Solace

|37|beginnings

New update.

Happy Reading!!

I urge all the new readers, to go back and vote on all the chapters. All your views about the story, are most welcome in the comment section.

I haven't proof read the chapter, so if you find any mistakes, do let me know through inline comments.

I would suggest, reading the last update before reading this one.

VAIBHAV

Her dulcet voice pierced the silence, "Vaibhav, it's midnight, time for your medicine," she mumured, as I parted my eyes, her visage into my view.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, extending her hand to retrieve the medication.

"Better," I mumbled, clearing my throat, though my nose and chest still felt congested, and my throat still felt sore.

She helped me take the medicine and lay down again, covering me with the sheet up to my neck.

"Wake me up if you need anything," she murmured, caressing my forehead.

"Hmm," I hummed in response.

"Wait a second," she spoke, slipping out of the bed. She wasn't wearing the suit now, but her robe, the one she had worn last week. She looked striking in it. About five minutes later, she returned and pulled the sheet down to my waist.

"You'll be able to breathe properly in an hour if you use this," she murmured, her hair now tied back. The room was dimly lit by the red and golden night bulbs on the ceiling.

She applied vapourub on my nose and throat, then glanced at me. She swallowed nervously and unfastened the top two buttons of my T-shirt, her soft fingers grazing the middle of my chest. She avoided meeting my eyes, but mine remained steadfastly on hers.

Her gentle touch made me feel vulnerable and exposed, only if she knew the effect her proximity was causing me to feel. The night's coolness and the her subtle fragrance was making things worse. On other days, I would have opted for a cold shower, but tonight that would be disastrous for my health.

She slid out of the bed again and returned after a while, wiping her hands with a small towel. I turned my face to the other side, hoping that I fall into slumber again.

NIDHI

The next morning, he was well, but not healthy, and not like before. But he still went to office. I asked him to work from for a day, but the man didn't listen. I hoped that his mother would stop him, but even she didn't.

At first I thought that I would ask her to stop him, but my overthinking stopped me. I thought what if she thinks that I'm overacting, or trying to act like I care for her son more than she does.

So lastly, I packed him lunch and his medicines along with it.

***

In the evening, I entered in a errily silent home, when I asked Dhriti, she told me that Maa, has gone nearby, and Roshni went out with her friends.

But, as I walked inside the room, my eyes fell on a laying figure, it was Vaibhav. He was still wearing his office clothes. His blazer was thrown on to the couch, and his tie was still loosely around his neck, I sauntered towards him.

As I perched on the edge of the bed, he opened his eyes, and brushed my hand over his forehead, he didn't have fever, it might be cold that was troubling him.