Page 119 of Strictly Solo
Neil let out a delighted cheer, his excitement almost leaping through the phone. Ruhaan could hear Naina’s voice in the background, trying to calm him down. “Neil, stop jumping on the bed and go to sleep!”
Neil, of course, ignored her and continued. “Ruhaan, from tomorrow, we’ll live with you and Daadi, right?”
“Yes,” Ruhaan said warmly. But the slight hesitation in Neil’s voice didn’t go unnoticed. “What’s wrong, Neil? Don’t you want that?”
“I do,” Neil admitted, his voice softening. “But… I’ll miss my friends here.”
Ruhaan’s heart ached at the boy’s innocent confession. “I understand, champ. But hey, you’ll still see them at school, and I’ll make sure we visit them whenever you want. Plus, you’re going to make some amazing new friends in no time.”
There was a pause, and then Neil said, “Promise?”
“Promise,” Ruhaan said firmly.
Just as Neil’s mood lifted, Ruhaan heard Naina’s voice in the background. “Neil, hand me the phone. Stop hogging it!”
Moments later, Naina finally came on the line. “Ruhaan, sorry about that. He just wouldn’t let go of the phone.”
Ruhaan grinned. “It’s fine. I love talking to him. How are you holding up?”
“Exhausted,” Naina replied with a laugh. “Today’s Haldi ritual wore me out. And now I’m just finishing the last of the packing.”
“Don’t overdo it,” Ruhaan said, his tone soft and reassuring. “Tomorrow’s going to be perfect, I promise.”
“I know. I can’t wait to officially become Mrs Naina Ruhaan Singh.”
Just then, the door to Ruhaan’s bedroom opened, and Kaushalya walked in with Ryma following behind her. Kaushalya held a small plate of sweets and set it on the nightstand. “Here, try this,” she said, watching him intently. “It’s for tomorrow’s special guests.”
Ruhaan took a bite, nodding in approval. “It’s great, Mom. Perfect, as always.”
Ryma smirked and nudged her brother. “Enough, Mom. Let him speak to Naina. Poor guy’s desperate.”
Kaushalya chuckled but shook her head. “Let me feed my boy first. From tomorrow, he’ll have no time for me. His wife and son will take all his attention.”
Naina who heard it from the other end immediately asked Ruhaan to put the phone on speaker. Once he did, she replied.
“Aunty, that’s not true,” she said in a playful voice. “No one is going to steal your limelight.”
Kaushalya held her smile but Ruhaan continued.
“She’s right, Mom. I’m more worried about the three of you…Naina, Neil, and you, ganging up on me and completely sidelining me.”
Kaushalya laughed. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic. I’m not like those mothers-in-law you see on TV soaps. You can spend all the time you want with your wife. I’ll be perfectly content with my grandson, who, by the way, already takes better care of me than you ever did.”
Ruhaan raised an eyebrow, mock-offended, while Naina giggled on the other end, agreeing silently.
“Alright,” Kaushalya said finally, standing up. “Speak to your bride while Ryma and I finish packing the sweets.”
She turned to leave but paused at the door. “And don’t talk till late. We all need to wake up early tomorrow.”
Ruhaan nodded, watching her leave with Ryma. As the door clicked shut, he turned his attention back to Naina.
“You heard her,” he said with a smile. “She’s already planning to sideline me for Neil.”
Naina laughed softly. “I don’t blame her. He’s impossible to resist.”
“And so are you. I can’t wait for tomorrow, Naina. For everything to finally fall into place.”
“Me neither,” she whispered. “It’s really going to be perfect.”
