Chapter 3
It was an ugly green, with huge mismatched flowers printed on it.
The hem reached her ankles and the dress was shapeless.
It was as if she was wearing an ugly bedsheet.
To make it worse, it had a collar that buttoned high on her throat.
Her hair was up in a messy bun and she wasn’t wearing any makeup.
He still told her she looked lovely, because she did. He knew exactly what she was doing. She thought her attire would put him off. Or was it her shield to stop herself from feeling sexy around him? But he still complimented her.
And then the shit show began.
Something took control of them both and they were in each other’s arms before the door closed. They got as far as her dress lifted to her knees and his shirt buttons open before they realised they had to stop.
Now they sat opposite each other at the dining table, eating. Her messy bun was undone and the collar buttons were no longer fastened.
She smiled and then quickly looked away.
‘The food is really good,’ he said.
She rolled her eyes.
‘I’m making small talk,’ he replied.
She picked up a spoonful of pasta and put it in her mouth.
He couldn’t believe she was eating pasta; it had been on the forbidden list when they were together.
He could eat it but never her because she had to watch her figure.
He thought it was unnecessary, but he didn’t stop her.
It was her career and if that’s what she wanted, he supported it.
‘Rally is a great town,’ he said.
She put down her fork. ‘Cut the crap, Neel. We’re past small talk. Why are you staying in Rally?’
He contemplated her question but had no truthful answer because an answer didn’t exist. He didn’t know why he was staying.
‘I think it’s a great town,’ he said.
She shook her head.
‘Rally is a great town, but it’s not why you’re staying. If you think there’s a chance of getting back together, you’re mistaken. There’s nothing between us except this marriage thing,’ she said.
‘Nothing between us?’ His gaze fell on the couch where they’d been making out earlier.
‘That’s just—’ she stammered.
‘What? That’s just what?’
He knew she was uncomfortable with him reminding her of what had happened earlier, but he couldn’t resist seeing her blush.
‘It’s what got us into this mess in the first place. If you didn’t … forget it,’ she replied.
He picked up his glass of water, but even as he took a sip, his eyes remained on hers.
‘Can you please stop doing that?’ she said, annoyed.
He raised an eyebrow and put down the glass. ‘Stop drinking water?’
She brushed a strand of hair off her face.
‘You know what you’re doing,’ she said.
‘I actually don’t.’ He leaned forward. ‘Tell me what I’m doing, Kaavi.’
‘How’re your parents?’
He sat back.
‘Seriously?’ He saw through her ploy, but the mention of his parents immediately put an end to the game he was playing anyway.
‘Yes.’
‘You don’t know them so what does it matter?’ He tried to act as if it didn’t hurt, but it did.
‘You’re right. It doesn’t matter.’
They sat in silence for a few more minutes.
‘Who’s the designer behind this magnificent dress you’re wearing?’
She snorted and that set him off. They both burst out laughing.
It felt strange yet comforting. But he knew what had to be done.
‘We need to get divorced, Kaavi.’ He couldn’t believe he’d said it. But seeing her laugh made him want to see her happy even if it was without him.
She nodded.
He waited for more, for her to say something, but she didn’t. And then her cellphone rang.
She excused herself and he watched her pick up the phone from the coffee table.
‘Hi … yes … I’m okay. You’re too much. Of course I’m fine.’ She then laughed at something the caller said.
‘I know. We’ll do it when you get back. I love you too.’
Neel blinked and hated the ache that spontaneously developed in his stomach. She was talking to the man she lived with and she told him that she loved him.
He ran his palm over his face and sat up straighter. He was starting to feel exactly like he did when he’d found her note.
When she got back to the table, he stood.
‘I have to go. Can I send the divorce papers tomorrow?’
She gasped. ‘You’ve already drawn them up?’
‘Of course, Kaavi. What did you think I was in town for?’
She pushed her plate of pasta away and stood too.
‘I still don’t get why you’re staying for a month or why you initially wanted to talk or whatever for a month,’ she said.
‘I’m actually in town for some business. I thought I’d get the divorce over and done with, and spending time with you for a month was just a way for me to get the perks, if you know what I mean,’ he said callously.
She stepped back and started buttoning her collar, avoiding looking at him.
He’d hurt her. It was written all over her face. But what did it matter? She was in love with someone else.
