Page 115 of Strictly Solo

Naina knew her son better than that. Before she could defend him, Neil jumped in, “You weren’t exactly polite either when I asked you to lower the TV volume because I couldn’t focus on my homework!”

“Neil!” Naina placed a hand on his shoulder, pulling him toward her. “That’s enough! She’s your elder. You don’t talk to her like that.”

“And maybe you should’ve taught him that before!” Kaushalya snapped. “Not now when he’s already insulted me!”

Ruhaan stepped between them, his hands raised in a gesture of peace.

“Mom, come on! Who’s the kid here, huh? What even happened? Everything was fine yesterday.”

“Nothing is fine, and it never will be,” Kaushalya declared. “Neil is never stepping foot in this house again.”

“Fine! Mom and I will never come here again,” Neil announced. “And you’re not welcome in our home either!”

Naina felt her heart breaking. Just moments ago, she and Ruhaan had been discussing marriage, and now everything was falling apart. But now her patience snapped at Neil’s behavior. The boy was not like this at all. So rude, especially with his elders.

“Neil, this is not right,” she said. “You’re going too far. Apologize to her right now.”

Neil’s frown deepened, but he stayed silent, his lips pressed into a pout. Tears gathered in Naina’s eyes as she watched their carefully built relationships crumbling before her. Ruhaan toolooked equally devastated, unable to understand how things had spiraled so quickly out of control.

“Naina, it’s okay,” Ruhaan intervened gently. “He’s just a child. Let it go.”

But Naina shook her head firmly. “No, Ruhaan. He needs to learn. He cannot disrespect elders. That’s not what I taught him!”

Kaushalya scoffed. “Oh, really? Then who taught him to behave like this? Clearly, it must be you!”

Neil’s eyes burned with fresh anger as he turned to Kaushalya. “Don’t talk to my mom like that!”

“Neil, please...” Ruhaan started, then turned to his mother. “Mom, please, both of you, stop this...”

Just as tears threatened to spill from Naina’s eyes and Ruhaan’s worry reached its peak, something unexpected happened. Both Kaushalya and Neil burst into laughter, their previous anger vanishing instantly. Neil ran to Kaushalya, throwing his arms around her waist as she hugged him back warmly.

“Saw Daadi? Didn’t I tell you I am good at acting too?” he beamed at Kaushalya, who couldn’t contain her laughter.

“Oh, you were even better than me!” she praised, then turned to Ruhaan with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Just look at your faces! You both look like the world has come to an end.”

Ruhaan shook his head, still trying to process what had just happened. “Were you two... not really angry at each other? Not even a little?”

“No!” Neil and Kaushalya chorused in perfect unison, dissolving into giggles again.

“Why would I be angry with Neil?” Kaushalya pulled the boy closer. “He’s the sweetest and brightest boy I’ve ever seen at his age. Even you weren’t like him when you were little, Ruhaan!”

Neil snuggled closer to Kaushalya, grinning proudly at Ruhaan and Naina. “It was just a prank!”

Ruhaan and Naina exchanged bewildered glances, still reeling from the rollercoaster of emotions. Slowly, the realization dawned on them, and Naina’s lips twitched into a smile despite herself.

Finally catching his breath, Ruhaan asked, “But why did you need to do all this? My heart nearly jumped out of my mouth! I was so worried about what the future would hold if you two didn’t get along.”

Kaushalya stood and crossed her arms, tilting her head at him with a mock stern expression.

“You thought you and Naina could play games with me? Making excuses about Neil staying here because his caretaker Shanti is on leave? I’m thankful to this clever boy who helped me see through your excuses. Neil is right. I’m too innocent, and anyone can fool me... even my own son!”

Ruhaan and Naina glanced at Neil, who grinned impishly and ran to them. He was grinning from ear to ear.

“You told her?” Ruhaan asked Neil who shrugged, clearly enjoying his moment of triumph.

“Of course, Daadi deserved to know the truth. She says I’m smart, you know.”

Kaushalya ruffled Neil’s hair affectionately. “Smarter than his father, that’s for sure. I should’ve realized something was off when you both started making excuses.”