‘You booked my flight back to Jo’burg?’
‘Someone had to. You do realise your month in Rally is basically up. Diwali’s next week. Aren’t you coming back?’
There was a pause. She continued, irritated, ‘You’ve been there long enough. Time to come home.’
Neel exhaled slowly. ‘Natara, you don’t get it.’
‘No, Neel. I really don’t. You’ve been floating around for amonth. You haven’t made a decision. You just left your life in Jo’burg to what? Start over in Rally? Is that your plan? Because if it is, tell me so we can at least plan around it.’
‘You’re jumping to conclusions. I never said I’m staying here. I just need a few more days.’
‘Exactly,’ she snapped. ‘A few more days to figure out whatever it is between you and Kaavi. To stay, to leave, to end it or not. But at least now you’ve got a flight. You’re welcome. I’m being a good sister.’
Neel clenched his jaw. She wasn’t wrong. She was just saying what he didn’t want to hear.
‘Nats, I’ve got to go,’ he said, his voice tight. ‘I’ll see you.’
He hung up.
Neel didn’t see Kaavi that night. He wasn’t in the mood and he knew he wouldn’t be good company.
He wasn’t even angry at Natara, at least not really. She was just doing what she always did, trying to protect him, steer him straight. The truth was he didn’t know what he was doing. He’d come to Rally to have divorce papers signed. That was the plan. Then her father died. They started talking again. They got close again. Now he was flying home with nothing resolved. No clarity. No future. Just the same questions.
He should’ve called Kaavi. They needed to talk, really talk. But not tonight.
Tonight, he needed quiet. Distance. He had a feeling Kaavi might be feeling the same way.
So he slipped on his shoes and took the lift down to the hotel bar.
Neel slid onto the barstool beside a familiar face, Gavin Meyer.
The bartender came over. ‘What’ll it be?’
‘Just a beer,’ Neel said.
Gavin glanced over. ‘Hey. Neel, right?’
‘Yeah. Neel Naran and you’re Gavin Meyer.’
Gavin nodded. ‘I’ve seen you around. You’re Kaavi’s husband, right?’
Neel gave a half-laugh. ‘News travels fast in Rally.’
‘Yep. Now you understand why I run from it every chance I get.’
Neel looked at him. ‘Really?’
Gavin shrugged. ‘I’m what they call the homeboy who doesn’t stay home. Always moving. I’m never quite sure where I’ll end up next, but I’m sticking around for a bit now.’
‘Good to know,’ Neel said. ‘I’m actually leaving at the end of the week. The Grand Meyer’s been good to me, though. Your hotel’s great.’
‘You mean my father’s hotel,’ Gavin said with a small smirk. ‘But thanks for the compliment.’
He took a sip of his drink. ‘So, does that mean Kaavi is saying goodbye to Rally too? Gavin asked. ‘She’ll be missed. We all got used to having her around.’
Neel shook his head. ‘I don’t think she’s coming back with me.’
Gavin gave Neel a questioning glance. ‘Okay.’
