CHAPTER 27 Kavita
Kavita
Is Neel out of his mind? Go home and rest?
I don’t know what happened while I was gone.
Neel clearly doesn’t want to explain his odd behavior. Or talk about anything, apparently. Because he took off from the venue like he was running away from a fire.
Or just running from me.
The thought makes me sick. I wanted to introduce Neel to my parents. I wanted to tell them I loved him. The entire time I was looking for my parents, I was practicing the “I love Neel” speech, and now this?
I can’t stop myself from thinking the worst. Maybe I was being too starry-eyed. Maybe he really isn’t ready to meet my parents. Perhaps this...us...it’s too good to be true.
I rub my face and pace the grounds, ignoring the looks people are giving me.
Could he have changed his mind about us? Could he have suddenly gotten cold feet?
Or did he decide he didn’t want to meet my family after all?
No matter how hard I try, I can’t come up with any logical explanation as to why Neel left, looking so disturbed. Was it really a situation at work or something else?
“Oh, crap!” I say out loud, pulling out my phone and dialing Neel’s number before I can overthink it.
He doesn’t pick up. But then, it’s still only been half an hour since he’s gone. He’s probably still firefighting the issue in his office.
Or he’s ignoring me.
I’d much rather believe the former because I’m tired of worrying.
My mother catches up with me, beaming. “Such a wonderful show! I’m so proud of you.”
I smile. “It’s all thanks to Neel. He helped me with the sponsors. He’s the one who took charge of everything.”
“Yes, everything was so perfect. Jeet and his parents have also come. Oh, how they must have been amazed to see you.” She rubs her hands gleefully. “I think it was a brilliant idea to invite them, even if I say so myself. Did you see them?”
I didn’t know they were here. “No,” I frown.
“I can’t wait for them to see you properly. His mother has been raving about you to him. Let’s at least say a quick hello now, and we’ll arrange something more formal for Sunday. Oh, remind me to confirm that with them later.”
“Mom, I was actually bringing Neel to meet you. I think you and Papa should meet Neel.”
“I met him,” Mom says.
“Where?”
“He was here a while ago. And you know what? I finally introduced him to Vanitha, the widow. Bless her! He’s not too old for her. I think they’d make a good pair, don’t you?”
“What?” I feel my stomach drop. “You introduced him to Vanitha?”
“Don’t you think we should help him find a suitable girl?”
The ground beneath my feet feels like it’s shaking. “Mom, you don’t understand. Neel and I—”
“Come on now.” Mom tugs at my hand. “Jeet and his family will be excited to meet you.”
“Mom, can we not do this now?”
“Not now? Then when?”
I rub a hand over my forehead. “I don’t know.”
Mom releases my hand, backing off for the moment. But it does nothing to make me feel better.
What if Neel doesn’t want to meet my parents at all? What if he doesn’t respond to my calls?
Just then, a commotion erupts near the stage. Someone’s collapsed, and people are calling for a doctor. A crowd rushes over.
“Oh dear,” Mom says, craning her neck to see. “I hope it’s nothing serious. Let me make sure it’s not someone we know.”
As she hurries away, I’m left standing there, my words left unspoken.
My heart sinks. This isn’t how I wanted things to go at all.
I try to reach Neel one more time. I text this time, hoping he’s free by now.
Kavita: Hey! The show went so well. Thanks again for taking care of everything. I wish you hadn’t left so early. I was thinking we could watch a movie tonight. At my place?
I’m back home when Neel finally responds.
Neel: Glad everything went well. Thanks for the invite, but I don’t think I can come. I’m having dinner at Mom’s.
Dinner at Mom’s? Is he avoiding me?
I’ve only known Neel for a few months, but I thought I knew him well enough to trust our relationship.
Then again, he was hesitant about relationships after his marriage ended.
What if he’s having second thoughts about us too?
Doubt and fear grip my heart, but I’m not like his ex-wife.
I haven’t been demanding or pushy. He has no reason to run from me... right?
My mind races in an endless loop throughout the night. I haven’t texted Neel back, and he hasn’t reached out either. Are we at an impasse?
A part of me wants to feel angry. Why isn’t he responding to me? Talking to me about what my mom said? But a bigger part of me is just plain worried.
I have to see Neel with my own eyes. Words on a screen aren’t enough right now. We need to talk face-to-face.
Except I don’t know Neel’s address, much less if he’ll be home.
I take the whole next day to text Elena for his address. I’ve never actually seen his house, but I’m too anxious to be curious.
My heart aches to see him, to confirm with my own eyes that he’s alright. I need to know that whatever happened hasn’t broken what we’ve built together.
More than anything, I need to know that we’re okay, that what we have isn’t ending before it’s had a chance to really start.
As I ride to his place late that evening, my heart races with a single, terrifying thought: I might be about to lose the man I’ve fallen in love with before I even get the chance to tell him.