Chapter 11
She had worn a loose off-white woolen pullover over her dark blue jeans. Her hair was tied into a simple ponytail, trying to keep it casual yet comfortable for the chilly night.
Finally, she heard footsteps approaching from the back door and Ruhaan emerged from the shadows, his eyes shining with admiration. He took in her appearance, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary.
Without giving him a chance to speak, Naina marched over to him, clutching his t-shirt in frustration.
“If you had been a second later, I would have gone back to my room and never seen you again, Ruhaan,” she hissed.
“Who keeps a woman waiting like this in the cold? Do you know how difficult it was to lie to everyone and sneak out? I’ve never lied to my family before, never lied to Neil before.
And yet, I’m doing this for you. And you’re late. Seriously?”
Ruhaan simply smiled as he reached up to place a finger on her lips, silencing her.
“Who said I came late, Miss Naina Bhalla?” He tapped her nose playfully, his grin widening. “I was here before you, hiding behind that pillar. I’ve been watching you this whole time, admiring how cute you look when you’re frustrated.”
“Are you serious?” Naina’s anger flared even more. She started patting his chest in indignation. “You were enjoying my state? How could you, Ruhaan?”
Before she could continue venting her frustration with gentle pats against his chest he caught her wrists and pulled her close, their bodies pressing together in the moonlit garden.
“I wanted to see how desperate you’d get for me, Naina,” he teased. “Because, believe me, you can’t measure my desperation for you these days. I just thought we should be on the same page before we go any further.”
She clenched her jaw, trying to mask the blush creeping up her cheeks.
“This is fun for you, isn’t it? I hate you,” she snapped, though her words lacked the bite she intended.
Ruhaan’s grin softened. “And I love every bit of seeing you like this.”
The playful banter between them faded as they gazed at each other, the night suddenly feeling still and intimate. He cupped her face, drawing her closer as he leaned in for a kiss. But she quickly placed her hands on his chest, stopping him just inches from her lips.
“No kissing tonight,” she declared, trying to regain control. “Not after you made me wait so long. And now, let’s go before someone catches us out here.”
She turned to walk toward the car, but Ruhaan wasn’t done yet. He swiftly grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him, making her gasp as their bodies collided once more. His hands returned to her face, and his gaze locked onto hers with a smoldering intensity.
“Don’t make rules you can’t resist breaking,” he whispered, his lips hovering just above hers. “I have a strong intuition that by the end of this night, we’re going to do a lot more than just kissing.”
She swallowed, trying to maintain her composure, but the heat in his gaze was too overwhelming.
“Keep dreaming,” she replied.
His smirk widened, sensing her internal struggle. He knew she wanted him just as much as he wanted her, and that only fueled his desire. But instead of pushing her further, he decided to let her lead for now.
“Let’s go,” he said, finally releasing her and gesturing toward the car.
He opened the passenger door for her with a flourish, and once she was settled, he got in and started the engine. Naina felt a flutter of nervousness in her stomach.
“So where exactly are we going?” she asked, trying to keep her voice casual.
Ruhaan just grinned and put the car in gear. “It’s a surprise. You’ll see when we get there.”
They drove in comfortable silence for a while, the streets empty and peaceful at this late hour. She stole glances of him, admiring the strong line of his jaw and the way his hair fell across his forehead, but quickly looked away when he caught her staring.
“See something you like?” Ruhaan teased.
“Just making sure you’re keeping your eyes on the road,” she retorted primly.
“Liar.”
As they left the city behind and entered more rural areas, her curiosity got the better of her.
“Seriously, Ruhaan, where are we going? We’ve been driving for almost an hour now.”
“Patience,” he replied, reaching over to give her hand a gentle squeeze. “We’re almost there.”
A few minutes later, he turned off the main road onto a narrow dirt track that wound its way up a steep hillside. Naina gripped the door handle tightly as the car bounced and jostled over the uneven terrain.
Finally, they emerged into a small clearing at the top of the hill where he parked the car and turned to Naina with a triumphant grin.
“We’re here!”
