EPILOGUE
Disneyland – One and Half Months Later
One and a half months after their wedding, Ruhaan and Naina flew to Disneyland, California, enjoying a much-awaited trip that was both their honeymoon and a family vacation.
They were staying in a spacious two-bedroom suite, joined by Kaushalya, and Neil, whose excitement knew no bounds.
Initially, Kaushalya had been reluctant, insisting that she didn’t want to intrude on their honeymoon.
But the couple had assured her that this was more of a family getaway, something they all deserved.
Eventually, she had agreed, grateful to Naina for making sure she finally got to take a holiday…
something Ruhaan had never really planned for her before.
For Neil, it was a dream come true. He had been eagerly waiting for this trip ever since Naina had promised to bring him to Disneyland the year before. Now that he was finally here, his joy was beyond words.
Naina was underneath the steaming shower, her thoughts wandering to how drastically her life had changed in the last one and a half months.
Since her marriage to Ruhaan, everything had fallen into place like the perfect puzzle.
Gone were the days when she had to juggle between work and single parenthood alone—balancing work, household duties, and raising Neil single-handedly.
Now, she had a loving husband who shared her responsibilities, a mother-in-law who wholeheartedly supported her, and a home that overflowed with love, laughter, and the warmth of family.
Each morning began with a warm household bustle.
Naina and Kaushalya prepared breakfast together while Ruhaan made sure Neil got out of bed, sometimes even carrying the sleepy boy on his shoulders, much to Neil’s giggling protests.
Ruhaan made sure Neil ate his breakfast, often sneaking in playful moments of bribing him with an extra cookie if he finished his milk on time.
He and Naina then drove Neil to school together.
Neil loved sitting at the back passenger seat, chattering about random things like his upcoming science project while Ruhaan and Naina exchanged amused glances.
During the initial days Neil even introduced his school friends to Ruhaan as his ‘Daddy’ and once again Ruhaan being the charmer, had weaved his magic over each of Neil’s friends who now thought Ruhaan was a super daddy who could do anything and everything.
After dropping Neil at school, Ruhaan would then drop Naina at her office, making sure to sneak in a quick peck on her lips, before she stepped out of the car rolling her eyes at his antics but secretly loving it.
His own office wasn’t too far from Naina’s and while he worked tirelessly, the thoughts of his family always lingered in his mind.
Even Kaushalya played the perfect grandmother.
She was the first to receive Neil when he returned from school.
She would wait at the apartment gates, her face lighting up at the sight of her grandson bounding off the school bus.
After listening attentively to all his stories about what happened during the day, they shared lunch together, after which Neil took a nap.
In the evening, she sometimes accompanied him to the play area, watching him make new friends and play cricket with them.
“Dadi, did you see that six?” Neil would shout, his face glowing with excitement as he played with his new friends. Kaushalya would beam with pride, sharing his achievements with the other grandmothers who gathered to watch their grandchildren play.
By the time Ruhaan and Naina returned from work, the house was filled with the warm aroma of tea and snacks.
Kaushalya always had something fresh prepared for them, while Neil ran excitedly to share the highlights of his day.
Even after a tiring day, Ruhaan always took the time to help Neil with his homework and prepare him for his upcoming mid-term exams.
“The square root of 64 is...” Ruhaan prompted.
“Eight!” Neil exclaimed, high-fiving his stepfather.
“That’s my boy,” Ruhaan said, ruffling Neil’s hair.
Sometimes, Naina joined in, turning the study sessions into fun-filled moments.
Dinner was always a lively affair, with conversations, laughter, and Kaushalya’s occasional scolding when Ruhaan and Neil got too playful at the table or choosy about what was cooked.
After dinner, reminding Kaushalya of her medicines was now Naina’s duty and while she did that, Ruhaan ensured the boy was ready for bed at the right time.
Once Neil was tucked in for the night, it was Ruhaan and Naina’s private time. In their bedroom, they talked about their day, their joys, and how their life had changed so beautifully since getting married.
