MaNan: Unadulterated Love|| Completed

11. Caring for him!

~He was lonely, she was lively.
He was scared of love, she was scared to love.
But they met, and life changed, for both of them~

The next day started again as usual with a chirpy 'Good morning' but a not so enthusiastic and a very low reply. Nandini looked at him from head to toe and worry easily could be seen in her doe shaped eyes.

" What's wrong?", she asked concerned.

"Nothing, just a mild headache", Manik looked up at her with a faint smile.

It didn't convince Nandini but she stayed mum for the time being. They continued with the work and Manik checked the files he had on his table. It was an hour to lunch when Nandini reminded him about his lunch meeting with some foreign delegates. Manik nodded and took the file in his hand and got up from his seat engrossed in reading the file. Nandini was still sitting in her chair when she heard a sound, something like a file falling and she looked up to find Manik holding the side of table to hold himself from collapsing.

Running towards him, she held him by shoulders and made him sit. She gave him a glass of water and accidentally her hand rubbed over his which was when she felt the warmth spreading. Astonished, she touched his forehead to find him burning.

Nandini went pale seeing him in so much discomfort. Now it was clear to her why his voice was that low and face pale. She just looked at him with rage evident on her face. Giving him a glass of water, she called for his car.

A little later when Manik felt strong enough to walk to the conference room, he stood up, took the file and asked Nandini to follow him. Nandini was literally befuddled at his ignorance of his health.

"Excuse me, where do you think you are going?", Nandini questioned with her arms folded across her chest.

Manik turned and looked at her. He was surprised to see the worry clearly evident on her face and yet her struggle to show herself arrogant.

"We have a meeting?", Manik frowned at her.

"No we don't. I cancelled it. You are heading home ", Nandini said with such an expression that Manik could not reply her. By then the chauffeur said car was ready. She just held his hand and draaged him to the car, not even thinking about what her colleagues would say or think. She setteled with him in the back seat, while the driver rode the car towards the mansion.

Meanwhile Manik felt numb. Not only because he had high fever but also because it was really a long time after which someone was claiming right over him and caring for him. Nandini enetered with him and called for Kaka to escort him to his room. She entered the kitchen to make some soup for him. It was her mother's cardinal recipe. By the time she went to his room with the soup, she found him drowsy and shivering a little. She ran towards him and covered him with the duvet. Soon the doctor came and checked him up. He prescribed few medicines and an injection to drop the fever fast.

"See, it's just a mild fever. I have given the medicines and he will be fine soon. But I think, there is some high degree of weakness physically. Doesn't he eat required food and have his sleep?", The doctor questioned and Nandini didn't have an answer. Tears welled up in her eyes when the doctor left.

It had been difficult for Nandini, always, to see the people she cared for in such pain. She just sat by his side and patted his forehead. It was still very warm. So she brought ice cubes and water from the kitchen and dipped her hankey in the cold water to keep on his forehead. After about an hour Manik opened his eyes to find Nandini still sitting at his bedside with cold water dips. He was so overwhelmed with the flowing emotions that he could not even thank her. When Nandini saw him awake, all her worries and fear dropped in form of hot tears.