She opened her eyes tiredly. As the blurry vision cleared, the blue ceiling made her confused. This was not their bedroom, she knew that and as she remembered what happened before she lost her consciousness fully, she looked around as much as she could move her head only to see him sitting on the couch with his head between his palms.

She tried to move her arms only to realise there was an IV tube attached to the back of her palm. While trying to sit upright, her arm hit the empty steel glass that was near her on the table and he raised his head startled.

“Anika are you alright?” He asked as he rushed to her and held her arm.

She nodded with a faint smile and he breathed a sigh of relief. That moment, he looked as if someone had given him his lost life.

“It was just a fever” She told with a smile and he frowned.

“Just a fever? JUST a fever?” He asked and she smiled sheepishly.

“A bit high” She told and he frowned again.

“A bit high? You were unconscious since last three hours. It's morning now” He told and she shrugged.

“Only three? Last time I got a fever, I unconscious for five hours. What a pity! I couldn't break the record” She told and he looked at her as if he would eat her raw.

She smiled showing all her teeth. There was a knock on the door and he went to open the door. He moved way for the doctor to walk in.

The doctor smiled looking at Anika making her confused but nevertheless smiled back.

“Thank God you got conscious or else your husband would have turned this hospital upside down” The doctor told while removing the IV tube from her palm and Anika slightly looked Shivaay who was looking everywhere but her.

“I-I'll get the discharge papers ready” He told quickly before walking out.

“We were confused whether to treat you or him. He couldn't even breathe properly you know. We kept on telling it's a normal fever but he wasn't ready to listen to anything. But then I must say, he loves you a lot” The doctor told while putting a band-aid carefully on the injected area.

Her heart skipped a beat as she heard that. Did he love her? So much?

“Uh can I ask you something?” Anika asked and the doctor nodded while checking her pulse.

“Usually nurses do these right?” She asked gesturing at the IV tube and the doctor smiled.

“I was anyway coming to check you. Why bother a nurse just to do this simple thing” The doctor told and Anika smiled. She saw herself in the doctor as while doing internship, she was exactly like this.

“Was it a love marriage between you both?” The doctor asked with a smile and Anika shook her head.

“Arranged”

“Oh how long?” She asked surprised.

“Three months” Anika told with a smile.

“Wow that's definitely so sweet. My parents are so adamant to get me married. If arranged marriages are so good, then I think I'll take a chance. The thing is, I want to have a love marriage” The doctor told.

“What do I say. Do what your heart says. Even if later, you'll realise it was the right thing to do” She told with a smile.

“You married him because your heart said to do so?”

“Long story. Do we have time?” Anika asked and the doctor chuckled.

“I have rounds. Better luck next time. If we meet again, I'm not going without listening to the story” The doctor told before turning to go.

“What's your name?” Anika asked.

“Ishani” She told with a smile before walking out.

She looked at the ring on her finger and smiled faintly.

“Let's go?” He asked as he walked in and she nodded.

He helped her get down the bed and she kept looking at him as the doctor's words rushed to her mind.

“I shouldn't have splashed water on you yesterday” He told guiltily.

“I splashed on you first”

“I didn't get fever. You did” He told and she shrugged.

“It's ok. Fever increases immunity. Do you have any problem if my immunity increases a little?” She asked and he chuckled as they walked out.

“Shivaay, I can walk alone. Everyone are looking at us” She whispered gesturing at his hold on her shoulder and hand.

“Do I care?”

“I do care” She told.

“Close your eyes then” He told and she sighed as she focused her eyes on the floor and walked.

“When you care, you care a little too much but when you don't, you don't even look at the person right?” She asked as he made her sit in the car and he smiled.

*

“Take rest. I'll go and bring something to eat” He told.

“What will you bring?” She asked in a teasing voice.

“Fruits are there” He told raising his collars and she chuckled.

“Fruits? In the morning?” She asked feigning sadness.

“What do you want?”

“I feel like eating Alu Puri” She told.

“I'm helpless here” He told sadly and she chuckled.

“I was joking. You bring two cups of coffee. Let's start the day with coffee” She told and he nodded before walking to the kitchen.

She got down the bed and walked to the kitchen.

“Why did you get down the bed?” He asked and she looked confused at him.

“I—I thought you might need help” She told confused and he frowned before carrying her in his arms making her gasp.

“Shivaay what are you doing?” She asked wide eyed as he walked to the room and made her sit on the bed.

“Don't get down until I say”

“But why? I'm fine now”

“You're not”

“Who is the doctor here? You or me?” She asked and he sighed.

“You might be the doctor but I'm just doing the job of a responsible husband”

“First of all, I'm a doctor. Do you have doubt in that? I'll show you my card” She told and he smiled sheepishly.

“Second, You're doing the job of an over possessive and over protective husband right now” She told controlling her smile.

“Let it be. I didn't have anyone to be possessive or protective about. Now when I got someone, let me do it” He told and there, exclusively at that moment, officially and heartily she lost her heart to this man.

She kept looking at him and he smiled as held her face between his palms and pecked her forehead.

“I'll get the coffee. Sit here alright?” He told before walking out of the room and she inhaled a good amount of air before replaying his words in her mind.

••|To Be Continued|••