FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN

Coming Closer- Part 1

It had been a week since Simon dropped the bomb on Neel and Manjari. They never got a chance to discuss the turn of events. After Simon had left, both had also retired to their rooms to mull over it. The next day was packed for both, despite it being a Sunday. They had individual meetings with their supervisor to discuss their performance so far and to also discuss the upcoming conferences and talks. Monday to Friday was another story with classes, teaching, grading, working on research papers. It is not that they did not meet at all. They walked down to their offices together and generally would walk back together too or meet in the library to discuss their research. Neel was Neel and would still find opportunities to tease Manjari but both of them were feeling the stress of the upcoming events.

It was Friday and Manjari was walking back home after her Lit.Crit. class. They had discussed Derrida and that was enough to send her mind its tizzy. She was also worried because she had not heard from Neel all day. Generally, he would call her a few times a day but there was total silence today. She decided to speak to him when she reached home.

On reaching home, she found the house in complete darkness. She guessed that Neel still had not come back from the library. She switched on the light and went into the kitchen to make a light meal for herself and Neel when he came back. She was in the process of carrying her meal to her room when she heard a groan from Neel's room. He was home? When did he come? She wondered.

She called out his name but there was no response. She called his name again but all she got back was a groan. Feeling a bit worried, she put her food on the kitchen counter and knocked on his room. There was no response. She reached for the doorknob slowly, her hand wrapped around the doorknob and she took in a deep breath before she turned it and pushed it open only to be created with complete darkness. It took her a moment before her brain processed what she was seeing.

Neel Malhotra was sick.

She could just make him out under the covers, curled in a fetal position. The only light coming into the room was from the full moon outside. Even then, she could see the pain Neel was in. She found the light switch and turned it on to hear Neel groan it even louder.

Manjari saw him turn his head towards her and say something. But she was unable to make out what he was saying.

"Ft t turn off the shdamouchn liaaghts..."

"What are you saying?", she asked.

He half sat up and squinting at her said," lights.OFF.migraine."

"Oh! Sorry!!!!!!! I didn't realize it". She quickly turned the lights off and rubbed her hands on her forearms, at loss. How could she help him? She knew how painful migraines could be. She wanted to help. She quickly made her way to his side of the bed, her eyes glued to his face as her heart clenched in pain.

"Neel?" She called softly as she bent down.

Neel? She called again as her hand extended towards him and came to rest on her shoulders. She sat on the edge of his bed and asked him in a quiet voice, "Have you eaten anything?

"No", he said in a muffled voice.

"Taken any medicine?"

"Yes", he said turning towards her in a fetal position.

"Do you want some water?"

"No"

"How can I help?"

"By not talking". Manjari muffled a smile. He was such a baby...She stood up and went to the kitchen and came back in a few minutes. In her hand was a tray that had a glass of ice-cold water and food. She made Neel sit up and drink the cool water. She then forced down some food on his throat despite his complaints. Neel was hiding in his blanket again when she came back after cleaning up the kitchen. She dragged a chair near his bed and sat down beside him. Felling her presence Neel turned towards her and asked, "what are you still doing here?"