The Unsuitable Knot

PROLOGUE Kavita

PROLOGUE

Kavita

I stand on the deserted beach, listening to the rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore. The dark expanse of the ocean shimmers under the moonlight. As I gaze out at the seemingly peaceful waters, an unexpected feeling washes over me.

My best friend, Kiara, got married earlier today.

The wedding guests have left, and she has just retired to her room with Arjun, her new husband.

As the maid of honor, I’ve spent the day helping Kiara navigate the whirlwind of her beach wedding.

Now, alone under the vast night sky, a pang of loneliness hits me.

On a night like this, I can’t help but wish I had someone special to share it with.

And yet, I can’t shake the feeling that this night will change everything.

The air carries a hint of salt, an earthy scent. A gentle breeze plays with my hair as I stroll toward the water’s edge, the dampness of the sand tickling my bare feet. It’s a perfect night for a swim.

I slowly wade into the water, surprisingly warm, relishing the sensation of the waves lapping against my skin.

I sit at the shallow end, allowing the waves to crash against my legs and ride under my shorts and cotton shirt.

As I lay back, the waves roll over me. The saltiness of the ocean fills my senses, the taste of brine lingering on my lips.

As I venture farther, I glance at the expansive ocean. The twinkling lights of our resort in the distance catch my eye, looking so pretty tonight that I can’t look away.

Suddenly, a figure strolling along the shoreline catches my attention. To my surprise, I realize it’s Neel. He’s walking slowly, savoring the peace just like me. I thought he had left right after the wedding, but apparently not.

He’s still dressed in his tux and tie from the wedding, an oddly formal attire for a leisurely stroll on the beach.

Neel Menon. Reserved, almost enigmatic.

Despite Arjun’s attempts to introduce us, he seemed disinterested and lost in his thoughts, preoccupied with matters beyond the wedding festivities. So much so that after he saved me from tripping with the bouquet at Kiara’s wedding, he disappeared before I could even thank him.

Kiara’s words from earlier echo in my mind: “Neel’s been through a lot, Kavita. Don’t be too quick to judge him.” There was something in her tone, a hint of a secret she wasn’t sharing. It made me wonder what lay beneath Neel’s composed exterior.

He hasn’t spotted me in the water yet. I watch as a dog runs toward him. He picks up something from the sand and tosses it into the distance. As the dog bounds away to fetch, he glances toward the ocean, and our eyes meet.

I smile and raise my hand in a wave.

Neel pauses, his brow furrowing as he squints in my direction. For a moment, I wonder if he’ll recognize me. His expression shifts, and I realize he has. But he doesn’t seem interested in joining me. Oh, right. He can’t. Not in that attire.

I watch as Neel resumes his walk. Suddenly, a sharp, unexpected pain shoots through the bottom of my foot. I gasp, trying to lift it, but whatever it is doesn’t budge. I look down, but the murky water reveals nothing. My mind races: a jellyfish? A piece of broken glass? A sharp rock?

Concern turns to fear as I try to wade back to shore.

The pain in my foot throws off my balance, and I stumble into deeper water.

I realize with growing alarm that the current is stronger than I expected, pulling me further out.

My breath comes in short, panicked gasps as the unexpected depth catches me off guard.

I struggle to keep my head above water, my arms and legs moving desperately. But it’s not enough. My strength is fading fast, and the shore seems impossibly far away. A wave crashes over me, and I lose my orientation completely. Water fills my nose and mouth as I’m tossed about helplessly.

For a terrifying moment, I can’t tell which way is up. My lungs burn for air. Panic grips me as I realize I’m in real danger. Just as spots dance in my vision, my head breaks the surface. I manage one gasping breath before another wave pulls me under.

Suddenly, the waves break around me. Seconds later, a hand grips my arm, then strong arms wrap around me. I try to stand, but I only sink deeper. A voice cuts through the darkness. “Are you okay?”

Neel?

He pulls me up from the depths with a force that startles me.

Gasping, I break the surface, blinking at the world spinning around me.

Before I know it, he hoists me onto his back, my belly pressed against his shoulder, and starts wading back toward the shore.

“Just breathe,” he yells over the sound of the waves.

Once we reach the shore, he sets me down on the sand. I collapse, coughing and sputtering, trying to catch my breath. Neel bends down beside me, his hand rubbing circles on my back as I struggle to regain my composure. I cough up some seawater onto the sand.

“Are you okay?” Neel’s voice carries over the sound of the waves, filled with concern, as he continues to rub my back until I settle down.

