Page 101 of Strictly Solo

Chapter 29

Later at Evening

Kaushalya stared at her phone screen, frowning at the unfamiliar address Ruhaan had texted. Something felt off about this impromptu meeting at a residential apartment. Ryma had already called her brother during their cab ride from the airport, demanding answers, but Ruhaan had remained cryptic, insisting they’d understand everything once they arrived.

When they reached the building and rang the doorbell, Ruhaan greeted them. While Ryma hugged her brother, Kaushalya’s steps faltered at the sight of Subodh and Malti Kundra in the living room.

“Whose house is this? What’s going on here?” she demanded, but before Ruhaan could answer, a child’s voice rang out.

“Daadi!” Neil called cheerfully, running toward her. He touched her feet in greeting, just as Naina had taught him. She could still feel the little boy’s hands as he touched her feet, his innocence warming her heart while her mind screamed in denial. Though Kaushalya automatically blessed him, her mind was already piecing together the puzzle. She turned sharply toward her son.

“Is this Naina’s house?” she asked.

Ruhaan nodded. Kaushalya stared at her son, silently demanding an explanation. Ryma, on the other hand, was all smiles as she hugged Neil too, before waiting to know why Ruhaan had called them here.

“What is happening here?” Kaushalya addressed the Kundras directly. “Why are we all meeting like this?”

Naina stepped out with a tray of tea, her hands trembling slightly as she placed the cups on the table. She greeted Kaushalya politely, but the cold reception she received in return saddened her. Ruhaan took the initiative and introduced Naina to Ryma.

“I think I know why we’re here,” Ryma said, smiling. “And I’m happy about it.”

Naina’s smile was still weak, knowing the storm that was about to break. She turned to Shanti.

“Take Neil down to the play area, please,” she instructed.

Neil immediately protested, clinging to Naina’s hand.

“I don’t want to go, Mom!”

Ruhaan knelt beside Neil.

“Champ, just for a little while, okay? You can come back soon. Your mom and I need to talk to Daadi and everyone here.”

Neil frowned but eventually relented, allowing Shanti to take him downstairs. Naina watched them leave, exhaling deeply before turning back to the tension-filled room.

Subodh cleared his throat addressing Kaushalya directly.

“Kaushalya, Ruhaan and Naina have made a decision, and that’s why we’re here today, to make sure we’re all on the same page.”

Kaushalya’s gaze snapped to Ruhaan, her expression already brimming with suspicion. “What decision?”

“Mom, I want to marry Naina,” Ruhaan stated firmly.

The words dropped like a bomb. Kaushalya shook her head violently, her disbelief giving way to anger.

“You what?” she demanded. “I was away for just two days, and you start building relationships behind my back? The most unexpected ones at that! How could you?”

“Mom, what’s wrong with this?” he argued. “You’ve always wanted to see me settled down.”

“Yes, but not with a woman who comes with so much baggage!”

“Neil is not baggage, Mom,” he interjected before Naina could respond. “He’s a child, for God’s sake…a beautiful, bright, innocent child.”

“Ruhaan, you’ve always been impulsive, but this?” she scoffed. “This is beyond reckless. How can you possibly make a decision like this? How can two weeks in Delhi suddenly transform my commitment-phobic son into someone ready not just for marriage, but to become an instant father? In two weeks, you’re so confident it’s love that you want to settle down? Do you even realize what you’re saying?”

“Mom, I get it,” he began, sitting beside his mother, taking her hands into his. “I know it’s hard for you to understand how my feelings for Naina and Neil could develop so strongly in such a short time. But love doesn’t follow timelines or logic. It happens, and when it does, it feels right. That’s how I feel about them. I didn’t fall for Naina or Neil in Delhi, instead, I realized there what had been missing inmylife all along. It’s them. They’re my family.”

Kaushalya pulled her hands back, shaking her head in frustration.