The Heir and the Humble

Fever

The sun rose the next day, casting a soft light through the curtains, but Devraj remained restless in bed. Anika had woken up early, feeling a sense of unease that she couldn't quite shake off. She glanced over at him, noticing that he was unusually still.

As the morning wore on, Anika's concern deepened. Devraj's forehead felt hot to the touch, and she could see the sheen of sweat on his skin. Panic began to rise within her. "Devraj garu?" she called softly, shaking him gently. "Are you okay?"

He stirred slightly but didn't respond. Anika's heart raced as she felt his temperature. "Oh no, this isn't good," she whispered, her voice trembling. She knew she had to act quickly but didn't want to alarm the elders.

Without thinking twice, she rushed to Yuvraj's room, which was just opposite hers. She knocked frantically on the door, her mind racing with worry. Yuvraj opened the door, his expression shifting from sleepiness to concern as he took in Anika's frantic demeanor.

"What's wrong?" he asked, stepping aside to let her in.

"It's Devraj. He's burning up with fever, and I don't know what to do!" Anika exclaimed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Yuvraj's eyes widened, and he immediately moved into action. "Show me," he said, following her back to their room.

When they entered, Devraj lay on the bed, his face flushed and his breathing shallow. Yuvraj quickly approached him, placing a hand on his forehead. "He's really hot. We need to call the doctor," he said, pulling out his phone.

Within minutes, the doctor arrived, accompanied by Celine, who had been alerted by Yuvraj. They assessed Devraj's condition, checking his pulse and temperature. "He's got a severe fever, likely from exhaustion and stress," the doctor explained. "We'll need to give him some medication to bring it down."

Celine nodded, her expression serious. "Keep him warm, Anika. As the fever reduces, his body temperature will drop, and he could get cold. Use warm napkins on his forehead and keep him hydrated."

Anika listened intently, her heart aching for Devraj. She watched as the doctor administered the doses, feeling helpless but determined to do everything she could to help him.

Once the doctor and Celine left, Anika took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She grabbed a few warm napkins and gently placed them on Devraj's forehead, her fingers brushing against his skin. "I'm so sorry for not paying more attention last night," she murmured, her voice filled with regret. "I should have noticed sooner."

As the minutes passed, she continued to care for him, occasionally kissing his forehead, whispering words of comfort. But as time went on, she noticed that his body felt colder, and a sense of panic began to creep in again.

In a moment of desperation, she decided to remove their clothes, believing that skin-to-skin contact would help warm him. She slipped under the bedsheet, wrapping her arms around him, feeling the warmth of her body against his. "Please, Devraj garu, stay with me," she whispered, her heart racing.

Devraj, in his semi-conscious state, sensed the warmth and the softness of her body against his. The sensation stirred something within him, and despite the fever clouding his mind, he felt a rush of emotions. He instinctively responded to her touch, his body reacting even as he fought through the haze of illness.

Anika held him tightly, feeling the heat radiating from him, and she couldn't help but feel a mix of fear and longing. "I'm here, Devraj garu. I won't let you do something like last night," she promised, her heart aching for him.

As Anika held Devraj close, she could feel the warmth of her body against his, and she whispered soothing words, trying to reassure both him and herself. Few drops of water escaped from her eyes unknowingly. Devraj, in his half-conscious state, began to stir slightly, his brow furrowing as he fought through the fog of fever.

"Anika..." he murmured, his voice hoarse but filled with a gentle strength. "I'm... I'm okay. Really." He opened his eyes just a crack, trying to focus on her face, the concern etched across it. "You don't have to worry."

Anika looked up at him, her heart swelling with a mix of relief and affection. "You're not okay, Devraj garu. You're burning up," she replied softly, brushing a damp napkin across his forehead. "You need to rest and let the medicine work."

He managed a weak smile, his eyes glimmering with warmth despite the fever. "I'll be fine. Just... just need you here," he said pulling her to him more, his voice barely above a whisper. The sincerity in his words made Anika's heart flutter, even amidst the worry.

"Of course, I'm not going anywhere," she promised, her fingers gently caressing his hair. "Just focus on getting better. I'm right here with you."

Devraj closed his eyes again, feeling the comfort of her presence. "You always know how to make me feel better," he murmured, his voice trailing off as he drifted in and out of consciousness. "I'm lucky to have you."

Anika felt a rush of warmth at his words, but the worry still gnawed at her. "You're the lucky one? Look at you, lying here with a fever," she teased lightly, trying to keep the mood light. "You're supposed to be the strong one."

He chuckled softly, a sound that turned into a cough. "Even strong ones get sick sometimes," he replied, his eyes fluttering open again. "But I promise, I'll be back on my feet soon. Just need to rest... and maybe a little more of your warmth."

Anika smiled, her heart aching with affection. "You'll get all the warmth you need, Devraj garu. Just focus on healing." She leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead, feeling the heat radiating from him. "I'll be right here, watching over you."

As the hours passed, Anika layed by his side, tending to him with warm napkins and soft words. She could see the fever slowly beginning to break, and with each passing moment, Devraj seemed to regain a bit more clarity.

"Anika," he said again, his voice stronger now. "You really don't have to do all this. I can manage. You go and eat something"

"Not a chance," she replied, her tone firm yet playful. "You're stuck with me until you're fully recovered. I'm not leaving your side."

Devraj smiled, the warmth of her care wrapping around him like a comforting blanket. "You're amazing, you know that?" he said, his eyes sparkling with gratitude. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Anika felt her cheeks flush at his compliment. "You'll never have to find out," she said softly, her heart swelling with affection. "We're in this together, remember?"

He nodded, his expression turning serious for a moment. "I promise I'll take better care of myself. I don't want to worry you like this again."

"Good," Anika replied, her voice steady. "Because I can't handle seeing you like this. You mean too much to me."

Devraj's gaze softened, and he reached out to take her hand, squeezing it gently. "You mean everything to me, Anika. Thank you for being my rock."

As they shared that moment, the bond between them deepened, and Anika felt a sense of hope. With her by his side, she knew Devraj would fight through this fever and come out stronger on the other side. Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, hand in hand.

Anika and Devraj, exhausted from the day's events, drifted into a peaceful sleep, wrapped in each other's warmth. The fever that had gripped Devraj began to subside, and he found solace in Anika's presence.