[Same characters for this short]

The time was around 10:30 in the night, Shreya was in the living watching tv. She was waiting for her husvand to return home from his work.

She heard the doorbell ringing sound and excitedly hopped towards the door. She opened the door and smiled at him widely but frowned seeing him giving her a weak smile. His eyes were red and he looked vey tired. He was fully drenched as it was raining outside.

Shreya: Enna nga ipdi nenanjitu vandhurkinga? You could have waited for sometime and started la?

Arun: Illa ma already work mudiyarthuke late aagiduchu. Nee vera veetla thaniya irrupa la. Adhan evlo seekram vara mudiyumo vandhuten. Raincoat ah vera wash pannanum nu veetlaye vechitu poiten.

Shreya: Adhuku nu ipdiya? First ulla vaanga. Neenga poi refresh aagitu vaanga, naa ungalku dinner eduthu veikuren.

Arun: Hmm seri ma.

He straightly went to their room, kept his bag, wallet, bike key and airpods in the teapoy. He entered the washroom, refreshed himself, changed his dress and went down to see Shreya arranging the food in the dinning.

Arun: Naa vandhuten.

She turned towards him but gasped seeing seeing him.

Shreya: Enna panni vechirkinga?

Arun: [confused] Ennadhu ma? Kulichitu dress change pannitu vandhen. 

Shreya: Adhu theriyudhu. Neenga vandhu inga chair la okarungalen.

Arun: En ma?

Shreya: Ada vandhu okarunga nu sonnen.

Arun: Seri seri okandhuten.

He sat on the chair and Shreya stood in front of him, between his legs. She took the end of her pallu and started to dry his hair. He kept his face on her tummy and pressed his face there finding the warmth.

She felt a tingling sensation in her stomach when his beared touched her bare skin. But she ignored it and started drying his hair.

Shreya: Mazhaila la dhane nenanjitu vandhinga, thovattanum nu kuda ungalku theriyadha?

Arun: Marandhuten ma. Adhan ipo nee panriye.

Shreya: Idhalam nalla pesunga. Edha mukiyam ah pannanumo adha mattum pannadhinga.

Arun: He he Chorry ma. [He holded both his ears, showing his puppy eyes and asked sorry.]. Innime ipdi panna maaten.

Shreya smiled at his cuteness and ruffled his hair one last time before asking him to have his dinner.

Arun: Aii Aaloo paratha. Supereyy. Romba naal aachu saaptu. Hmm maa nee saptiya?

Shreya: Haan saapten pa. Neenga sapdunga.

She served him 3 Aaloo paratha and kept the curd in a small cup near his plate. He tore a piece of paratha, dipped it in the curd and put it in his mouth. He closed his eyes and moaned to the taste.

Arun: Paah semma taste ma. Un samayal eh vera level ma, super po. [He showed a super sign to which she chuckled].

He was eating and excitedly shared his memories from college days. Shreya placed her head in her hand which was on the dinning table and listened to him patiently, admiring his expressions.

Suddenly Arun coughed as the food stuck in his throat. She immediately made him drink the water and patted his back to make him feel better.

Shreya: Paathu paathu. Medhuva saapdunga.

Arun: Haan okay ma. [Again he was about to start his story but she stopped him.]

Shreya: Podhum pa. First sapdunga, apram ah pesalam.

He pouted at her and nodded his head like a obedient child. She pinched his cheeks lightly and asked him to continue eating.

Shreya: Innoru paratha vekkatum ah?

Arun: Illa ma, Podhum. I am full.

Shreya: Hmm seri ma.

After finished eating, Arun was about to take his plate to the kitchen to wash it. But she stopped him and got the plate from him and went inside the kitchen.

After washing the plate, she was about to turn but Arun trapped her between him and the sink. She stood frozed in her place and hlded the kitchen counter tightly.

He purposefully brushed his front with her back, leaned forward and brushed his beard cheek with her soft ones making her gasp.

