Neel didn’t see Kaavi over the weekend. He’d hoped to, but a work emergency had pulled him into back-to-back video calls with export partners across Africa. There was no way out of them. By the time things finally quietened down, it was too late to knock on her door.
He figured he might catch her at the hotel on Monday during her lunch break from the workshops, but she wasn’t around. After waiting a while, he gave up, went back to his suite and buried himself in work again.
At around four o’clock, he pulled on a fresh shirt and set outto look for Kaavi. He decided to stop by the hotel bar first for a drink because the day had dragged on longer than expected. Being CEO came with the kind of pressure he thrived on, but his personal life felt like a weight he couldn’t shake. It pressed on him in quiet moments, especially now. He needed to sort it out. Needed clarity. Needed her.
The bar at The Grand Meyer was what you’d expect from a five-star hotel: polished, dimly lit, all dark wood and leather, shelves stacked with top-shelf bottles that gleamed under golden light. It buzzed with the low hum of business travellers and tourists.
Neel stepped in, scanning the room out of habit. Then he froze.
There she was. Sitting at the far end of the bar, laughing lightly at something some guy beside her had just said. The man was leaning in, clearly trying his luck. Neel didn’t move. He just stood there, pulse suddenly hammering.
Jealousy surged through him, but he kept his face straight. No drama. He wasn’t going to walk up to Kaavi. Instead, he picked a stool two seats down. Close enough to catch the conversation, far enough to stay in the shadows. She wouldn’t notice him unless she turned her head.
The guy beside her was mid-sentence, going on about Cape Town and how he’d always wanted to see the mountains. Neel pegged the accent immediately. American. And clearly trying hard. He was talking like he knew the place, but every sentence sounded like something pulled from a brochure. Neel couldn’t make sense of it. Why was this guy trying to impress her with a place she actually knew? Then again, Neel hadn’t flirted in years. Maybe this was how things worked now. Maybe the rules had changed and he’d missed the memo.
‘I bet you’d look sexy as hell on that mountain in a bikini,’ the man said, grinning like it was charming.
That did it. Neel stood, slipped his hands into his pockets and walked straight over.
‘Ah, there you are. I’ve been looking for you.’
The man gave Neel a slow once-over. ‘And you are?’
‘Her husband,’ Neel said, cool as ever.
The guy blinked, looked at Kaavi. ‘Really?’
She nodded. Neel nodded.
‘Well, guess that’s my cue to go. It was nice meeting you and yeah, I’ll check out Cape Town on my own then.’
He picked up his drink and slipped away.
‘Am I going to have to describe Cape Town to get my way with you?’ Neel teased.
Kaavi shook her head, still a little thrown. ‘I have no idea what just happened. I was sitting here waiting for four o’clock because I thought you might be finished working by then and I could come knocking on your door. Then this guy just came up to me. I mean, can’t people see I have a wedding ring on?’ she said, holding up her hand.
Then she paused.
She’d said ‘wedding ring’. Talked like they were married.
Yes, they were. On paper. Technically. But had they really been married, properly married, in the last couple of years? No. Not even close.
Neel didn’t say a word. He just smiled and took the stool beside her. ‘So, what are your plans for the rest of the day?’ he asked.
‘Well, I was hoping I could show you Rally if you want me to.’
‘I’d love to, but what’s there to see, Kaavi? I’ve been to the supermarket. I’ve been to your cousin’s place. I’ve been to Riya’s. I’ve been to your apartment. I’ve even been to the doctor’s rooms.’
‘The doctor’s rooms?’
‘Yeah. I visited Sven yesterday. Just to check in, see how he’s doing.’
‘Oh. Right. Sven. Your best friend,’ she said with humour in her eyes.
Neel chuckled. ‘But seriously, what’s there in Rally I still need to see?’
‘There’s the famous statue,’ Kaavi offered.
