Chapter 21
On the entire flight back to Mumbai, Neil sat quietly, his usual energy and cheer completely gone.
Naina noticed the sadness in his eyes, his tiny fingers twisting a corner of his t-shirt as he looked blankly out the window.
She tried to make light conversation, telling him about all the things they’d do together once they got home, maybe even suggesting his favorite pizza for dinner.
But Neil merely nodded, even his responses were brief.
As they landed in Mumbai and drove home, she glanced back at Neil, watching him quietly looking out at the familiar sights as they neared their apartment, and her heart broke a little more, knowing how deeply Ruhaan’s silence had hurt him.
When they finally arrived home, she unlocked the door and dragged the trolley bags inside, flipping on the lights. Neil, carrying his little bag, moved quietly past her toward his bedroom, shoulders drooped with disappointment. Seeing him so defeated, she decided she had to talk to him.
“Neil, baby, wait,” she called softly, walking over to him before he could disappear into his room.
She gently turned him around and knelt down to his height, looking him in the eyes.
“I know you’re upset. You didn’t talk to me much since this morning, and you didn’t even say a proper goodbye to Nana and Nani before we left. ”
Neil looked down, his little shoulders sagging, and muttered softly, “I couldn’t even say goodbye to Ruhaan.”
Naina froze. Of everyone they had left behind in Delhi, Neil was still thinking about Ruhaan. She swallowed the ache in her chest and raised his chin, forcing him to look at her.
“I know you like Ruhaan. But sweetheart… he can’t be your Dad.”
“Why not?” he asked, his eyes searching hers for answers. “If they say Raj uncle can be my daddy, then why not Ruhaan?”
Naina took a deep breath, struggling to keep her voice steady.
“Because, Neil… sometimes, it’s not just about what we want. You want Ruhaan to be your dad, I know that. But it’s also important that Ruhaan wants to be your dad too.”
“But he does,” Neil insisted, his eyes wide with determination. “I know he does.”
She bit her lip, trying to contain the tears threatening to spill.
“Neil, he didn’t say anything like that… maybe he doesn’t want to be your dad, sweetie. If he wanted to, don’t you think he would have said something?”
Neil shook his head stubbornly.
“No, Mom,” he whispered, refusing to believe her. “You’re wrong. He couldn’t say anything because he was confused. That’s all.”
Naina was stunned by his fierce insistence to protect Ruhaan.
“Confused?” she repeated, taken aback.
“Yes, confused! Like when I mess up in front of everyone because I get scared when too many people are watching me. I think Ruhaan was just… nervous. It’s hard when everyone is staring.”
Neil was determined to see Ruhaan’s silence as anything but rejection. He wanted so much to believe in the goodness he saw in Ruhaan, the bond they had shared over the past week.
But she couldn’t let Neil hold onto that hope forever, especially if Ruhaan couldn’t meet him halfway. She had to protect her son’s heart, even if it broke her own in the process.
She sighed softly and pulled him close, gently stroking his hair.
“Neil, let’s not talk about Ruhaan right now, okay?” she murmured. “You know, we’ve always been enough for each other, haven’t we?”
He nodded, but it was a reluctant, sad nod. She pressed a kiss to his cheek, holding him close as he nestled into her. But even as she tried to comfort him, she knew the wound would take time to heal, just as her own heartbreak would.
And as she looked down at Neil, she realized that despite her best efforts, Ruhaan had left a mark on them both that couldn’t simply be erased.
*****************
The next day, Naina walked into her office, forcing a bright smile despite the heaviness inside her.
She had hoped that being back at work would shake her out of the daze left by the events in Delhi.
She had Neil to think about, to care for, and so much work waiting for her, but the thoughts of Ruhaan still lingered.
As she settled into her chair, her boss Deborah entered the office.
“Welcome back, Naina!” Deby beamed, pulling her into a quick, friendly hug. “Feels good to have you here again. I hope Delhi treated you well?”
“It’s good to be back,” Naina replied, offering her best attempt at a genuine smile. “It was… an experience.”
Deborah raised an eyebrow but decided to let it slide, noticing the faint hesitation in Naina’s voice. She cleared her throat and said, “Let’s get down to business then. We’ve got a big campaign presentation coming up for the Bakshi Group—’BBB Campaign. Beauty Beyond Boundaries.”