I’m on my knees, empty and spent, my breathing slowly steadying when I cough again.

Neel keeps his hand on my back as he asks again, “Please tell me you’re okay.”

I’m surprised by the warmth of his presence, despite his drenched tux. Other than the fact that I swallowed some water, I think I’m okay now. I nod weakly, my heart still pounding as I lean slightly into his touch.

I can feel the warmth of his breath as he leans close, the scent of salt and sand mingling with his own scent. I catch my breath as the earlier pain and panic fade. “Something hurt my foot.”

Neel crouches beside me and raises my foot gently. I peer down at my foot, noticing something small and sharp protruding from my skin, and wince. “What is that?”

Neel examines it and gently pulls it out. “Looks like this was the culprit,” he says, holding a jagged piece of shell. “It must have lodged in your foot and caused you to panic.”

I take the shell, a sense of relief washing over me. “I’m glad it wasn’t a jellyfish. Thank you for helping me.”

“Of course. I’m glad I was here,” Neel says.

I look up into Neel’s eyes, realizing how close we are, his face just inches from mine, the moon casting its gentle glow over us. Neel is practically holding me in his arms, looking at me with concern. I take a moment to process the situation.

Neel, who barely spoke to me earlier, now looks at me, his deep hazel eyes filled with worry. “Are you feeling better?”

“Yeah, just...a little shaken. I thought I was in trouble there for a moment.”

“Panic can affect even experienced swimmers.”

I lean back slightly, steadying myself with one arm, the other resting on the sand between us.

The sound of his steady breathing is oddly calming.

A question pops into my mind: What do I really think of Neel Menon?

Was I too quick to judge him as just another aloof businessman?

Tonight’s events have revealed a different side of him, a caring and protective one that caught me off guard.

“I guess the pain and fear led to panic,” I say, still aware of his nearness. “Which has never happened before. I’m usually a good swimmer.”

Neel nods, his arm still supporting me. “It can happen to anyone. The important thing is you’re safe now.”

We sit in silence for a moment, the sound of the rhythmic waves filling the air.

I can’t make sense of my feelings except that I’m aware of his presence as I lean against his chest. My nose itches, probably from the salt, and I want to lift my hand and scratch my nose, but I don’t want to move and break this unexpected moment.

“Sorry for ruining your tux,” I say when I can’t take it anymore, and finally rub my nose against his tux.

Neel lets out a short, unexpected laugh. “You’re worried about my tux?”

I can’t help the way my heart flips at Neel’s amused tone. He didn’t strike me as the type to laugh so freely.

Our eyes meet. Covered in sand, with his hair tousled and clothes disheveled, there’s something endearing about his appearance. To think that he jumped in to rescue me without a care for his own safety.

Perhaps I rushed to assess him. Maybe he’s not as aloof and uptight as I imagined.

I catch myself staring at him, a small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. I feel the thrill of tonight’s adventure and the strangeness of it all.

My lips purse. “And I appreciate the strength of those arms. It’s reassuring to know that if I was drowning, it’d be quite handy to have you nearby.”

He looks at me for a moment, an unreadable expression flashing across his face.

It’s as if a switch has been flipped. His gaze travels over my face, slowly taking me in.

Heat creeps over my cheeks, a thought drifting into my mind as leisurely as the wind teasing my hair.

I can’t help but wonder what the warmth of Neel’s embrace, the concern in his eyes, and the way my heart races in his presence are telling me.

And as his heartbeat echoes in my ears, a realization washes over me like a gentle wave kissing the shore.

Could it be that I have a crush on Neel Menon?

My heart flutters, somersaulting within my chest as his eyes finally land on my lips just before he swallows and looks away. Before I can process this quiet moment exchanged between us, it’s gone. His face is closed off again.

A wave of disappointment washes over me as Neel finally pulls away. He stands up and offers me his hand. “If you’re okay, I’ll walk you back to your room,” he says, his voice neutral, almost as if he’s talking to a stranger, not the woman he just rescued.

As we walk back to the resort, I can’t help but wonder about the man beside me. Who is Neel Menon, really?

The night feels vibrant, alive with possibility. Despite the warm air, a shiver runs down my spine. The day’s events swirl in my mind—Kiara’s joyful wedding, the unexpected rescue, this near-stranger walking beside me under the starlit sky.

And all of it feels so strange and unexpected. I can’t help but wonder if the universe is trying to send me a sign.