Page 51 of Strictly Solo
When she picked him up, cradling his small body against her chest, it was as if time stopped. She held him close, his head resting against her heart, and something in her shifted. The baby needed her—no, more than that, hedependedon her entirely. At that moment, Naina knew she had to be his mother. There was no one else. It didn’t matter that she had no idea how to raise a child. She didn’t care that she was barely 22, just starting her life. As she looked into Neil’s trusting eyes, she knew she had to try. All that mattered was Neil, and she would give him everything.
This is it, she had thought.This is what I’m meant to do. I’ll be his mother. I’ll protect him, love him, and never let him feel alone.
Now her heart clenched at the memory. She had given up so much back then—her dreams, her ambitions, even Ruhaan. Her uncle and aunt had insisted she let them take care of Neil, that she could still live her life, marry Ruhaan, and have her own future. But Naina couldn’t. She had made her decision the moment she held Neil. Ruhaan’s mother clear warning that she had to leave the baby behind if she wanted to marry Ruhaan. The ultimatum had been painful, but in the end, the choice was simple.
She had chosen Neil over Ruhaan.
It still hurt her, even now, to think of how Ruhaan hadn’t stood up for her, hadn’t fought for their relationship. He had not opposed his mother’s wishes, and though it hurt, Nainaunderstood why. Ruhaan wasn’t ready to be a father, especially not to a child that wasn’t his. And that was okay. She had no regrets.
Ruhaan had walked away. The engagement was broken, and a new chapter of her life began. But Naina had no regrets. Even now, looking at Neil’s sleeping face, she knew she would make the same decision over and over again.
“Come on, sweetheart,” she said softly, leaning down to kiss Neil’s forehead. “It’s time to get up.”
He stirred slightly, his eyelashes fluttering as he began to wake. Naina smiled at his sleepy expression, remembering how much joy and struggle, raising him had brought into her life.
Her mind drifted back to the early days of motherhood. It hadn’t been easy. Far from it. She was barely an adult herself, and the world seemed so much bigger and scarier when she had a baby to care for. The early days were a blur of sleepless nights, endless diaper changes, and moments of sheer panic. Naina often found herself overwhelmed, questioning if she was doing the right thing. But then Neil would smile at her, his tiny hand gripping her finger, and all doubts would vanish. No matter how tired or frustrated she became, she never gave up. She couldn’t. Neil needed her, and she needed him.
She remembered the first time Neil had gotten sick, how terrified she had been, rushing him to the hospital in a panic, convinced something was horribly wrong. The doctor had reassured her that it was just a fever, but that fear had never left her. It was the constant worry, the relentless responsibility of being a single mother, that had shaped her.
Finding a job while caring for an infant had been a monumental challenge. Naina spent countless nights poring over job listings, writing applications, and preparing for interviews, all while Neil slept nearby. When she finally secured a position in a marketing firm in Mumbai, it felt like a miracle.
It hadn’t been easy juggling work and motherhood, but she had never been afraid of hard work. She left Delhi, moved to the bustling city with its never-ending traffic and crowded streets, and slowly built a life for them. They had a small apartment, modest but cozy, and over the years, it had become home. She worked long hours to make ends meet even though her uncle had fully offered to support her financially, she didn’t wanted him to. Neil was now her sole responsibility and she wanted to raise him by her efforts. Still her uncle never left checking up on her. Initially there were days when she had no choice but to seek small financial help from her uncle, for paying the deposit of her rental flat and other stuff, but she had repaid him promptly in a few months once her job got stable. The days at work were exhausting, but the moment she came home to Neil’s tiny face, everything seemed worth it.
There were countless nights when she had cried into her pillow, feeling like she wasn’t doing enough, like she wasn’t strong enough to be both a mother and a provider.
But Neil had changed everything. His first steps, taken in their cozy living room, filled her with a joy she never knew possible. His infectious laughter as they played in the small park near their home made every struggle worthwhile.
Every small victory, every time he took a step, or smiled at her, had filled her with a joy that outweighed the struggles. She recalled the day he said “Mama” for the first time. It had been a regular afternoon, and she was feeding him his lunch. Out of nowhere, Neil had looked at her with those bright, curious eyes and said, “Mama.” That single word had been enough to melt her heart. She had burst into tears right then and there, realizing that no matter what life threw at her, as long as she had Neil, she could handle anything.
There were challenging times, of course. She remembered one particularly day when Neil had thrown a massive tantrumin the middle of a grocery store. As other shoppers stared and whispered, Naina had felt like a failure. But then an elderly woman had approached, patting her arm and saying, “You’re doing great, dear. It gets easier.” Those simple words of encouragement had given Naina the strength to carry on.
As Neil grew, so did Naina’s confidence. She made sure Neil had everything he needed, from school supplies to books and toys. And even when work drained her, she never missed a bedtime story, never let a day go by without checking his homework, or playing with him at the park on weekends.
She remembered Neil’s first day of school. He had been so excited, wearing his new uniform, his little backpack bouncing on his shoulders as he ran to catch the school bus. Naina had been a nervous wreck, standing on the curb, watching him until the bus disappeared from view. She had spent the entire day worrying about him—would he make friends? Would he be okay without her? But when she picked him up in the afternoon, Neil was all smiles, chattering away about his new friends, his teacher, and how much fun school had been. Her baby was growing up.
Moments like that made everything worth it. Watching him grow up, watching him become this curious, loving, and energetic child who never failed to surprise her.
Neil stirred again, his small hand reaching out to grab hers. His eyes fluttered open, as he gave her a sleepy smile.
“Mom, what time is it?” he asked, his voice still groggy from sleep.
“It’s time to get up, mister,” Naina replied with a soft laugh, leaning down to kiss his cheek.
Neil groaned dramatically, pulling the blanket over his head. “Five more minutes,” he muttered, making her laugh again.
“Come on, sweetheart,” Naina coaxed, tugging the blanket down just enough to see his face. “We have to get you ready.You know Pinky and others have already woken up and ready for breakfast downstairs.”
Neil peeked out from under the blanket, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “I’ll get up... if you make pooris for breakfast.”
She chuckled, shaking her head, knowing how much her son loved Pooris. “Alright, alright. Pooris it is. But you better get up now.”
He grinned, and sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes. He was growing up so fast, and every day he reminded her more of Kriti. It wasn’t just his eyes or his smile, but the way he approached the world with a kind of fearlessness that she admired so much. He had his mother’s spirit, and for that, Naina was eternally grateful.
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Few minutes later – Kitchen
Naina stood at the stove, her eyes focused on her task as she carefully fried the golden-brown pooris for Neil’s breakfast. The smell of freshly made dough filled the kitchen. She had just placed a few pooris on a plate, arranging them neatly, when she felt a sudden warmth at her back. Two strong familiar arms circled around her waist, pulling her close.
