Chapter 2 #2
Ruhaan stepped into the room allotted to him by Rohit.
It was big, with antique furniture and photos of the Kundras here and there.
Though his luggage was neatly tucked by the bedside, he wished to flee right now because Naina was staying under the same roof.
Why didn’t Rohit mention before that she was coming here too?
There were pictures of Naina with her family almost at every corner of the room.
One such frame grabbed his attention. It was Naina Bhalla cuddling her son Neil, who was hardly three years old by then.
The joy on her face holding that little kid in her arms was unmissable.
He was about to touch her picture, but he recalled what Suman had warned him about not doing so.
And yet he couldn’t miss skimming through Naina’s photo on the wall.
The next two weeks were going to be interesting.
At least with Rohit being busy looking over the preparations for the event, he would have someone to give him company. Someone he knew from the past…
****************
Next Morning
Ruhaan jogged on the running track circling the beautiful lawn of Kundra house.
Last night was terrible. He couldn’t sleep for hours, and the pictures of Naina and her son in the room kept distracting him throughout.
He was so frustrated about it that he hid the frames in the drawer.
And only when he thought he didn’t have to see her again, she came in his dreams. Her innocent eyes, which once allured him, now mocked him for being in this helpless situation.
All those memories of their past and the little time they spent together flashed continuously in his head, replaying, surprising him.
All these years, he didn’t even turn back to know how she was, where, and with whom.
But now, when she was right here under the same roof, all those hidden, unknown feelings he felt for her resurfaced.
He stopped to gulp the energy drink and breathed hard. Never did a woman affect him to this extent to give him sleepless nights. But Naina was always different from others.
“Hey,” Rohit joined him. “You run fast, bro.”
Ruhaan faked a smile and kept jogging with Rohit alongside.
“Years of practice, buddy,” Ruhaan smiled.
“Yeah, right. Anyway, I am in a fix and only you can save me,” Rohit muttered. “I promised to take all the kids out today for ice cream. But the event planner is coming just at the same time. Got to discuss some things with them.”
“That’s bad,” Ruhaan replied.
“I know. Pinky will be upset and all the other kids too.”
Pinky was the 4-year-old daughter of Rohit and Suman.
“Can you take them out?” he requested.
Ruhaan stopped. “Was that a joke?”
“Unfortunately, no,” his lips pressed into a thin line. “I don’t see anyone else who can drive these kids to the ice cream parlor.”
“Me? Why me? I have work, dammit.”
“Ruhaan, please. You are my friend. Save me.”
Ruhaan sighed in disbelief. “Okay. I will take them, but that’s the last favor I am doing for you this year.”
“Of course,” Rohit laughed at the sudden sarcasm, and the two friends continued their jog.
***************
The kids had already assembled in the car when Rohit and Ruhaan reached there.
“Kiddos,” Rohit said, “Ruhaan Uncle is going to take you to the ice cream parlor. Don’t trouble him much, and Neil, you are going to ensure that it’s followed. You are taking the lead today. Got it?”
“Yes, Uncle,” Neil gave Rohit a high five.
Ruhaan rooted to the spot as he saw Neil getting to the front seat of the car, which he was going to drive.
“Alright, Ruhaan. The kids are yours now. Thank you for this, bro.”
Ruhaan glanced at his friend once before getting into the car and drove them away. The kids were all very cheerful and enjoying the ride, but Neil was more interested in the way Ruhaan drove the car.
“Wow. You drive so good. Wish my mom could drive like that.”
Ruhaan gripped the steering wheel. Mom? Hmm. He fought the urge to know more about her.
“Will you teach my mom to drive like you?” Neil asked innocently.
Ruhaan was speechless. “Why? She doesn’t know how to drive?”
“She knows. She picks me from school every day, but she drives so slow.”
“And you like speed?”
“Yes,” he almost jumped on his seat. “I have three racing cars. My mom gifted me on my birthday.”
Of course, the boy meant toy cars, but the way he explained how he loved to race with his cars got Ruhaan Singh intrigued.
“Whom do you race with?”
“Alone. I don’t have many friends outside school,” he sighed.
“And your mom?” Ruhaan queried despite his mind denying him to do so. “She doesn’t play with you?”
“She plays Ludo and puzzle games. That’s all.”
Ruhaan swallowed. Ludo! He could imagine Naina and her son Neil playing Ludo. She would look cute.
“She doesn’t even like cricket,” Neil added.
Ruhaan didn’t argue further.
“You play cricket?” Neil asked curiously.
“Uh. Yeah. Sometimes.”
“Will you play with me?”
Ruhaan’s lips zipped. Neil was really very cute and talkative. It was hard to deny his wishes and ignore his presence.
“I will, champ,” he pinched his nose before focusing on the ride again.
“Yes,” Neil kept blabbering and opening up a lot more stuff about him and Naina, giving Ruhaan a glimpse of how beautiful and hectic Naina’s life was.
Although he knew from Rohit when they became business partners that Naina was a single mother and lived in Mumbai, he never thought he would meet Naina again or her son like this or even know more about their life together.
The kids cheered when they arrived at the ice cream parlor. Ruhaan watched them rush out of the car and into the shop. Neil tugged on Ruhaan’s hand, pulling him towards the entrance.
“Come on, Ruhaan. Let’s get some ice cream!”
Inside, the kids eagerly picked their favorite flavors while Ruhaan helped Neil decide. Neil chose a towering cone of chocolate and sprinkles for himself.
“Thank you, Ruhaan,” Neil said, his voice muffled by his first lick of ice cream.
“You’re welcome, buddy.”
They found a table, and the kids settled in, happily chattering and enjoying their treats. Ruhaan observed Neil, noticing how easily he fit in with the other children, yet there was a quiet independence about him. He was Naina’s son after all…strong, smart, and full of life.
Suddenly, Neil looked up at Ruhaan, his chocolate-smeared face breaking into a grin. “Ruhaan, do you like kids?”
Ruhaan blinked, caught off guard. “I guess so. Why do you ask?”
“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? He doesn’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.”
Before Naina could respond, Ruhaan ended the call, leaving her staring at the phone in disbelief. She couldn’t believe the nerve of this man, using her own kid as a bargaining chip to get what he wanted.
She turned to Suman and Rohit, who had been hearing the exchange with amused expressions. “Can you believe him?” she asked.
Suman chuckled, shaking her head. “Ruhaan still likes you, Naina. Why else would he go to such lengths to get your attention?”
Naina scoffed, not wanting to entertain the thought. “He’s just trying to get under my skin. And now I have to make him coffee, or who knows when he’ll bring the kids back.”
Rohit grinned, enjoying the drama. “Well, you better get started on that coffee. Because Ruhaan isn’t a man who likes to be kept waiting.”
Naina rolled her eyes unwilling to comply with Ruhaan’s demands. This was not how she envisioned her time in Delhi to go, but there was no turning back now.