31 Caretaker 

Khushi, a young woman who had developed feelings for Arnav, was shocked to see him standing. His face was plain, devoid of any emotion. He was staring at her in disbelief. Khushi was embarrassed like hell. She looked down, clutching the coat that belonged to Arnav, the man she had fallen for.
Arnav moved with the dinner bag all the way, looking at her. Khushi stood nervously. Arnav kept the bag on the table and silently turned to leave. Khushi looked at him, suffocating. He didn’t say anything. She didn’t know what he was thinking. Arnav stopped and looked at her.

“I know you like me but didn’t know to this extent…” He smiled.

“I… just…”

Arnav took fast steps and reached her in the blink of an eye. He kept his index finger on her lips and nodded no.

“Let the reason be anything… I don’t care. You wear my coat. It may not be out of love… but I like it.” He lowered his finger.

Khushi tried to remove the coat. Arnav clutched her hands and again made her wear it. She blinked her eyes slowly.

“Don’t…! You look cute with my coat,” he smiled, his eyes filled with fondness and amusement, a clear indication of his growing affection for Khushi.

“I like to wear a coat…that’s why…” She stammered.

“But you won’t wear anyone’s coat just because you got one.”

Khushi looked at him, perplexed.

“Have your dinner. Good night,” Arnav walked out, not wanting to make her embarrass her more.

Khushi was embarrassed. She didn’t expect to be caught red-handed. She didn’t know what Arnav was thinking. Did she seed expectations in his mind? She bit her lip and closed her eyes.
Arnav drove the car with a constant smile. He liked the way Khushi caressed his coat. It felt like it was not his coat but HIM. He somewhat understood she liked him but was hesitating to accept it due to their status difference. Everything would end when Khushi won a National medal, a prestigious achievement that could potentially change their lives and relationship.

Arnav felt weird and tired. His body ached. He came home and rested, and he drifted into sleep after a while.

The next morning

Khushi felt a little awkward to face Arnav. After he saw her wearing his coat, she would meet him today. Khushi got ready to go to practice. She waited for Arnav as usual, but he didn’t come to take her to the stadium. Khushi was confused. Arnav never skipped practice. Only a week to the state meet. She didn’t know why he didn’t come.

She had just completed the floor exercise and was getting ready for college. But to her surprise, Arnav had also not come to the college. She waited for him to start their regular practice, but he didn’t.

She saw Aman advancing her.

“Are you waiting for Arnav?”

Khushi nodded yes.

“He won’t come to the college today.”

“Why? Is he alright?”

“No... He is not alright. He has a fever.”

“Whaaat? But How? He was alright yesterday...”

“Yeah, since last night, he has suffered from fever.”

Khushi remembered that she felt heat in his finger when he touched her lips last evening. Was that the reason?

“Did you go to his house?” She asked.

“No, he called me and asked me to tell you to do your practice.”

“Who is with him?”

“No one. He is just resting.”

“What will he do if he needs anything?”

“Hari prakash is there”

“Will he be with him in his room?”

“I’m not sure about it.”

“I’m going to RM,” she said slightly hesitantly.

Aman looked at her stunning.

“Are you sure?”

Khushi nodded.

“I will be with him until 7 o’clock. After that, I cannot. Will you please come to RM to stay with him at night?”

Aman nodded. Khushi immediately left the college and headed to RM.

RM

Khushi pressed the calling bell switch and waited. After a few minutes, HP opened the door.

“Hari prakashji, how is Arnavji?”

“He has a fever. The doctor is examining him.”

HP again went to Arnav’s room. Khushi followed him and waited outside Arnav’s room.

The doctor wrote medicines and handed them to HP.

“Follow this medicine.”

“Jee...”

The doctor came out. He stopped seeing Khushi.

“You?”

“I’m his friend.”

“Oh...”

“How is he?”

“It’s just virus fever, I suppose... He will be all right if he follows the medicine. If he doesn’t show improvement, we will go for a blood test.”

