Page 32 of Knot So Romantic

“Oh, I couldn’t tell you struggled with it,” I chuckle, teasing her.

She slaps my shoulder playfully. “But I do make some mean instant Maggi noodles. If that’s the only cooking I’ve learned. If you haven’t tasted them, you’re missing out.”

“Now that,” I say, already drooling, “is something I’m going to take you up on.”

As soon as I’m comfortable riding the scooter, I zoom off.

She screams, laughing with delight, holding on tight.

I laugh, too. I can’t help but like Kavita. There’s that warm, fun side of her. She’s so joyful and full of life. Our age difference hardly seems to matter when I’m with her. I admire her passion for her work, her determination to make a difference, and her commitment to preserving the things that matter to her. She’s creative and fun, and her enthusiasm for life is infectious. The more I get to know her, the more I find to like about her.

I like her so much, but it scares me. I haven’t given myself a chance in all these years to bare my heart and allow my deepest feelings out without restraint.

And yet, when she is with me, I can’t stop myself.

Maybe I’m just a grumpy old fool who’s forgotten how to let himself feel, how to take a chance on himself. Maybe my age and past experiences have left me awkward and unsure around women like Kavita. Maybe I won’t get it right.

But maybe it isn’t as terrible as it seems. I feel a decade younger, doing all the things I’ve done and having all the fun I’ve had today. I haven’t felt like this in a long time.

It’s as if Kavita has awakened a part of me that I thought had long since disappeared, a part that craves the excitement and joy of living life to the fullest.

Kavita squeezes my shoulder just then. “Look. The stars.” And before I know it, my gaze follows the direction of her finger, and I look up at the sky.

I wonder if the sky looks more beautiful than I’ve ever seen it or if everything around me seems so much more beautiful.

As if by magic.

“Hold on tight!” I yell as we zip through the streets.

Tonight has been crazy. Anjali’s non-stop rant in the car about her heartbreak, the disaster that was the Dandiya dance, and the sticks that almost broke my knuckles. But what I want to remember most of all tonight is running into Kavita, sucking on golas like in my childhood, and avoiding matchmaking moms.

And most of all, this ride through these beautiful neighborhoods. As we zip through the quiet streets lined with dim streetlights and towering trees, their branches casting shadows on the ground before us, I’m struck by the serene beauty of old Bangalore. It’s a side of the city that’s often overlooked but one that holds so much character and charm.

I think about what Kavita said earlier, about how we can’t let developers do as they please. As I take in the picturesque surroundings that make this city so special, I know it’s not the shiny new developments or the bustling tech scene that keep its spirit alive, but it’s preserving its old essence and beauty.

“You know, I’ve been thinking about what you said earlier,” I call out as we navigate the winding road. “About not letting the developers have their way with the city.”

“Yes!” she says, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

A thought occurs to me then, making me smile. “I’d like to show you something.”

Suddenly, I can’t wait to hear what she thinks about it.

CHAPTER 13

Kavita

“What is this place?” I ask when he parks my scooter, and we stand in front of a construction site. It’s not too far from my grandmother’s place, but I don’t think I’ve seen it before.

“The builders left the plot unfinished when they ran into some sort of financial trouble,” Neel says as the guard recognizes him and lets us in. “We won the bid for it a few years ago,” Neel continues. “The development started last year, and this is one of our prime projects. It’s quiet, and the trees all around keep the air clean and the area green.”

We walk along the narrow path lighted by lamp posts. My eyes widen in wonder at the sight before me. Lush greens surround Neel’s construction site. Despite the unfinished look, there’s an undeniable charm to this place. The quiet neighborhood is serene, and the air carries with it the rich scent of earth. The raw beauty of nature is everywhere I turn. It’s as if we’ve walked into an oasis in the middle of an urban jungle.

“We’ve constructed the plots around the existing trees so that we don’t destroy the natural beauty of this land,” he says.

“How did you even find such a gorgeous place?” I ask, staring in awe as we continue our walk.

“That’s what my company does,” he laughs. “That’s our team’s job. We look to buy or lease property as well as invest in development projects like this one.”