"what?" Ira raised her eyebrows, looking at Ehan, who was giving her a terrified look. Slightly pink patches forming on his face and lips swelling. He gulped, staring still. She raised her eyebrows in question. Facing the other side, he quickly stood up.

She looked up, frowning at the sudden change in his behaviour. Before she could ask what's wrong with him, he said, "I just realised I have some important work. I'll just be back"

He took a few steps towards door, only to be stopped by her, "What work? Where are you going?" She held him by his cuff, gently pulling him to face her.

"A very important work, I'll just be back, Ira" he twisted his hand and released it from her hold, not even turning to glance at her.

"But Ehan..."

He literally ran away, shutting the door behind him.

"I wanted to watch this movie with you" she whispered, staring at the door he just disappeared from.

She went back to her place and sat down, watching the movie with a not so pleasant mood.

---

Ehan kicked his bed, frustrated. He was having a nice time with Ira. He was happy, content and at peace, after 5 days. He wanted to stay with her, spending more and more time. But the allergy ruined everything.

"Why did it has to happen now" he kicked again, wailing in both mental and physical pain.

He let out a shaky breathe, looking at himself in the mirror across him. Clear patches were visible, bloodshot eyes, nose turning red and lips swollen. The burning sensation was arising all over his body, making him want to have a cold shower.

He pulled the t-shirt over his head and tossed in the laundry basket, on the way to washroom. When he was about to turn the shower on, he heard his mobile go off, which he dropped on bed.

"Ira" He whispered, leaning against the wall.

He wanted to rinse his body in cold water, which will lower the burning feel but doing it always causes him fever, which worsens his condition. He'll remain feverish and sick for 2 to 3 days, which means not meeting Ira.

Walking to the washbasin, he splashed some cold water on his face. The water was not that much cool though, still it gave him some chilly feel, which made him yearn for more and more. He splashed some more water, deliberately making it fall on his shoulders.

The sound of his mobile ringing continuously made him stop and go out to receive the call. His teeth chattered, shiver running all over his body.

He picked up the call, sitting at the edge of the bed.

"Ehan, where are you? You said you'll just be back" she whined. He so wanted to go back to her, let her know about his allergy, ask her to stay by his side and help him feel less painful.

Brushing the impossible thoughts aside, he said, "It'll take me some time to be back, Ira. You please go have dinner. I'll get late"

"Are you okay? You sound dull" a small sad smile tugged his lips by the way her angry voice turned concern within a second. Falling back on bed, he spoke, "I'm perfectly alright. You please go have dinner. It's almost time"

"I can wait for you..."

"No. It'll take me longer. Lock the house and take the keys with you. I have a spare one, I'll use that when I'll arrive" he curled himself into a ball, feeling his body burn, one hand rubbing his temple and another clutching the mobile to ear.

"Ok. Be back soon and safe. Bye" she hanged up.

He pulled himself more closer, wailing. His heart thudding loudly in his chest as the pain, thoughts and fears invaded his mind. The physical pain nothing compare to the mental one, which was brining lots of negative thoughts and fears.

"How long am I gonna hide this from her?" He thought.

Getting up slowly to sit, he looked at his reflection in the mirror. The patches were spreading all over his body. He felt disgusted by the red uneven spots. The blazing feel was increasing, makings him want to run away from himself.

He went to washroom and without even bothering to get rid of his remaining clothes, turned on the cold shower. He stood as such, letting the water slip all over his body, which reduces the burning sensation to an extent, somewhat numbing his muscles. He closed his eyes, resting his hand and forehead against the wall.

Ira's smile flashed on the curtains of his eyes.

"And I was missing Ehan, so I tagged along Ms Belly"

"You're my favourite person"

"Are you okay?"

"You sound sick"

"It's ok. I trust you"

Unknowingly, tears made their way out his eyes, mixing with the water. He pressed forehead against the wall, thinking of Ira's worst possible reaction when she'll come to know about his ugly condition. She's nothing less than a kid, which gave him the idea of her scared face when she'll see his face. She may scream and run away, which he couldn't take.

In all those years of loneliness, he thought his heart was strong enough to take up any kind of pain. Afterall, nothing could be as hurtful as the ignorance from his parents. But today, he realised that things could be more painful, if Ira react the way he was assuming.

