Notes of Love

cradled promises

As the minutes stretched on, Nandini's anxiety seemed to weigh the room down. She held her grandmother's hand tightly, her fingers shaking as she spoke to the doctor on the phone, trying her best to mask her panic with a calm exterior. Manik remained by her side, the steady presence that Nandini had come to rely on, but inside, he was a storm of worry. He could feel Nandini's distress in every tense line of her body, and it made his chest tighten with helplessness.

The doctor's voice on the other end of the phone was assuring, but there was still an undertone of urgency. "I'm sending someone over right away, Nandini. Try to keep her cool and comfortable. If her fever persists or gets worse, we may need to bring her in for further tests."

Nandini nodded, her eyes flickering briefly to Manik. "I'll keep her comfortable," she whispered, though her voice was thick with emotion. She hung up the phone and placed it down beside the bed, her eyes returning to her grandmother's face.

Amms' breathing was slow, and though she was still unresponsive, there was a faint glimmer of life beneath her feverish skin. Nandini gently wiped her grandmother's brow with the wet cloth, trying to ease the heat, but she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was seriously wrong.

Manik watched her for a moment, his brow furrowing. He knew how important Amms was to Nandini, she was more than just family; she was a cornerstone of her life. And in that moment, as Nandini silently worked to care for Amms, Manik couldn't help but admire her strength, even as he could see how much it cost her.

"Hey," Manik spoke softly, breaking the silence. His voice was steady, even though his heart was racing. "We're going to get through this, okay? Amms is strong. She's been through a lot in her life. This is just a bump in the road."

Nandini didn't respond immediately, but she looked at him with a mixture of exhaustion and gratitude. Her lips trembled, but she swallowed the words that threatened to escape.

"I'm scared, Manik," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can't lose her. She's the only family I have left."

Manik's heart clenched at the vulnerability in her voice. It wasn't often that Nandini allowed herself to show weakness, she was a woman who carried so much on her shoulders, and he knew how hard it was for her to admit when she was struggling. He moved closer to her, gently pulling her hand into his. She had changed into such a strong woman in these 5 years, that he just couldn't stop admiring.

"You won't lose her," Manik said softly, but firmly. "And you won't lose me either. We'll get through this together, Nandini. You're not alone in this."

She nodded, her eyes closing for a moment as she allowed his words to settle in. She wanted to believe him. She had to.

The sound of the front door creaked open, and both Nandini and Manik looked up, hearing hurried footsteps in the hall. A few moments later, a nurse arrived, a kind woman with a calm demeanor and a medical bag slung over her shoulder.

"Ms. Murthy?" the nurse asked softly, her eyes immediately falling to Amms. "I'm here to help."

Nandini stood up quickly, moving out of the way to allow the nurse to check Amms. The nurse placed her bag on the bedside table and began taking Amms' vitals with practiced efficiency. Nandini watched anxiously as the nurse assessed her grandmother, but there was little she could do except wait for answers.

Manik stood close by, his hand resting lightly on Nandini's back, offering silent support. He could feel her trembling beneath his touch, and he knew she was barely holding herself together.

The nurse worked quickly, but her face remained unreadable. After a moment, she turned to Nandini, her tone much more serious now.

"Her fever is concerning," the nurse said quietly, her voice carrying a note of caution. "I've already informed the doctor, but she needs to be monitored closely. I'll prepare some medication to bring the fever down, but if it doesn't improve, we may need to take her to the hospital."