Page 65 of Strictly Solo
From time to time, Ruhaan fed Neil, and each time Neil accepted the food with a bright smile, Naina’s heart swelled. This was what she wanted—a man who could love both her and her son unconditionally. And while Raj was kind and respectful, it was Ruhaan who made her feel this way. It was Ruhaan who made her heart race, her thoughts scatter, her hopes build. It wasn’t Raj who gave her these feelings of a complete family, it was Ruhaan.
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The rest of the day passed in a blur for Naina. The constant stream of guests and the festivities around her left her feelingmentally drained. It was night now, and she had finally managed to put Neil to sleep. Exhausted from the day’s activities, her son had dozed off quickly, his small figure snuggled under the blanket. Naina was still in the saree she had worn for the event and hadn’t yet changed into her night clothes, when she was suddenly called by her uncle to the drawing room.
As she entered, she found her uncle, Subodh, sitting comfortably with Raj.
“Naina, make us some coffee, will you?” her uncle requested warmly. “You make the best coffee. In fact, Naina’s good at everything,” he added turning to Raj, his pride evident in his voice.
Raj’s eyes gleamed with interest, his gaze following Naina as she forced a polite smile. “I’d love to taste your coffee, Naina. Your uncle has been singing your praises all evening.”
Naina felt a wave of discomfort rise within her. She glanced around, hoping for an excuse to slip away. That’s when she saw Ruhaan. He was standing at a distance, watching her. He had been waiting patiently for her all evening, hoping she would come to the terrace as promised. His face lit up briefly when he saw her, but the moment was short-lived as he realized she was trapped here, stuck in this forced conversation between her uncle and Raj.
Naina set about making the coffee, glancing at Ruhaan whenever she could. It touched her, seeing him loitering around near the kitchen, pretending to be busy on some call while his eyes followed her every movement. She wondered,What does he want to do so badly on the terrace? What’s the surprise he mentioned?
When she finally emerged with the steaming cups, she found Ruhaan still lingering, his face brightening momentarily at her appearance. However, before she could make her escape, her uncle’s voice trapped her once more.
“Sit with us, Naina,” he patted the space beside him. “This is a wonderful opportunity for you to get to know Raj better.”
She glanced at Ruhaan again, and this time his expression hardened, anger flashed in his eyes as he watched her sit down with them. She could sense his frustration; he had hoped to spend time with her tonight, their last night together under the same roof, but now it seemed impossible.
Ruhaan had had enough. He turned on his heel and stormed back to his room, slamming the door behind him. He wasn’t going to wait on the terrace like a fool.
“What does her uncle see in Raj, anyway?” he muttered angrily to himself, tearing off his shirt and throwing it carelessly onto the sofa. “Yes, he’s a good man, but this isn’t how alliances are made. You can’t force someone into spending time with a man they don’t have feelings for.”
His thoughts were interrupted by a voice behind him. “Then how are alliances made?”
Ruhaan froze. He hadn’t locked the door, and when he turned around, he saw Naina standing there smiling at him. For a moment, he was speechless, shocked and thrilled that she had managed to sneak away.
Naina stepped inside, locking the door behind her. “Tell me,” she repeated. “How are alliances made if not like this?”
Ruhaan wasted no time. He crossed the room in a few quick strides, grabbing her upper arms and pulling her flush against his bare chest.
“I’m not an expert on that subject, Naina,” he murmured huskily, “but I do know one thing: for an alliance to work, both parties should be equally interested. Like we were, remember? When I came to see you for the first time… we clicked. Westillclick.”
Her lips parted slightly, stunned by the raw truth in his words. He was right. They had always had a connection, onethat hadn’t faded even after years of separation. His gaze turned intense, his fingers tightening on her arms as he fought the urge to kiss her right there. But instead, he released her and took a step back.
“Wait here,” he said, turning around and walking over to the dresser. “I have something for you.”
As he searched, Naina couldn’t help but admire the play of muscles across his back, the way his night pants hung low on his hips, offering a tantalizing glimpse of the waistband of his underwear. She bit the inside of her cheek, forcing herself to look away, trying to ignore the fluttering in her stomach being so close to a shirtless Ruhaan looking so sexy and handsome as ever.
When he turned back to her, he held a wrapped box in his hands. Without a word, he presented it to her, and waited for her to open it. Naina glanced at him curiously before unwrapping the gift, gasping softly as she recognized the contents. It was the photograph of her and Neil when he was three years old - the same one that had fallen and broken during their heated argument days ago. Ruhaan had got it beautifully reframed.
Tears welled up in Naina’s eyes as she traced the edge of the frame with her finger. The gesture spoke volumes about Ruhaan’s thoughtfulness, his attention to her feelings, that mattered to her.
“Ruhaan…” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. “You didn’t have to…”
“I did,” Ruhaan interrupted softly. “It meant something to you. And I… I wanted to fix it.”
She could see the vulnerability in his eyes, the unspoken emotions he was trying to convey. She didn’t know if he realized it but Ruhaan had changed. He wasn’t the man who had walked away seven years ago. He was someone different now—someone who was willing to try, to make things right.
She stepped closer to him, her fingers brushing against his chest. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Ruhaan smiled, his fingers intertwining with hers as he pulled her hand and kissed her fingers.
“You don’t need to thank me,” he said quietly, as his gaze locked onto Naina’s. “Is Neil asleep?”
Her heart warmed at his concern. Even now, amidst the simmering tension between them, Ruhaan’s thoughts still went to her son. It showed how much he cared, how protective he was becoming of Neil.
