CHAPTER 16 Kavita
Kavita
After several hectic weeks of designing, stitching, and preparing outfits for the fashion show, we’re finally set for the rehearsal. “Generations of Elegance,” our theme, represents timeless beauty and fashion across eras.
Taking a deep breath, I survey the vibrant scene. The colors, fabrics, intricate embroidery, and delicate embellishments make my heart swell with pride. I still have a few blouses to finish, but overall, it looks great.
The boutique buzzes with energy as ten women fill the space.
Grandma and her friends have arrived, along with Kiara and Khushi, who’ve agreed to be part of the younger group I’m featuring in the vintage-meets-modern blend.
Elena and some brides-to-be are also here, adding to our diverse mix of models.
Laughter, the sweet scent of jasmine, and occasional bursts of music from the sound system tests fill the air. Kiara and Khushi help with last-minute outfit adjustments, ensuring everything looks perfect.
It’s a full house this evening. I know it’s just the beginning, but I can already feel the magic of the moment.
My grandmother looks at me proudly. “You’re doing a wonderful job, Kavita.”
I smile back. “Thanks, Grandma.”
Soon, I clap my hands for attention. “Alright, ladies, let’s practice walking to the music!”
As a classic Bollywood track with a lively beat starts, the women line up. The atmosphere is jovial, with everyone in high spirits.
First, I let them do their own thing, simply walking down the ramp to the music.
Kajal Aunty decides to practice her “signature walk,” strutting down the makeshift ramp like a supermodel with exaggerated poses and dramatic turns.
The others cheer her on, soon trying out their own moves, leading to laughter and playful competition.
When the music switches to a fast-paced dance number (an impromptu addition), some women dance instead of walking. Kiara and Khushi join in, turning it into a full-on dance party.
Rimli Aunty’s sari comes loose during her walk, but she handles it gracefully, adjusting on the spot and continuing.
My grandmother, in a stunning purple sari, adds a bright feather boa as an accessory. Soon, everyone is embellishing their outfits with tiaras and trails.
Amidst the commotion, I don’t notice Neel arrive.
Our eyes meet as he approaches. “Am I too late to join the fun?” he asks, smiling.
“No, you’re right on time,” I say, trying to contain my laughter as one woman pulls him into practice, insisting he take a turn on the ramp.
The women seem to adore him. One tries to teach Neel some basic moves, and I watch his endearing attempts to mimic her. Slowly loosening up, he starts shuffling, grinning as he does.
As the rehearsal winds down, the room is filled with smiles and excitement. We’ll probably need a couple more practice sessions, but for now, the women go off to change.
Despite dresses, saris, and accessories scattered all over the place, I feel elated. Apart from a few wardrobe malfunctions and the time it took to settle everyone down, everything went smoothly.
Neel approaches me with a sheepish smile. “You’ve got quite the lively group here, Kavita.”
I nod, feeling a warm glow of happiness. “I’m glad you came.”
He shrugs. “I wouldn’t have missed it.”
Kiara and Khushi eye me meaningfully across the room as Neel talks to me. Elena joins us, saying, “The changing room is packed.” She turns to Neel with a teasing smile. “Hey, Neel! I didn’t know you could dance.”
He doesn’t seem to mind her teasing. Instead, he gives her hair a playful tug and exclaims, “Look at you! I can’t believe how absolutely stunning you look in this dress.”
“Her wedding dress is going to look even more stunning,” I say, beaming as Neel admires the fuchsia-pink ensemble she’s wearing.
“Maybe I could get this one for one of the after-parties. It’s gorgeous!” Elena says.
I nod, promising to save it for her after the fashion show. It does look stunning on her, but I’m sure the rose and gold embroidery detail wedding dress we’re making for her is going to take her breath away.
“I can’t wait to see my wedding dress,” Elena says as if reading my thoughts.
“We’ll have it ready soon,” I promise, just as my grandmother walks over.
“This is going to be a beautiful show,” Grandma says, her eyes glistening. She’s followed by each woman beaming and hugging me as they all get ready to leave.
Elena checks her watch and says, “I’ve got to run, folks. Have a few errands to run before I head home.”
The place is mostly empty now. Kiara stretches her arms over her head, sighing. “Whew, that was a lot of fun, but I’m exhausted!”
Khushi helps me organize all the outfits and put them back on the rack. “Same here. Those ladies were amazing, though. So full of energy!”
Neel watches us. He’s already asked if he can help twice. “It really felt like something special. All of you are so good together.”
Kiara and Khushi beam at him.
“We sure are!” Khushi exclaims.
Today has brought back so many memories of times in the past when we’ve teamed up, whether for a game or a competition. I love that my friends are always willing to help. And now, there’s Neel. “I’m glad you’re here to share it with us, Neel.”
“We’re a team,” Neel says, shrugging it off like it’s no big deal, as if he hasn’t taken a huge load off my chest by volunteering to help with so much.
Something flutters in my stomach as his gaze meets mine and lingers.
“Let’s have some tea,” Kiara announces.
Suddenly, everyone is craving tea. I make my way toward the pantry. “I’ve got peppermint tea.”
“Perfect! Let’s sit for a bit,” Khushi says, stretching out on one of the couches.
