He blinked. ‘Sorry Dad, my mind was somewhere else. What was it?’
‘I just wanted to know if you’re going to work tomorrow.’
‘No. Sarika’s taken the day off and I told the staff that unless they have something urgent to finish, they can stay home. Everyone’s probably going to be tired tomorrow,’ he said.
His father nodded. Neel was quietly relieved that his grandfather, now fully retired, was off on a world cruise. If the old man had been home, he’d have been relentless about telling Neel to do something about Kaavi.
‘I should have told Kaavi I wanted her back,’ Neel said suddenly.
‘She already knew that,’ his mother replied, not looking up from the stove.
Natara glanced away, her expression soft with sympathy.
His father shook his head. ‘Neel, she knows where you are. Maybe the two of you should have sat down and talked about what was going on. Better communication, that’s what was missing. But now, all you can do is wait for whatever will be. That’s all there is to it.’
Neel lifted his hands to run them through his hair, then stopped, remembering it was styled for the day. He wore a blue kurta shirt with jeans. A few of his aunts who had stopped by told him he looked very handsome. But before they could suggest a friend, a friend’s daughter, or a neighbour who might ‘just love to meet him’, he cut them off, making it clear he wasn’t interested.
Kaavi glanced at her watch. It was 9.30pm and she was in an Uber headed to Neel’s parents’ house. She couldn’t decide if she was more excited or nervous. What was she going to say to him?
She’d had hours at the airport to rehearse something but hadn’t.
Now, as the car turned onto his parents’ street, her palms grew damp and a wave of heat rose through her. The car slowed, then stopped in front of a double-storey house with a wide, well-kept yard. Like the other homes in the neighbourhood, it was plush, stylish and inviting. From outside the gate, the glow of lit clay lamps was visible, lining the pathways and spilling warm light into the night.
She stepped out of the car, pulling her small suitcase behind her. The gate stood open, probably because everyone was outside with sparklers, caught up in the Diwali celebrations. She followed the pathway lit up by the lamps, and then she saw him. His parents and Natara were off to the side, laughing, talking and lighting sparklers. Neel stood apart, one hand in his pocket, staring into the distance.
‘Neel,’ she called.
He didn’t move.
‘Neel,’ she said again, a little louder this time.
He turned sharply, his eyes locking on hers, shocked.
‘Kaavi? What are you doing here?’
‘I came to see you,’ she said, stepping closer. She dropped her suitcase by the path.
Neel’s parents and Natara had clearly noticed her because there was suddenly silence from their side.
Neel stood frozen, dumbfounded.
‘I need to speak to you,’ she said, her voice steady but urgent.
He still didn’t say anything. Instead, he looked her over, eyes moving up and down.
Then he swallowed hard.
‘Can we talk here?’ Kaavi asked, standing right in front of him.
He looked so handsome. That was something that had always drawn her to Neel; there was just an aura about him.
‘We can,’ he said, clearly confused.
‘Neel, I don’t even know where to start. But I’ll start with this: I shouldn’t have left you.’
‘Then why did you?’ Neel shot back.
‘Because you revealed my secret. I thought I couldn’t trust you.’
