Chapter 32 #2
Naina knew her son better than that. Before she could defend him, Neil jumped in, “You weren’t exactly polite either when I asked you to lower the TV volume because I couldn’t focus on my homework!”
“Neil!” Naina placed a hand on his shoulder, pulling him toward her. “That’s enough! She’s your elder. You don’t talk to her like that.”
“And maybe you should’ve taught him that before!” Kaushalya snapped. “Not now when he’s already insulted me!”
Ruhaan stepped between them, his hands raised in a gesture of peace.
“Mom, come on! Who’s the kid here, huh? What even happened? Everything was fine yesterday.”
“Nothing is fine, and it never will be,” Kaushalya declared. “Neil is never stepping foot in this house again.”
“Fine! Mom and I will never come here again,” Neil announced. “And you’re not welcome in our home either!”
Naina felt her heart breaking. Just moments ago, she and Ruhaan had been discussing marriage, and now everything was falling apart. But now her patience snapped at Neil’s behavior. The boy was not like this at all. So rude, especially with his elders.
“Neil, this is not right,” she said. “You’re going too far. Apologize to her right now.”
Neil’s frown deepened, but he stayed silent, his lips pressed into a pout. Tears gathered in Naina’s eyes as she watched their carefully built relationships crumbling before her. Ruhaan too looked equally devastated, unable to understand how things had spiraled so quickly out of control.
“Naina, it’s okay,” Ruhaan intervened gently. “He’s just a child. Let it go.”
But Naina shook her head firmly. “No, Ruhaan. He needs to learn. He cannot disrespect elders. That’s not what I taught him!”
Kaushalya scoffed. “Oh, really? Then who taught him to behave like this? Clearly, it must be you!”
Neil’s eyes burned with fresh anger as he turned to Kaushalya. “Don’t talk to my mom like that!”
“Neil, please...” Ruhaan started, then turned to his mother. “Mom, please, both of you, stop this...”
Just as tears threatened to spill from Naina’s eyes and Ruhaan’s worry reached its peak, something unexpected happened. Both Kaushalya and Neil burst into laughter, their previous anger vanishing instantly. Neil ran to Kaushalya, throwing his arms around her waist as she hugged him back warmly.
“Saw Daadi? Didn’t I tell you I am good at acting too?” he beamed at Kaushalya, who couldn’t contain her laughter.
“Oh, you were even better than me!” she praised, then turned to Ruhaan with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Just look at your faces! You both look like the world has come to an end.”
Ruhaan shook his head, still trying to process what had just happened. “Were you two... not really angry at each other? Not even a little?”
“No!” Neil and Kaushalya chorused in perfect unison, dissolving into giggles again.
“Why would I be angry with Neil?” Kaushalya pulled the boy closer. “He’s the sweetest and brightest boy I’ve ever seen at his age. Even you weren’t like him when you were little, Ruhaan!”
Neil snuggled closer to Kaushalya, grinning proudly at Ruhaan and Naina. “It was just a prank!”
Ruhaan and Naina exchanged bewildered glances, still reeling from the rollercoaster of emotions. Slowly, the realization dawned on them, and Naina’s lips twitched into a smile despite herself.
Finally catching his breath, Ruhaan asked, “But why did you need to do all this? My heart nearly jumped out of my mouth! I was so worried about what the future would hold if you two didn’t get along.”
Kaushalya stood and crossed her arms, tilting her head at him with a mock stern expression.
“You thought you and Naina could play games with me? Making excuses about Neil staying here because his caretaker Shanti is on leave? I’m thankful to this clever boy who helped me see through your excuses. Neil is right. I’m too innocent, and anyone can fool me... even my own son!”
Ruhaan and Naina glanced at Neil, who grinned impishly and ran to them. He was grinning from ear to ear.
“You told her?” Ruhaan asked Neil who shrugged, clearly enjoying his moment of triumph.
“Of course, Daadi deserved to know the truth. She says I’m smart, you know.”
Kaushalya ruffled Neil’s hair affectionately. “Smarter than his father, that’s for sure. I should’ve realized something was off when you both started making excuses.”
Ruhaan groaned, covering his face with his hands, while Naina let out a nervous laugh. “We didn’t mean to… well…” she began, but Kaushalya cut her off.
“Save it, dear,” Kaushalya said with a dramatic sigh. “If you want forgiveness, you both know what to do. Hold your ears and say sorry.”
Ruhaan and Naina gaped at her, utterly flustered. Neil nodded enthusiastically, clearly backing Kaushalya’s demand. “Come on, Mom, Ruhaan—do it!” Neil urged.
Ruhaan sighed in defeat, glancing at Naina, who looked equally mortified. Reluctantly, they both held their ears and said in unison, “We’re sorry. It won’t happen again.”
Kaushalya and Neil burst into peals of laughter, giving each other a triumphant high five.
“Unbelievable,” Ruhaan muttered, though his lips twitched with a small smile. “You two make quite the team.”
