Chapter 2
Naina Bhalla was here?
Ruhaan stood rooted to the spot, his heart pounding as Naina walked away with her son, Neil. Even after all these years, her presence still had the power to unsettle him.
As Neil’s voice faded down the hallway, Ruhaan finally exhaled the breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.
His eyes traced Naina’s retreating form—the gentle sway of her hips, the cascade of silky dark hair down her back.
She had blossomed into an incredibly beautiful woman, refined and self-assured in a way the shy, innocent girl he once knew never was.
A smile tugged at his lips as flashes of their past flickered through his mind. The first time he laid eyes on her right here at the Kundras’ home, she was a vision of pure, unaffected loveliness that had captivated him instantly.
And now, seeing her again after seven long years, the spark between them wasn’t just rekindled, it roared into an inferno that threatened to consume him whole.
Ruhaan’s fingers clenched involuntarily as he fought the urge to go after her, to drink in more of her presence like a man dying of thirst.
With an inward curse, he forced himself to look at Suman, who was watching his expressions with equal surprise.
“Hey,” he broke the awkward silence.
“Hope you and Aunty have settled down in your rooms well,” Suman asked.
He nodded. “Yes, very much. I don’t know about Mom, but my room is perfect.”
“Has to be. That’s Naina’s room, after all,” she grinned.
What? Naina’s room?
“But then where is she staying?”
“In one of the guest rooms. And don’t worry, she’s absolutely fine with it. You and Aunty are our guests, in fact, our most important guests. You two should get the best rooms.”
“Thanks, but I am fine to occupy the guest room and let Naina stay in her room.”
“Chill, Ruhaan. It’s fine. But just a piece of advice now that you are so conscious about it.”
She came forward, turning around to ensure no one heard them. Ruhaan got equally curious to know.
“Don’t mess up with her photo wall in that room. That’s Naina’s favorite spot. Forget misplacing anything, if anyone even touches the photos from that wall, she isn’t going to stay quiet.”
A photo wall? Yeah. He had seen a glimpse of it when he was shown the room, but he was yet to see it fully.
“Got it. I’ll be extra careful not to touch that wall then,” he assured.
“You are here?” Rohit interrupted them, sliding his arm around Ruhaan. “I was looking for you. Aunty said she isn’t finding her medicines.”
“As always,” Ruhaan chuckled. “I’ll go fetch it for her.”
Giving another look towards the direction Naina had left, Ruhaan walked away.
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A while later, Naina watched Neil happily munch on the treat Suman had given him. Although her thoughts remained stubbornly fixated on Ruhaan as she unpacked her luggage for two weeks in the closet. She truly hadn’t expected him to be here.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she finally asked Suman, unable to keep the accusatory note from her voice as she faced her cousin.
Suman’s expression remained infuriatingly calm. “About what?”
“That the Singhs are invited too?” Naina was unable to keep the irritation from her tone.
“Because if I had told you before, you wouldn’t have come,” Suman replied simply.
Naina scoffed. “Obviously I wouldn’t have come, Suman. I don’t want to face that family again.”
Suman’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Why? What is your fault in all this? It is they who rejected the proposal at the end.”
That stung. Rejected. Yes, that’s exactly what had happened, though it was beyond her control at the time.
Seeing the pained look that flickered across Naina’s face, Suman immediately softened. “Naina,” she soothed, guiding her cousin to sit on the bed. “You know what Dad always says, right? If we live in the past, we can never move towards the future.”
“I’m not grieving, Suman, if that’s what you think,” she snapped. “And definitely not for Ruhaan, for that matter. He’s still very much like he was before. Playboy!”
Suman chuckled. “I’ve heard from Rohit he isn’t a player anymore, but God help me, the way he was ogling you, tells me he is not going to stop flirting with you.”
“Suman, stop,” Naina countered. This wasn’t the first time she had got such acute attention from men, but every time they got to know she was a single mother, most of them backed off.
“I’ve heard he is currently single,” Suman continued.
“So?” Naina groaned. “His status keeps changing every week, I am sure.”
Suman held up a placating hand. “Probably you are right. Look, I didn’t invite the Singhs—Rohit did because of his business partnership with Ruhaan now.
I couldn’t object and neither could Mom and Dad, who have been in touch with Ruhaan’s mother, Kaushalya Aunty, all these years.
