Chapter 6 #2
Ruhaan hesitated, his eyes darting back to Naina, who was now deliberately engaging in conversation with a group of guests. He could see the tension in her shoulders, the forced smile on her face as she pointedly avoided looking in his direction.
“I... I’m not sure if I should,” Ruhaan began, but Poonam cut him off with a light laugh.
“Don’t be silly! It’ll just take a second,” she insisted, reaching back to guide his hands to the loose strings.
Feeling trapped and increasingly uncomfortable, Ruhaan reluctantly complied. His fingers fumbled with the delicate strings, acutely aware of the intimacy of the act and the eyes that might be watching.
From across the lawn, Naina fought to maintain her composure.
She kept her voice steady as she discussed the evening’s arrangements with the guests, but her mind was in turmoil.
The sight of Ruhaan’s hands on Poonam’s back sent a jolt of jealousy through her, once again, an emotion she hadn’t experienced in years.
Unable to bear it any longer, she excused herself from the conversation and strode away, her saree swishing around her ankles. She headed towards the house, desperate for a moment of solitude to collect herself.
Ruhaan, having finished helping Poonam, immediately searched the crowd for Naina. He caught a glimpse of her peacock blue saree disappearing into the house and made to follow her, his heart racing with the need to explain, to erase the hurt he had seen flicker across her face.
Before he could take more than a few steps, a hand on his arm stopped him. “Ruhaan, beta,” his mother Kaushalya’s voice rang out. “Come, there are some people I want you to meet.”
Ruhaan groaned inwardly, torn between his familial duty and his desperate desire to go after Naina. “Maa, can it wait? I need to—”
“Nonsense,” Kaushalya interrupted, already steering him towards a group of elegantly dressed guests. “These are very important people. You can socialize later.”
With a last longing look towards the house, Ruhaan allowed himself to be led away.
****************
Naina made her way to a quiet corner of the garden, trying to calm her racing heart. She was furious with herself for letting Ruhaan get under her skin. She leaned against a tree, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths.
“Why do I care so much?” she muttered to herself.
She was lost in thought when Suman found her. “Naina, are you okay? You looked upset.”
Naina opened her eyes and sighed. “I’m fine, Suman. Just needed a moment.”
Suman gave her a knowing look. “Is it Ruhaan? I saw Poonam with him.”
Naina’s expression hardened. “It’s nothing. I’m just being silly.”
Suman placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You know, it’s okay to feel this way. You’ve been through a lot, and it’s only natural to have these emotions.”
Naina shook her head. “I don’t want to feel this way, Suman. I don’t want to care about Ruhaan.”
Suman smiled softly. “Sometimes, we can’t control how we feel. Maybe it’s time you let yourself feel something other than anger and frustration.”
Before Naina could respond, Rohit interrupted them.
“What are you both doing here? The ceremony is about to begin. Uncle and Aunty are asking for you both. Come on.”
Naina composed herself, faking a smile. “Of course, we’re coming.”
She headed back to the center of the lawn, where the ring ceremony was about to commence. The area was beautifully decorated with fairy lights and flower arrangements, creating an enchanting atmosphere. Naina’s heart pounded as she took her place among the guests.
Ruhaan stood with his mother, and Poonam and her parents.
His eyes immediately began searching for Naina.
When he finally spotted her, she quickly looked away, focusing on presenting the ring to her aunt Malti.
The crowd cheered as her uncle Subodh and her aunt Malti exchanged rings, a touching scene that brought back memories of her own engagement with Ruhaan.
She remembered how Ruhaan had gently pressed her hand back then, silently assuring her that everything was good.
Tears welled up in her eyes now, but she wiped them away before they could spill and joined the guests in clapping to cheer for her uncle and aunt.
Throughout the ceremony, Naina made a conscious effort to avoid looking at him. However, Ruhaan was very much attuned to her discomfort and purposeful ignorance. His eyes never left her, despite being surrounded by guests and engaging in animated conversations.
At one point, when he dropped his gaze, he saw his mother watching him with a disapproving look. It was clear from her expression that she didn’t like seeing him so focused on Naina. But he turned away without offering an explanation.
A while later, Ruhaan spotted Neil at a distance, playing with the other children. He excused himself from the group and walked over to Neil, kneeling down to the boy’s level.
“Hey, champ,” Ruhaan greeted, ruffling Neil’s hair. “How’s it going?”
Neil looked up with a big smile. “It’s fun! I had two ice creams and Mom didn’t even notice.”
Ruhaan chuckled. “That’s good but no more ice creams. I don’t want you fall sick.”
“Now you are talking like my Mom,” Neil frowned.
“Well, consider me as the second in charge to ensure you are safe, after your Mom. Anyway, remember our little secret mission?”
