Chapter 3
Naina watched with frustration as Ruhaan’s car pulled into the driveway. The moment he stepped out, the kids tumbled out of the vehicle, their faces beaming with joy and ice cream stains adorning their clothes.
Neil rushed towards her, clutching an ice cream cone in his hand, still relishing it. Naina pulled him close, her eyes narrowing as she took in the sight of the half-eaten treat. She turned her gaze towards Ruhaan, her lips pressed into a thin line.
“How many ice creams did you let Neil have?”
Ruhaan flashed her a nonchalant grin. “We all had two each. What’s the big deal?”
Naina felt her anger rising. “The big deal?” she huffed. “You know kids can’t handle that much sugar at once. They could get sick.”
Ruhaan shrugged, unfazed by her concern. “Naina, you worry too much. Didn’t you ever have two ice creams at a time when you were a kid?”
“That was different,” Naina argued, but Ruhaan cut her off.
“Nothing’s different,” he countered. “Back then, you were a kid, and now Neil is. He wanted two, so I gave him two. Stop worrying so much; he’s a strong boy. Nothing’s going to happen. Think positive, Naina.”
“Yes, Mom, you worry unnecessarily,” Neil chimed in, his mouth smeared with ice cream. “Ruhaan is right. Nothing will happen.”
Naina felt her anger rising again as her own son took Ruhaan’s side. Before she could respond, Neil scampered off with the other kids, leaving her alone with the infuriating man.
She pointed an accusatory finger at Ruhaan. “Next time, don’t do anything for Neil without my permission.”
Ruhaan crossed his arms defiantly; his eyebrow arched in challenge. “Why?”
“What do you mean, ‘why’?” Naina retorted. “I’m his mother.”
“Even I mean something to his mother, right?” Ruhaan countered. “So, that obviously gives me some right over Neil too.”
Naina felt her face flush with heat. “You mean nothing to me, Ruhaan, other than my brother-in-law’s friend and business partner. Don’t think your flirtatious behavior is going to let me melt down this time. I’m not the Naina you could charm seven years ago.”
Before she could react, Ruhaan slid his arm around her waist, pulling her flush against him. Her breath caught in her throat as his closeness overwhelmed her senses.
He leaned in, his lips curled into a teasing grin. “So, I had really charmed you in the past? Didn’t I?”
She swallowed hard, her gaze falling upon Ruhaan’s parted lips. Memories of their past encounter flooded her mind, the rawness of his kiss then…that burning desire still left her breathless.
Snapping out of her reverie, she placed her palms against his chest and pushed him away. “Stay in your limits, Ruhaan,” she warned.
He sighed, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Fine, I’ll stay in my limits if that’s what you want. But if you cross the line someday, all bets are off.”
She frowned, unable to fathom the possibility of such a scenario. But before she could respond, Ruhaan shot her another mischievous grin. “Is my coffee ready?”
She rolled her eyes. “Go make yourself one.” With that, she turned on her heel and stormed off, her cheeks still flushed with anger.
Ruhaan chuckled to himself, thoroughly amused by Naina’s flustered state. Having her around again, with Neil in the mix, doubled the fun. He couldn’t wait to see how they would tackle each other over the next two weeks.
**************
Ruhaan’s mother, Kaushalya, sat on the terrace, basking in the laughter and camaraderie that filled the air. Rohit’s joke had prompted a hearty chuckle from her.
Suddenly, a ball landed on her lap, disrupting her moment of contentment. She looked around, wondering who the errant object belonged to. Couldn’t these kids find somewhere else to play?
“Daadi, please give me the ball,” a young voice piped up.
Kaushalya turned to find a cute young boy stretching his arms toward her, a charming smile gracing his features. The innocence in his eyes melted away any lingering annoyance.
“Is this your ball?” she asked, unable to resist the boy’s disarming demeanor.
“Yes,” he replied, brushing a stray strand of hair from his forehead.
“What’s your name?” Kaushalya inquired, her curiosity piqued.
“Neil.”
“That’s a good name. Where are your parents?”
Before Neil could answer, Suman hurried over with a hint of concern etched on her face.
“Neil, what are you doing here? Your mom is looking for you. Go.”
Neil retrieved the ball from Kaushalya’s lap and scampered off, leaving the two women alone.
“He’s such a pretty boy,” Kaushalya remarked, her maternal instincts stirred by the young lad’s charisma.
“Yes.” Suman hoped that Kaushalya wouldn’t inquire further about Neil’s identity. Yet, if she did, there was no harm in revealing the truth. Neil and Naina belonged here as much as anyone else.
“Is he your relative? Whose son is he? Mehra’s?” Kaushalya queried.