Now back in Disney land, Naina stepped out of the bathroom, fresh from a warm shower, dressed in a soft silk robe that clung to her damp skin.
She ran a towel through her wet hair, her eyes instinctively moving toward the large bed in the center of their hotel suite where her husband, Ruhaan, was sprawled on his stomach. His shirtless back was on full display.
She bit her lip, recalling the events of the night before.
After a long journey, jet lag had won over romance, and as soon as Neil and her mother-in-law had settled into the other bedroom, she and Ruhaan had collapsed onto the bed, barely managing a proper goodnight kiss before slipping into deep slumber.
But now, as she stood watching him, her heart fluttered. There was something about the way he slept…completely at peace, his strong shoulders flexing slightly as he shifted. His dark hair was tousled, his lips slightly parted. And God, did he look ridiculously sexy like that.
A mischievous thought crossed her mind.
She walked toward him, leaning over his sleeping form before pressing a soft kiss against his cheek. Ruhaan let out a low groan, barely stirring as he turned to the other side, burying his face in the pillow.
Naina suppressed a laugh, leaned in again, and kissed his other cheek.
“Ruhaan…” she whispered sweetly, trailing her fingers down his back.
Another groan. No response.
Frowning, she poked his bare shoulder. “Did you forget we’re on our honeymoon? And here you are, sleeping while your beautiful wife is wide awake and waiting for you.”
Nothing.
Fine. If he wanted to ignore her, she would make sure he paid for it.
“If you don’t wake up by the time I count to three, I swear I’ll get a bucket of water and drench you, Ruhaan.”
Still nothing.
“One…” She waited.
“Two…” Still no movement.
Naina smirked. He really thought she was bluffing?
She turned on her heels, ready to march to the bathroom to grab a glass of water at least if not a bucket, when suddenly, strong arms grabbed her by the waist and yanked her onto the bed. A surprised squeal left her lips as he pinned her beneath his warm body.
Her heart pounded as she stared up at him. His dark eyes, now fully awake, burned into hers, filled with something teasing, something dangerous.
“So,” he murmured against her ear, his voice husky with sleep, “you were planning to get me wet, Mrs. Singh?”
“You wouldn’t wake up!”
“I was just waiting for the right moment,” he grinned, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. “Besides, I needed to conserve my energy. We have a whole day of running after Neil at Disneyland ahead of us.”
Naina laughed, snuggling closer to him. “Speaking of which, shouldn’t we be getting ready?”
He chuckled, his lips brushing against her ear as he murmured, “Not before I make you feel what ‘feeling wet’ actually means.”
Naina gasped as his mouth traveled down to her jawline. He traced her cheek with his lips before moving down to her neck, nibbling gently before sucking at a spot he knew drove her insane.
Her fingers fisted in his hair as he explored, his hands moving to untie the sash of her robe.
“Ruhaan…” she whispered, already breathless.
He pushed the fabric apart, his warm hands sliding over her bare skin. “You took a shower for me, hmm?” he mused, his lips trailing lower.
She shuddered as he pressed open-mouthed kisses down her collarbone, his touch igniting every nerve in her body. “And you haven’t,” she managed between soft sighs.
He smirked, pulling away just enough to meet her gaze. “Forget showering. I have no plans of getting out of this bed anytime soon.”
Naina giggled, her fingers tracing down his bare chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath her palm. But her amusement faded into a gasp when his fingers ghosted between her legs, teasing, testing.
“Ruhaan!” she protested, though she made no real attempt to move. “Your mother and Neil will be waiting for breakfast.”
“They’re probably still jet-lagged too,” he reasoned, trailing kisses along her jawline. “Besides, I haven’t properly wished my wife good morning yet.”
Her breath hitched as he slipped a finger inside her, sending a wave of pleasure rushing through her body already. She barely managed to choke out, “Lets continue this later…”
Ruhaan grinned, pressing his lips to her throat. “Not a chance,” he whispered before taking her to heights only he could.
Their honeymoon had officially begun.
