Page 19 of Strictly Solo
Naina blinked, caught off guard by his unexpected response. “No,” she whispered.
“Good, then why don’t we just... talk?”
Naina took an involuntary step backward, her eyes widening. “Talk?” she repeated.
“Yes, talk,” Ruhaan confirmed, exhaling softly. He took a step closer, closing the distance between them. “You don’t have any questions for me?”
Of course, she had questions – a thousand of them swirling in her head. But faced with Ruhaan’s intense presence, she found herself at a loss for words.
Sensing her hesitation, Ruhaan continued, “Okay, let me ask you some then.” He paused, waiting for her nod of agreement before proceeding. “I heard from your Uncle that you’ve applied for some jobs here in Delhi. So, after marriage, are you still interested in working?”
Naina was relieved at the seemingly safe topic. She straightened her shoulders. “I believe every woman should stand on their own feet. I really want to work.”
“Done,” Ruhaan replied instantly, his quick agreement catching Naina by surprise. “I like independent women.”
Instead of feeling proud or pleased, Naina felt a twinge of... something else. Her brows furrowed as she asked, “How many independent women have you liked so far?”
Ruhaan’s laughter rang out in the quiet night. Before she could react, he stepped forward, gently grasping her arms.
“Two so far,” he admitted, his touch sending sparks through Naina’s body.
She struggled to maintain her composure, turning her face slightly to hide her conflicting emotions.
“One, my mother, who has assisted Dad in his business so far, and second, my sister Ryma who stays in the UAE. She’s a leading architect there. Both are an inspiration to me.”
Her body relaxed at his words, the tension easing from her shoulders. But her reprieve was short-lived as Ruhaan leaned in close, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “I’m glad to add your name to the list, Naina Bhalla, if you agree to be my wife.”
His words sent a jolt through her entire being. Before she could process the emotions swirling within her, Ruhaan placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, just below her left ear. The tender gesture overwhelmed Naina, leaving her breathless.
For a moment, time stood still. Her heart pounded so loudly she was sure Ruhaan could hear it. Yet, without a word, she pulled away from Ruhaan’s embrace and ran back into the house.
He watched her go, before taking a moment to compose himself and then followed her inside.
As they rejoined their families for dinner, Naina was acutely aware of his presence across the table. She struggled to focus on her meal, her eyes repeatedly drawn to him despite her best efforts. Each time their gazes met, she felt a rush of heat flood her body.
Ruhaan, for his part, seemed entirely at ease. He engaged in polite conversation with both families, all the while stealing glances at her. His subtle looks and knowing smiles only served to intensify the butterflies in her stomach.
The memory of Ruhaan’s touch, his whispered words, and that electrifying kiss on her cheek played on repeat in her head.
As the evening drew to a close, she realized that in the span of a few short hours, her entire world had shifted. The prospect of an arranged marriage, which had seemed so daunting earlier that day, now held a new allure. Ruhaan Singh wasunlike anyone she had ever met, and the thought of a future with him thrilled her.
When the Singh family finally prepared to leave, Ruhaan sought out Naina one last time. Under the watchful eyes of their parents, he took her hand in his, his touch sending a shiver through her.
“It was a pleasure meeting you, Naina,” he said, his voice low enough for only her to hear. “I look forward to getting to know you better.”
Naina managed a shy smile, her voice barely above a whisper as she replied, “Likewise, Ruhaan.”
As she watched him leave, she knew with certainty that her life would never be the same. Whatever the future held, Ruhaan Singh had awakened something within her – a passion and a curiosity that she never knew existed. And deep down, she couldn’t wait to explore where this new chapter might lead.
The next month had been a blur of stolen moments and flirtatious text messages from Ruhaan. Each ping of her phone had sent her heart racing. Naina had never experienced anything like this before…the constant anticipation, the butterflies in her stomach, the way her cheeks flushed at the mere thought of him.
He had opened up to her about his past relationships. He had been honest about his two ex-girlfriends, a fact that both impressed and intimidated her. In turn, she had shyly admitted that she had never had a boyfriend before.
The engagement ceremony was an intimate affair, with only close family members in attendance. As Ruhaan slipped the delicate diamond ring onto her finger, their eyes locked, and she knew she had given a piece of her heart to this man already who was now her fiancée.
As the families mingled and celebrated, Suman suddenly appeared at Naina’s side. “Come with me,” she said, tugging on Naina’s arm. “I have a surprise for you.”
Confused but intrigued, Naina allowed her sister to lead her away from the gathering and up the stairs to the terrace. As they emerged into the cool night air, Naina gasped. There, leaning against the railing with a rose in his hand, stood Ruhaan.