Everyone settles down on the couches. The aroma of peppermint tea fills the air as I pour it into cups.
Kiara takes a sip of her tea and gives a happy sigh. “Today was perfect, wasn’t it? It took me back to when we all signed up for our school beauty pageant.”
“We were just six,” Khushi grins.
Neel leans forward, balancing his cup in his hand. “Now, this I’ve got to hear. What happened?”
Khushi perks up as though reliving that memory. “Oh, it was epic! We all signed up for the beauty pageant, and Kavita went all out. She made us paper crowns, cute sashes, and even designed our dresses.”
Neel looks impressed.
I blush. “I thought we’d look pretty good, and we did.”
“Good?” Kiara says, “We were the stars of the show! Kavita made something unique for each of us.”
Neel turns to me, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. “That sounds amazing! You were a fashion designer even back then. What were your dresses like?”
“We got leftover silk pieces my mom had, and we glued them together. It was a bit mismatched, but I thought it was artistic.”
“Kavita’s designs were a big hit!” Kiara says.
Khushi laughs. “The teachers were so confused about whom to give the first prize to that they gave it to all three of us.”
I chuckle. “We struggled to get up on that box that was meant for the first-place winner, remember?”
We are laughing as we remember the prize distribution ceremony. Neel gives me an admiring smile. “It’s incredible that you’ve always had this passion and channeled it into something so meaningful.”
“Thank you, Neel. Back then, I had no idea that it would become my profession one day.”
“Seeing Kavita in her element is always a treat,” Khushi gushes, her eyes twinkling with admiration.
“This fashion project and the park have a special place in our hearts. We grew up playing there every day after school,” Kiara says.
“Yeah, we even had a secret club! Kavita was the president, of course, and she made us matching badges,” Khushi adds.
“And our mission was to save the world, one dress-up session at a time!” Kiara laughs. “It’s so funny when I think of it now.”
“It’s great to see how much this event means to all of you,” Neel says, warmth shining through his eyes.
I meet his gaze, feeling a flutter in my chest. “And it’s wonderful to have you not only sponsoring this but getting really involved. It means the world to us.”
Neel’s smile says he loves it all as much as we do.
We finish our teas, and soon Kiara and Khushi leave too.
Finally, the boutique is empty, except for Neel, who wants to discuss some itinerary and other details of the event.
I wash and put away the teacups while Neel walks to the doorway and looks up at the bell. “I’m glad I don’t have to worry about hitting this bell anymore.” Then he looks at me and frowns. “You look tired. We can talk tomorrow if you’d like.”
“I’m okay,” I say. “The tea has perked me up.” It’s true.
Nothing like a perfectly hot and soothing peppermint tea to melt away the tiredness of a long day.
My feet are aching a bit, but I’m happy everything went well and that we’ve made so much progress.
I think I could go on for a few more hours before I crash.
Especially because I’m looking forward to spending some time alone with Neel.
Soon, Neel and I are seated on the couch to discuss the logistics. I’m in awe as he pulls up several spreadsheets on his phone.
I move closer and look at all the graphs and pie charts he’s created as he begins to rattle off numbers.
He’s thought of everything—the permits, registration, vendors, and a lot more. He’s all efficiency and precision. He has plans for all the things that I would never have thought of or been able to manage on my own.
I’m in awe of this man and so grateful that he’s taking care of all these numbers and calculations, the things I hate to admit are the very things that stifle my creativity. Now, he can deal with the logical side while I focus only on the creative side of the fashion show.
I stretch and yawn by the time we’re done.
“Sorry, it’s late. You look tired and sleepy,” Neel says.
“Thank you for taking care of so much for me,” I say. “Today has been fun.” My heart skitters as I feel his gaze on me. I want to reach out and hug him, but I don’t.
Instead, I watch as his eyes crinkle as he smiles. “Today was interesting. I’m not used to having this much fun.”
“From the look in their eyes, I could tell the women adored you.”
“Yeah…” He goes quiet and looks away.
“Neel, is something wrong?” My mind drifts back to my conversation with Kiara and Khushi and their encouragement to explore my feelings for Neel. But doubt creeps in. Have I been too hasty in thinking he might have feelings for me? What if I misread the signs and risk ruining our friendship?
“You don’t know enough about me,” he says out of the blue.
I want to. I really do. I swallow. “Then tell me about you.”
He hesitates for a moment, his eyes clouding over. “I need to tell you something about my ex-wife. It’s been on my mind all evening.” He takes a deep breath. “She called me, right before I came to the rehearsal.”
I wasn’t expecting to talk about his ex-wife. I can see the pain in his eyes. He’s hurting, and I want to comfort him, but I decide to let him speak first. I wonder if he trusts me enough to share what’s bothering him.
“She’s called me a few times lately,” he says, running a hand through his hair.
I frown, confused.
“It’s been so long since our divorce. I don’t know why she’s calling now,” he continues.
“She probably wants money. That’s all she cared about when we were married.
When I refused one of her big requests, she divorced me and started spreading lies about me.
” His voice cracks. “The rumors really hurt my mom.”
My heart hurts as I ask, “What kind of rumors?”
“She said I couldn’t have kids.”
“What?” I gasp, shocked.