epilogue
o you think Shona would kill me if I took this off?
’ Kaavi asked, tugging at her deep maroon veil.
Shona had made it, edging the fabric with delicate gold embroidery.
Her cousin’s wife had spent hours on the intricate detail and now it completed Kaavi’s bridal look perfectly.
Her hair was pulled back in a low bun and she wore a maroon lehenga with a matching blouse, both traced in gold, and expertly designed by Shona.
Neel wore a cream sherwani suit with subtle touches of deep maroon and gold to match her outfit. He leaned forward, fingers reaching for the bobby pins. ‘I don’t think she’d mind,’ he said, then paused. ‘This is harder than I thought.’
Kaavi laughed. ‘Don’t you know? This is what happens on the wedding night. The groom spends half the time trying to get the bride’s headdress off.’
He glanced at his wife, who had appeared beside him, and something unspoken passed between them, clearly bedroom stories.
‘Hey,’ Kaavi cut in. ‘I don’t want to hear about that. Eew.’
Shona laughed. ‘You’ll get your own wedding night tonight.’
‘Eew! Please stop, Sho. I don’t want to hear that either,’ Sen said, mimicking his cousin. Kaavi pulled a face at him as they all laughed. Eager to join in the fun, Anni and Sam wandered over.
Kaavi let her gaze drift around the room.
Neel’s parents had insisted on a wedding, so in just one month they had planned what was meant to be a small, intimate gathering.
Instead, they’d ended up at The Grand Meyer with about 200 of Neel’s relatives, her family, friends, and probably half of Rally.
The banquet hall glittered with fairy lights and glamorous décor.
The air was thick with the scent of richly spiced food, and guests filled the dance floor.
Her mother and uncle swayed to a Bollywood classic, while Neel’s parents, her grandfather and her aunt huddled in a corner, deep in conversation.
Natara and Gavin were tucked into another corner, looking like they were arguing, a scene that had played out between them since the day they’d met.
Kaavi had never understood why Gavin got under Natara’s skin so much, but it wasn’t her place to ask.
Natara was her sister-in-law and she was still learning what it felt like to have a sister.
Maybe, in time, she’d broach the question.
For now, it was just about her and Neel, figuring out how to be married.
Although Neel and Kaavi hadn’t wanted a wedding, by the first planning meeting they’d realised it was exactly what they, and their families, needed.
Her mother, now living in Rally, was happier than Kaavi had seen her in years.
She’d reconnected with old friends, spent more time with her brother, sister-in-law and father, and was even talking about taking up a crafting hobby.
Mostly, it was just good to see her smile again.
Neel and Kaavi skipped the idea of an exotic honeymoon, choosing instead to linger in Rally for a few more weeks.
It was December and they wanted to soak in the festive season before heading back to Johannesburg, where Neel would return to work.
True to his word, Kaavi’s grandfather had started the small company they’d discussed and she already had her first client lined up for empowerment classes at a bank in Jo’burg.
Kaavi glanced at her husband. He was laughing at something Sen said as her cousin handed out flutes of champagne to their group.
Natara and Gavin were making their way towards them.
She caught the joy in Neel’s eyes and a familiar pang hit her; those years apart still stung when she thought about each of them being alone.
She couldn’t undo the past, but she was grateful for the second chance with the love of her life.
Neel was a quiet man, but his love for her, for his family, for doing the right thing, was always loud.
‘So, are you two going to take cooking classes?’ Sen interrupted her thoughts.
‘Very funny,’ Kaavi smirked. ‘Actually, you know what? I think we should take cooking classes.’ She smiled happily at her husband.
‘Uh, that’s a great idea, although remember the last time we tried? We nearly got kicked out,’ Neel laughed.
‘As our group’s Relationship Therapist, I hope you two take those cooking classes together. You might actually be good at it if you work as a team,’ commented Sam.
Anni rolled her eyes. ‘Seriously? The group’s Relationship Therapist?’
‘Hey, who’s the one who brought everyone together? Sen, Shona, Kaavi, Neel? Come on, I’m on a winning streak here,’ Sam said.
‘Don’t take all the credit, my love. It was their hearts that brought them together,’ Anni chimed in, suddenly a bit weepy.
‘Aww,’ the rest of the group echoed.
‘So sappy,’ Kaavi said, shaking her head.
‘Anyway, I’m gonna miss you guys a lot. Rally’s starting to feel a lot like home. Obviously, we’ll visit and spend lots of time here. Right, Neel? Right, Natara? Rally’s got the best people in the world,’ Kaavi said.
‘Not all,’ Natara muttered.
Gavin laughed. ‘I think that’s aimed at me.’
Kaavi studied them both. ‘Okay, I have to ask, what’s going on with you two?’
Gavin and Natara answered at the same time, ‘It’s complicated.’
Neel and Kaavi exchanged a look, then burst out laughing.
Neel raised his glass, champagne glinting in the light. ‘Here’s to complicated.’
His glass clinked gently against his wife’s, then he pulled her close for a soft kiss.
‘Cheers to complicated,’ Kaavi whispered against his lips.