“What about his diet? What should he eat?”

“Give him something light, like mush and soup without spice.”

“Ok, doctor. Thank you”

The doctor left. Khushi stepped in. The girl who refused to enter his room once entered without invitation.

“I will come get the medicine”, HP told Khushi.

“Mmm...” Arnav, who was closing his eyes, said that he thought HP had told him that.

“Jee Hari prakashji...” Khushi said.

Arnav was startled when he heard her voice. He was pleasantly surprised to see Khushi at his place, and she smiled at him. With some effort, Arnav sat up.

“Aman said you are ill.”

Arnav nodded, smiling.

“What happened? You were fine last evening...”

“I think overjoy is the reason for my fever,” Arnav said teasingly, even though he was exhausted.

Khushi tried not to get affected by it.

“We have only a week for the state meet. Could you manage?”

“Hopefully”

“Don’t worry. You will be fit if you take care of yourself.”

Arnav nodded ok.

“I will get you something to eat.”

“Will you get me?” He asked with disbelief.

Khushi nodded yes and left his room, leaving him speechless.

Preparing a tasty mush, she headed to his room. At the same time, HP came with his medicines.

“Did you buy the medicines?”

“Jee... Will you give it to Arnav Baba?”

“Yeah, sure”

HP handed them to her.

Taking them, Khushi came to Arnav’s room. Arnav smiled mildly.

“Have this mush and then medicine,”
Khushi said, keeping them on the side table.

Arnav tried to sit. Khushi held his shoulders to help him. He looked at her contently. Khushi acted like she didn’t notice him. She handed him the mush bowl.

Arnav had it. He could not stop thinking about his mother, who gave him mush when he was sick. He looked at Khushi, smiling and said,

“After so many years, I taste the mush.”

It was not hard for Khushi to understand who prepared mush for him many years ago.

“Thanks...” He smiled.

Khushi felt a kind of pain in his smile.

“I will prepare daal and rice for lunch. Is it ok?” She changed the topic.

Arnav didn’t deny it. He nodded.
After he finished the mush, she gave him medicines. Arnav had it.

“Until I prepare lunch, take a rest,” Khushi said.

Arnav nodded again. Khushi went to the kitchen. HP smiled at her.

“Shall I prepare lunch for Arnavji?”

HP didn’t know what to say.
“Arnav Baba may get angry if I let you do work.”

“He knew... He permitted me.”

“Let me ask him” HP rushed upstairs.
He knocked on the door. Arnav looked at him.

“What?”

“Khushiji wants to prepare your lunch. What do you want me to do?”

“Let her do it.”

“Jee.. ” HP left the place.

Arnav closed his eyes, smiling.

Khushi prepared rice and daal. She kept it in the hot box and came to Arnav’s room. She saw him sleeping. She slowly touched his forehead. She thought something and went to the kitchen.She brought ice water in a bowl. She searched for a cloth in his cupboard. She found a scarf. Dipping that in the ice water, she kept it on his forehead. Arnav slowly opened his eyes and looked at her.

“It will reduce your fever,” she said.

“Thanks…”

“Your lunch is ready. You can have it if you are hungry.”

“I just had mush… I feel stuffy. I will have lunch after 1 o’clock.”

“Ok, sleep for a while. You will feel better.”

“Will you go?”

Khushi nodded no.

“I will be here till evening.”

“You have to go to practice. Have you forgotten that?”

“It’s ok… I will go for practice tomorrow…”

“Khushi, we have one week only.”

“No problem. I will cope.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes…”

Arnav sighed. He knew she would win at any cost. Yet, he was worried. Arnav slept as he felt tired. He woke up only after 2 o’clock.

“How are you feeling now?” Khushi asked.

“Mmmm…”

“Shall I bring your lunch?”

“Mmm…”

Khushi went to the kitchen. After taking his lunch, she walked to his room. She didn’t notice the man who entered RM… it was Arvind.

To be continued…