Chapter 13 : The Night Care
The fever started as a dull ache behind Ananya's eyes. The kind she usually ignored. Because she had grown up learning that discomfort was not an excuse to slow down. She finished work anyway.
Answered emails.
Attended calls.
Pushed through the slight body chills and blamed it on office AC.
But by evening—
Her head felt heavy. Her joints ached.
And the simple act of unlocking her apartment door felt like lifting something too heavy for her hands.
Across the corridor, Adrian had just come back from dropping his parents at the railway station.
Elsa and Thomas had gone to their native place for a family function. Two days. Maybe three.
"Take care of Ananya also," Elsa had said casually while getting into the auto.
He had nodded.
At that time, it felt like normal instruction.
Now—
It felt heavier. More meaningful.
He noticed her first through silence. Her balcony light didn't turn on. Her usual evening kettle whistle never came. And something in his chest tightened.
He knocked.
No answer.
He knocked again.
Softer.
Then—
The door opened slightly. And she stood there.
Face pale.
Eyes dull with fever exhaustion.
Hair tied in a loose messy bun.
And he knew instantly.
"You have fever," he said quietly.
She tried to shake her head.
"Just tired."
He didn't argue.
Didn't lecture.
Didn't say I told you to rest.
He just said—
"Move."
And stepped inside.
Her apartment felt warmer than usual.
Not temperature.
Just... quiet.
Still.
She sat on the sofa slowly, like every movement took effort.
He touched her forehead gently.
She closed her eyes at the contact.
"You're burning," he murmured.
"It's okay," she whispered.
"No," he said simply.
And that single word—
Firm but soft—
Made something inside her loosen.
He moved like he belonged there.
Not invading.
Not asking permission for every step.
But also not taking control away from her.
