Chapter 4 #2
As Malti left the room, Kaushalya’s resolve strengthened. She would see Ruhaan happily married, no matter what obstacles, or who, stood in her way. The wheels in her mind were already turning, plotting her next move.
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“I can’t believe I finally met her again,” Naina muttered to herself as she climbed the stairs, replaying the awkward encounter with Ruhaan’s mother.
No matter how many years had passed, Kaushalya still looked at her as if she were the one responsible for ruining everything in the past, when in truth, it was Kaushalya herself.
The woman’s judgmental gaze had brought back a flood of bitter memories, making her chest tighten with frustration.
She reached the door of her room, the room she had sacrificed for the guests at this event having no idea Ruhaan was staying there.
All she needed was the saree in the closet.
Most of her belongings were locked in this room’s closet, which she used whenever she and Neil stayed with the Kundras in Delhi, except this time she had taken a smaller guest room to let the other guests occupy hers.
She knocked on the door, but it was slightly open.
Peeking inside, she was about to call out when she saw the state of her room.
The bed had an open strolley with clothes scattered everywhere, and her beloved photo wall had been touched.
The alignment of the pictures was off, and one was missing—her favorite picture of her holding Neil when he was three years old, kissing his cheek. She immediately disliked the mess.
Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice behind her. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence in my room?”
Naina angrily turned around to find Ruhaan, freshly showered and clad only in a towel over his lower body. She didn’t care about his state of undress and marched toward him.
“This is my room, not yours! What the hell have you done to it? Who asked you to touch the photos?”
Ruhaan grinned, stepping back with every word she uttered until his back hit the wall. Naina was still close. “Your photos?” he teased.
“Yes, my photos. And one of them is missing. Mine and Neil’s. Where is it?”
He grinned again and, using one hand, opened the side drawer next to him, pulling out the missing photo frame. “Are you in this picture too? I just saw Neil in this one.”
Naina snatched the frame from him. “Don’t play these nonsense jokes with me. It might work on others, but not me. And don’t ever touch my stuff again.”
As she turned to leave, Ruhaan slid his arm around her waist and pulled her close. She gasped as their bodies pressed flush together, the photo frame still in her hand.
“Now I know what your problem is,” Ruhaan said.
Naina was confused. “Problem? I don’t have any problem. Stop creating one.”
Ruhaan replied coyly, “No, Naina, I’m serious.
You do have a problem, and a very big one.
And that is... your frustration. It easily comes out, no matter what.
People can’t joke with you, can’t prank with you.
Your temper is always right here,” he said, pointing to her nose. “And do you know when that happens?”
Naina swallowed, despite having no interest in his made-up theory. “When?”
He smiled playfully. “When you are malnourished.”
Naina let out a sarcastic chuckle. “I eat well, Mr. Ruhaan Singh.”
Ruhaan chuckled too. “I’m not talking about food malnutrition. I’m talking about malnutrition of endorphins and oxytocin—the feel-good hormones that activate the pleasure centers in the brain.”
Naina froze, her anger momentarily forgotten as Ruhaan’s words sank in. She knew exactly what he was implying. Her breath caught in her throat as Ruhaan continued.
“You see, Naina,” he murmured, his fingers tracing a light pattern on her lower back, “when these hormones are in short supply, it can lead to all sorts of issues. Irritability, frustration, inability to enjoy life’s little pleasures...”
She swallowed hard, acutely aware of Ruhaan’s bare chest pressing against her. “That’s... that’s ridiculous,” she managed to stammer, her voice lacking conviction.
His lips curved into a knowing smile. “It’s not. Rohit told me you don’t have a boyfriend.”
Her jaw dropped. How could her brother-in-law share the details of her private life with Ruhaan? Ruhaan read her thoughts but continued.
“He gave me an idea of how busy and robotic your life in Mumbai is. Plus, with Neil being such a naughty kid, I assume your hands are full of responsibilities and work, leaving you no time for yourself.”
She knew every word he said was true, but she didn’t want to accept it. She pushed him, creating some distance, and crossed her arms in front of her, finally finding her voice. “And you think you’re the solution to my so-called problem?”
Ruhaan’s eyes locked onto hers. “Maybe I am. Maybe I’m exactly what you need.”
She felt a surge of anger at Ruhaan’s audacity. “How dare you even say that to me?” she snapped. “I’ve heard about your player reputation, but now I see it with my own eyes—how much of a flirt and a player you really are.”
His expression darkened before he reached for her again and pinned her to the wall.
“Whatever you’ve heard about me, I won’t justify that.
But I didn’t mean to try any of those flirtatious Casanova traits with you.
That’s because I know you’re not like the other women I’ve had flings with.
I know you’re different. You were always different.
What I meant was you need to loosen up a bit, enjoy life, and stop being practical all the time.
Look at you right now—one casual tease, and your anger bursts up. This is what I’m talking about.”
Naina swallowed, knowing Ruhaan was right. She got too annoyed and frustrated even over silly topics these days.
His intense gaze softened a fraction. “Close your eyes.”
She was unwilling at first, but the firmness in his clenched jaw made her comply. She closed her eyes, and all she heard was his voice.
“Now, breathe slowly... relax... think of the good times you’ve had in your life... and the times you dream of... to come.”
She kept her eyes shut, recalling all the good times she had with her son Neil. She remembered the time they built sandcastles on the beach, the laughter they shared while baking cookies, and the bedtime stories he loved so much. Each memory brought a smile to her face.
Then, out of the blue, she saw Ruhaan and herself in the pool, clinging to him, feeling out of this world—good, happy, wanted, and desired, feelings she hadn’t experienced in years. He was the only one who had ever brought those emotions out of her.
As she slowly opened her eyes, she saw Ruhaan smiling at her, oblivious to what she had envisioned.
The way she now watched him with pure affection confused him too for a few seconds, especially when she drew him a step closer.
His gaze just like every other time these days, dropped to her parted lips.
Naina didn’t waste a single second to take a step towards him, and though their bodies didn’t touch, nor did Ruhaan hold her, when he bent to kiss her lips, Naina allowed him to.
He gently sucked her lower lip once, then her upper lip, before releasing it.
Although the kiss wasn’t longer than a few seconds, the moment their lips met, the world seemed to stand still for both.
The photo frame Naina had been holding slipped from her grasp and shattered on the floor, breaking their spell.
Naina opened her eyes in shock, realizing what had just happened.
Tears welled up as she saw the shattered pieces of glass from the photo frame of her and Neil on the floor.
She knelt down, picking up the photo with teary eyes, knowing the kind of life she had just imagined was not in her fate at all.
Imagining it with Ruhaan was all the more wrong.
Ruhaan bent down to help her pick up the pieces, but she didn’t allow him. She gathered the photo and ran out of his room, leaving Ruhaan staring after her in confusion and regret.