Page 99 of Strictly Solo
“Well,” Ruhaan continued, “I was just telling your Mumma that I want to be your Daddy too.” He squeezed Neil’s hand gently. “Would you accept me as your Daddy if I marry your Mumma and we all live together forever?”
Neil’s gaze darted to his mother, who stood speechless at this turn of events, before returning to Ruhaan. When he didn’t respond for another few seconds, but continued to think so hard, Ruhaan couldn’t take it.
“C’mon, Champ. I know I made you wait for so long to ask you this, but please don’t keep me waiting to know your reply.”
Neil crossed his arms.
“Mumma cries a lot these days,” he said seriously. “If you promise to make her smile all the time and never cry, then it’s okay if you become my Daddy.”
Ruhaan chuckled, pulling Neil into a hug. “I promise no one is ever crying between us once I become your Daddy.”
Neil’s joyous yell echoed through the apartment as he threw himself into Ruhaan’s arms. The Kundras watched the scene almost speechless.
Subodh finally broke the moment and spoke to Neil first.
“Neil? What’s this? All talks with Ruhaan and no hello for Nana and Nani?”
Neil’s face lit up as he bounded over to embrace his grandparents. Malti, sensing her husband’s need to speak with the couple alone, smoothly interjected, “Come, beta, let me show you what special toys and treats I brought for you. But first, you need to brush your teeth!”
Neil happily headed inside with Malti, not before giving another hug to Ruhaan. Once he disappeared into the bedroom, Subodh turned to face Ruhaan.
“Do you understand what you’re saying? Marriage is a lifetime commitment. Raising a child isn’t something to be taken lightly. Are you truly ready for that?”
“I’m more than ready, Uncle,” he replied. “I know I’ve made mistakes, but I’ve changed. I’m not running away this time.”
“We trusted you once,” Subodh reminded him, pain evident in his voice. “Seven years ago, when you and your mother broke the alliance weeks before the wedding, Naina’s world crumbled. I won’t watch that happen again.”
“I understand your concern,” Ruhaan said softly. “But I’m not the same person I was then. My priorities have changed. Naina and Neil are my world now. And this isn’t about keeping my word anymore; it’s about following my heart.”
Subodh’s expression softened slightly as he turned to Naina. “Beta, what do you want?”
Naina remained silent, overwhelmed by the morning’s events. Subodh sighed deeply.
“I don’t know if he deserves this chance, but it’s your life, your decision. Whatever you choose, we’ll support you.” He turned back to Ruhaan. “We’ll need to meet Kaushalya if this is what you both decide.”
“I’ll call her here this evening,” Ruhaan responded promptly. “She and Ryma are returning to Mumbai today. They can come directly here so we can all discuss this together.”
Subodh nodded in agreement and walked toward Neil’s room, giving Naina and Ruhaan space to talk. Naina folded her arms across her chest, trying to mask the storm of emotions swirling inside her.
“What are you doing, Ruhaan?” she demanded. “What is this? Some grand gesture to fix everything overnight?”
“This isn’t a gesture. This is me finally taking a stand for us. Something I should have done seven years ago.”
She shook her head.
“Do you even understand what you’re committing to? You’re talking about marriage, about being Neil’s father, as if it’s something you just decided on a whim. These aren’t things you can back out of, Ruhaan, not like before.”
Ruhaan flinched at her words, but he held her gaze.
“I know what I’m saying. Seven years ago, I was hiding behind my mother’s decisions and my own selfishness. But I’m not that man anymore. Tell me, Naina, haven’t you sensed it yet? My feelings for Neil, my love for you?”
“It’s not that simple, Ruhaan. You think just because you say you’re ready now, all the pain, all that confusion I have in my head whether you will really stick to what you have committed to me now, will disappear? Do you even know how hard it was tomove on from you? And now… now you’re here, turning my life upside down again.”
He stepped closer.
“I know I hurt you. I hate myself for it every single day. I see the strength it took for you to raise Neil on your own, to build a life for yourself without any support. Maybe I don’t deserve you and Neil. But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to fight for you both.”
“Fight for us?” she looked at him with tears brimming in her eyes. “Do you even know what that means? The commitment you are talking about? It’s about being with us every single day. It’s about being there for Neil when he’s sick, when he’s angry, when he’s struggling. It’s about being there for me when I’m tired, when I feel like I’m failing. It’s about being a family, Ruhaan. And you’ve never been the man who wanted that.”
