Page 9 of Strictly Solo

“Just like that,” he shrugged and continued to eat.

Ruhaan sensed Neil had something in his mind which made him ask that but what could it be?

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

Kundra’s Home

At home, Naina paced the living room, her worry mounting by the minute. She turned to Suman and Rohit in frustration.

“Ruhaan took the kids to the ice cream parlor? Are you serious? How could he possibly handle five kids at once? Hedoesn’t have any experience with even one kid. Why did you send him? I could have taken them if you’d told me.”

Suman chuckled, shaking her head. “Naina, relax. The kids will be fine with him. It’s just an ice cream outing.”

“But if you’re still worried, you can always call Ruhaan and check how everything’s going,” Rohit added.

Naina sighed, conceding the point. “Fine, give me his number.”

Naina paced back and forth in the living room, her phone pressed to her ear as she waited for Ruhaan to answer.

The moment Ruhaan answered, she asked, “When are you getting the kids home?”

Ruhaan chuckled, recognizing her voice immediately, sending a strange flutter through Naina’s stomach.

“I can’t believe whatever Neil said is actually true.”

Naina’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What did Neil tell you?”

“Oh, just how you never give your son any space apart from his school and martial arts classes,” Ruhaan teased. “He said that even a little delay in him coming back from play is enough to send you into a panic.”

Naina’s eyes widened in shock. “Neil told you all this? What else did he say?”

Ruhaan’s grin was practically audible through the phone. “Almost anything and everything about you, Naina.”

Naina felt her anger rising. How could Neil reveal so much about their personal lives to a complete stranger? “Ruhaan, give the phone to Neil. I need to speak with him right now.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” Ruhaan replied with mock sympathy. “Neil is busy enjoying his ice cream. You know, the one you never let him have?”

Naina rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin. “Ruhaan, I’m serious. Put Neil on the phone.”

“Fine, fine,” Ruhaan relented, and Naina could hear him calling for Neil in the background.

A moment later, Neil’s voice came through the phone, a quick “Hi, Mom. I love you!” before the sound of laughter and chatter drowned him out.

Naina’s heart sank. She hadn’t even had a chance to properly talk to her son. “Neil? Neil, are you there?”

But it was Ruhaan’s voice that answered. “I told you, Naina. The kids are busy having fun. Something you should try sometime.”

Naina’s frustration reached a boiling point. “Ruhaan, bring them back home. Now.”

“And why would I do that?” Ruhaan teased. “I’m having a great time with the kids. And until you promise me something in return, I think I’ll take my own sweet time getting them back.”

Naina couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Was Ruhaan really trying to blackmail her? “What do you want?” she asked.

“A cup of coffee,” Ruhaan replied, his voice filled with a smug satisfaction. “Just like the one you made when we first met.”

Naina’s mind flashed back to that day, the memory of their first encounter still vivid in her mind. She shook her head, trying to focus on the present. “You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, but I am,” Ruhaan replied, a bit flirty. “Keep the coffee ready, Naina. When I get home, I want you waiting with a freshly brewed cup.”