Page 92 of Strictly Solo
Shanti moved around the living room, dusting the shelves while observing the scene with a warm smile. When they were ready to leave, Neil ran over to Naina and wrapped his arms around her waist in a quick hug.
“Mom! We’re going to play cricket! Ruhaan’s going to teach me something cool. I’ll tell you all about it when we’re back!”
She smiled. “Have fun, sweetheart. But be careful, okay?”
Ruhaan, meanwhile, turned to Shanti, who was busy organizing some cushions.
“Shanti, keep an eye on her,” he said, his voice taking on a mock-authoritative tone. “Please make sure Naina doesn’t overwork herself. She’s already stressed about the presentation. If you see her trying to do household chores on top of her work, callmeimmediately. I’ll come right back.”
Naina’s hands stilled over her keyboard, her cheeks warming at his presumptuous concern. Who did he think he was, giving instructions about her?
“Why are you ordering her around like I’m some overworked housewife?” she asked, finally looking up, stunned at his audacity.
“Because you look like one,” he winked.
Shanti chuckled though clearly entertained by Ruhaan’s antics.
“Don’t worry, sir. I’ll take good care of her.”
“See? Shanti agrees with me. You need to take it easy.”
As Neil rushed toward the door with Shanti following to open it, Ruhaan approached Naina’s desk. He leaned down close, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered, “And amidst all your work… do miss me.”
She rolled her eyes, fighting the flutter in her stomach. “Now who needs to learn to behave?”
His response was just a smile, but it held enough meaning to make her heart race. Giving her a mock salute, he followed Neil out the door. She watched them as their hands automatically found each other’s as they headed toward the elevator.
An hour later, her presentation was finally complete. Needing a break, she stepped onto the balcony and leaned against the railing, her eyes naturally drifting to the playground below. Ruhaan was crouched down, showing Neil how to position his bat correctly, his focus entirely on the boy. Neil’s friends stood in a semi-circle, clearly impressed, and Ruhaan’s casual charm seemed to have won them over as well. She marveled at how natural he was with the kids. Since when did Ruhaan become so good with children?she wondered.
As she stood there lost in thought, Ruhaan’s gaze flicked up to her balcony and a playful grin spread across his face when he spotted her. He raised his hand and brushed it over his hair,clearly showing off. Naina noticed and crossed her arms, unable to hide her amused smile as he gestured for her to watch him bat.
Taking the bat from one of the children, he positioned himself at the makeshift crease, throwing her another confident look. Neil took his position to bowl, his face serious with concentration. The ball left Neil’s hand in a surprisingly good line, and before Ruhaan could execute whatever impressive shot he’d planned, for Naina, his stumps were rattled.
Naina couldn’t suppress her giggle at his dumbfounded expression, the great Ruhaan clean bowled by a seven-year-old. His theatrical look of dismay only made her laugh harder. She couldn’t hold back her giggle, covering her mouth as she shook her head.
Ruhaan glanced up at her balcony and saw her laughing, and despite his “failure,” a slow smile crept across his face too. But as her heart swelled with affection at the scene, she quickly retreated inside. These feelings growing inside her were dangerous, and she couldn’t afford to let them take root again.
Ruhaan stood in the middle of the playground, his bat resting against his shoulder as his mind wandered. How had his life changed so much in just 24 hours? For years, it had always been about him and his mother. His world revolved around work, the occasional weekend drinks with friends, and carefully avoiding anything resembling a real relationship. It had seemed like freedom then, but now he realized it had been empty. Standing here now, he felt something entirely different.
The joy of teaching Neil how to hold a bat properly, the flutter in his chest seeing Naina cooking in the kitchen, the simple pleasure of helping her dry dishes – these mundane moments held more meaning than all his carefully cultivated independence.
Mentoring Neil, his laughter, his enthusiasm, the way he looked up to him—it all filled a void Ruhaan hadn’t even known existed. And Naina… she wasn’t just a passing fling. He didn’t just want her; he wanted her in every part of his life. Cooking together, arguing over silly things, even sharing moments of silence. For the first time, he wanted to belong, to be part of this small, perfect world they’d created. To protect it. To enhance it. Not just to share Naina’s bed, but to share her burdens, her joys, her everyday moments.
“Ruhaan… you’re out!” Neil’s voice broke through his thoughts, shaking him back to the present.
Blinking, Ruhaan looked down at Neil’s confused but excited face. Slowly, a grin spread across his lips. He dropped the bat, ruffled Neil’s hair, and knelt down to his level, pulling him into a warm embrace.
“I am not out... not this time, Neil...I am in.”
Neil blinked, tilting his head in confusion. “What do you mean?”
Ruhaan tightened the hug, a bright, genuine smile lighting up his face. “It means I’m in… all in. With you. With your mom. With us.”
Neil didn’t fully understand, but his small arms wrapped tightly around Ruhaan, returning the hug. And for Ruhaan, that one moment sealed everything.
Chapter 27
The doorbell chimed through the apartment, and Naina opened it with a mischievous grin playing on her lips. Ruhaan stood there, his heart skipping at the sight of her smile, though for entirely different reasons than usual.
