Page 45 of Knot So Romantic

I can’t help but smile at the memory. “He was hesitant at first, but then...he admitted he has feelings for me too.”

Khushi nudges me gently. “How are you feeling about that?”

“I’m a little nervous,” I admit, feeling a flutter in my stomach. “It’s been a while since I’ve met someone I like.”

“Just be yourself, Kavita,” Kiara says, squeezing my hand. “He already likes you for who you are.”

Khushi grins. “Yeah, and don’t forget to share all the juicy details with us!”

I roll my eyes, laughing. “You two are impossible!”

“We’re just happy for you,” Kiara says. “It’s about time you found someone special.”

I grab a pillow and playfully toss it at them. “Alright, alright. But there’s a problem. Mom just got Jeet’s proposal for me. And guess what? Our horoscopes match too!” I huff.

Khushi giggles as I tell them all the reasons Mom is so keen on Jeet. “Oh, man! Don’t think you’ll be able to wiggle out of this one!”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I grumble as Khushi starts laughing again. “But it’s not funny.”

Khushi lifts her hand in a gesture of peace. “Okay, I’m kidding!”

“Mom even said now that Kiara is married, it’s my turn next.”

Khushi snorts. “Your mom has no reason to be disappointed as long as I’m still here to keep you company.”

Kiara smiles at me. “You remember how it was you who convinced me to give it a shot? I don’t know if I would have been ready for Arjun.”

I smile back. “He’d always been good for you. You just never saw it.”

“You can turn down Jeet if you don’t like him,” Kiara suggests.

I sigh. “Mom showed me his photo. He looks good. He’s got great qualifications. He’s got a great job... Mom sounded so excited I don’t think I have solid grounds to turn him down. Unless…”

Khushi’s eyes twinkle knowingly as she finishes my sentence. “Unless there is someone you like.”

“Do your parents know about Neel?” Kiara asks.

I’ve thought about my parents’ reaction, trying to imagine how they’ll respond when they find out their single, never-married daughter is interested in a man who’s older and divorced.

“No,” I say with quiet resolve. “I want to keep Neel a secret for now. I want us to understand each other better before involving my parents. Plus,” I add, a small smile playing on my lips, “I kind of like having him all to myself for a little longer.”

Kiara adds, “It might not hurt to introduce the idea of Neel gradually, you know. Maybe mention him casually as a client’s brother or a new friend. That’s how it was with Arjun and my family. My grandmother was already fond of him before I even realized I had feelings for him. It wasn’t such a shock when we finally admitted we were in love.”

Khushi nods in agreement. “Yeah, and you never know. Your parents might surprise you. They want you to be happy, after all.”

As I listen to my friends, a joyful sensation courses through me. Despite the complications with Jeet’s proposal and my parents’ expectations, I can’t help but feel a surge of excitement about Neel.

For the first time in years, I’m allowing myself to hope, to dream about love.

Despite the challenges ahead, I feel like my heart has already made its choice.

It’s beating for Neel. And it feels unmistakably like love.

CHAPTER 19

Neel

At Mom’s house, I find Elena in the kitchen, rolling out rotis that look more like abstract art than circular flatbreads. Mom’s sitting at the nearby table, shelling peas and supervising. I realize they must have given the cook the day off, probably because Elena’s determined to master the art of roti-making.