Neil’s eyes widened with excitement. “Yes. I remember.”
“Good,” Ruhaan said, glancing around to ensure no one was listening. “Now’s the perfect time. Can you go and bring your mom to the terrace? Tell her it’s really important.”
Neil nodded eagerly. “Okay.”
As Neil ran off to find Naina, Ruhaan sighed in relief.
He knew he had to talk to Naina alone, away from the prying eyes of the guests and his mother.
His eyes once again sought out Naina in the crowd.
She was laughing at something Rohit had said, the sound stirring something deep within Ruhaan’s heart.
She was still in this deep conversation with Rohit and an elderly couple when Neil tugged at her saree.
“Mom, can you come with me for a minute?” Neil asked, his eyes shining with urgency.
Naina looked down at him, puzzled. “Neil, what is it?”
Neil insisted, “It’s really important, Mom. I want to show you something. Please?”
Seeing the earnest look in her son’s eyes, Naina sighed and excused herself from the conversation. “Alright, lead the way.”
Neil led her through the crowd and up the stairs to the terrace. Although she followed, her curiosity piqued.
As she stepped onto the terrace, guided by Neil’s insistent hand, she was startled to find Ruhaan standing there alone, his silhouette illuminated by the soft glow of the fairy lights strung overhead. The realization that this encounter had been orchestrated annoyed her.
Neil released her hand and turned to Ruhaan with a nod.
“I did my part. Got my mom here,” he said innocently.
Ruhaan stepped forward.
“Thank you, Champ. I appreciate it,” he said softly.
Naina stood rigid, her lips pressed into a thin line as she fought to contain her emotions. She wanted to lash out, to demand an explanation for this deception, but she held her tongue, not wanting to make a scene in front of Neil.
As Neil turned to leave, he paused, looking back at Naina with an earnest expression.
“Mom, don’t be angry at Ruhaan for long. I like him,” he said, his voice filled with a child’s simple honesty. Then, turning to Ruhaan, he added with a hint of protectiveness, “Don’t trouble my mom, okay? She’s very innocent.”
Ruhaan’s face broke into a wide smile, touched by Neil’s protective stance. He reached out and affectionately ruffled the boy’s hair.
“I promise, Neil. I won’t trouble your mom. She’s safe with me,” he assured.
Satisfied with this promise, Neil smiled brightly and hurried back downstairs, leaving Naina and Ruhaan alone on the terrace.
As the sound of Neil’s footsteps faded, Naina was suddenly struck by the familiarity of their surroundings.
This was the very spot where she and Ruhaan had shared their first kiss on the night of their engagement.
Desperate to escape the onslaught of emotions, she turned abruptly, intending to flee.
But before she could take a step, Ruhaan’s hand closed around her wrist, halting her retreat.
“Naina, please,” he pleaded. “Stop running from me like this.”
She remained facing away from him. “Leave my hand, Ruhaan. I have no interest in talking to you. Let me go.”
In response, Ruhaan spun her around and pulled her towards him with a sudden, strong movement. As she collided with his chest, his arm circled her waist. Their faces were mere inches apart, his warm breath fanning across her cheeks as he spoke.
“You can’t leave until we clear this out.”
She gasped, her eyes wide as they met his intense gaze.
“And before we begin the talk... let me tell you, Naina... you look breathtakingly gorgeous tonight. How do you manage to make me feel like this every time you walk around me?”
The compliment, delivered with such raw sincerity, caught her off guard.
She felt a blush creep up her neck, thankful for the dim lighting that hopefully concealed it.
For a moment, she allowed herself to be lost in Ruhaan’s gaze, but then reality crashed back in.
The years of separation, the pain, the misunderstandings…
they all came flooding back, steeling her resolve.
She placed her hands on Ruhaan’s chest, pushing against him even as her body yearned to lean in closer.
“Flattery won’t work, Ruhaan,” she said, fighting to keep her voice steady. “Whatever game you’re playing, I want no part of it. We’re not the same people we were seven years ago. Too much has happened; too much has changed.”
His grip on her waist loosened slightly, but he didn’t let go entirely.
“That’s exactly why we need to talk,” he insisted.
“And whatever I said just now is not flattery. You know, Neil said you’re innocent.
And he’s right. You are. But you’re also strong, determined, and so incredibly beautiful that it takes my breath away. ”
She closed her eyes briefly, torn between the desire to hear him out and the fear of opening old wounds.
“Naina, please hear me out.” Ruhaan pleaded.
“Fine,” she conceded. “You have five minutes. After that, I’m walking away, and you’ll respect my decision. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” he said softly, finally releasing his hold on her waist but not stepping back. “Can we just pick up where we left off.”
Her breath hitched. Pick up where they left off? What the hell was he talking about?