Page 43 of Knot So Romantic

“Oh, Neel,” she whispers, her breath warm over my lips. “I’ve wanted to kiss you so badly. Have you felt that way too?”

I nod against her face.

We kiss again, until she finally pulls back and looks into my eyes. Her gaze is soft and understanding. “Neel, I hope you know that those rumors don’t matter to me. Not at all.”

My heart feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest. It feels like a long moment, but only a few seconds pass while we look at each other.

I see a flash of something in her eyes before she whispers, “I like you, Neel.” She fidgets with her fingers, clearly nervous. “I really do.”

I look into her eyes, and everything I’m feeling for her comes to the surface. There’s no denying it. Yet, I’ve never felt so torn as I do now. “I don’t think you should have feelings for a guy like me.”

“Will you let me decide that?” she challenges me.

I put my hand on top of hers, struggling with my emotions. “Maybe you don’t know what you’re getting into. Maybe you’ll regret it, just like Ramya did.”

“It’s scary to know what I want and be even more scared to ask for it,” she says, her gaze steady on mine. “But you...us. This is what I want. And I’ve never felt it more strongly.”

I feel a lump in my throat. “Kavita, I...” I take a deep breath, searching for the right words. “I have feelings for you. But my past, it’s...it’s not easy to forget. And I’m much older than you, old enough to be your father...”

She laughs softly, then turns serious. “I know, Neel. And I don’t care about the age difference. I’m not asking you to forget your past. I just want you to know that I’m here, and I care about you.”

Her words touch something deep inside me, and I find myself wanting to push all the negative thoughts aside, focusing on the woman before me. “Kavita, I care about you too.”

A smile spreads across her face. Her eyes are misty. “Is it too much to hope that we could get to know each other better and see where this goes?”

“I’d like that,” I reply softly. “We can take things slow.”

“I’d like that very much.”

She leans forward, her eyes shining with hope and tenderness. I cup her face gently in my hands, savoring this moment. Our lips meet in a soft, sweet kiss that feels like a promise.

As we pull apart, I rest my forehead against hers, breathing her in, feeling happier than I have in years.

CHAPTER 18

Kavita

I’m at my parents’ house just before the weekly prayer meeting is set to start. I’ve invited Kiara and Khushi over so we can all have dinner afterward, as Mom had promised.

Mom seizes the opportunity to catch me alone to present her next case. “There’s a new proposal for you. Jeet’s mother called me just yesterday.”

“Ma,” I groan.

“Your horoscopes match perfectly.” Mom looks at me eagerly. “He’s back after two years abroad, and he’s landed a very prestigious job here. He wants to settle down. We’d really like him for you.”

“Your mother is very keen on Jeet,” Dad adds playfully.

I let out a sigh. “So, what does Jeet’s mother think about me?” I ask, just to humor my parents. Then I add, “What if I don’t like him?”

Mom plants a hand on her forehead. “You’ve already rejected two proposals. We’re worried about you, just like his mother is worried about him. You know, it’s always the mothers everyone blames.”

Dad touches her hand across the table. “I don’t blame you, Shalu,” he says. “Neither does anyone I know.”

“But they think it in their minds,” Mom says, sniffling. “Anyway, I don’t care.” She turns to me again. “So, Jeet’s mother thinks he’s keen on you.”

“Keen on me?” My eyes widen. “Why me?”

“You used to play carrom together as kids and spend hours playing instead of doing homework.”