‘I’m good.’
‘It’s going to be a private funeral,’ her mother said.
Kaavi nodded.
‘Sen is dealing with the list of people who will attend. You can tell him to add Neel’s family, please.’
‘Neel’s family?’
‘They stopped by earlier,’ her mother replied.
Kaavi shot him a look. He simply smiled and sat back.
‘They are good people. You two will sort everything out,’ her mother said wearily.
Sen came over. ‘Can I speak to both of you in the kitchen, please?’
Kaavi nodded and got to her feet. Neel followed. The kitchen was black and chrome and functional. Not a thing out of place.
‘The funeral is private,’ Sen began.
‘Mom told us,’ Kaavi interjected.
‘The station wants to send a few members to—’
‘Absolutely not!’
Neel was completely lost. The reason he was a brilliant CEO was that he always listened before reacting. He also allowed things to play out before acting. He wasn’t going to jump in and ask for an explanation.
‘Kaavs, I know. I get it. It’s just that they want to show some sort of allegiance. It’s their way,’ said Sen.
‘I know all about their allegiance,’ she spat out angrily.
Neel stepped in. He had to show her she wasn’t alone, that she had him on her side.
‘What’s this all about?’
Facing him, Kaavi said, ‘My father was a cop.’ She spat out the word ‘cop’ as if it tainted her mouth to say it.
Neel’s eyes widened.
‘Yeah, everyone’s hero cop. Just not to his wife and child,’ Kaavi said bitterly.
‘Kaavs, perhaps we could—’ Sen started to say.
‘Fine. Let them come,’ Kaavi cut in.
‘No.’
They turned around. Her mother had entered the room.
‘Aunty Yanam, we’ll sort this out. You don’t have to worry about this,’ Sen said.
‘No, Senthil. It’s a private funeral. The police are not allowed at it. I don’t want to see a single officer there,’ she said firmly.
‘Are you sure?’
Kaavi’s mother nodded to Sen.