There seemed no end to his negative thoughts and his knees were giving up already. Composing himself, he stood still to calm his thoughts. Turning the shower off, he got rid off the remaining clothes and changed into a fresh pair of tee and sweatpants.

Walking straight to the drawer, he took out the sleeping pills and gulped them down with a glass of water. He let himself fall on bed and pulled the blanket, covering from head to toe. He was feeling cold, still didn't bothered drying his dripping wet hair. With chattering teeth and shivering body, he invited sleep and numbness to take over his body and mind.

---

"Out of town? What do you mean by that?" Ira yelled, making Ehan distant the mobile from his ear. It was the next morning, when he woke up late, only to find many missed calls from Ira.

Feeling weak and tired, he took some time in freshening up. His voice was horse so he texted her that he has gone out for some work and will be back in a couple of days. As soon as she read the message, she become infuriated and called him nonstop, until he helplessly picked up her call. He didn't even opened his mouth and she started yelling.

"Ehan, I came back from that trip just because I thought I was selfish to leave you alone like that. But you... How could you?" She whined the last sentence, making him painfully shut his eyes. His weak body making it difficult for him to even sit still.

"I'm sorry, Ira" he whispered in a barely audible tone. She didn't even heard him properly. He coughed, rubbing his temple.

"And why do have to go out of town every now and then? Are you hiding something? Come on, Ehan, your sudden disappearance is making my imaginations run wild. I feel like you have a secret wife and two kids hidden somewhere, whom you visit often" she voice out, making him let a low chuckle.

"You're crazy, Ira" he said, sounding rough, which made her stop from yelling further. He sneezed a couple of times before she could say something.

"Ehan, are you alright? Why do you sound sick?" She voiced out her concern.

"Yeah! I'm fine. It's just cold..."

"Don't lie, Ehan. You fell sick last time too, when you went out somewhere for an important work" she pointed, increasing his difficulty to speak and come up with more lies.

"I'll call you later, Ira. I need to go" he didn't wait for her to reply and hanged up, holding his head with both the hands. More he was trying to hide things, more it was getting difficult. He know, one day or the other, he have to tell her about his allergy. At the same time, he just never wish to let her know about this.

"I'm not ready to lose you yet" he thought.

---

Next day, Ira called Ehan as soon as she woke up but there was no response. She tried a few times but the results were just the same. She grew concerned. He sounded sick the previous day and now he wasn't responding her calls.

Worried, she called Lily, "Are you sure he'll be okay?" Ira asked again, as Lily told her that Ehan sometimes gets busy and behaves this way.

"I'm very sure dear. Don't worry" Lily smiled from the other side.

"Ok. If you says so. But Lily, do you have any idea whom he visits or where he goes every now and then?" Her curiously got the best over her and she couldn't help but asked.

"No dear. I don't know where he disappears. But you know what? I think..." Lily hesitantly stopped, thinking if she should tell this to Ira or not.

"You think?"

"Errr... Don't tell this to Ehan but I feel like he stays at home and lies that he has gone somewhere" she spoke in a whisper as if sharing a treasure Island's secret map with her.

"Why would he do that?" Ira was confused.

"I don't know. It's just that... his travel bags are in bed storage since a very long time. They appear dusty whenever I open the bedstorage to dust inside and the bags even remain the same way I arrange them, until I myself change their position"

"You clean his house?" Ira asked the first thing came in her mind, making Lily roll her eyes and hit her head.

"That's not the point, sweetheart" she reminded her, pushing Ira to think. Lily always wanted to help Ehan but he was distant and never gave her a chance to help him. He had his mind set, that no one cares for him and those whoever shows any kind of concern, it was either out of pity or for the job they were assigned by his parents; in exchange of money.

---

Though it took Ira sometime, but Lily's words did bothered her. She spend the whole day thinking about what Lily said. Ehan called back when he woke up and he still sounded sick. She didn't pushed him to answer about his whereabouts. Instead, asked him to take care.

She called him again when she was having lunch, not wanting to eat lonely and he spoke like he hasn't eaten anything since last night. Even when she asked him to have lunch while she have hers and they both talk, he refused, saying that he'll have later. What else was he supposed to say, he hasn't cooked anything yet and he was still feeling weak to do so. The last thing he had was a mug of coffee previous night.

