Chapter 3
Kavya
“Absolutely not,” I say with a deep, frustrated groan, pacing my room. “I am not changing my mind—no means no.”
“Come on, please, Kavya,” Akash begs, sitting on the edge of my bed with puppy dog eyes.
I stop pacing and glare down at him. “Don’t you dare make those cute faces at me.”
“Is it working?” he asks, wiggling his eyebrows playfully.
Urghhh... This man! I plant my hands on my hips and say firmly, “No.”
It’s seven on a Saturday morning, and here I am, still in my pink polka dot pyjamas and a t-shirt, while he sits there dressed to the nines in black pants and a matching shirt. But my frustration with him overrides any concern about my attire or the thought of changing. This was supposed to be my day off — a chance to relax at home — but my boss has other plans. Apparently, he wants me to be his date for some stupid dinner with one of his high-profile family friends .
“It’s just a dinner, Kavya,” he says, his tone shifting to one of exasperation, as though I am a five-year-old throwing a tantrum.
I narrow my eyes at him. “It’s not just a dinner; you want me to go as your date.”
With a smug grin, he replies, “Consider it an added bonus for you, princess.”
Ignoring his inflated ego, I cautiously ask, “What about Amaya? Why aren’t you asking her?” Amaya and Akash have been dating on and off for the past few months, and I can’t shake the feeling there’s more to their relationship than meets the eye.
“We got into a heated argument last night, and her parting words were, ‘Don’t you dare show me your face again’ ,” he says, mimicking her tone .
I plop down on the bed next to him and look at him. “What did you do?”
He shoots me an offended look. “Why is it that girls always think it’s the guy’s fault?” I don’t respond; instead, I just raise my eyebrows. He lets out a frustrated sigh and goes on. “Fine. I forgot our ten-month anniversary, apparently. Seriously, how does anyone expect a guy to remember all these dates? We have enough on our plates with all the business stress , and remembering these silly milestones is the last thing on our minds . You women can be really stupid sometimes,” he grumbles.
I give him a pointed look. “We’re not stupid, but we do value the things that are close to our hearts. And before you argue, those small silly things may seem insignificant to you, but they mean the world to a woman.”
“Can you please spare me the lecture and just come to dinner with me? I hate going alone. Moreover, there will be all those nosy aunties there, staring at me like I am a prize at an auction , asking if I am single and trying to set me up with their daughters.”
I shake my head adamantly. “No, Akash! There’s absolutely no way I am going as your date for this dinner! You need to find someone else.” I don’t want to come across as fussy, especially to the man who has always gone out of his way to help me. The only reason I am putting up a fight to avoid going to the dinner is because I know I just don’t belong in such high-class parties. The media, the crowd—it’s all too much for me. Also, I know such events always end up on page three, and I hate being in the limelight. I prefer a simple, understated life, away from the spotlight and any unwanted attention.
Reaching over, he takes my hand in his and gives it a gentle squeeze. “Do you consider me as your friend, Kavya?”
I blink a few times, resisting the urge to call out his emotional manipulation. Instead, I find myself responding, “Yes, I consider you as my best friend, but that doesn’t mean I’ll go to the dinner as your date. So, stop this emotional blackmail. I’m too smart to fall for it.”
He throws his head back and lets out a hearty laugh. “That you are. But hey, going on a date with me won’t be as bad as you’re making it out to be.”
I huff, folding my arms over my chest. “Hmm, maybe it won’t be bad, but it’s definitely not my cup of tea. I’ll have to pass.”
With a wicked gleam in his eyes, he says, “You know how persuasive I can be. Just so you know, I am not leaving your house until you agree to come with me.”
“ Akash Sharma , stop being difficult!” I exclaim, throwing my hands up in frustration.
“Then just say yes, it’s that simple,” he shrugs casually as if it’s no big deal.
“What are you trying to convince her for?” Sunita Aunty’s voice cuts through as she walks into the room, carrying a tray of tea in her hand.
Akash turns to her and says with his most heart-melting smile. “Aunty, I am asking her politely to join me for dinner.”
“And I am politely declining,” I announce firmly.
Aunty sets the tea tray on the side table and raises a brow at me. “Why are you turning down such a charming young man, Kavya?”
Akash turns back to me, wiggling his eyebrows. “Yes, Kavya, please tell me why you’re turning down a charming young man like me?”
I groan inwardly. These two—when they team up, they are a remarkably annoying duo . It’s as if the universe has conspired to put me in the most awkward situation. Aunty’s fondness for Akash is glaringly obvious . Despite my repeated attempts to make it clear that there’s nothing romantic between us , she stubbornly clings to the hope of us becoming a couple . If she had her way, she’d have us married off by now.
“Aunty, I want to spend the day with you and Nisha,” I answer, hoping she gets it and doesn’t try to convince me otherwise. I genuinely want to spend time at home with them, so it’s not a lie. I enjoy our time together. With my hectic schedule during the week, weekends are precious for me, and I eagerly wait to be with them as much as I can.
