Page 42 of Strictly Solo
“I thought you might like it,” he murmured. “Whenever I am in Delhi, I come up here sometimes when I need to clear my head. It helps put things in perspective, you know?”
She leaned back against him, savoring the warmth of his body in the cool night air. “It’s perfect. Thank you for sharing this place with me.”
They stood there for a long moment, simply drinking in the view and each other’s presence. There was something so easy and natural about being with him, like they never had any separation in the last seven years.
“Penny for your thoughts?” he asked, noticing her pensive expression.
She smiled and shook her head. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking... I’m really glad I came tonight. I almost had decided not to, you know.”
He raised an eyebrow. “And what changed your mind?”
She shrugged, suddenly feeling shy. “You, I guess. There’s just something about you that makes me want to take risks, to step outside my comfort zone. It’s scary, but... exciting too.”
He reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m glad you took the risk,” he said softly. “Being with you... it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before either.”
Their eyes locked. “Tell me about your life in Mumbai,” he said. “What’s a typical day like for you and Neil?”
Naina sighed, as she thought about her daily life. “It all starts with waking Neil up for school,” she explained. “I swear, that boy could sleep through an earthquake. Then it’s a whirlwind of making his tiffin, preparing breakfast, and getting us both ready. It’s like a one-woman circus act, juggling a hundred things at once.”
Ruhaan listened intently, captivated by the glimpse into her world as she continued. “After dropping Neil off at school, I head to work. It’s hectic, but I love what I do. In the afternoon, our nanny picks Neil up and takes care of him until I get home. When I return, he’s usually playing with his friends in the society park, the nanny keeping a watchful eye. Then the nanny leaves,and it’s just me and him. We bond over what happened at school, I help him with his homework, cook dinner, and then we have our meal together. Then it’s cartoon time - his favorite part of the day before bed.”
As she spoke, a soft smile spread across his face. He could hear the love and dedication in her voice as she talked about Neil, and it warmed his heart.
“You’re an incredible mom, Naina,” he said. “Neil is so lucky to have you.”
Her eyes glistened with tears. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Neil... he’s all I’ve had for so long.”
Ruhaan pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “Not anymore,” he murmured, his lips brushing against her temple. “Now you have me too.”
The sincerity in his voice was undeniable. But the last time she needed him, he wasn’t there for her. Naina shrugged those thoughts at the moment.
Ruhaan released her and headed back to the car. “Wait here,” he said with a wink.
Curious, she watched as he rummaged through the backseat before returning with a small tin. He opened it to reveal a batch of her favorite Choco chip cookies from the famous bakery here in Delhi. “I remembered you loved these,” he said, handing her the tin. “So, I got them for you.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “You remembered?” She took a cookie, savoring the familiar taste. It was a small gesture, but it meant the world to her that he had remembered such a small detail from their past.
“Of course, I did.” He smiled. “I could never forget.”
She fed him one and then the next before savoring the rest of it. All these years she had been pampering her son. Tonight, someone else was pampering her and she loved it to the core.
They talked some more, sharing memories and thoughts as the night wore on. By the time they realized it, it was already midnight. It was time to head back to the villa, but neither of them was ready for the night to end.
Just as Ruhaan was about to put the car in gear, Naina reached out, placing her hand on his arm. He turned to her, a question in his eyes. Unable to resist any longer, she leaned in and kissed him. It was a soft, tentative kiss at first, but the moment their lips met, something ignited between them.
Ruhaan responded instantly, his hands coming up to cup her face. In one fluid motion, he pushed his seat behind and pulled her onto his lap, giving them better access to each other. Naina went willingly, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pressed herself closer.
The kiss deepened. Naina felt as though she was melting, her entire world narrowing down to the sensation of Ruhaan’s lips on hers, his hands roaming her back.
When they finally broke apart, both were breathless. He rested his forehead against hers, his eyes dark with passion.
“I thought you said no kissing tonight,” he teased.
Naina laughed breathlessly. “I guess I’m not very good at following rules then. Not even my own,” she admitted.
“Good,” he growled, tracing the curve of her cheek with his thumb. “Because I’m nowhere near done kissing you yet.”
He captured her lips again in a searing kiss that left her weak-kneed and trembling. Naina lost herself in the sensations, reveling in the feel of Ruhaan’s strong arms around her and the taste of him on her tongue.
