Chapter 10
Next Morning
Naina stared at her mehndi-clad hands, admiring the design on her skin.
It was the morning after she had agreed to Ruhaan’s proposal for a casual relationship, sealing it with a passionate kiss that still lingered in her thoughts.
After that electrifying moment, she had quickly returned to the lawn, where her aunt and Suman had been searching for her to start applying the Mehndi.
It had taken nearly two hours to finish this elaborate pattern on her hands, but it was worth it.
Throughout the entire process, Ruhaan was never far from her mind, or her sight.
He had been everywhere, helping out in various ways: serving the ladies drinks, playing with the children, checking the lights for any issues, and even taking on the role of cameraman for the aunties eager to capture selfies and group photos.
His mother, Kaushalya, watched him with suspicion, likely thinking his involvement was to impress Poonam.
If only she knew that his eyes never left Naina, not once during the entire event.
Poor Poonam tried her best to draw attention with her low-neck choli and loud conversations, but her attempts failed to impress anyone, certainly not Ruhaan.
As Naina recalled the previous night’s events, a chuckle escaped her lips, that caught the attention of her uncle, Subodh Kundra, who approached and sat next to her.
“What’s so funny?” Subodh asked, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. “You seem to be in a world of your own. You’ve been sitting here grinning to yourself for the past five minutes.”
Startled by his sudden appearance, she quickly tried to change the subject, not wanting her uncle to suspect that Ruhaan occupied her thoughts.
Though her family didn’t dislike Ruhaan, the memory of their broken engagement seven years ago loomed large, and they wouldn’t want her to get too close to him again.
“I was just thinking about one of Neil’s antics,” she lied smoothly, hoping to divert her uncle’s attention.
Subodh chuckled, leaning back comfortably. “Ah, that boy. He’s full of surprises.”
“Speaking of surprises, where is Neil?” she asked, realizing the house was unusually quiet. “Are the kids playing in the backyard?”
Subodh shook his head, looking amused. “The kids aren’t home. Ruhaan took them out for another ice cream treat.”
Naina raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Again? Neil didn’t even ask me for permission this time.”
She paused, but as she thought about it, she realized that she trusted Ruhaan with Neil. However, these frequent ice cream outings needed to be moderated.
“Don’t worry,” Subodh reassured her. “The kids are safe with Ruhaan. Though I agree, these ice cream treats are becoming a bit too frequent.”
She nodded, making a mental note to have a word with Ruhaan about spoiling the children. As she pondered this, she noticed her uncle fidgeting with his phone.
“Naina,” Subodh began, his tone suddenly serious. “There’s something I wanted to discuss with you.”
He pulled up a photo on his phone and showed it to her. The screen displayed a handsome man in his mid-thirties, with kind eyes and a warm smile.
She studied the photo, curiosity piqued. “Who is this?” she asked, glancing up at her uncle.
“This is Raj Mehta,” he explained. “He works in Mumbai and is one of our extended relatives.”
Naina frowned. “Okay... but why are you showing me his picture?”
Subodh hesitated, then continued, “Well, your Aunt Malti and I were thinking... we thought it might be nice if you and Raj could meet. He’s a good man, successful, and he’s been looking to settle down. We believe he’s a suitable match for you.”
She understood now what her uncle was implying. The idea of meeting another man felt overwhelming, especially when she had just decided to explore whatever it was she had with Ruhaan. The kiss they had shared felt significant, as if she had claimed him as hers.
“Uncle, I don’t think I’m ready for this,” Naina said, handing the phone back to him.
“Now, now, don’t jump to conclusions,” Subodh held up his hands defensively. “We’re not forcing anything. We just thought it might be good for you to meet someone new. It’s been seven years since... well, you know.”
Naina’s heart sank.
“Uncle, I appreciate the thought, but I’m not really interested in meeting anyone right now.”
Subodh’s face fell slightly. “I understand, beta. But at least meet him once before making up your mind. He’s coming for the anniversary celebration, and it would be rude not to at least say hello.”
Naina sighed, torn between her family’s expectations and her own feelings. The thought of entertaining another potential relationship felt wrong.
“Can’t we wait?” she asked, hoping to postpone the meeting.
Subodh shook his head, offering her an encouraging smile. “Just meet him, Naina. If you don’t like him, we’ll drop the idea. But I think you owe it to yourself to at least see if there’s any potential there.”
Reluctantly, Naina nodded. “Alright, I’ll meet him, but I can’t promise anything.”
