CHAPTER 30 Kavita
Kavita
My phone rings as I’m working on another outfit. It’s Venkat, my landlord.
I’ve been trying to call him to let him know that I’d like to buy the building housing my boutique. “I’m sorry to inform you,” he says when I tell him, “but I’ve already sold the property.”
I feel my heart sink. All our efforts to save the building feel like they were for nothing. As I hang up, a wave of hopelessness washes over me. Everything seems to be falling apart, and I’m not sure how to fix any of it.
The days seem long and never-ending. Work at the boutique is busy, but every time I think about where I’m going to move, I feel lost and overwhelmed.
I’ve lost my appetite, so much so that when I go to meet my parents, my mother is concerned that I’m not eating well.
“What happened?” Mom asks when she sees my face, and I tell her about the sale.
A shadow crosses her face for a moment before she recovers. “It’ll work out,” she says with such conviction that I pray she’s right.
She’s frying vadas in the kitchen. She’s excited that Jeet and his family are coming to meet me today.
Oh, I didn’t realize it was Sunday already. It’s been a week since I visited Neel’s house, and he hasn’t texted or called since.
My heart clenches as I grip the counter.
Maybe he thinks I’m not worth the trouble. Maybe I’m all wrong for him. Maybe...
I don’t know anymore.
I’ve been feeling guilty about not telling my parents about him and worried about Dad, especially since his stroke. I want to tell them, but I’m not sure if I can. It might be too late now.
As if on cue, Dad enters the kitchen. He’s so happy Jeet’s family is coming over, my heart breaks. I should have told him a long time ago.
“Ma...Papa,” I start, and then the words pour out of me, unhindered.
I tell them everything about Neel. How he saved me from drowning, how he walked into my boutique about three months ago, and how I’ve gotten to know him since then, although it seems like I’ve known him for ages.
“I love Neel,” I say, the words feeling right down to my core.
“You love him?” Mom cries. “How could you have hidden this from us? How could you have lied?”
Alright, yes. I hid Neel from them. I lied. Dad is staring at both of us but remains silent. His silence is louder than words.
I was afraid of this very moment. “I didn’t want to tell you until I knew it was what both of us wanted,” I mumble, though I can tell from Mom’s expression that she’s even angrier with me. “I didn’t want you to give him an ultimatum about marrying me or something—”
“Marry you? That’s ridiculous!” She huffs, her hand flying to her chest. “What will people say? They’ll turn up their noses at us, saying we married our daughter off to an older, divorced man because we couldn’t find anyone more...more suitable. Or they’d think something was wrong with you!”
“I get it. Appearances matter more than they should. But does my happiness mean nothing to you and Papa?”
Mom’s face sets in determination. “I don’t understand what’s going on. So, this… this man—”
“Neel.”
“Neel. Does he want to marry you? Or simply spoil your name in society and leave you good for nothing else?”
Spoil my name? Good lord! I’m twenty-seven, going on twenty-eight.
She means, am I going to be his girlfriend and nothing else? I swallow because I know it’s not going to sound good at all. Because Neel and I have never discussed marriage. Yet, if there’s anyone I know I will marry, it’s Neel. “We didn’t talk about marriage,” I respond truthfully.
“Your mother and I will talk to him and find out what he has in mind,” Dad says quietly. “Call him over to meet us.”
I feel a lump rise in my throat. “We had a...a sort of an argument.”
“About what?” Mom asks, her hands on her hips.
“That he is much older than me.”
“He’s sensible. At least I give him that.”
Dad looks at me. “If he thinks he doesn’t deserve you, then he’s right.” His voice is grim.
Mom bursts into a smile. “Well, let’s forget about him. Jeet and his family will be here any minute.”
I cross my arms over my chest and stay put. This has gone on for far too long, and it has been entirely my fault. I’ve not only hidden things from my parents, I’ve also been a coward. I’ve never told them the truth.
Neel was right. Mom will never back off, but I also feel like it’s my fault that I have always wanted to appease my parents. If I’d told them earlier, we wouldn’t have to go through this now. I need to stand up for what I want and mean it.
“I don’t want to meet Jeet...or anyone else,” I state firmly.
Mom turns to Dad. “What is she talking about? Didn’t she just say...”
“I’ve been wanting to say this for a long time, Ma, Papa. I don’t want to marry someone I don’t know. I want to marry for love, not for the sake of convenience.”
Mom clicks her tongue in annoyance. “All this love stuff happens more in the movies than in real life to most. Not everyone marries for love. And…love can also happen after the wedding so often.”
The front doorbell rings. I don’t get a chance to say anything further. Jeet and his family are here. Mom’s face lights up. “Now, smile. I have a strong feeling you’re going to fall in love with this man. Forget Neel. That’s best for you and us,” she says as she heads for the door.
Dad’s expression is grave. He hasn’t said much, but I know he’s disappointed in me.
I know I’ve let him down the most of all.
I used to run to him after every fall, tell him everything that happened at school.
Every crush I had in college. All the jokes and laughter we shared.
And now, I’ve kept such a big secret from him. I feel terrible.
It’s like I’ve been too careful around him since his stroke. A pained look clouds his eyes.
There’s a commotion in the living room as the guests walk in. Dad turns around and walks out of the kitchen. I lean against the counter to catch my breath.
This conversation isn’t over yet. And this time, I intend to stand my ground.
***
I overhear snippets of conversation from the living room.
