CHAPTER 12 Neel
Neel
Kavita’s hair smells fruity, like a blend of strawberries and summer rain.
She fits perfectly in my arms, her head nestled just below my chin.
The warmth of her body pressed against mine, along with the delicate softness of her hair brushing against my chest, fills me with a sense of protectiveness.
“Did that scare you?” I ask, my voice low, sensing the faint tremble of her breath.
“Yes,” she whispers back, her voice a soft murmur vibrating against me. “Such rowdy boys.”
I can feel the tension in her slender frame. I’m aware of every point where our bodies touch. The subtle scent of her perfume mixes with the fruity aroma of her hair, enveloping us in an intimate cocoon. Her face is buried in my chest, and I sense the light brush of her breath through my shirt.
I want to savor this moment, memorizing the feel of her against me, reluctant to let go of this unexpected closeness between us. A mix of emotions stirs within me—protectiveness, longing, and a growing affection that I’m still grappling to understand.
I don’t know why, but things seem different between us as she holds on to me tight.
She pulls out of my embrace slowly. “That was a bit unnerving!” she exhales.
I want to make sure she’s fine before we leave. “I hope you’re okay.”
“I am now. And I’m so sorry about dragging you into all this tonight,” she says, her words laced with guilt.
“Don’t be. I’m happy I have a ride home.” Though it’s been a long time since I rode a scooter.
Pushing her hair off her face, she smiles at me. “It’s the least I could do to drop you home after everything you’ve done.”
“I must say I had a good time tonight,” I say.
“I hope you didn’t mind my mom. She can’t stop herself from trying to find a match for everyone she meets,” she laughs. “I have a hard time pushing back against it myself.”
“You don’t want to get married?”
“Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I don’t want to get married. I just don’t want to go through an arranged marriage. Meet and marry someone I hardly know, let alone love.”
I laugh. “Good thinking! Some of us have made that mistake.”
Her face falls. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”
I shake my head. “No need to be sorry. It’s the story of most of us, usually, unlike a few brave hearts like you.”
“You give me way more credit than I deserve.”
She smiles at me, a strand of hair on her cheek. I feel the urge to tuck it behind her ear.
Instead, I tug at her hand. “Come on, let’s go. I’ll drive.”
She looks surprised. “You know how to ride a scooter?”
“I’m a bit out of practice, but I think I can manage.”
She sits behind me. “Are you sure?”
As I take off, wobbling at first, I realize it’s been over a decade since I last rode a scooter.
“Do you know,” she says above the sound of the wind, “I was so scared to ride a scooter I almost never learned?”
“Oh, I couldn’t tell you struggled with it,” I chuckle, teasing her.
She slaps my shoulder playfully. “But I do make some mean instant Maggi noodles. If that’s the only cooking I’ve learned. If you haven’t tasted them, you’re missing out.”
“Now that,” I say, already drooling, “is something I’m going to take you up on.”
As soon as I’m comfortable riding the scooter, I zoom off.
She screams, laughing with delight, holding on tight.
I laugh, too. I can’t help but like Kavita.
There’s that warm, fun side of her. She’s so joyful and full of life.
Our age difference hardly seems to matter when I’m with her.
I admire her passion for her work, her determination to make a difference, and her commitment to preserving the things that matter to her.
She’s creative and fun, and her enthusiasm for life is infectious.
The more I get to know her, the more I find to like about her.
I like her so much, but it scares me. I haven’t given myself a chance in all these years to bare my heart and allow my deepest feelings out without restraint.
And yet, when she is with me, I can’t stop myself.
Maybe I’m just a grumpy old fool who’s forgotten how to let himself feel, how to take a chance on himself. Maybe my age and past experiences have left me awkward and unsure around women like Kavita. Maybe I won’t get it right.
But maybe it isn’t as terrible as it seems. I feel a decade younger, doing all the things I’ve done and having all the fun I’ve had today. I haven’t felt like this in a long time.
It’s as if Kavita has awakened a part of me that I thought had long since disappeared, a part that craves the excitement and joy of living life to the fullest.
Kavita squeezes my shoulder just then. “Look. The stars.” And before I know it, my gaze follows the direction of her finger, and I look up at the sky.
I wonder if the sky looks more beautiful than I’ve ever seen it or if everything around me seems so much more beautiful.
As if by magic.
“Hold on tight!” I yell as we zip through the streets.
Tonight has been crazy. Anjali’s non-stop rant in the car about her heartbreak, the disaster that was the Dandiya dance, and the sticks that almost broke my knuckles.
But what I want to remember most of all tonight is running into Kavita, sucking on golas like in my childhood, and avoiding matchmaking moms.
And most of all, this ride through these beautiful neighborhoods.
As we zip through the quiet streets lined with dim streetlights and towering trees, their branches casting shadows on the ground before us, I’m struck by the serene beauty of old Bangalore.
It’s a side of the city that’s often overlooked but one that holds so much character and charm.
I think about what Kavita said earlier, about how we can’t let developers do as they please.
As I take in the picturesque surroundings that make this city so special, I know it’s not the shiny new developments or the bustling tech scene that keep its spirit alive, but it’s preserving its old essence and beauty.
“You know, I’ve been thinking about what you said earlier,” I call out as we navigate the winding road. “About not letting the developers have their way with the city.”
“Yes!” she says, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
A thought occurs to me then, making me smile. “I’d like to show you something.”
Suddenly, I can’t wait to hear what she thinks about it.