LIES

20. COMFORT

Aarohi had to do a lot of damage control, while
Lying in a hospital bed, she is sure to have pain but it's not much intense as she was feeling earlier, it takes a lot of concentration to make things work and especially lies she has to tell herself and others, the list of her lies is getting longer day by day
Neil was by her side all the time, when she talked to her Kairav bhaiya and explained to him she can't make it home in the coming days, she has lots to study and her friend is fallen sick, so a nice guest she has to take care of, wow another lie to the list, meanwhile, Neil is watching her telling all those lie smoothly like it almost makes him believe too if he doesn't know her well
By the time she convinced her fellow interns that she does not have chicken pox, just allergies she gets confused with chicken pox, Neil had informed his brother about her condition,  not about anything else, just she will be fine.
Now as she was busy typing on her phone, still answering her messages,  Neil is watching her, her facial features, how they changed with every new message, a little smirk making an appearance on her lips, her lips, looked chapped but still very inviting,  on that,  he can't think about her like that, specifically when she is on a hospital bed for a day, aarohi told Neil earlier about getting some shower, but he said will do later.

Aarohi had a dinner , not fully finished it but a hospital food while she is gonna be on liquid diet for a while , it's preety good start, aarohi is now awake , in her bed ,it's night and finally Neil is sleeping , some ten steps away from her on the bed they set for visitors,  he looked very tired , even in his sleep , she knows how future days gonna be with her , she knows it's the start , she almost made a call to bade papa , to tell them to get her home , she know she will be taken care at home , and Doesn't have to be guilty about putting any more stress to this happy soul , sleeping in front of her , but she stopped at the thought of her family,  her mimi will not be stop crying and bade papa and badi mumma will blame themselves for her mistakes,  her mother will again get dragged into this , she felt so ashamed thinking about all that , silent tears made their way , she wants to yell and cry like she did some hour ago , but same time she doesn't want to wake up Neil, who finally laid down , after lots of convincing that she will ne fine , and she feels sleepy

But sleep is far away from her, she always has this troubled sleep issue, which got serious when she was in medical college, and that's when she starts taking supplements for it

After a lot of tossing, turning, and groaning silently,  she doesn't know, when she fell asleep

"Aarohi, wake up, your breakfast is here "the voice of Neil broke her out of her sleep,
She opened her eyes,  finally feeling like she had a good sleep, after a very long time
"You were sleeping like a log there," said Neil with a smile while his one hand is on her head, caressing her hairs
"It felt like I been sleeping for days," Said aarohi with a groan
"Nah, it's just another day, the day we are going home," said Neil while settling her in a sitting position
"Home?" Said aarohi looking rather worried
" I meant the apartment," Neil said assuring her
Aarohi let out a breath, she didn't know she was holding

Aarohi tried to eat her  breakfast,  one spoonful of porridge,  she feel like throwing up, but then she saw Neil looking at her worriedly,  she again try to take another spoon, gulping it down with a lot of struggle,  trying her best not to show on her face, then with a third spoon, she just threw up, all over her breakfast,  on herself,  her bed
She felt so guilty when the nurse come and cleaned her up, Neil just looked at her in a caring and affectionate way, but aarohi doesn't feel any good after that

After the whole vomiting scene, aarohi is feeling a lot at the same time, and so is Neil,  but they were sitting there in silence until a nurse came and informs them that aarohi has to come for tests meanwhile, she will draw some discharge papers, so they decided, aarohi to go with the nurse for tests and Neil first do the formalities of discharging and going to the apartment to make livable for a patient and stock some stuff there, meanwhile, Neil informed aarohi that he might have to stop at Birla house first to grab his bike
"Neil, you can use my car, it would be more convenient if I go  home in my car rather than in the cab," said aarohi
"But I eventually have to get my bike, I can't use your car everywhere," said Neil
" why not, I am giving you my permission to use my car," said aarohi
"It's ok, I am more comfortable in my bike," said Neil
"Now I should get going " with that Neil got up to leave the room, but was stopped by aarohi's voice
"Neil listen," said aarohi looking at him
"Yes," said Neil looking back at her
"You know, I can call my family, if it's going to be too messy, I know they will take care of me, and I have been with them till now, I can handle what comes next, you are not obliged to do anything anymore," said aarohi looking at him
Neil took a moment before replying
"You should take some rest, I will be back soon " and he leaves the room