Page 57 of Strictly Solo
Naina, still clad in her vibrant yellow saree, was looking for Neil. She had assumed he would be playing with Suman’s daughter Pinky and the other kids, but as she checked around the venue, there was no sign of him.
With a growing sense of unease, she began asking around, calling out for Neil, hoping someone had seen him. Finally, one of the kids came running to her.
“Aunty, Neil is with Ruhaan,” the boy said, before running off to join the others.
She paused for a moment. What could Neil be doing with Ruhaan at this hour? Especially when Ruhaan was supposed to be waiting for her on the terrace, their secret rendezvous that they had planned after the haldi. She was supposed to tuck Neil into bed, leave him fast asleep, and then sneak away to meet Ruhaan.
She headed toward Ruhaan’s bedroom. It was technically her room, one that she had given up so that Ruhaan could stay in it during the wedding festivities. But when she peeked inside, the room was empty. There was no sign of Neil or him.
A bit more anxious now, she made her way to the guest room where she and Neil had been staying. As she opened the door, the sight before her made her freeze in place.
Under the warm glow of the bedside lamp, Neil had snuggled tightly into Ruhaan’s side, wrapped up in a soft blanket. Ruhaan was lying on his back, holding an open book, his voice soft as heread out a bedtime story. Neil, already half-asleep, had one arm draped across Ruhaan’s chest, his tiny body curled into the man as if Ruhaan were his ultimate source of comfort.
It was a sight she had never expected to see, and it took her breath away. The image before her was one she had secretly wished for, but never dared to hope for. It was more than she could have asked for—a glimpse into what life could have been if things had turned out differently.
As she watched the two from the door, Ruhaan’s voice began to trail off, his own eyelids growing heavy. He turned the page, but Neil was already fast asleep against his chest. Ruhaan let out a tired sigh and soon closed his eyes as well, the book slipping from his fingers onto the floor beside the bed. Within moments, he, too, was asleep.
Naina’s eyes stung with unshed tears. It was a scene that could have been hers—a life that could have been theirs if Ruhaan had been ready all those years ago. If only he had accepted Neil as his responsibility back then, they could have had this every night.
But he hadn’t. He had walked away
Her hand trembled as she wiped away a tear that had slipped down her cheek. She wasn’t angry at Ruhaan anymore. She had made peace with the past. But watching them now, so close and so natural together, it brought up emotions she had buried deep inside. Was it possible that this could be their future? Could Ruhaan be the father figure Neil had been missing all along?
She took a deep breath and stepped quietly into the room, tiptoeing closer. She couldn’t take her eyes off them.
She knelt by the side of the bed, brushing a stray lock of hair from Neil’s forehead. His soft breathing was a comfort to her, a reminder of how much she loved him and how she would always choose him first. But that thought only brought a new wave of uncertainty.
She had agreed to a casual relationship with Ruhaan, thinking it would be a safe way to explore their lingering connection without getting too attached. But now, seeing Ruhaan with Neil, so effortlessly stepping into a fatherly role, she wasn’t so sure. Was she setting herself up for heartbreak? Worse yet, was she setting Neil up for disappointment?
She had promised herself that Neil’s heart would always come first. That he would never feel the void of not having a father figure, and yet... here Ruhaan was, filling that void in ways she hadn’t expected.
Tears threatened again, but she blinked them away, standing up carefully. She needed to think. She needed space to clear her head and figure out what this meant for both of them…her and Neil. Was it fair to let Ruhaan get so close, knowing how things had ended before?
With one last glance at them, she quietly left the room, closing the door softly behind her.
Chapter 16
Next Morning
Ruhaan woke up to the sensation of something warm and soft pressed against him. Blinking his eyes open, he looked down and saw Neil’s small body clung to his side, still deep in sleep. For a moment, he was confused, not quite remembering how he had ended up in this situation. But then, it slowly came back to him—the bedtime story. He had come to Neil’s room, read him a story, and somehow dozed off with the little boy curled up next to him.
He glanced at the clock on the wall. It was barely 5:30 in the morning.Where was Naina?He had promised to meet her on the terrace last night, but here he was, asleep in her room instead. He had wanted to give her something special, but exhaustion had gotten the better of him.
He carefully disentangled himself from Neil, making sure not to wake him, wondering where Naina had spent the night.
Without wasting another second, quietly, he slipped out of the room, his bare feet padding softly on the cool floor. The house was eerily quiet in the early morning light, everyone still deep in slumber after the long day of celebrations. He moved through the house, searching for Naina. He finally saw her curled up on the couch in the living room, her body twisted awkwardly to fit the small space. Even in her sleep, she looked exhausted, as if she hadn’t been able to rest properly. A lock of her hair had fallen across her face.
Slowly, he walked over to her, crouching beside the couch and gently brushed the strand of hair away from her face, letting his fingers linger on her soft skin for just a moment. She was still fast asleep. Unable to resist, he leaned forward and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead.
Concerned about the discomfort she must be feeling from a night on the couch, Ruhaan made a split-second decision. With utmost care, he slid one arm under her knees and the other behind her back, lifting her into his arms.
The sudden movement stirred Naina from her sleep. Her eyes flew open, confusion quickly replaced by surprise as she realized her position. She began to wriggle in his arms.
“Ruhaan, what are you doing?” she whispered, wriggling slightly in his hold. “Put me down. Someone might see us.”
“Hush,” he whispered back. “No one’s awake yet.”
She squirmed in his arms, but he held her close, carrying her down the hallway. “Where are you taking me?” she asked, her eyes darting around nervously.