But we all love you and want you and Neil to be part of this celebration in spite of their presence.
Please don’t let them spoil this for you. ”
Rohit and Ruhaan were doing business together? The fight drained from Naina’s body as quickly as it had flared. She knew her family meant well and would never intentionally hurt her. With a heavy sigh, she nodded slowly.
“I don’t care if they are here. It’s fine.”
“Are you sure? I mean, I understand that Kaushalya Aunty is as dramatic as a daily soap opera. Of course, having her around is going to stir up some crazy drama.”
Despite herself, Naina couldn’t help but laugh at her cousin’s playful quip.
She didn’t care what Ruhaan’s mother thought about her.
But perhaps having Ruhaan back in her orbit could be a catastrophe.
It was after seven long years finally that something had stirred again in her body like never before.
And worse if anyone understood her complicated emotions surrounding Ruhaan’s reappearance, it was Suman.
But this time, the shy, easily-flustered Naina of seven years ago was gone, replaced by a strong, empowered woman who wouldn’t be cowed by his charms or mind games.
She was Naina Bhalla, independent, single mother and hugely successful in her own right.
This was her family’s celebration, and she wouldn’t allow anyone, not even the Singhs, to diminish her joy in being here.
“Naina,” Subodh Kundra, Suman’s father, and his wife Malti entered the room, interrupting Naina and Suman’s conversation.
Naina dropped everything else and rushed to them. She took their blessings first and then hugged Subodh tight.
“How are you, uncle?”
“Just like always. Fit and fine. But what’s wrong with you? Why are you looking so thin?”
“Yes, Naina,” Malti intervened. “You have lost weight.”
“Neil keeps her on toes, Maa,” Suman mentioned as Neil finished his chocolate and ran towards the elderly couple. Just like Naina had taught him, Neil bent down straight to take their blessings first before hugging them.
“You are raising him good, Naina. All these values should be taught from the childhood itself.” Malti continued before taking Neil into her arms.
“Nani, I’m hungry.” Neil pouted.
Malti kissed his forehead and turned to Naina.
“You both talk,” she added smiling to her husband Subodh. “I’ll feed Neil and also check if the other guests have settled down. The moment Rohit told us that you and Neil are here, we first came to meet you both.”
Naina smiled as Malti took Neil and Suman along. Her uncle and aunt loved Neil no less than they loved Suman’s daughter, Pinky. Neil was lucky to have them as his grandparents.
“I am so happy you could make it here,” Subodh continued.
“How would I miss your 25th anniversary, Uncle?”
“I knew you wouldn’t. But the Singhs are here. I hope you don’t mind?” he asked. “We couldn’t deny Rohit’s request of inviting them. For the past two years, the Singhs are very much again like family friends because of their joint business with Rohit.”
Naina knew they were bound to keep positive ties with the Singhs for their son-in-law Rohit, despite what happened between her and the Singhs seven years ago.
Subodh slid his arm around Naina’s shoulder and took her away.
“Forget all that, Naina. Now tell me, did you think upon my request?”
Naina swallowed nervously. This was one reason why she preferred to travel less to Delhi. Her uncle and aunt kept asking her to settle down.
“Uncle, I am so much occupied these days. And you know Neil. He just...”
“Neil,” Subodh interrupted. “I am asking you to do this for Neil, Naina. Do you know the last time he was here, I asked him what he wants for himself when he comes here next time, and he said he wants a dad.”
Naina’s eyes teared.
“No, Naina. There is nothing to cry about. You have every right to marry and have a loving husband by your side.”
“But what’s the guarantee that my loving husband will be a caring father to Neil?” she asked.
“You have to leave some things for time to decide. Who knows, that man might love Neil as his own son?”
“How can I take that chance, Uncle? What if he doesn’t?”
“Naina...”
“Uncle, please. I know Neil wants a father, but I am not ready to get him one. I can live as a single mother for my entire life, but not waste Neil’s future by just becoming someone’s wife who doesn’t love my son as his.”
Subodh gave up for now. He didn’t want to spoil Naina’s mood beyond this.
“Okay, but the day you change your mind, I want you to tell me first. Trust me, good men still exist in this world.”
They may be. But she wasn’t hunting for them anymore.
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