Jeet’s mother’s voice is full of pride as she talks about her son’s recent promotion.
“And you know,” she says, her tone warm but patronizing, “Kavita’s little boutique is so charming.
It’s a wonderful way for her to keep busy when she’s not managing the household. ”
I wince, hearing my life’s work reduced to ‘keeping busy.’
“I admire a woman with ambition,” Jeet says earnestly. “Kavita’s fashion show was just breathtaking. But once we have children, I’m sure she’ll naturally want to prioritize family. She can always go back to her designing when the kids are older.”
My stomach twists into knots. Their words sound supportive on the surface, but the underlying message is clear: my career is expendable, a mere pastime until ‘real life’—marriage and children—begins.
Suddenly, what I’m about to do seems necessary. I want a partner who truly understands and supports my ambitions, not someone who sees them as a temporary distraction.
This moment is about me and every woman who’s been told her dreams are secondary to her role as a wife and mother. It’s time to make my parents understand that marriage isn’t about finding someone who tolerates your passions. It’s about finding someone who fuels them.
It’s about finding a partner who loves you wholly and unconditionally, someone who sees everything you do as an integral part of who you are.
I take a deep breath, ready to face my parents and Jeet’s family. Just as I’m about to walk into the living room, determined to call off this marriage proposal meeting, Mom comes back to the kitchen.
“Aren’t you coming out to meet Jeet?” she asks.
“I’m not marrying someone who doesn’t value what I do and thinks my career is a side hustle. Please ask them to leave.”
“What?” Mom tries to reason with me. “We can’t send them away like that!”
“Either you tell them, or I will,” I say firmly.
Mom’s face falls, but my expression is set. I’m not budging from my position.
Her shoulders slump as she shuffles out to talk to them. “Kavita isn’t feeling well. I’m sorry...” I hear her voice fade as she tries to make excuses for why I won’t go out to meet them. “I’m sorry you took the trouble to come over.”
“What?” I hear Jeet’s mother exclaim. “What sort of meeting is this? You needn’t have wasted our time if your daughter wasn’t interested.”
I feel sorry for my mother as she ushers them out, but just as she’s back in the kitchen to scold me for what just happened, the doorbell rings again.
I stride out of the kitchen and to the door, determined to tell Jeet off if he’s back.
But it’s not Jeet who’s standing there, slightly out of breath.
It’s Neel.
“Am I too late?” he asks, sounding as if he’s taken the stairs instead of the elevator.
I hadn’t expected to see him. My heart pounds.
“Who is it?” Mom calls from inside.
I don’t say a word as I step aside to let Neel in.
“Sorry for being late,” he says, stepping into the living room.
I’m so relieved to see him. I think I need to sit down.
“Kavita, I’m sorry it took so long to come to my senses.”
I try to interrupt, but he continues, “Please, just hear me out. You have every right to be angry with me. I messed up. I thought you might be making a mistake by choosing me, but I was the one making the mistake by not choosing you. I see that now. I want you in my life more than anything.” He runs a hand through his hair.
“I hope you haven’t yet met the other suitor or accepted the proposal.
And if you have, I’m willing to do anything to have you back in my life. Absolutely anything!”
“Neel, I’m so sorry for everything. For not telling my parents about you. For making it seem like I wasn’t serious about you. I’d like you to know that I was serious…I am serious about you. And only you.”
“I love you, Kavita,” he says, his gaze locked on mine.
“I probably fell in love with you the moment you landed in my arms at Kiara’s wedding.
I love your heart. I love that you always saw in me what I couldn’t see for myself, and that you cared for my feelings.
I love the way you make me feel years younger than I really am.
You make me feel alive again. I should have said all this sooner. ”
“Anything else?” I say though I feel my eyes prick with tears. I don’t think I can stand watching this man pour his heart out while I find myself unable to stop wanting to throw myself into his arms.
“What do you think about us being together?” he reaches out and holds my hand. “Please just say you’ll give us a chance and allow me to make up for my stupid mistakes.”
I nod as tears roll down my cheeks. “Yes, to having you in my life.” I let out a sob. “Forever, if you let me.”
“Good, because someone told me I’d be stupid not to fight for you.” With that, he takes my face in his hands and lowers his lips to mine.
I throw my arms around Neel’s neck, and he lifts me right off my feet. “Thank God,” he whispers in my ear. “Thank God I got here in time.”
A throat clears behind us.
I turn around and see Mom and Dad staring at us. They’ve heard everything.
Neel takes a deep breath, squaring his shoulders. “Mr. and Mrs. Moorthy,” he begins, his voice steady despite the tension in the room.
He looks directly at my father, then my mother, his gaze sincere and determined. “I’m sorry for not meeting you earlier,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “I know I might not be what you had in mind for Kavita, but I care for her deeply.”
Mom stands frozen.
“What are your intentions toward our daughter?” Dad asks gruffly.
“I know this might seem sudden, but I love Kavita, and I want to be with her just as she wants to be with me.” He pauses, taking a deep breath before continuing, “I understand this might seem premature, but I’m sure you’ll see what I mean about Kavita once you get to know me better.
All I’m asking is for a chance to prove myself, to show you how much she means to me and how committed I am to her. ”
I see a mix of surprise and uncertainty on my father’s face and disbelief in my mother’s eyes. For a moment, it seems like time has stopped.
Neel barely finishes his heartfelt plea when, suddenly, Mom’s eyes roll back in her head. Before anyone can react, she crumples to the floor, unconscious.