Kareena's Perspective: Chapter 28 Summary and Study Notes

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The chapter opens with Kareena Mann on the phone with Dave, the owner of Dave's Restoration, a shop she discovered by chance and has trusted ever since because he treats cars like his own children. She tells him she's ready to hand over her 1988 BMW E30 M3 in Henna Red with tan seats—a car she's been restoring on her own for a long time. Dave is thrilled and offers to tow the car himself that very night. Kareena agrees, even though it means canceling her evening with Prem, the only time they had together before Bindu's engagement party. She reasons that the car is important and that she could use the weekend to think.

Dave asks for the usual paperwork: maintenance records, a list of restored and original components, and a list of what she wants his shop to handle. Kareena promises to email everything and asks him to bring tracks so her grass doesn't get ruined. Before hanging up, Dave asks why she's ready now. Kareena looks at her bare ring finger and reflects that getting engaged doesn't scare her—what terrifies her is getting engaged to someone who doesn't love her back. She tells Dave she's finally ready and ends the call.

She then calls Prem, who immediately guesses she's canceling. He teases her about past bad dates, and she explains that Dave is picking up the car. Prem congratulates her, and Kareena admits to herself that finishing the restoration feels exhilarating, terrifying, sad, and giddy—like she's lost her purpose. They agree to meet at Bindu's engagement party and to talk every night until then. Prem asks if she's okay telling her family about their future plans at the party; she says yes, though internally she's not sure. She nearly says