Naina knew that was the one she had proposed to the client before going to Delhi. Deborah led Naina toward the conference room, speaking over her shoulder, “I want to fill you in on what the team has put together so far.”
Inside the conference room, Deborah quickly dove into the details, outlining the strategy the team had prepared for the campaign so far.
“So, here’s the plan,” Deborah said, pulling out a few slides on the screen.
“In one week, we’re presenting this campaign to their CEO, Mr. Ashok Bakshi.
He’s old school, early sixties, and quite traditional in his thinking.
But it’s crucial we show him just how much this campaign can drive his company’s profit, especially in today’s competitive market.
Now, our team has done a lot of groundwork, but Naina, we need your expertise as our marketing consultant to really polish this and add those final touches. ”
“Got it. I’ll take a look and make sure we’re prepared,” Naina replied with a nod.
Deborah’s sharp eyes didn’t miss the lack of spark in Naina’s response. She dismissed the rest of the team, but when Naina started to follow them out, she called her back.
“Naina?” Deborah asked gently once they were alone. “Is something wrong?”
Naina looked away, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m fine, Deby. Really.”
Deborah folded her arms and tilted her head, studying her again.
“Fine? I thought you’d come back from Delhi energized, ready to dive back into work, but you seem exhausted. Sad, even. Missing your family already?”
“No,” Naina said quickly, shaking her head. “It’s not that. Everything is fine.”
“Come on, Naina. I may be your boss, but I’m also your friend. I can tell when something’s off. You don’t have to hide things from me. Is there any problem? Anything I can help with?”
Naina’s mouth opened to respond, to brush off the concern.
“No, really, Deby,” she finally managed, pasting on a small smile. “It’s just… I guess I’m a bit tired from the trip, that’s all.”
Deborah didn’t buy it.
“Alright, let me guess. Considering how much your family wants to get you settled down, at this event, there must have been a handsome man involved? You liked him, didn’t you? And now, back here in Mumbai, you’re missing him.”
Caught off guard, Naina’s cheeks flushed pink, and she burst out, “That’s not true! I don’t like him, nor am I missing him… Please, Deby!”
Deborah chuckled, lifting a brow knowingly. “Oh, so there was a guy, huh? Hmm. I need details, Naina.” She crossed her arms, leaning against the table. “What has he done to my friend, to turn her this gloomy?”
Naina, stuck, fidgeted, searching for the words to divert the subject. “It’s… complicated.”
Deborah smiled sympathetically.
“Most worthwhile things are. Maybe not now, but when you’re ready, I’m here. I’m not going to stop pushing you for this, Naina. You deserve happiness.”
Naina managed a weak smile, deeply moved by her support.
“Thanks, Deby. But now, let me just focus on work. I’ve got a long list of emails waiting.”
“Alright, alright. Go ahead. But don’t think I’m letting you off that easy. Take your time and tell me all about this mysterious man when you’re ready. Deal?”
“Deal.” She left the conference room and returned to her desk, knowing she could count on Deby. Anytime.
******************
A Week Later
Ruhaan gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white as he cursed under his breath.
It had been a week of pure torture, with every attempt he made to reach Naina or Neil failing.
She had blocked his number, blocked his mother’s number after his last desperate attempt, and left him with no other way to reach out.
Each passing day, he grew more frustrated and regretful, cursing himself for never asking for her address or even where she worked.
Even Rohit wasn’t going to budge on giving up her address.
He’d tried pleading, joking, even a bit of bribery, but Rohit wouldn’t budge.
As he drove through the bustling streets of Mumbai, he tried to suppress his irritation, but it was impossible.
Every child he saw reminded him of Neil, every woman with a bright smile reminded him of Naina.
The frustration simmered as he tried to shake away memories of the two weeks they’d spent together, but it was futile.
Thoughts of Naina’s laughter, Neil’s mischievous antics, and the quiet moments they’d shared crept into his mind constantly, taking root in the empty spaces that no one else had ever touched.
Today, on his way to work, he stopped at a red traffic light and spotted a father dropping his young son, around Neil’s age, off at the school gate.
The scene hit him square in the heart…the boy’s arms wrapped around his father, the way the father lovingly ruffled his son’s hair and sent him off with a kiss on his cheek.
He felt a pang of longing so strong it left him breathless.
He saw himself in that father, imagined Neil in that little boy’s place, and the realization hit him harder.
He missed that boy more than he could explain to anyone, even to himself.