A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 76- A Celebration

''Inaya, Manik has fever, can you just come over'' Nandini called Inaya. She came to see them in no time. ''How was he in office?'' Nandini asked her. ''He looked tired but didn't complain about his fever'' Inaya said. Nandini got a thermometer from Manik's first aid kit and checked his temperature. ''104°F'' Nandini is shocked to see Manik's state. ''Let's take him to hospital'' Inaya said. ''Manik can't even listen to us, how can he come out! Let's call doctor home'' Nandini suggested. ''No doctor would come home, we really don't have any family doctor for home visit'' Inaya said. ''At least consult a doctor and ask how can we reduce his temperature'' Nandini said. Inaya called a doctor on Nandini's insistence. ''Doctor has sent a few tablet names, give him these tablets for every 4 hours'' Inaya said. ''Ok, you stay with him, I'll go and get these tablets'' Nandini said. ''Hold on Nandini, I've messaged watchman to get these tablets, he will be here in 15 minutes'' Inaya said. 

Manik shivered and Nandini covered with a quilt. Watchman has delivered the tablets to Nandini. ''Wake him up and make him eat something'' Inaya said. ''Ha I'll give him tablets too'' Nandini said. ''Do you want anything more?'' Inaya asked her. ''No, you can go home, I can manage'' Nandini said and sent Inaya. Nandini sat beside Manik and looked at him. He looked pale and dull, his lips chapped and one could tell he is tired just by looking at him. She tried to wake him up to give tablet. He pulled the quilt instinctively when she tried to take it off. Nandini put her hand on his forehead and thought of keeping a damp cloth to reduce his temperature. ''Maa'' he called her. Nandini couldn't see Manik in this state and felt sorry for him. She quickly went and got a damp cloth and rubbed his forehead and kept it over for few minutes. ''Maa'' he was continuously calling out for his mom. ''Manik, I'm here with you'' Nandini said holding his hand. He held it tighter but his grip loosened as he didn't have any energy left. 

''Manik, just wake up and eat something, please'' Nandini tapped on his cheeks to wake him up. He forced open his eyes and blinked uncomfortably. ''Acha hua tumhe hosh, now just have milk and bread'' Nandini asked him to eat. ''Nahi, I don't feel like eating'' he denied but she didn't gave up. ''Manik, please kuch tho kha lena, mana mat karo'' she forced him to eat. Nandini held the glass of milk and made him drink. Manik initially felt like he will puke up but he understood Nandini wouldn't leave him now. He couldn't stop her anyway. ''Now take this tablet'' she gave handing a glass of water. Like an obedient kid, he swallowed the tablet without any complaint. Nandini asked him to have the glass of water. ''You should take lots and lots of water when your body temperature is high'' she said. Manik laid down again and he felt his bed is rotating. He held her hand to support. She placed her hand on his hand and said, ''don't worry main yahi hu'' she said and tapped on his shoulder. Manik slipped into sleep within minutes. Nandini wandered in the room and scrolled her phone. She felt sleepy and her eyes ached to sleep. Everytime she felt like sleeping, she walked and drank a glass of water. 

She began to control on herself and felt like sleeping. She sat in a chair and unknowingly slept off but was quick to get up when she heard a sound. ''Manik, do you need anything?'' she asked. Manik opened his eyes and Nandini sat beside him. ''Nothing'' he said in a weak tone. He tried to get up but she stopped him. ''Kuch chahiye tho bata dena, I'll get it'' she said. ''Rest room'' Manik said. ''Ok, I'll take you, come!'' she said giving her hand. ''It's okay Nandini, I can go'' he said but Nandini insisted. Even though Manik didn't want to take her help but he knew that he can't go alone on his own and she won't let him too. He got up from the bed and took her hand. He felt too heavy and could hardly walk. Nandini placed her hand at his back and supported him. ''Don't lock from inside, I'll be standing here'' she said and waited near the door. He felt embarrassed but she gave him no choice either. Manik came back after a minute and she walked him till the bed. 

''Thank god the temperature has come down'' she said checking his temperature. Manik was sweating profusely and she switched on the AC. ''Can I ask you something?'' Manik asked as he got settled on the bed. ''No, this is your time to rest, 4 gante ho gaye hai, it's time for your tablet again'' she said. ''Ha ha I will take a tablet, but tell me something! How did you actually trust a complete stranger in an unknown city to be friends with!'' Manik asked her. ''Manik, girls have instincts somehow I knew that I can trust Daksh with this'' Nandini said. ''What if your intuition is wrong? What if you have fallen in a trouble with him! Why did you come here all alone? Did you even have any plan B?'' Manik shooted questions at her. ''Manik, calm down, just don't over react, I understood that you didn't like me doing all this, I'm sorry'' she apologized. Manik had a straight face. ''Main sorry keh rehi hu na, at least smile tho karo'' she said but of no use. ''Ok, main ek good news share karungi, sun ne ke baad thodi excitement tho dikhao'' she said.