“Aunty, he is Naina’s son.” Suman didn’t hesitate to disclose the truth.
“Whose? Naina Bhalla’s son?”
“Yes.”
“Is she... here?”
Suman nodded. “She is a part of our family, Aunty. Of course, she has come here. I’m surprised how you two haven’t met so far. Anyway, the buffet is arranged at the terrace. We should all proceed for dinner.”
Kaushalya forced a smile. She hadn’t anticipated Naina’s presence, but it shouldn’t affect her, should it? They had no ties anymore. Shrugging off her thoughts, she followed the other guests to the terrace, her hunger taking precedence over any lingering concerns.
As she made her way, she wondered where her son Ruhaan was. Ever since his arrival, at her insistence, he had been spending time with everyone except her. That boy! She shook her head, momentarily infuriated, before redirecting her focus on the tantalizing aroma of the buffet that awaited her.
****************
Naina was feeding Neil dinner in their room while he recounted the day’s adventures with Ruhaan.
“Mom, you know Ruhaan plays basketball?” Neil exclaimed. “He even has strong muscles. Today, he carried Pinky and me together.”
Naina tried her best to hide her frown, offering a forced smile as she fed Neil another morsel of food. She didn’t like her son’s growing fascination towards Ruhaan.
“And Ruhaan loves cricket too like me,” Neil continued, oblivious to his mother’s discomfort. “He has promised to play cricket with me soon.”
Naina muttered something under her breath, wondering how her innocent son could be so easily charmed by a man who, in her eyes, would likely have his sights set on the women attending the anniversary event, rather than spending time with a seven-year-old kid.
“He drives the car so well, Mom,” Neil gushed. “And you know, he loves kids too.”
Naina stopped feeding him, her frown deepening. “So?” she asked, curious as to where her son was going with this line of thought.
Neil flashed her a toothy grin. “So, nothing. I like him, Mom. He’s my friend now.”
Naina sighed, shaking her head as an idea formed in her mind. She fed Neil another morsel.
“Okay, if he’s your friend now, and you like him so much, when we’re done here with your Nanu’s function, you can go with Ruhaan and stay with him while I go alone to Disneyland next month.”
“No, I’m coming with you.” Neil immediately interrupted her, his eyes widening in protest.
Naina couldn’t help but chuckle at his adamant response, tickling him playfully. He showered her face with kisses, as she pulled him onto her lap, feeding him once more.
“Mom, can Ruhaan also come with us to Disneyland?” Neil asked almost hopefully and Naina was stunned again.
Her son seemed so taken with Ruhaan in just a single day. She hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
“How can he come? Just like you can’t stay without me, Ruhaan will also miss his mom if he comes with us.”
Neil patted his head, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “Oh, mom, you’re so innocent. Ruhaan is a big man now. He won’t miss his mom.”
His words struck a chord within Naina, filling her with a sense of sadness. She immediately pulled Neil closer, gazing into his eyes.
“When you grow into a big man, you too wouldn’t miss your mom?”
Neil pouted, wrapping his arms around Naina’s neck in a tight embrace. “I will always miss you, mom. I love you.”
Tears of joy shimmered in her eyes as she hugged him back, her heart swelling with love. “I love you more, Neil. More than you would ever know.”
***************
Next Day
Ruhaan was diving into the pool at the backside of the villa, to escape the heat.
With each stroke, his mind drifted back to Naina and the lingering tension between them.
He recalled her innocent warnings, urging him not to cross his limits, and once again a mischievous grin tugged at his lips.
Naina might have wanted to keep her distance, haunted by the ghosts of their past, but Ruhaan was irresistibly drawn to her, like a moth to a flame.
Seeing her again had ignited a fire within him, tantalizingly awakening desires he thought he had long since buried.
Ever since taking over the role of CEO of his company, he had forced himself to suppress his flirtatious nature, but Naina’s presence had reignited that smoldering spark, making it impossible for him to resist the temptation to lure her with his old charm, no matter how much she tried to resist.
Lost in his thoughts, Ruhaan nearly missed the sound of Neil’s voice calling out to him. The young boy stood at the edge of the pool, his eyes wide with wonder as he watched Ruhaan glide through the water.
“Ruhaan!” Neil exclaimed. “Can you teach me how to swim?”
Ruhaan flashed a warm smile, swimming closer to the edge. “Of course, buddy. But are you allowed to swim?” he asked. “I mean, your Mom has strict instructions to check with her on any matters concerning you.”
Neil hesitated, his brow furrowing with uncertainty. “I want to swim. But Mom never lets me. She’s scared because she can’t swim herself. She said when I will be 10, she’ll then enroll me for swimming classes.”