like her mother. She thought about her mother. How could she possibly console her when she believed her mother was finally free?
Neel walked through the bedroom door. He stopped in his tracks when he saw her sitting at the vanity table.
‘I’m sorry. I’ll turn around or come back later,’ he said, turning away from her. She chuckled. ‘It’s fine. You’ve seen much more under this towel. Besides, the world has seen these bare shoulders on billboards.’
He turned back to her.
‘Your uncle and I went to the funeral home,’ he said.
‘What do you mean?’
‘I’m family?’
She nodded. This whole setup was like being in the twilight zone. Were they together now or what?
‘My dad also joined us,’ he said casually.
‘Your dad?! What do you meanyour dad?’
‘My parents know your father passed away and are on the way here. Did you see my charger anywhere?’
‘Neel Naran! You’re asking me about a charger after you just announced that your family is coming here.’
‘I do need to charge my phone,’ he replied.
She was fuming. How dare he? Now he wanted to know about a charger! She dropped the towel, and started to dress. He stopped and stared at her. She suddenly realised what she’d done.
‘Fuck.’ He said it, but she thought it.
‘I didn’t realise,’ she said, standing in her panties with her bra in one hand.
‘Okay, let me just think this through,’ he said.