Aunty’s expression softens. “Kavya, it’s only dinner. You’ll still have the whole day to spend with us, and tomorrow is Sunday as well,” I begin to protest, but she stops me with a gentle shake of her head. “You need to go out more. You deserve some time for yourself.”
I close my eyes for a few seconds, then open them, glancing back and forth between Akash and Aunty. Realising I am fighting a losing battle , I relent.
“Fine, I’ll go,” I finally say, watching both of their faces light up with glee.
“Thank you so much, Kavya. I’ll be here at seven to pick you up,” Akash says, planting a kiss on my cheek before rising to kiss Aunty on hers. “And thank you so much, Aunty, for helping me convince this tough nut.”
“Anything for you, son,” Aunty smiles warmly at him before her expression turns serious. “Just make sure my daughter here learns to enjoy her life, which she seems to have forgotten.” My heart catches in my throat at her words. I know what she’s hinting at. The past few months have been nothing but a monotonous routine of home and office . But I don’t have any complaints, though. I am doing this for the ones I love, and I’ll gladly continue to do it for the rest of my life if I have to.
“I will make sure of it, Aunty,” Akash gives her hand a promising squeeze before turning to me with a wink. “Be ready on time to have the time of your life,” he adds playfully.
I groan. “Why do I get the feeling that I’ll regret agreeing to this?”
“I promise you won’t,” Akash assures me before bidding goodbye and walking out of the room.
I feel Aunty’s eyes on me, studying me intently. Nervously, I pick up the tea mug from the side table and deliberately avoid her gaze. I can sense what’s on her mind, and it’s something I don’t wish to discuss.
“Kavya...” she begins, but I cut her off.
“God, Aunty, your tea is like a lifeline for me. I can’t start my day without it,” I say, not wanting her to bring up the topic I am trying to avoid like the plague. “ Actually, after breakfast today , could you teach me that paneer curry rice recipe of yours? I’ve been dying to learn it. I...” I continue to ramble, but Aunty’s voice interrupts me this time.
She sits beside me, her hand resting gently on my shoulder. “Don’t stop living, Kavya.”
I let out a nervous laugh as I grip the tea cup tightly in my hand. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Aunty. Of course I am living my life. I have a great job, I have Nisha, I have you—what else do I need?”
“You know exactly what I mean. But if you want me to spell it out, I will. You need to go out and meet people, enjoy your life beyond these four walls,” she asserts.
“How Aunty? Tell me, how am I supposed to do that when my sister is lying in bed ? How do I make my heart forget her pain and prioritise my own happiness? How do I be so selfish? How do I forget everything and live normally as if I haven’t lost anything?” I murmur, feeling the tears burn my eyes and my heart lodged in my throat.
“Kavya, I know you’ve been through a lot, but it’s important to remember to keep living your life. And that doesn’t make you selfish. But caging yourself like this isn’t fair to you, and it’s not fair to the people who love and care for you. This isn’t what Nisha or your parents would want,” Aunty says softly, then adds, “You deserve to be happy and to find someone who truly cares for you.”
“I just don’t know if I am ready, Aunty. It’s so hard,” I confess, squeezing my eyes shut to hold back the tears, but they escape anyway . After Deepak, opening my heart again feels impossible, and Aunty knows that very well. She’s aware of Deepak and my history.
I feel Aunty’s hand on my cheek, and my eyes open as she wipes away my tears.
“I understand, but letting sadness control your life isn’t the answer . You need to open your heart and find the one meant for you.”
I force myself to breathe, feeling my heart hammering hard in my chest. “After Deepak, I feel stuck. I am scared to put myself out there again. I don’t think I can bring myself to trust another man with my broken heart. I am just afraid of getting hurt again,” I admit, my voice trembling with vulnerability.
Aunty nods her head. “It’s perfectly okay to be scared, but don’t let that fear hold you back. Don’t allow a single bad experience to haunt you for the rest of your life. Remember, life is all about taking chances. You’ll never find true happiness if you don’t take that leap. Trust me, there’s someone out there who will cherish and love you the way you deserve to be loved. And I just know it; one day, you will find that love.”
I look into her eyes. “I’ll try, Aunty. I’ll try to be brave.”
“That’s all I ask, my dear. And remember, I’ll always be here to support you through everything,” she reassures me with a comforting smile.
“Thank you, Aunty,” I whisper , my lips trembling and eyes brimming with tears as I hug her tightly . Her hands move gently through my hair, and I close my eyes, lost in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. It’s not that I don’t long for love, but after everything I’ve been through, trusting again feels like an insurmountable task. A part of me dreams of a fairy tale romance— for someone who understands and cherishes me — but another part is consumed by fear, wary of being hurt again. Aunty’s words stir a faint glimmer of hope, but deep down, I know that I’ve built walls around my heart that may never fully come down.