‘You can send the papers tomorrow. I’ll be at home all day,’ she said quietly.
Neel nodded, but she wasn’t even looking at him.
‘Thanks for supper. I’ll see you around … oh wait, I won’t. So I guess it’s goodbye and good luck,’ he said, emotionless.
She didn’t respond, her fingers missing buttons as her hands shook. He walked out without looking back.
He didn’t send the papers. She’d waited, on edge all day. But no divorce papers arrived at her door.
The next day, she left the apartment looking for anything to take her mind off Neel.
She was still confused by what he’d said.
Neel was never arrogant. In fact, his gentle nature was what had drawn her to him.
But his words made no sense. Why would he want to use her for sex when he could get any woman he wanted?
He was in Rally for business and had probably discovered her whereabouts, so thought he would kill two birds with one stone.
But she couldn’t understand his initial proposition.
She found herself on Rally’s Main Street.
She’d once commented to her cousin that Rally looked as if it was straight out of a Christmas movie; she still believed it, even when it was scorching hot almost every day.
The main street had an old-school ice-cream parlour – something that was probably extinct in most parts of the country.
A tackle and bait shop right next to a dress shop? Yes, it was called Dora’s Dress Boutique and Kaavi had it on good authority – Shona – that it reeked of expensive perfume to overcome the stink of bait from next door.
The supermarket on Main Street was called The Super Market. Most Rally residents supported local, so although a supermarket from a giant franchise was a couple of kilometers away, The Super Market was always busy.
When Kaavi had first moved to Rally, she half expected Father Christmas to jump out of a corner and offer her a chance to go back in time and change her choices.
But all she got was headaches from the heat.
Now that she’d acclimatised, everyone knew who she was, and everything she did filtered back to her grandfather, who people unashamedly called ‘Rally’s richest man’.
Kaavi and Sen hated it, but it was what it was.
They came from a wealthy family and they couldn’t change that.
It was another uncomfortably hot day, so Kaavi was glad that she’d chosen a pair of denim shorts and a thin cotton tee for her outing.
But she didn’t know where she was headed; she just had to get out of the apartment.
She couldn’t look at the couch without thinking about Neel or of what could have happened if they hadn’t come to their senses.
What concerned her more was that she actually wished they’d given in to what they’d both clearly wanted in that moment.
‘Kaavi!’ She turned when she heard her name.
Anni ran to her and flung her arms around her.
‘I’m so glad I bumped into you!’
Kaavi hugged her back and smiled at the fact that she had friends in Rally.
Anni was married to Sen’s best friend Sam, and she was also Shona’s best friend. They’d accepted Kaavi into their clique and included her in everything.
‘This is insane and I can’t believe it’s really happening,’ Anni continued.
Kaavi shrugged her shoulders, silently asking for an explanation.
‘I managed to secure last-minute funding for the youth programme,’ Anni said.
‘That’s amazing. Do you know what you’re using it for?’
‘That’s the thing. The donor has given far more than we’ve ever received, but on condition that a portion of it is used to hold workshops over the period of a week at the big hotel,’ Anni said.
In any other town, The Grand Meyer, with its presence in almost every country, would be called by its name, but in Rally, it was simply called ‘the big hotel’.
‘That’s an unusual condition,’ Kaavi commented.
‘Unusual or not, it’s a lot of money … Kaavi, I mean it.
A LOT. The donor wants a makeup workshop every day for a week, then someone from law enforcement to teach the girls about their rights, and a martial arts tutor to talk about self-defence.
While that’s happening at the big hotel, workshops for the boys will be held at Londile’s Lodge.
Of course, if any boys want to sign up for the makeup lessons, they can,’ Anni said.
‘Wow. Who is this donor?’
‘Some out-of-town trust. I don’t know it, but apparently they’re impressed with the work we do. The money has already been transferred to us so we have to do this as soon as possible,’ Anni said, barely containing her excitement.
Kaavi wanted to jump up and down but didn’t want to seem too eager. Although she wasn’t a trained makeup artist, she’d picked up enough tips and skills from having her own face made up countless times over the years.
‘You want me to host the makeup lessons?’
Anni lightly punched her shoulder. ‘Of course! Who else! This time it will be different, though. Last time you brought your makeup kit and showed the girls what to do. Now we have funds to buy each girl a starter kit to use at the class and obviously to take home,’ she explained.