Kartik sighed in relief as Kairav finally went to sleep. Kartik slowly came out of the bedroom to clean the kitchen. Kairav had wanted to stay awake longer, considering the next day was Sunday, but Kartik didn't want to spoil his routine of sleeping early. Kairav had thrown a temper tantrum, but Kartik had handled it very well, considering he always dealt with the temper tantrums thrown by vansh at the Goenka house. Kairav's temper tantrum was nothing, compared to the ones thrown by vansh.
It was the third and final day of Naira's sickness after which she would start feeling better. It always followed the same pattern ever since Kartik had known her. She would get sick for three days, with the third being the most severe and then she would start recovering.
For the first two days, Lisa had helped Kartik to take care of Naira. She had taken Naira to the doctor and had gotten medicines and also helped in taking care of household work, but then today in the evening, she had to go out for some work, so Kartik had taken full responsibility. He had done all the chores of the house while simultaneously taking care of Kairav.
He had even made food. Over the years, Kartik had also started cooking. It had started because of vansh. Kartik always wanted to do something special for vansh, so he had started learning how to cook, to make vansh food from his hand. He had eventually started to like the activity. Kartik in no way was a great cook, but he did make some good dishes.
Naira had asked Kartik ( more like she had asked Lisa who had told Kartik ) to make Kairav sleep in the guest bedroom room till she was sick. Naira didn't want Kairav to get sick because of her. Kairav had not wanted to, but had caved in for his sick mother. He was happy because at least his father slept beside him.
Kartik came out of the guest bedroom, took his medicines and started cleaning the kitchen. Kartik had made vegetable soup for Naira and had given it to her earlier. For a moment they all seemed like a normal family, husband and wife with a kid, but the reality was far from it.
Kartik hated seeing Naira sick. It was true then, and it was true now. He thought that his feelings, his concern for her might have changed, because of their current horrible circumstances, but that hadn't happened, but that also didn't mean that he had suddenly forgiven her. Was he angry at her ? Yes. Was he concerned about her health ? Yes. Did he want her to be okay ? Most definitely. But did that mean that he had forgiven her ? Not a fucking chance.
But seeing her sick, his old feelings had resurfaced. He remembered the past time, how he used to take extra special care of her, whenever she fell sick, the way he would stay awake all night, feed her food and medicines with his own hand, make her lie down with her head on his lap and then press her head, hug her throughout the night, would show her even more affection than usual......
Kartik shook his head. Now was not the time to loose himself in something which was now lost in the past. As he cleaned the kitchen, he suddenly realised that he hadn't checked on Naira since he had given her dinner and medicines, which was quite some time ago.
As he came near her bedroom door, a sense of dread filled him. It was the first time he was going to be alone in her bedroom with her. The first 2 days Lisa had taken care of Naira, and even today after lisa had gone, he had entered the room once, to give her dinner and medicine, and even then also Kairav was with him.
Kartik calmed himself down and steeled himself. He would simply ask her, if she was okay and then would go to the guest bedroom, to get some rest.
He slowly opened the door and poked his head inside. Naira was lying on the bed, she groaned as she twisted herself to look at him. Kartik slowly moved toward the perch of the side of the bed.
Kartik :- hey, how do you feel ?
Naira :- vaise hi, i know ki kal se better feel karoongi. Thanks, mera khayal rakhne ke liye.
