She pointed to Neel and then to a bar stool. ‘Sit. You’re eating,’ she said. He twisted his face in confusion but obeyed. Sen and Kaavi watched her mother move around the kitchen, plating sandwiches for Neel.
‘Senthil and Kaavi, I need you to please check on your grandfather. He is now sitting in the backyard,’ she instructed.
‘Senthil can go alone,’ Kaavi replied.
‘Both of you go,’ her mother instructed.
It was obvious his mother-in-law wanted to speak to him alone.
Sen and Kaavi left the kitchen without another word.
His mother-in-law put the plate in front of him. Neel looked at it. Did she really expect him to eat that heap of sandwiches?
‘Listen. Kaavi is going to crash. It’s going to come at any moment and I need to know you’ll be there for her,’ her mother said.
Neel didn’t even hesitate. ‘I will. I’m not going anywhere,’ he reassured her.
‘Thank you.’
They sat in silence until Kaavi came back.
‘I think you two should go home and rest. It’s been a long day. Tomorrow will be longer,’ her mother said.
‘We’re fine,’ Kaavi said. Neel nodded.
Her mother stood.
‘Okay,’ she patted Kaavi on the shoulder and left the kitchen.
Kaavi eyed the plate of uneaten sandwiches in front of Neel.
‘Food is her love language,’ she said and quickly looked away.
An hour later, Neel was out front with Senthil when a man and woman, around Kaavi’s age, walked through the gate.
‘Senthil?’ The woman eyed him when she got closer.
‘Tarisha!’ The woman smiled shyly and Senthil then looked at the man.
‘Rikesh? Man, it’s been a long time,’ he said.
Tarisha hugged Senthil and Rikesh patted his shoulder.
‘This is Neel, Kaavi’s husband,’ he said, introducing them.
‘Neel, this is Rikesh and Tarisha. They are Kaavi’s childhood best friends,’ he said.
They exchanged greetings and Sen led them into the house.Neel followed.
Kaavi was on her feet the minute she laid eyes on her friends.
They group-hugged and stood silently in the embrace for a few seconds.
Kaavi’s mother started to sob. Her aunt joined in and even Sen looked away with tears in his eyes.
When they parted, Tarisha’s eyes were filled with tears. Rikesh looked away. Kaavi still hadn’t really cried.
Her mother was right. She was going to crash, Neel thought to himself.