“That’s all we ask,” Subodh said, patting her shoulder reassuringly.
As her uncle left the room, Naina slumped back into the sofa.
How had her life become so complicated in just one day?
On one hand, there was Ruhaan - her first love, the man who had broken her heart seven years ago, and now the object of her secret desire.
On the other hand, there was this Raj - a stranger her family wanted her to consider as a potential partner.
The sound of laughter from outside caught her attention. She moved to the window and saw Ruhaan returning with the children, all of them sporting ice cream-stained grins. Her heart swelled at the sight of Neil holding Ruhaan’s hand, chattering away excitedly.
As if sensing her gaze, Ruhaan looked up and caught her eye. His smile widened, and he gave her a small wave. Naina felt her breath catch in her throat. How could she even think about meeting another man when Ruhaan made her feel like this?
She watched as the children ran inside, their excited voices filling the previously quiet house. Moments later, Ruhaan appeared in the doorway of the living room.
“Hey,” he said softly, his eyes twinkling. “The kids had a great time. I hope you don’t mind that I took them out again.”
Naina crossed her arms, trying to look stern. “You’re spoiling them, you know. We can’t make this an everyday thing.”
He stepped closer. “I made sure Neil has only one ice cream today. Unlike the last time. See? There’s progress.”
“Ruhaan?” Naina gasped as he predatorily walked towards her, shutting the door. “We need to be careful. My uncle was just here, and...”
She trailed off, unsure of how to broach the subject of Raj. Ruhaan’s brow furrowed in concern.
“And what? Did something happen?”
Naina sighed. “My uncle and aunt want me to meet someone. A man named Raj Mehta. He’s coming to the anniversary celebration.”
She watched as various emotions flickered across Ruhaan’s face – surprise probably.
“I see,” Ruhaan said, his voice tight but playful. “And what did you tell them?”
“I said I’d meet him,” she replied, trying to keep her tone casual, though her heart fluttered at the look he gave her.
Ruhaan nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving hers. “I don’t mind you meeting him. Because that doesn’t change what we have between us now, does it?”
Naina sensed the underlying jealousy in his tone and decided to play along, pushing him just a bit further. “Unless,” she shrugged with mock seriousness, “I like Raj.”
Now his expression shifted. He looked like a lover possessed, his eyes darkening with an intense emotion.
“After all,” Naina continued, enjoying the banter, “he is my uncle’s choice. I’m sure there won’t be anything I wouldn’t like about Raj. Who knows? I might be pleasantly surprised meeting him.”
In a swift motion, Ruhaan clutched her arms and pulled her flush against his body. She gasped, bracing herself for a passionate outburst. Instead, he surprised her with a smile.
“These men named Raj are reserved for Simrans,” he teased, referencing the iconic Bollywood pairing with a grin.
Naina giggled, unable to contain her amusement.
“And all Nainas are restricted only for Ruhaans,” he declared softly, drawing her even closer and captured her lips in a tender kiss, deepening it with every passing second.
Instead of immediately returning the kiss, Naina playfully nibbled at his lower lip, causing him to hiss in surprise.
She then pushed him away with a playful glint in her eyes.
“Enough of your cheesy lines,” she chided, though her eyes sparkled with affection. “Now get out of my room before anyone catches us together.”
Ruhaan paused at the door. “You think I’m scared if anyone sees us together?”
She raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his confidence before glancing over his shoulder with feigned alarm and exclaimed, “Oh, hello Kaushalya aunty!”
Ruhaan whipped around in panic, and Naina burst into laughter, pushing him out of the room before he could recover. She shut the door quickly, her laughter ringing in the air as she leaned against the closed door.
Realizing he had fallen for her prank, Ruhaan chuckled and attempted to reopen the door. “You’re going to pay for that,” he warned playfully.
But Naina kept the door firmly shut, her laughter bubbling over. “Not today, Mr. Singh!”
She kept laughing realizing that she hadn’t felt so happy like this in a long time. Ruhaan had brought joy and spontaneity back into her life, reminding her of how wonderful it felt to be cherished and adored.
***************
Evening
Neil ran straight to Ruhaan and the rest of Team Groom, who were in the middle of their final dance practice for the sangeet. The lawn was alive with energy as everyone perfected their moves, eager for the tonight’s event.
“What’s the update, buddy?” Ruhaan asked Neil, ruffling the boy’s hair as he joined the group.