Page 53 of Strictly Solo

The mention of Raj brought a flood of guilt. She had agreed to meet Raj, her uncle’s chosen suitor, but after her recent intimate moments with Ruhaan, the thought of it felt wrong. Ruhaan had touched her, kissed her so deeply just two nights ago, and the idea of entertaining anyone else felt… unthinkable.

Her uncle continued. “I know you’ve been through a lot, but I really believe Raj could be good for you, Naina. He’s a good man, and he could help you and Neil. I’m really worried about you two.”

Naina forced a smile, nodding weakly. “I’ll meet him, Uncle. I promised, didn’t I?”

Subodh placed a comforting hand on her back. “That’s all I ask.”

She nodded, but her heart wasn’t in it. She knew she couldn’t deny it much longer. There was no place for Raj in her heart, not when it already belonged to someone else.

****************

Evening

Naina stood in front of the mirror in her room, adjusting the pallu of her yellow saree. She looked stunning, the soft gold fabric complementing her skin, and her hair cascading down her back in soft waves. The haldi ceremony had already started downstairs, but instead of being a part of it, she was here, chasing after Neil, who was in no mood to cooperate.

“Neil, stop running and put on your sherwani!” Naina called out, exasperated as she tried to catch up with her son, who was determined to avoid wearing the small sherwani she had picked out for him. He dashed around the room, giggling as she circled the bed for the umpteenth time.

“Come here, Neil!” she tried again, lunging forward, but Neil dodged her and ran in the opposite direction, laughing mischievously.

“Can’t catch me, Mama!” he giggled, ducking under a table.

She let out a frustrated sigh, blowing a stray strand of hair out of her face. “Neil, we’re going to be late. Everyone’s waiting for us!”

Just as Naina was about to give up, the door creaked open, and in walked Ruhaan, dressed in a yellow sherwani that matched her saree perfectly. He looked effortlessly dapper, almost making Naina momentarily forget about Neil’s antics.

Ruhaan quickly assessed the situation and, without saying a word, he darted forward, scooping Neil up in one swift motion. Neil squealed with laughter as Ruhaan held him high and carried him over to the bed, placing him gently down.

“Gotcha, little man!” he said with a smirk, making Neil stand still on the bed. “It’s not good to trouble your mom like that.”

Naina finally let out a sigh of relief and walked over, grateful for the help. As she approached, she couldn’t help but admire how effortlessly handsome Ruhaan looked. His sharp jawline, his perfectly groomed hair, the way the sherwani clung to his broad shoulders…it all made her heart race faster.

“Troubling rights are mine now,” Ruhaan whispered into her ear as soon as she reached him, his voice low and teasing, meant only for her to hear.

She blushed instantly, yet gave him a light smack on his arm. “Not in front of Neil,” she muttered.

Neil, oblivious to the exchange, was busy fidgeting with his tiny sherwani. Naina, still flustered from Ruhaan’s flirtatious remark, helped Neil put it on, buttoning it up as he squirmed slightly.

“Mom, I want my hair spiked!” Neil demanded, pushing his hands through his unruly hair.

“I don’t know how to do spikes, Neil,” Naina replied. “You look just fine.”

“I can help,” Ruhaan chimed in, walking over to the dresser and picking up a small jar of hair gel. “I used to style my hair like this all the time when I was his age.”

Naina stood back, watching as Ruhaan expertly applied the gel to Neil’s hair, shaping it into little spikes that made the boy grin from ear to ear. Neil jumped down from the bed and ran to the mirror to inspect the final result, clearly pleased with the transformation.

“You’re the best, Ruhaan!” he said, bouncing with excitement before dashing out of the room to show off his new look.

As soon as Neil was gone, Ruhaan wasted no time. He grabbed Naina by the waist and pulled her close, so close that their bodies were pressed together. She placed her hands on his chest instinctively, her eyes scanning the door in panic.

“Ruhaan, stop it,” she whispered urgently, “Neil could come back any second.”

His lips hovered dangerously close to her ear. “He’s already gone, and we both know you like this,” he murmured.

She eyed him with a warning look, though it was clear she wasn’t entirely immune to his touch. “What do you want?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I want you to meet me on the terrace tonight,” Ruhaan replied, his tone playful yet serious.

She frowned. “Why? What’s on the terrace?”