Page 71 of Knot So Romantic

This moment is about me and every woman who’s been told her dreams are secondary to her role as a wife and mother. It’s time to make my parents understand that marriage isn’t about finding someone who tolerates your passions. It’s about finding someone who fuels them.

It’s about finding a partner who loves you wholly and unconditionally, someone who sees everything you do as an integral part of who you are.

I take a deep breath, ready to face my parents and Jeet’s family. Just as I’m about to walk into the living room, determined to call off this marriage proposal meeting, Mom comes back to the kitchen.

“Aren’t you coming out to meet Jeet?” she asks.

“I’m not marrying someone who doesn’t value what I do and thinks my career is a side hustle. Please ask them to leave.”

“What?” Mom tries to reason with me. “We can’t send them away like that!”

“Either you tell them, or I will,” I say firmly.

Mom’s face falls, but my expression is set. I’m not budging from my position.

Her shoulders slump as she shuffles out to talk to them. “Kavita isn’t feeling well. I’m sorry...” I hear her voice fade as she tries to make excuses for why I won’t go out to meet them. “I’m sorry you took the trouble to come over.”

“What?” I hear Jeet’s mother exclaim. “What sort of meeting is this? You needn’t have wasted our time if your daughter wasn’t interested.”

I feel sorry for my mother as she ushers them out, but just as she’s back in the kitchen to scold me for what just happened, the doorbell rings again.

I stride out of the kitchen and to the door, determined to tell Jeet off if he’s back.

But it’s not Jeet who’s standing there, slightly out of breath.

It’s Neel.

“Am I too late?” he asks, sounding as if he’s taken the stairs instead of the elevator.

I hadn’t expected to see him. My heart pounds.

“Who is it?” Mom calls from inside.

I don’t say a word as I step aside to let Neel in.

“Sorry for being late,” he says, stepping into the living room.

I’m so relieved to see him. I think I need to sit down.

“Kavita, I’m sorry it took so long to come to my senses.”

I try to interrupt, but he continues, “Please, just hear me out. You have every right to be angry with me. I messed up. I thought you might be making a mistake by choosing me, but I was the one making the mistake by not choosing you. I see that now. I want you in my life more than anything.” He runs a hand through his hair. “I hope you haven’t yet met the other suitor or accepted the proposal. And if you have, I’m willing to do anything to have you back in my life. Absolutely anything!”

“Neel, I’m so sorry for everything. For not telling my parents about you. For making it seem like I wasn’t serious about you. I’d like you to know that I was serious…I am serious about you. And only you.”

“I love you, Kavita,” he says, his gaze locked on mine. “I probably fell in love with you the moment you landed in my arms at Kiara’s wedding. I love your heart. I love that you always saw in me what I couldn’t see for myself, and that you cared for my feelings. I love the way you make me feel years younger than I really am. You make me feel alive again. I should have said all this sooner.”

“Anything else?” I say though I feel my eyes prick with tears. I don’t think I can stand watching this man pour his heart out while I find myself unable to stop wanting to throw myself into his arms.

“What do you think about us being together?” he reaches out and holds my hand. “Please just say you’ll give us a chance and allow me to make up for my stupid mistakes.”

I nod as tears roll down my cheeks. “Yes, to having you in my life.” I let out a sob. “Forever, if you let me.”

“Good, because someone told me I’d be stupid not to fight for you.” With that, he takes my face in his hands and lowers his lips to mine.

I throw my arms around Neel’s neck, and he lifts me right off my feet. “Thank God,” he whispers in my ear. “Thank God I got here in time.”

A throat clears behind us.