𝕌𝕟𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕕 ℙ𝕣𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕤𝕖 𝕆𝕗 𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖

40

RIHAAN'S P.O.V

I lift my gaze once more. Aryan sat quietly while Ayushi read through some patient files.

I attempted to assist her, but she insisted that I needed rest. She could seek help from someone else. And in case you're wondering why Aryan is here, it's because he's being punished. He has to take care of me. I didn't want him to do it, but who would listen to me?

"Pass me my phone, Aryan," I requested. He promptly ran to the table and handed me my phone.

Ayushi raised her eyes, looking at me and my phone.

"I'm bored."

"Put that phone down," she said, gesturing for Aryan to take it from me. He quickly obeyed and returned to sitting on the bed.

I tried to sleep, but my headache prevented it.

I glanced at Ayushi once more. Her eyes seemed somewhat dull. I wanted to ask her some questions, but I didn't want to do it in front of Aryan.

"Why don't you go play, Aryan?"

Aryan shook his head silently.

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to play," he replied, still looking down.

"Don't be upset. I know you realize your mistake. You can play," I tried to convince him. He turned to me, and to my surprise, his eyes were filled with tears.

He hugged me tightly.

"I shouldn't have hit you. You didn't even fight back... I hurt you so much. Auntie said you need ten days of bed rest. I will stay with you the whole time during these days. I don't dislike you. Please don't dislike me for this either."

Ayushi came over and hugged us, sandwiching Aryan between us.

"I'm sorry, Didi," he said, but Ayushi shushed him and kissed his cheeks.

"I know we used to fight a lot when we were kids, but now you are like my own child. So it hurts me deeply when you do something that gets you into trouble. I feel like it's me who is in trouble. And I swear Dad never liked scolding us either. Please control your anger, Aryan. Imagine in the future, you will have a wife. What if you end up hurting her too?"

Aryan glanced back at her, then buried his face in my chest.

"Didi, let's not discuss such things. I will complain to mom," he said, his babyish tone bringing me some relief.

I tried to pull him onto my lap, but he shook his head.

"You're injured. I'm sorry, jija ji (brother-in-law) ," he said, kissing my cheeks. I glanced at Ayushi when Aryan called me by that name.

Ayushi gave him a stern look and pinched his cheeks.

"Now go play outside. I will talk to dad. And you need to control your anger too," she said, patting his bottom. He glared at her, then looked back at me.

"Will you forgive me?"

"Of course," I replied. He ran out of the room after kissing our cheeks once more.

"He's such a sweet boy. It's rare to find someone as sweet as him at his age, but Aryan is so sweet and cute. But his anger... his anger ruins everything," Ayushi muttered, folding her arms across her chest.

"You still have a fever," I said, placing my palm on her cheek.

"Dad already checked, and I took my medicine. I don't want any more check-ups right now. You're the one who's sick..." I placed a finger on her lips.

"Shh," I whispered, and she looked at me innocently. I tucked her hair behind her ears and gently rubbed her cheeks with my thumb.

"Is your face turning red now?" I asked, causing her face to blush, making me smile.

"Come on, tell me."

She spoke to me as if it were my first day. "I don't understand why I got my periods early . I didn't inform anyone about it," she looking down and playing with her finger.

"You kept scratching yourself repeatedly. Did you get a rash again?" She pushed my hand away and glared at me angrily.

"Were you only looking at that?"

"No, I noticed how focused you were while reading the file, which tells me that the work was assigned by a strict doctor. I saw how you were chewing on your pen. I observed how you rubbed your nose because you got stuck while reading. I noticed how you secretly glanced at me when Aryan helped me go to the bathroom. I love your hair, can you let it grow a bit, just til your elbow?" I said, running my fingers through her smooth hair.

She started leaning her head on my chest, and I lovingly wrapped my arm around her.

"Was Dad harsh on him ?" She whispered.

"If it were a private room, I wouldn't have said the same thing. But since he was around many people, yes, he was a little harsh," I said truthfully.

"We will only scold our kid in our room," she said, snuggling closer to me.

"I saw a bandage on Dad's hands. I don't know what happened, but do you think it's because he punished Aryan?" She asked quietly.

"I don't know why I got my period so early. I was so stressed this whole week. But now everything is okay, except for these damn periods," she said angrily. I rubbed her back and pointed to a closet.

"It has so many medical supplies. I even have a menstrual cup. Go to the bathroom and use it," I instructed. She shook her head and snuggled closer to me.

"I'm fine," she whispered. I pushed her gently and caressed her cheeks.

"Let's not make it worse. You know your rashes will only get worse. Won't you listen to me?" I asked. She shook her head with a pout.

"The doctor scolded me today," she whispered. I chuckled, making her slightly angry.

She puffed her cheeks while looking at me.

"It's just the beginning. It's okay, baby. Even if I scold you, does it change anything between us? You have a long way to go. So, stay focused and don't get upset over some silly matter."

" Now can you go to washroom and do what I said? "

She looked down and started making circles on bedsheets.

" I have only used it once and I didn't put it. Mom helped me.......... And I was a kid at that time. But now I can't ask mom for help. I'm all grown up." She said looking down. Embarrassment clearly visible on her face.

" I will help you...

" You can't... You are injured. I'm fine. "