Two hours later
After spending some private time with each other this morning, when Naina and Ruhaan came out of their bedroom, there, on the large sofa in the living room, Neil was excitedly waving his hands as he animatedly described something to Kaushalya.
Ruhaan, dressed in his casual joggers and t-shirt now, yet to shower, headed to them looking equally entertained.
Kaushalya turned as she noticed them and so did Neil.
“Mama! Daddy! Good morning. Daadi made coffee for us and you know the restaurant downstairs has Mickey Mouse-shaped pancakes!”
Naina and Ruhaan chuckled and walked over to them.
“You need to hear this!” Kaushalya beamed. “Your son has already planned our entire day for today at Disneyland.”
“Is that so? What’s the plan, sweetheart?”
Neil’s eyes sparkled as he jumped to his feet. “First, we go to Adventureland! Then we ride all the roller coasters, eat ice cream, and then—”
“And what about Daadi, hmm?” Ruhaan interrupted, raising an eyebrow. “Do you think she’ll enjoy roller coasters?”
Neil giggled, “I will take her on the easy rides!”
Kaushalya laughed and pulled Neil into a hug. “That’s my sweet boy. Always thinks about me and my comfort.”
While Neil continued to share his plans, Ruhaan leaned in closer to Naina and whispered, “Looks like we are packed for the day. Do you think we’ll get a moment alone on this so-called honeymoon of ours?”
Naina smirked. “You knew exactly what you signed up for, Mr. Singh. Family honeymoon, remember?”
He groaned dramatically. “I blame you for making me fall in love not just with you but with our whole crazy little family.”
She laughed, patting his cheek. “Then you better buckle up because there’s no escape now.”
Neil’s voice made them snap out of their little bubble.
“Mama, can we take a photo with Mickey?” Neil asked, already reaching for the camera which they had packed. “I want to show my friends that my whole family met Mickey Mouse!”
“Of course, sweetheart,” Naina smiled. “But first, let’s get you showered.”
“I’ll help him,” Kaushalya offered, rising from her chair. “Come on, Neil. Let’s make you look smart for Mickey.”
As Neil followed his grandmother to the bedroom, Ruhaan pulled Naina closer. “Have I told you today how much I love you?” he murmured against her ear.
“Mmm, only about five times and five minutes ago,” she teased, turning to face him. “Losing your touch, Mr. Singh?”
“Never,” he grinned, capturing her lips in a sweet kiss. “You know, seeing you with Ma and Neil... it makes me wonder why I waited so long to settle down.”
“Because you were waiting for us,” Naina replied simply, running her fingers through his hair. “Just like we were waiting for you.”
Neil stood in the doorway, interrupting their moment again, asking what should be wear to meet Mickey. Kaushalya tried to suppress her laughter behind him.
“Red shirt,” Ruhaan suggested. “That’s Mickey’s favorite color.”
Naina laughed, standing up. “Yep, red shirt and black pants it is. Now c’mon. Go and have your shower. Let’s not keep Mickey waiting.”
As Neil hurried back to shower and Kaushalya too followed him, Ruhaan reached Naina again.
“You know what’s funny?” he said suddenly. “A year ago, if someone had told me I’d be spending my honeymoon at Disneyland with my mother and a seven-year-old, I would have laughed them out of the room.”
“And now?”
“Now I can’t imagine it any other way,” he smiled, hearing Neil’s voice from his bedroom.
“Dad, Mom, hurry up, Mickey mouse is waiting,” he urged to them, his excitement contagious.
“On it…” Ruhaan replied aloud from outside and pulled Naina with him to the bedroom. “Let me shower. Seeing Neil’s excitement, I wonder he will give me enough time to dress up even.”
Naina giggled although she felt tears prick her eyes.
This was her family – not perfect, not conventional, but absolutely magical in their own way.
The strictly solo life she had built for herself and Neil had transformed into something more beautiful than she could have imagined.
This second chanced meeting between a single mother and a reformed playboy, had finally found its perfect happily ever after.
THE END