Page 69 of Knot So Romantic

They’re right. I’m scared of failing. But walking away would be the biggest failure of all.

Which means I have to figure out a way to take the plunge and go all in.

Which means I have to be ready to take a chance on love again.

***

I rush to Kavita’s boutique, but it’s closed. The entire building is dark. Kavita isn’t home. Then it hits me. Of course, the suitor would be meeting her at her parents’ house, not at her boutique. I panic and start making a few phone calls. I need to find out where Kavita’s parents live. Finally, Kiara gives me her address. “Good luck,” she says. “I can’t believe how long we’ve waited for this.”

As I’m about to leave, my phone buzzes. It’s news about the deal I’ve been working on. It’s finally come through. But this is not the time to celebrate that.

I get into my car and drive fast, my thoughts a whirlwind. Elena’s wedding is just a month away. I should be focused on that, on making sure nothing overshadows her big day. But Kavita’s face keeps appearing in my mind, her words echoing in my ears. I’ll know you want to give us a real chance.

My heart races as I park outside Kavita’s parents’ house, making it in record time. Or maybe not. I check my watch, hoping I’m not too late. Has she met her suitor already? Has she said yes to him?

I grip the steering wheel. I almost want to drive away, to let Kavita find someone unburdened by the past. But a small voice, growing louder by the second, urges me to do this, to fight for what I want.

CHAPTER 30

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!”