Page 91 of Strictly Solo

“He heard Neil’s voice in the background,” he explained casually. “So, I had to tell him that I’m here. At your home.”

“What?” Her voice rose in panic as her phone dropped onto the couch. “Why would you tell him that? Are you out of your mind?”

“Relax,” he said soothingly, reaching out to touch her cheek.

“Relax?” she hissed, batting his hand away and clutching his shirt in both fists as she stepped even closer. “Stop telling me to relax! Do you even realize what would happen if Uncle comes to know you’re here? What if he—”

Ruhaan wasn’t listening anymore. His gaze dropped to where her hands gripped his shirt, then lifted to her flushed, furious face, her lips mere inches from his. The way her anger flared so vibrantly, it pulled him in, silencing everything else. His lips curved into a smirk, and before she could realize it, his palm slid up to cup her cheek.

“Behave, Miss. Naina Bhalla,” he murmured. “Neil could come running back here any second.”

Her grip on his shirt tightened, and she glared even harder.

“Don’t bring Neil into this!” she snapped. “And you know what? Let him come. Let him see me like this. Let him see just how much his mother hates hisfavoriteRuhaan.”

His smirk only deepened at her declaration.

“Hate me?” His voice dropped further, his other arm snaking around her waist, pulling her even closer. “Do you really hate me, Naina?”

Her mouth opened, but no words came out. His fingers brushed against her waist, drawing her further in as if she belonged there.

“You don’t hate me,” he murmured, his lips so close she could feel the warmth of his breath. “You can never hate me. So why even try?”

She inhaled sharply, planting her hands firmly against his chest, and pushed him back, putting a much-needed distance between them.

“You don’t get to tell me what I feel,” she replied. “Whatever this is... whatever you think we have, it doesn’t matter anymore. I told you I’m tolerating you here for Neil. That’s all. We don’t have a future together. You made that clear every time you hadthat chance to pick your place in my life... in Neil’s life. But you stayed silent then. So, just stick to that thing and don’t make me regret letting you stay here.”

And with that, she walked away. He let out a frustrated sigh, his hands falling to his sides as he stared after her. He knew she was trying to put him in his place, but all she’d done was strengthen his resolve. All he had to do now was make her believe that this time he wasn’t going anywhere. Ever!

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

Early Evening

Ruhaan knelt on the floor, carefully adjusting the cricket leg guards on Neil’s tiny legs.

“They’re calledpads,champ, not foot pads,” he corrected with a teasing smile as Neil squirmed in excitement. “You’ve got to call them by their proper name if you’re going to be a cricket star.”

Neil giggled. “Okay, pads! But what if I forget? Will my friends laugh at me?”

Ruhaan shook his head, pretending to think deeply. “Hmm, maybe. But don’t worry, with the way you’re going to bat today, they’ll be too impressed to even notice what you call these.”

The boy’s face lit up, and he grinned ear to ear. “Really? You think so?”

“Iknowso,” Ruhaan replied, clipping on the helmet strap under Neil’s chin. “And today, I’m going to teach you a trick with your batting. It’ll make you shine like a pro. Your friends won’t believe their eyes.”

Naina sat at the dining table, her laptop open in front of her as she worked on a presentation Deborah had urgently assigned. But no matter how much she tried to focus, her attention kept drifting to the duo in the living room. Neil’s excitement, Ruhaan’s patience, and the easy bond they shared, was hard not to notice.

“You know last time my friend Arjun hit the ball so hard it went to the other building!” Neil chatted excitedly, barely able to contain himself.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she caught Ruhaan explaining the grip on the bat to Neil. “Keep your hands steady, champ. Strong grip, but not too tight. It’s all about control.”

Neil nodded eagerly, his little hands mimicking Ruhaan’s movements. “You’ll meet my friends, right? They’re all going to love you.”

Ruhaan laughed softly, ruffling his hair. “Of course, I’ll meet them all.”

“No one’s dad comes to play with us like this.” Neil continued.

Naina’s heart skipped a beat at Neil’s words, and she forced herself to focus harder on her laptop screen. She had to finish this presentation, and daydreaming about Ruhaan’s growing presence in Neil’s life, and her own, wasn’t helping.