She looked around in confusion. There didn’t seem to be anything particularly special about the spot — just trees and grass and... Her breath caught in her throat as she stepped out of the car and saw the view spread out before them.
The entire city lay sprawled below, a glittering tapestry of lights stretching as far as the eye could see. It was breathtakingly beautiful.
“Oh, Ruhaan,” she breathed. “It’s amazing.”
He came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder.
“I thought you might like it,” he murmured. “Whenever I am in Delhi, I come up here sometimes when I need to clear my head. It helps put things in perspective, you know?”
She leaned back against him, savoring the warmth of his body in the cool night air. “It’s perfect. Thank you for sharing this place with me.”
They stood there for a long moment, simply drinking in the view and each other’s presence. There was something so easy and natural about being with him, like they never had any separation in the last seven years.
“Penny for your thoughts?” he asked, noticing her pensive expression.
She smiled and shook her head. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking... I’m really glad I came tonight. I almost had decided not to, you know.”
He raised an eyebrow. “And what changed your mind?”
She shrugged, suddenly feeling shy. “You, I guess. There’s just something about you that makes me want to take risks, to step outside my comfort zone. It’s scary, but... exciting too.”
He reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m glad you took the risk,” he said softly. “Being with you... it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before either.”
Their eyes locked. “Tell me about your life in Mumbai,” he said. “What’s a typical day like for you and Neil?”
Naina sighed, as she thought about her daily life.
“It all starts with waking Neil up for school,” she explained.
“I swear, that boy could sleep through an earthquake. Then it’s a whirlwind of making his tiffin, preparing breakfast, and getting us both ready.
It’s like a one-woman circus act, juggling a hundred things at once. ”
Ruhaan listened intently, captivated by the glimpse into her world as she continued.
“After dropping Neil off at school, I head to work. It’s hectic, but I love what I do.
In the afternoon, our nanny picks Neil up and takes care of him until I get home.
When I return, he’s usually playing with his friends in the society park, the nanny keeping a watchful eye.
Then the nanny leaves, and it’s just me and him.
We bond over what happened at school, I help him with his homework, cook dinner, and then we have our meal together.
Then it’s cartoon time - his favorite part of the day before bed. ”
As she spoke, a soft smile spread across his face. He could hear the love and dedication in her voice as she talked about Neil, and it warmed his heart.
“You’re an incredible mom, Naina,” he said. “Neil is so lucky to have you.”
Her eyes glistened with tears. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Neil... he’s all I’ve had for so long.”
Ruhaan pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “Not anymore,” he murmured, his lips brushing against her temple. “Now you have me too.”
The sincerity in his voice was undeniable. But the last time she needed him, he wasn’t there for her. Naina shrugged those thoughts at the moment.
Ruhaan released her and headed back to the car. “Wait here,” he said with a wink.
Curious, she watched as he rummaged through the backseat before returning with a small tin. He opened it to reveal a batch of her favorite Choco chip cookies from the famous bakery here in Delhi. “I remembered you loved these,” he said, handing her the tin. “So, I got them for you.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “You remembered?” She took a cookie, savoring the familiar taste. It was a small gesture, but it meant the world to her that he had remembered such a small detail from their past.
“Of course, I did.” He smiled. “I could never forget.”
She fed him one and then the next before savoring the rest of it. All these years she had been pampering her son. Tonight, someone else was pampering her and she loved it to the core.
They talked some more, sharing memories and thoughts as the night wore on. By the time they realized it, it was already midnight. It was time to head back to the villa, but neither of them was ready for the night to end.
Just as Ruhaan was about to put the car in gear, Naina reached out, placing her hand on his arm.
He turned to her, a question in his eyes.
Unable to resist any longer, she leaned in and kissed him.
It was a soft, tentative kiss at first, but the moment their lips met, something ignited between them.
Ruhaan responded instantly, his hands coming up to cup her face. In one fluid motion, he pushed his seat behind and pulled her onto his lap, giving them better access to each other. Naina went willingly, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pressed herself closer.
The kiss deepened. Naina felt as though she was melting, her entire world narrowing down to the sensation of Ruhaan’s lips on hers, his hands roaming her back.