CHAPTER 11 Kavita
Kavita
“I was worried when I couldn’t find you,” Anjali says, batting her eyelashes. “Are you okay?” She gives me a sideways glance and turns back to Neel, ignoring me.
“Kavita, Anjali,” Neel introduces us briefly before turning to her. “I hurt my knuckles on one of those Dandiya sticks.”
“Oh, no! I hope it’s not too bad?”
“It’s not.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” The woman smiles, flirting openly as she leans in too close, rubbing her arm against his.
Neel nods, but he doesn’t flirt back. In fact, he seems oblivious to her advances. Part of me feels relieved, while another part is strangely annoyed by the woman’s boldness.
I realize with a pang that he hasn’t flirted with me, either.
As I notice the woman still smiling and laughing at something Neel said, jealousy flares within me unexpectedly. I’m suddenly very curious if Neel could be interested in me as more than just a friend.
“I’m fine, Anjali. But I’ve had enough dancing for tonight,” Neel says to her.
“Really?” she says, leaning closer.
I don’t like how this woman is getting so close to Neel.
Khushi’s voice echoes in my head, “So you like Neel?”
“I get this tingly feeling when I’m around him, and I don’t know what to make of it.”
I imagine Kiara smacking her head. “Of course you do!”
Neel interrupts my thoughts. “Yes, please go ahead and enjoy yourself,” he tells the woman.
The woman hesitates, then finally leaves. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
By then, Grandma and her friends are back. They look a bit winded, but happy.
“I’m thirsty,” one of them says.
“I’m tired already,” the other one says. “Can’t believe I used to dance for hours when I was younger.”
The others, including my grandmother, laugh and tease her.
“Can I get you ladies something to drink?” Neel asks, smiling warmly.
“Sure, dear!” one of them offers him a beaming smile.
After Neel leaves to get their drinks, she turns to me. “He’s such a gentleman!”
“He seems really nice!” the other says.
“My granddaughter hangs around the kind of people who are kind, nice, and caring for old women like us,” Grandma says. “Who is he? You didn’t introduce him properly.”
“Thank you, Grandma,” I giggle. “He’s a friend.”
“Oh, a friend!”
They continue to joke and tease me when Neel returns with everyone’s drinks and passes them around.
As they’re sipping their drinks, Grandma turns to me, “I heard that your building may be in trouble, just like mine was a few years ago. The new builders want to demolish all the old buildings and convert them into shopping malls and hospitals. But I refused to sell it to them,” she says proudly.
Then, a look of concern passes over her eyes.
“But what are you going to do? Your boutique is leased, isn’t it? ”
“I don’t intend to give it up so easily!” I say. “We can’t let these developers do as they please.”
A dark look crosses Neel’s face. “You’re right!”
I tell them about the fashion show that I’ve planned. “It may be a long shot, but at least we know the owner, Venkat, for many years now. I think he’d sell it to me if we’re able to raise the funds,” I add.
“God bless him,” Grandma says.
“Well, I think we could collaborate on this,” Neel says suddenly.
All eyes turn to Neel.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“I have recommended the park’s restoration as part of my company’s CSR initiative.
We can sponsor the event and provide the necessary resources.
And your fashion show could be the perfect event to kick it off.
I think holding the event in the park would not only raise funds for your building but also attract more attention to the cause and hopefully inspire others to join in our efforts,” Neel says.
My heart leaps with joy. “That’s an incredible idea, Neel!
” I gasp, hardly able to contain my excitement.
“I was actually hoping to use some of the proceeds from the fashion show to help restore the park as well. Having your company’s support and collaboration on this project would be a dream come true! ”
I can’t help but feel a surge of happiness and hope, thinking about having Neel by my side.
Grandma and her friends exchange smiles, clearly caught up in my enthusiasm.
I twist my hands as I remember something else. “I’m having a slight issue with the show, though.”
“What issue?” Grandma asks.
“I’m going to need a few older models for the vintage theme. And I don’t know how to find them.” I look at them. “Would you all be interested?”
They turn to each other, puzzled.
Then Rimli Aunty laughs, “Is this a joke? I mean, I did dream of getting into theater back in the day, but a ramp walk?”
“No, I really mean it. I would love it if you could wear my designer saris and walk the ramp to save the old, beautiful building and park. To save our heritage.”
Grandma’s eyes mist. “I can understand how it feels to lose everything so familiar—the land, the memories. It’s heartbreaking.” She wipes her eyes. “If I can help, I’m in.”
“We’d love to,” Rimli Aunty says.
“If you teach us how to,” Kajal Aunty adds.
“We’ll practice,” I laugh, relieved that they’ve agreed. I’m so lucky to have so many people pitching in to help.
It’s getting late. Grandma and her friends have to leave.
“Oh, this is too much!” Grandma says, frowning at her phone.
“My driver can’t be reached. I’ve been calling him for the past two hours to take us home, but he seems to have disappeared.
He’s probably having a good time himself with the music too loud to hear the phone ring. What am I going to do now?”
“I can drive you home,” I say.
Grandma shakes her head. “But you’ve come by your scooter, right? What will you do about that?”
“I can drive you,” Neel says. “I came in my sister’s car. And they’re still having a good time somewhere in there.”
Grandma smiles. “That’s sweet. But are you sure you don’t want to go have some fun instead of driving us old ladies home?”
“I’ve had enough fun for one night,” he laughs, pointing to his knuckles. “I’m happy to drive you.”
Soon, Neel is driving Grandma’s car with all the women piled into it while I follow the car on my scooter.
He stops at their homes, steps out of the car, and drops each woman off. Enthusiastic waves and loud thank-yous later, we finally stop at Grandma’s house, and Neel parks the car.
I get off my scooter and park right next to the large tree in front. “Well, I guess that worked out alright,” I say as I walk over to them. “Can I give you a ride home now?” I ask Neel.
“No, I’ll be fine,” he says. “I’ll book a cab.”
“Absolutely not!” I say.
“That’s right,” Grandma agrees. “We can’t leave you here.”
“Okay then. I’ll take you up on that offer,” he says, hands pushed into his pockets.
After saying our goodbyes, he walks me to my scooter.
Just as I near my scooter, a car speeds toward us, honking so loudly that I jump in fright. With headlights glaring and music blaring, I can see it’s a bunch of kids. “What the—”
Before I know it, Neel pulls me into him, and the next moment, I’m pressed against his chest, my heart racing as the car speeds by. His strong arms hold me tight while I allow my heartbeat to return to normal.
As we stand there in the middle of the road and the quiet night around us, I realize something.
Neel’s arms feel like a place I never want to leave.