Count On Me

11. Achoo!

It was December and it was freezing. Being lived in India, I wasn't used to this much cold. I was trying to keep myself warm as much as I could. But it was destined to happen: fever with cough and cold.

In the midnight, I started feeling terribly cold. I increased the room temperature, tucking blanket closer. But by the time of dawn, I was shivering profusely. To add in it, sneezing and coughing started. It was the worst night but I managed to sleep.

I woke up with a knock on the door, followed by Will's voice, calling my name.

"Char, wake up. You'll be late." He knocked again. "Char,"

"It's open, come in." I said, mustering all the energy in my body.

Will came in and walked towards my bed. Confused look on his face. "Why are you still in bed? You gets ready to leave everyday by now. You alright?" He sat on the bed by my side and put the back of his hand on my forehead. Just as he put it, he pulled it back as if he has got a shock.

"Sh*t! Char, you are burning!" He exclaimed.

"Well sh*t Sherlock!" I chuckled. My eyes were watering.

"Seriously!" He gave me the 'don't give me bullshit' look and went outside. After a minute, he came back with a thermometer. The temperature turned out to be 102°C. All I wanted was to sleep. Will called at my office to inform my condition and went outside again. I got up slowly and went in the bathroom to brush. A couple minutes later, he walked inside with a cotton cloth and a bowl of water. Sitting by my side, he put the bowl on the side table and dipped the cloth in the cold water. He squeezed the cloth once it soaked the water and folding it once, put it on my forehead.

"My dad used to do that." I said quietly. "My mom," He whispered.

We were silent as he put the cloth enough times, wiped my hands and feet so that my fever will go or at least reduce by a half an hour or so. I was feeling very tired and fell asleep.

I woke up again with a little shake, Will calling my name and a delicious aroma of some soup. I stirred a bit, blinking my eyes. It was chicken noodle soup.

"C'mon, have this soup." He sat on the side of the bed, holding the soup bowl. My stomach growled, answering him and I sat as well.

I took the bowl and tasted the soup. It was so refreshing and soothing that I instantly felt comfort to my sore throat. I smiled at Will gratefully. After finishing the soup, I went to take a bath. It helped me feel fresh. Changing into different set of clothes, I snuggled into the comforter. I checked the temperature, it was 100°C.

"How are you feeling now?" Will asked as he walked in.

"Not too bad." I gave him the thermometer. He looked at it and hummed, "Good." He put it back on the side table. "I gotta go for work. Will you be okay by yourself or do you want me to stay?" His concern was written all over on his face.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. I'll order pizza or something." He didn't seem convinced but didn't say that. "No need. Cheese won't do any good and will only increase the cough. I have made black cumin rice and curry, what do you call it? Yeah, jeera rice and daal tadka, for you. I'll try to come early but I'm not sure. Take care, okay?"

"Aye, aye, Captain!" I gave him a mock salute on which he rolled his eyes while a small smile tucked on the lips. "Bye," He put his hand on my head and left.

It was 11 and I was getting super bored by sleeping. I browsed through the social media for some time, then finished the book I was reading. Time has flew by the time I finished it. I climbed down the bed and went in the kitchen and took a plate, bowl and spoon. Taking a helping of rice and curry, I walked in the living room. I started Netflix and chose Friends series to watch. I can watch it anytime and many times. It always lifts our mood. But it was getting impossible for me to finish all the series as my eyes started watering due to the illness. I didn't have any energy to do any sketches or yoga and I didn't want to sleep again. So I went with the music therapy. I selected a few peaceful songs and placed my phone on the coffee table as I stretched my legs on the sofa and rested my head on one of the cushions. I closed my eyes as the first song started playing.

I woke up by the sound of the door closing. Will came walking towards me. I rubbed my eyes as I got up and sat cross leg on the sofa. I was drifted off to sleep in the middle of the songs. And my back and nape was started paining by sleeping on the sofa in an odd position.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" He asked as he sat down beside me.

"Better than befo- achoo!" I sniffed.

He chuckled. "Yeah, I can see that. Did you take rest?" He asked as he checked my temperature by putting his back hand on my forehead.

"Yeah. What's the time?" I asked as I stifled the yawn.

"It's four thirty. Do you want anything? Tea? Coffee?" He asked as he got up.

"Yeah, tea please. Till then I'll gargle with warm salty water, it always helps me with the sour throat." I got up and stretched a little and walk in the kitchen to get a glass of salty water.

After having the hot tea, we got ready to see the doctor. There was a clinic nearby. The doctor checked me and gave some instructions with a prescription. We went straight to the nearest pharmacy. The pharmacist asked a few questions, read the prescription and went to bring the medicines. He asked me for the Mutuelle and Carte Vitale. I showed him both the documents. After buying the prescribed medicines, we both returned to our apartment.

  I still had fever but it was reducing. My head was aching because the the cold and my throat was sour. I didn't have any choice but to take the medicines, gargle after every certain time. I was far away from my mom, my bed and my comforter.

  But in spite of that, I had no complaints. Because Will was with me, taking care and trying that I would not feel alone.

  I closed my eyes as I drifted off to sleep in my bed, feeling a gentle hand stroking my hair.

  "Good night, Char."

  "Good night, Will."

    Hey guys, I am really feeling bad that I can't update regularly for various reasons. But please consider my situation as a college student who is completing her last year of college. It's very exhausting for me to handle my college related stuff, writing, different classes and all. I am really liking the way this story is opening its each cards and I really want to write this. I hope you understand and keep supporting me.

  Glossary :

1. Mutuelle - It is the top-up private insurance that most French people, and those living in France, take out to cover some, or all, of the remaining percentage to be paid for medicines and health care, or to pay for the treatments that aren't included in subsidized French health care.

2. Carte Vitale - It is essentially a national health card carrying your personal details, which is the gateway to the French health care system and is arguably the first administrative piece of paper (or plastic) you should apply for on moving to France.