And that’s when it hit her.
She hadn’t taken it off. Not once. Not since Neel slipped it onto her finger less than a month ago.
She spun around, water still running behind her.
‘I’m going to Jo’burg,’ she announced.
Sen, who was closest, reached over and turned off the tap. ‘What do you mean you’re going to Jo’burg?’
Kaavi grabbed a kitchen towel, drying her hands. ‘I’m going to get my husband back. I want to be with Neel. I have to be with Neel. Neel is my future.’
‘What did I tell you guys?’ Sam joked. ‘I’m really good at giving relationship advice.’
Anni and Shona burst out laughing, but Sen didn’t. He looked at Kaavi, steady and serious.
‘Are you sure?’
Kaavi nodded. ‘Yes, I’m sure. I can’t believe I let this go on for so long. That I’ve been without Neel for this long.’
She looked around the kitchen, heart thumping.
‘I have to go to Jo’burg.’
Sen grabbed his laptop, putting it on the only free spot on the counter, while the rest of them worked on the sweetmeats. ‘Okay, I’ve checked all the airlines. The next flight’s tomorrow at 11am. After that, the next one’s Friday. I’ve looked everywhere.So, what do you want to do, Kaavi?’
Kaavi shrugged. ‘I don’t even know where Neel will be, probably with his parents. I could just get a hotel nearby and see him the next day.’
Sam jumped in, grinning. ‘Or you could go straight to his family’s place. You know, make a grand appearance.’
Shona and Anni exchanged amused glances. ‘Wow Sam, look at you, the relationship guru,’ Shona teased.
Sam waved it off. ‘Nah, I’m a doctor. I observe people. I know what makes them tick.’
His wife laughed. ‘Yeah, sure, and you also binge those K-dramas all weekend.’
Sam laughed and then turned back to Kaavi. ‘I think you should go tomorrow,’ Sam said, leaning in. ‘And honestly, I might be right, you just show up at his parents’ place. Look, the guy’s probably feeling awful, especially with it being Diwali. It’s only making things worse for him. Do him a favour – go straight there from the airport and put him out of his misery.’
Kaavi hesitated. ‘I don’t know. How will Neel react? Is he really miserable without me? Would he even want me back?’
The kitchen fell quiet for a moment. Then Sen spoke, steady and sure. ‘Kaavi, Neel’s always wanted you back. We all knew it. We were just waiting for you to see it too. Now, I’m booking this flight and you’re getting on it.’
He glanced at Shona. ‘Shona and I are heading to Durban tomorrow morning to drop off Diwali goodies with her sister. We’ll give you a lift to the airport.’
Kaavi nodded, her voice caught somewhere between hope and fear. Shona stepped over and gently rubbed her back. ‘I know you won’t sleep tonight. I know you just want to tell him everything. If it feels easier, you can call him first, say what you need to say over the phone.’
But Kaavi shook her head firmly. ‘No. I think I need to see him.I need him to look into my eyes and know I’m being honest, that I want to be with him, that I mean it. I want Neel. I want to be his wife.’
Kaavi’s flight was delayed. She sat at the airport, watching the sun dip lower in the sky. The plan had been simple: land in Johannesburg, take an Uber to Neel’s parents’ house, and finally see him. Sen had used his contacts to get their address. By now, if all had gone according to plan, she would already have been in his arms. Instead, she was stuck here, waiting.
Several people had complimented Kaavi on her look. It was Diwali, after all, so she’d gone all out with her makeup and hair. She wore her hair in a sleek low bun; her makeup was flawless with tricks she’d mastered during her years as a model. To finish the look, she chose a delicate choker and matching Indian-style pearl earrings, the perfect pairing for the outfit she’d picked from Bashi’s Creations.
The boarding gate waiting area happened to be right next to a massive billboard for a designer perfume. Kaavi’s face filled the ad. It was one of her last campaigns before she’d turned her back on the modelling industry. A group of men across from her had clearly recognised her and kept trying to make eye contact, but she kept her gaze firmly elsewhere.
Instead, she spent most of the time on the group chat, catching up on what was happening in Rally. Sam and Shona had returned from Durban and were on their way to her grandfather’s house, where Anni and Sam would meet them. They kept asking if Kaavi wanted a lift or to have her flight rescheduled, but she told them no. She’d wait, no matter how many hours it took. All that mattered was getting on a flight to Jo’burg to see Neel.
Neel leaned against the counter in his parents’ kitchen, arms crossed. His mother stood over the stove frying samosas, while his sister arranged clay lamps on a tray to take outside. He felt a deep loneliness. Quiet by nature, he was even quieter today, and he knew his parents and sister had noticed. A steady stream of visitors, neighbours, relatives and friends had filled the house with Diwali wishes and sweetmeats, keeping him occupied for a while. But no matter the noise or company, Kaavi was still on his mind.
‘Neel, did you hear what I said?’
