Conditions Of Shashank | 18+

Chapter 48: Strong Ishika

Due to extreme hunger, Ujjwal, Sneha, and Maanvi decide to eat at a nearby restaurant.

"See, I told you Jiju wouldn’t leave us," Maanvi tells her mom.

Ujjwal looks at Sneha.

"Did you know, Jiju? Even mom believed Ishika’s words."

Sneha gives Ujjwal an apologetic look.

"Even though I live far away, I know Jiju better than anyone else," Maanvi says while eating.

Ujjwal receives a call from Sarthak asking about Ishika’s health, followed by another call from Rupam.

After the meal, Ujjwal feels much better. He arranges a cab to send Maanvi back to her hostel.

"Message me once you reach," Sneha says.

"Bye-bye," Maanvi replies.

Ujjwal says, "I’ll head to Anay’s house now since my house needs to be restored before I can return there."

"Didn’t it occur to you to stay at my house? My home isn’t far from yours," Sneha says, feeling hurt that he didn’t think of her place.

"I did think about it, but I didn’t want to trouble you."

"How is that a trouble? You’ll stay at my house."

"Okay," He agrees.

They go to Sneha’s house. Ujjwal informs Sarla that he’ll be staying at Sneha’s place until his house is restored. He asks, "So can you come here to work?"

"Yes, sir" Sarla replies

As soon as Ujjwal reach, he falls asleep- he hadn’t slept since the previous day. Since the house has two bedrooms, he sleeps in the other one.

Later, Ujjwal wakes up and visits a clothing shop. He buys clothes for himself and for Ishika since everything, including their clothes, was burned in the fire.

He buys a loose kurti for Ishika, ensuring it’s not tight and doesn’t put pressure on her burn marks.

On the way home, he notices wooden rocking chairs at a furniture shop and buys two- one for his mother-in-law and one for Ishika. He decides to buy other items once Ishika recovers.

~

A few days later, it’s the day of Ishika’s skin graft surgery. Ishika becomes very scared.

Ujjwal and Sneha try to comfort her.

"Ishika, do you know?" Ujjwal asks.

"What?" Her eyes moist.

"That you’re strong."

She looks into his eyes.

He nods reassuringly.

"everything will be okay."

She holds his hand tightly.

Gently caressing her head with his other hand, he says, "My strong girl,".

...

The surgery went successful.

~

In two weeks, Ishika’s grafted skin begins to heal well, with no signs of infection. She is finally discharged from the hospital.

During these two weeks, Ujjwal and Sneha frequently visited her, supporting her.

Despite their care, she felt herself as burden. She worried about how much trouble and expense he endured because of her condition.

She thought, Even though he says he loves me, but who would love scars? Who would love burned skin?

She spent her hospital days lost in such thoughts, feeling sad. She put on a fake smile whenever Ujjwal and her mom came to visit.

~

After being discharged, Ishika and Ujjwal comes to Sneha’s house. Ishika can now walk better.

Sneha and Sarla are overjoyed to see her. Sarla is in the kitchen preparing dinner.

Ishika, Ujjwal, and Sneha sit in the living room talking.

Ujjwal tells Sneha about the cream Ishika needs to apply to her scars for two weeks.

Ishika’s attention drifts to Sarla in the kitchen. Sarla, slim and fair-skinned, looks very beautiful. She often wears simple dresses or sarees.

Today, Sarla is wearing a simple saree, and a portion of her waist and sometimes her navel is visible.

Ishika glances at Ujjwal, who is talking to her mom, and then back at Sarla. Against her will, she begins comparing herself to Sarla, thinking how perfect and beautiful she looks.

Ishika says to herself, I was in the hospital for three weeks, and here, Ujjwal, Sarla, and Mom were at home. Could Ujjwal have fallen in love with Sarla? After all, she’s much more beautiful than me.

She begins to feel disheartened.

When dinner is ready, Sarla calls everyone to the dining table. She had avoided certain ingredients in the food based on Ishika’s dietary restrictions.

The three sit at the table while Sarla serves the food.

After serving, Sarla starts working on something else. Ujjwal, while eating, says, "What are you doing, Sarla?"

"Sir, just finishing other work," she replies softly.

"Do it later. Come eat with us first."

Ishika looks at him.

"But, Sir-"

"The joy of eating together is unmatched," Ujjwal insists.

Sneha agrees with him.

Ishika keeps glancing at his eyes to see if he’s looking at Sarla’s waist or navel. She doesn’t catch him looking even once.

She realizes she’s doubting him unnecessarily and silently apologies to him in her mind.

The chair next to Ujjwal is empty, so Sarla quietly sits there and starts eating with her head down.

Sarla is always cautious about making mistakes at work, which is why she speaks softly and usually keeps her head down.

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