Page 25 of Since You Came Along

‘I’ll bring you some after you’re in bed,’ he reassured her. At her faint nod, he slid an arm under her knees and another around her back, lifting her carefully. She winced and whimpered, and his heart twisted at the sound.

‘Migraine,’ she muttered, her forehead resting against his chest as he carried her to the bedroom. Even through the layers of fabric, he could feel the heat radiating from her feverish body.

He laid her down on the bed, tucking the blanket around her. She let out a small sigh of relief as she snuggled into the warmth.

In the kitchen, he grabbed a glass. As he rinsed it under the tap, he noticed the sink held only his empty milk glass from lastnight. It hit him then that she’d given him the only glass of warm milk last night, even though she’d needed it more. His chest tightened with guilt and anger at himself; he should have made sure she had some too.

He returned to her room, water in hand. She looked so fragile lying there, her face pale and drawn. He sat beside her and touched her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open, and she smiled faintly.

He slid an arm under her head, helping her sit up so she could drink. She drained the glass and whispered, ‘Some more, please.’

After bringing her another glass, she settled into the bed and pulled the blanket tighter around her.

‘You didn’t drink water last night?’

‘No,’ she admitted. ‘I fell before I reached the kitchen.’

‘And the warm milk?’ he probed, though he already knew the answer.

‘No… I gave it all to you,’ she replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

‘Why didn’t you wake me, Meera?’

‘I could’ve handled it,’ she murmured, her words slurred with sleep.

‘But I could’ve helped,’ he insisted.

‘Didn’t want to wake you,’ she muttered, drifting off to sleep.

‘You should’ve, Meera,’ he whispered, knowing she couldn’t hear him now. The anguish in his chest was a silent vow that he wouldn’t let her neglect herself like this again.

Meera slept until the afternoon. Raghav stayed by her side the entire time, keeping a vigilant eye on her. Her fever had worsened, and every time she moved, she clutched her head and whimpered in pain. If she didn’t show any improvement by evening, he’d decide to take her to the doctor.

Raghav woke her up just enough to feed her a few spoonfuls of oatmeal and give her the medicine. Her body was aching, and even simple gestures seemed to exhaust her, yet she didn’t complain once. Instead, she thanked him each time he did something for her.

Her gratitude grated on his nerves. She was treating him like some outsider doing her a favour instead of her husband. He wanted to tell her to stop. Taking care of her wasn’t just his duty; it was something he wanted to do for her.

As he watched her, she raised trembling fingers to her forehead, rubbing it gently in small, circular motions. Without thinking, he moved closer, laying on the bed beside her. Propping himself up on one elbow, he pulled her hand away and started massaging her temples with firm but careful strokes.

She groaned in relief, the tension in her face easing bit by bit. Her breathing slowed, and soon, she relaxed enough to drift back into sleep. But not before murmuring another tired, ‘Thank you.’

Raghav stayed with her a little longer, brushing his fingers across her cheek and holding her hand. Before leaving, he gave in to the urge and pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

In the kitchen, he rummaged through the pantry, trying to figure out what to cook. Meera needed something nutritious, something that would help her regain her strength. But he wasout of his depth. His thoughts flitted between concern and helplessness until the answer hit him. He needed help.

He grabbed his phone and called Siya. She didn’t answer. Frustrated, he paced the kitchen, waiting for her to call back. When ten minutes passed without a response, he called Swayam.

Swayam picked up on the first ring. ‘I’m in the middle of an intense game here, so call me later!’

Raghav rolled his eyes. He knew intense games could go on for hours. ‘Meera is sick,’ he said, knowing it would grab Swayam’s attention.

There was a momentary pause before Swayam said, ‘I’ll be there in ten,’ and disconnected.

True to his word, Swayam arrived within a few minutes. Together, they stood at the bedroom door, watching Meera as she slept. Swayam’s expression darkened as he took in the scene. He didn’t need Raghav to explain, he already knew.

‘When her migraines hit, especially with fever, it’s bad. She stays in bed for days, hardly eating or drinking,’ Swayam said. ‘And once it’s over, she’s left feeling weak for days or more.’

Raghav’s jaw tightened. He’d already been planning to rearrange his schedule to stay home with her, but hearing this only solidified his decision.

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