Pacing back and forth, Ira rubbed her hands together. Ehan's tired voice, coughs and sneezes concerned her. She wanted to help him but he wasn't there. Or was he? She thought.

The things which were giving rise to her doubts was the background silence when he speaks. Wasn't it suppose to be a little noisy or anything which indicates that he was out.

Huffing, she sat on bed, talking Hunny bunny in her arms.

She deeply thought of something, resting her chin over his head. Suddenly, she pulled her mobile out and dialled Ehan's number.

He, who was lazily mixing the ready to mix mushroom soup in hot water, sitting at the dining area. He picked up the call with a tired small smile.

"Hi, Ehan. How are you now?" She asked casually.

"Much better. You say, what are you doing?" He asked, keeping the soup aside and resting his chin over the table.

"I was going to have dinner. But I just realised that I forgot my charger at your place. Can I just go get it?" She hesitantly asked the last sentence.

"Errr.. Sure. You have the keys" he said, which caused her a great disappointment. She opened her mouth to say something but shut it back, finding nothing to say. She was hoping him to say no and it would confirm Lily's words that he stays at home and lies about going out.

"Ok" she nodded, heaving a sigh.

---

"I so wanna meet you" he whispered, looking at Ira's photo in his mobile, restlessly rubbing his fingers together.

She'll be on the way to your cottage. Go, hide somewhere and watch her. His heart said.

What if she'll caught me? He questioned his heart.

She will not. She's coming to get her charger. She won't stay there any longer to sense your presence. Came his heart's reply.

Leaving the soup untouched, he made his way to his room, as quickly as his weak self could bear. Grabbing a hoodie, he wore over his cotton shirt. Pulling the cap over his head, he grabbed the spare keys from his drawer and made his way to the cottage.

His hands trembled when he showed the key in hole and vision turned blurry. The last thing went into his stomach was almost 24 hours ago. His body desperately needed some energy to work. He shook his head to clear his vision and twisted the key. He looked behind to make sure she didn't appear before he slips in. As soon as the door swung open, he went inside and locked it.

Grabbing the wall for his support, he stood still for a few seconds. His eyes adjusted to the darkness. When he felt better, he slowly walked to the first room and hide himself behind the ajar door.

After a couple of minutes, he heard the main door open followed by Ira's footsteps. She was quick to turn on the lights. He peeked a little, just to have a glimpse of her. His yearning eyes caught her black shoes, which were moving towards... Him?

He pushed himself against the wall, as if it would move back and make some room for him. His heartbeat increased and sweat started forming on his forehead.

She stopped near the room he was in and looked around, as if not sure what to do next. He stood still, waiting for her to grab her charger and leave but she pushed the slightly opened door wide open, making him literally bury himself into the wall.

Taking slow steps, she walked in. Her back was facing him and she was hesitantly walking towards the washroom.

"Ehan" she called in a whisper, which echoed in the silent place, making him jump on his place. He held himself closer, sweating.

He has no idea what she was trying to do.

He couldn't see her but he heard her open the washroom door. He wondered if she knows about him hiding in the house. Foot steps again neared him and his body begun to give up. Black dots begun to fill his vision and he started panting. He didn't realised when but he heard distant foot steps once he gained his balance.

He relaxed, thinking that she left. Slowly peeking outside, he found the hall empty and the main door closed. He sighed stepping outside. Wiping his sweaty face, he weekly walked to the exit. He was about to twist the door knob open, when a small voice stopped him.

"Ehan" his hand stopped mid air, eyes widened, heartbeat increased and throat went dry.

With trembling hands, he hurriedly twisted the door knob, wanting to disappear as a flash. But the door was locked. He dropped his hands, breathing unevenly. He know he was caught now and there was no point in running away.

"Why are you hiding in your own house?" She asked in a disbelieving tone.

Shutting his eyes tight, he turned very slowly. Ira's narrowed eyes widened as soon as his face came in sight. His unevenly swollen red patches filled face made her take a step back, covering her mouth with both the hands.

---

Assalamualaikum everyone,

How was the chapter?

Finally! She saw him. What will be her reaction?

What should be her reaction according to you?

How will Ehan react if his fears come true and she'll run away from him?

Kindly tell me your views and hit the star.

Stay blessed,

Allah Hafiz.