‘Do you feel like eating?’ Kaavi asked, cutting through his thoughts.
‘Not really. Lunch was pretty heavy.’
‘Okay,’ she said, studying him for a beat. ‘What do you want to do?’ Her tone was playful. She gave him that sly look.
But Neel didn’t answer right away. He just smiled and leaned back, sinking into the couch.
She was right. The chemistry was still there, but that alone wouldn’t carry them through this. It wouldn’t make up for all the questions left hanging.
There had to be more between them. He believed therewasmore.
But belief only counted for so much, especially when Kaavi was still leaving.
Different paths. Different cities.
Yes, different places, different lives.
Kaavi sat at the centre island in her grandfather’s kitchen, eating yogurt straight from the tub. Aunty Morgie, the housekeeper, was out shopping when she’d dropped by earlier, so her grandfather decided he would make himself a snack. Kaavi was no help at all: she just sat there while he made a sandwich.
‘How are things between you and Neel?’ the old man asked casually.
‘It’s okay,’ she said, lying through her teeth. She didn’t know how to explain it.
Last night had been strange. Neel had left after a string of awkward silences. No touching. He sat on the couch. She sat in the armchair. They avoided eye contact.
Today was the last day she had with him before he flew back to Jo’burg. Instead of being with him at his hotel or her place, she was here, sitting with her grandfather.
Her grandmother had died before Kaavi was born, so visits here had always meant just him and Aunty Morgie. But on Sundays and special occasions, the place came alive. Her aunt and uncle, sometimes even neighbours and random visitors popped by, because, in Rally, her grandfather was more than just family, he was the town’s patriarch.
If memory served, he’d even been the mayor for a short stint – although she couldn’t remember the details. Sen had mentioned it once or twice.
‘Does that mean you’re all packed to go?’ he asked suddenly.
‘Go where?’
‘With Neel. Back to Jo’burg.’
Kaavi shook her head. ‘He hasn’t asked me, Granddad.’
‘Oh dear. You two are so silly.’
He sat down beside her, shaking his head.
‘You know, I just don’t understand you young ones. You’ve got something right in front of you and you insist on taking the long road to get to it. Kaavi, Neel is your husband. You’re married. You both want to be together. What do you mean he hasn’t asked you? Can you not just have the conversation?’
She looked down at the yogurt.
‘Sen was the same with Shona. What is wrong with my grandchildren?’ he muttered, half to himself.
Kaavi didn’t answer because honestly, she didn’t know either.
‘I heard the workshops went well,’ her grandfather said, changing the subject.
‘From who?’ Kaavi asked, looking surprised.
‘I have my ways. I have my sources,’ he replied with a proud little smile.
She chuckled. ‘Okay.’
