Kaavi swivelled round to face him, stunned.
Her grandfather never visited. When he wanted to see her or Sen, he sent a message and expected them at his house.
‘Well, it’s good to see you two together. Everything alright?’
They both nodded.
He looked at Neel.
‘When are you heading back to Johannesburg?’
‘At the end of the month,’ Neel replied.
The old man nodded. ‘So, in two weeks.’
He looked between them. ‘You two must get on with life. No use lingering here. The sooner you get back into routine, the better.’
Neel’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He checked it.
‘Sorry. It’s a work emergency. I’ve got to go.’
‘No problem. You must work. Go on,’ her grandfather said.
Neel gave Kaavi a small smile and left. As the door shut, her grandfather turned to her.
‘I smell burnt baked goods. That means you and I are walking to the bakery downstairs.’
Kaavi didn’t protest.
‘So, your grandfather arrived right after you guys did the deed?’ Shona asked.
Kaavi nodded. ‘Yeah. But I don’t think he knew. I don’t think he had a clue what was happening. Neel, though, feels like such anidiot. He’s convinced Granddad thinks he’s an idiot because he was so shell-shocked.’
‘Neel? Dumb?’ Shona snorted. ‘No way. That man is sharp and calm. Like, unnervingly calm. Level-headed too.’
Kaavi rolled her eyes. ‘You haven’t seen a hungry Neel.’
‘Ohhh, hungry Neel,’ Anni grinned.
‘Hey! Stop it. I didn’t mean that kind of hungry. I meant for food.’
She jabbed a finger at Shona. ‘I hate when you two talk about S-E-X.’
‘You spelled it out?’ Shona said, cracking up.
‘Because you,’ Kaavi continued, eyes narrowing at Shona, ‘are married to my cousin. I really don’t need to hear what you guys get up to.’
Anni laughed. ‘You can’t even say the word!’
‘But seriously, Kaavi,’ she added, looking at her properly. ‘You’re glowing. You look good. Happier than most women going through a divorce.’
Kaavi looked around Riya’s bar, still wondering why they kept coming back. The service was always terrible. But a friend was a friend and Gavin was a friend; thankfully, he was working today. Riya wasn’t, which meant they actually had drinks in front of them.
She turned to Anni. ‘Say what you want to say. I know it’s burning a hole in your chest.’
Then to Shona. ‘And you. You’ve got that look.’
Shona held up her hands. ‘Nope. I’ve got nothing.’
