Page 36 of Strictly Solo
As the kiss grew more passionate, they both were acutely aware of the shift in their relationship. This was no longer about a proposed fling or a rekindling of an old flame. It was the beginning of something deeper, more profound.
When they finally parted, both were breathless, their chests heaving. Ruhaan rested his forehead against Naina’s, unwilling to completely break contact.
“Welcome to my world.” The moment he said this the garden suddenly blazed with light as the power was restored.
Naina, still breathless and trembling with emotion gave him a small smile, unable to comprehend where this was going to lead them from here.
“I know this is madness,” she finally spoke. “This is so not me, Ruhaan. I… I’ve been so confused ever since you proposed this. Part of me wanted to say yes the moment you suggested it, but another part was terrified. I have Neil to think about. He’s my world. I can’t risk his happiness if anything going on between us affects him.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
“I care for Neil too,” Ruhaan replied. “This will never affect him. I’ll never do anything that can hurt Neil, I promise.”
Her face lit up with joy as her worries eased. Least did she know she was risking her own heart in the process of exploring something new in her life again.
Chapter 10
Next Morning
Naina stared at her mehndi-clad hands, admiring the design on her skin. It was the morning after she had agreed to Ruhaan’s proposal for a casual relationship, sealing it with a passionate kiss that still lingered in her thoughts. After that electrifying moment, she had quickly returned to the lawn, where her aunt and Suman had been searching for her to start applying the Mehndi.
It had taken nearly two hours to finish this elaborate pattern on her hands, but it was worth it. Throughout the entire process, Ruhaan was never far from her mind, or her sight. He had been everywhere, helping out in various ways: serving the ladies drinks, playing with the children, checking the lights for any issues, and even taking on the role of cameraman for the aunties eager to capture selfies and group photos. His mother, Kaushalya, watched him with suspicion, likely thinking his involvement was to impress Poonam. If only she knew that his eyes never left Naina, not once during the entire event. Poor Poonam tried her best to draw attention with her low-neck choli and loud conversations, but her attempts failed to impress anyone, certainly not Ruhaan.
As Naina recalled the previous night’s events, a chuckle escaped her lips, that caught the attention of her uncle, Subodh Kundra, who approached and sat next to her.
“What’s so funny?” Subodh asked, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. “You seem to be in a world of your own. You’ve been sitting here grinning to yourself for the past five minutes.”
Startled by his sudden appearance, she quickly tried to change the subject, not wanting her uncle to suspect that Ruhaan occupied her thoughts. Though her family didn’t dislike Ruhaan, the memory of their broken engagement seven years ago loomed large, and they wouldn’t want her to get too close to him again.
“I was just thinking about one of Neil’s antics,” she lied smoothly, hoping to divert her uncle’s attention.
Subodh chuckled, leaning back comfortably. “Ah, that boy. He’s full of surprises.”
“Speaking of surprises, where is Neil?” she asked, realizing the house was unusually quiet. “Are the kids playing in the backyard?”
Subodh shook his head, looking amused. “The kids aren’t home. Ruhaan took them out for another ice cream treat.”
Naina raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Again? Neil didn’t even ask me for permission this time.”
She paused, but as she thought about it, she realized that she trusted Ruhaan with Neil. However, these frequent ice cream outings needed to be moderated.
“Don’t worry,” Subodh reassured her. “The kids are safe with Ruhaan. Though I agree, these ice cream treats are becoming a bit too frequent.”
She nodded, making a mental note to have a word with Ruhaan about spoiling the children. As she pondered this, she noticed her uncle fidgeting with his phone.
“Naina,” Subodh began, his tone suddenly serious. “There’s something I wanted to discuss with you.”
He pulled up a photo on his phone and showed it to her. The screen displayed a handsome man in his mid-thirties, with kind eyes and a warm smile.
She studied the photo, curiosity piqued. “Who is this?” she asked, glancing up at her uncle.
“This is Raj Mehta,” he explained. “He works in Mumbai and is one of our extended relatives.”
Naina frowned. “Okay... but why are you showing me his picture?”
Subodh hesitated, then continued, “Well, your Aunt Malti and I were thinking... we thought it might be nice if you and Raj could meet. He’s a good man, successful, and he’s been looking to settle down. We believe he’s a suitable match for you.”
She understood now what her uncle was implying. The idea of meeting another man felt overwhelming, especially when she had just decided to explore whatever it was she had with Ruhaan. The kiss they had shared felt significant, as if she had claimed him as hers.
“Uncle, I don’t think I’m ready for this,” Naina said, handing the phone back to him.