“Mom, Daadi likes pizza too!” Neil announced excitedly to Naina. “I promised her you’d make your special cheese pizza for her.”
Naina chuckled, brushing his hair back from his forehead. “I’ll make it for everyone, sweetheart.”
“Yes, please do,” Kaushalya chimed in. “My son never fulfills my food cravings, but for Neil, he’ll at least allow me some treats!”
Ruhaan looked at his mother, his eyebrows raised. “Wait a second—does that mean you’re ready for our wedding?” he asked cautiously, hope flickering in his voice.
Kaushalya placed her hands on her hips and sighed dramatically. “It’s not for you two that I’m ready. It’s for Neil. He’s such a darling, and I can’t imagine losing him. He’s better than both of you combined. At least he understands me.”
Ruhaan laughed and pulled his mother into a tight hug, planting a kiss on her cheek. “Thank you, Mom. You’re the best.”
She playfully pushed him away.
“Don’t get too comfortable, Ruhaan. I’m still not entirely happy with Naina.”
Naina’s smile faltered slightly as she looked at Kaushalya. “You’re not?” she asked hesitantly.
Kaushalya frowned, her tone turning mock-serious.
“I don’t see any effort from you to communicate with me.” She wagged her finger playfully. “You don’t know how many TV soaps I’ve watched and gained experience from... I can be the most cunning and dangerous mother-in-law if you keep your distance!”
Ruhaan snorted, trying to stifle his laughter, while Naina fought the urge to roll her eyes at Kaushalya’s dramatic flair.
“I thought you didn’t like me much,” she admitted softly. “After what happened before... I was afraid of rejection again.”
“Hmm,” Kaushalya considered. “Ruhaan, just as you left Neil with me for two days, I think it’s time Naina spends the next two days with me.”
“No!” Naina protested immediately, causing everyone to laugh.
Kaushalya’s eyes softened as she approached Naina.
“So far, you’ve only had Neil to look after.
Now you’ll have my son too, and trust me, his demands will never ease up.
Between handling these two big and small kids, you’ll need some love and care.
And I’m eager to shower you with that, beta.
” She cupped Naina’s face tenderly and kissed her forehead.
Naina’s eyes welled with tears as Kaushalya continued, “You know, I liked you from the first moment when I fixed your alliance with Ruhaan seven years ago,” Kaushalya smiled.
“Even though I broke that engagement and kept looking for other suitors all these years, my search never truly ended. Now it does... with you. Only you can take the responsibility of my house and my son on your shoulders and never disappoint.”
Naina wiped her tears. “I’m not sure how I’ll handle everything... but with you by my side, I know I won’t fail.”
Kaushalya pulled her into a warm hug, and Naina hugged her back tightly, finally feeling at peace. Their hug sealed not just a future marriage but a bond between mother and daughter.
Neil clapped his hands, breaking the emotional moment. “Group hug! Don’t leave me out!” he exclaimed, running to join them.
“This boy,” Kaushalya said, shaking her head with affection, pulling Neil to her, “he’s going to be the life of this house!”
Naina looked at her son with pride, knowing he was finally receiving the love not only from Ruhaan, whom he saw as a fatherly figure, but also from Ruhaan’s mother.
As Neil’s laughter subsided, Kaushalya motioned for Ruhaan and Naina to come closer. “Now, both of you, take my blessings. You are going to need it.”
Ruhaan and Naina bent down together, touching her feet. Kaushalya placed her hands gently on their heads, murmuring a quiet prayer for their happiness. “Stay happy, always. Both of you.”
Straightening up, she smiled brightly. “Call Naina’s uncle right now. I can’t wait to set the wedding date!” She turned to Neil with excitement sparkling in her eyes. “Come with me, beta. We have so much to prepare, but first, let’s get some sweets to celebrate!”
As Kaushalya whisked Neil away to the kitchen, their cheerful voices trailing behind them, Ruhaan and Naina stood still, lost in each other’s gaze. He moved closer to her first.
“You can’t imagine how happy I am,” he murmured.
“I thought you would be fretting... I mean, for someone who didn’t want to commit, suddenly everything is happening at lightning speed.”
“With you...” Ruhaan’s voice was tender, “nothing can fret me anymore. This is the world I’ve chosen for myself – you, Neil, and my mom. A perfect, happy family.”
His words warmed her heart. She stepped closer, her fingers fiddling with the buttons of his shirt. “When you say such romantic things... I wish to give you so much more.”
He slid his arm around her waist, pulling her flush against him.
“Then show me,” he said with a playful grin, his eyes locked onto hers.
As he leaned in to kiss her, she didn’t pull away this time.
The kiss was soft yet intense, a silent promise of the love and life they were about to build together.
The sounds of Neil and Kaushalya’s laughter from the kitchen faded into the background as they celebrated their new beginning together, lost in their own moment of perfect happiness.