Page 28 of Knot So Romantic

My mother is just about to say something but stops and stares at Neel. She extends her hand curiously. “Oh! I’ve never met you.”

“Same here, ma’am,” Neel says.

Mom blushes slightly. “Hope you haven’t come alone? Where is your wife? I’m sure she would have loved tonight’s Dandiya.”

Neel glances at me briefly before turning back to her. “Actually, I’m here by myself. I’m divorced.”

“Oh!” Mom sounds shocked but recovers quickly and beams. I haven’t seen her this happy at learning about a divorce, but I know why when she opens her mouth to speak again. “My friend’s daughter is also divorced. Let me—”

“Ma,” I hiss, “Stop it! You don’t have to set everyone up.”

“But—”

Somebody calls her just then, so she cuts it short, patting Neel’s arm before she leaves. “Don’t you go anywhere. I’ll be right back.”

The moment she’s gone, I grab Neel’s hand. “Let’s get out of here.”

Just then, I notice my grandmother approaching us.

“Kavita!” My grandmother rushes over and envelops me in a tight hug. “Look who I brought to join the Dandiya fun!”

We are greeted by two of her friends, all dressed in bright, colorful skirts and garb. I introduce Neel to Grandma and to the women, Rimli Aunty and Kajal Aunty.

Grandma beams at Neel. “Lovely to meet you, Neel.”

The women are buzzing with energy already. “Tonight’s going to be a wonderful night!” Grandma says as they pick up their dandiya sticks and move forward.

“Do you want to join us?” she asks.

“Oh, no! I’m fine,” Neel says.

I glance briefly at his hand. His knuckles have turned bluish. He notices me watching and shrugs. “I’m fine. The pain’s gone.”

We are soon lost in the fun as Grandma and her friends form a circle and start dancing with the dandiya sticks, tapping them together rhythmically. Despite their age, they move with amazing energy and spirit.

“How wonderful that your grandmother and friends are here,” Neel says.

“They always amaze me.” I watch them, their hands waving in the air, their skirts swirling, and a vivid idea begins to form in my head. I’m just about to share it with Neel when a throat clears behind us.

A tall, slender woman with wide eyes, brown, wispy hair, and blonde highlights steps up in front of Neel. She’s wearing a designer zircon-studded off-shoulder blouse, her bare shoulders glistening under the lights. She reaches for his arm. “Neel, what happened? Why aren’t you dancing?”

“Anjali!” Neel says, sounding surprised.

CHAPTER 11

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.