She cried for Kaavi, who, over the years, was terrified he would find her and ruin her life. The one who made her husband promise to keep their relationship a secret so her father wouldn’t find out. She cried for the Kaavi who knew she would never get a true apology but still yearned for it.
It was another scorching day in Rally, but she was suddenly shivering. She shifted on the bed and pulled the duvet over her. She got deeper under it and cried herself to sleep on a sunny Friday afternoon.
Kaavi followed Shona’s orders. The next day, she walked intoBashi’s Creations on Main Street feeling lighter than she had in weeks. Last night had been a cathartic release – with anger, fury and pain all wrung out of her until she’d finally collapsed into a deep sleep that lasted for hours. Now she’d woken up different, as if she needed to step into something new before the old could find her again.
Bashi was an elderly woman who owned the shop, importing eastern wear from India. From what Shona and Anni had said over the past few months, this wastheplace if you wanted something unique.
The bell above the door chimed as Kaavi stepped in. Bashi’s face lit up instantly.
‘Kaavi! It’s so good to see you,’ she said.
‘It’s so good to see you too,’ Kaavi replied, smiling.
‘Your husband and his sister were here a couple of days ago. I can’t believe they’re twins. One so short, one so tall, one so serious, one so quiet,’ the older woman said.
Kaavi laughed. ‘I know, it’s hard to believe.’
She didn’t correct her by saying estranged husband. Strangely, it felt good to hear someone call Neel her husband. Still, it was a reminder of how quickly news travelled in Rally. Now everyone knew Kaavi was married.
‘So, tell me, how can I help you today?’ Bashi asked.
‘Well, I’m looking for an outfit for Diwali, nothing too extravagant. Just something comfortable but still pretty,’ Kaavi said.
‘Hmm … I have just the thing,’ Bashi replied, sliding hangers along the rail. Then she paused and turned to Kaavi. ‘I’ve been meaning to thank you.’
‘Me? Why would you want to thank me?’ Kaavi asked, puzzled.
‘My granddaughter Vaishnavi attended your workshops. Oh, Kaavi, it’s been a hellish couple of months. I don’t know if you remember her,’ Bashi said.
Kaavi paused, thinking back. Yes, she remembered the girl, who told her to call her Vaish. The girl had arrived on the first day arrogant, moody, angry, almost a bully. But by the end of the week, she had softened, her edges worn down by something Kaavi still couldn’t quite name.
Kaavi nodded. ‘I remember her.’
‘Well, Vaishnavi is from Pietermaritzburg. She moved here about four months ago. My daughter, Reetha, died suddenly.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ Kaavi said softly.
‘Thank you,’ Bashi replied, nodding. ‘It’s hard, but we’re getting there. Anyway, Vaishnavi moved here, and she’s just so angry. She couldn’t fit in. She missed her friends. She missed her life. Her father is busy with work back in Pietermaritzburg, so he didn’t have time to raise a teenage daughter. It was just assumed she’d move to Rally. I thought it would be perfect because our community is so welcoming, but she didn’t feel that at all.
‘In the first week she was here, I got called to the high school. They said my granddaughter was a bully. I couldn’t believe it because she was such a sweet child, doing well in Pietermaritzburg before her mother died. But now, she’s just so angry. So when Anni mentioned the empowerment classes, I signed her up. I didn’t think she’d actually want to go. But then she did, and by the third day, she was completely different.’
Bashi smiled broadly.
‘Tell me, Kaavi, what did you do?’
‘Well, I don’t think I did anything special. I just talked to the girls about confidence, about handling anger. I shared what it was like being bullied as a model and how cutthroat it was. I told them to be themselves and not let their circumstances define them.’
She paused, meeting the kindness in Bashi’s eyes.
‘You know, I had a rough time too. Bad circumstances; I think while I was talking to the girls, I was helping myself as well.’
Bashi nodded. ‘I know, Kaavi. I know what your mother and you went through. Your grandfather and I are close friends and we really missed your mother. Hopefully, now she’s back in town, she’ll settle here. She truly was the sweetheart of our town.’
Bashi smiled again.
‘My granddaughter is going to be fine, thanks to you.’
Bashi went to the counter and pulled out the latest edition of the local newspaper. She flipped through the pages quickly.