He placed his chin on her shoulder and washed his hands. Shreya was blushing profusely throughout. His hot breath was hitting her earlobe which made shiver run down her spine.

Arun: [whispers] Thanks wifeyy.

He kissed her cheeks loudly and moved from there like nothing happened. She could still feel his breathe in her ear. She touched the place where he kissed and smiled with a blush. She shook her head with a smile and cleaned the kitchen counter.

When she came out of the kitchen, Arun was no where to be found. She switched off the lights in the living and moved towards their room.

She entered the room and saw him sitting on the bed tiredly looking at the floor. She went near him and touched his shoulders.

Shreya: Enna aachu Aruneyy?

Arun: Therila ma. Oru maari tired ah feel aagudhu. Body romba heat ah irruka maari irruku.

She touched his forehead to find it very warm.

Shreya: [gasped] Aruneyy you are having fever pa. Irunga naa poi tablet eduthutu varen.

She made him have the tablet and asked him to lay on the bed. He laid on his back on  the bed and closed his eyes. She sat beside him and applied the balm in his forehead and massaged it slowly.

He turned towards her, whispered a goodnight and closed his eyes. Soon the tiredness engulfed him and he went into a deep slumber.

After making sure he was asleep, she covered him with a blanket, kissed his head, laid beside him and hugged him keeping her  head on his chest.

He instinctively pulled her more close to him and snuggled more to her finding the warmth.

She kissed his clothed chest, closed her eyes and slept.

Time: 3:30 am

Shreya woke up to some noises and turned to her left to see Arun shivering in cold. He was continuously murmering something inaudible. His face looked completely pale and dull. She immediately covered him with the blanket properly and looked at him worriedly. She tried waking him but he didnot open his eyes and was keep on murmering.

She touched her forehead with his and was shocked.

Shreya mv: Ayo enna ipdi warm ah irruku. Tablet potum seri aagalaiye. Temperature innum apde dhan irruku. It has not reduced. Psch naa konjam careful ah irundhurkanum. En thappu dhan. Ipo paaru epdi nadunguraru nu.

She took out the thermometer and kept it in his mouth to check his temperature. After 2 minutes she took out and was shocked to see 101°F.

Shreya: Ayo temperature ivlo high ah irruke. Ipo enna panradhu? Yaara kupudradhu?..... Preethi akka ku call panni kepom ah? Innum endhirchirka matangale. Aana O have no other option, call pannuvom.

She immediately took her mobile and dialled to Preethi. After 4 rings the call got connected.

Preethi: [sleepy tone] Hello yaaru?

Shreya: Hello akka naa Shreya pesren.

Preethi: Oh sorry da. Thookathula caller id ya paakala.

Shreya: Hmm paravala ka.

Preethi: Enna da intha time ku call pannirka?

Shreya: Akka he is running high fever ka. Ennaku enna panradhune therila.

Preethi: Evlo temperature nu check pannuya Shreya?

Shreya: Hmm it is 101°F.

Preethi: Oh my god. Ivlo jaasthi ya irruku. What did he do to catch this much fever?

Shreya: Adha yen ka kekuringa? Veetuku mazhailaye nenanjitu vandhutaru.

Preethi: Romba nalladhu. Seri ma naa solradha correct ah senjidu.

Shreya: Hmm sollunga ka.

Preethi: Oru bowl la thanni eduthuko da, apram take a towel and dip it in the water. Then keep it on his forehead. You do it repeatedly da.

Shreya: Haan seri ka. Akka please do stay online.

Preethi: Sure da.

She disconnected the call and rushed to the kitchen. She brought a bowl filled with water and a towel.

She dipped the towel in the water and placed it in his forehead. She changed it repeatedly to reduce the temperature. She was doing it for a long time without sleeping. He was continuously murmering something inaudible.

Both didnot sleep properly the whole night. She again checked his temperature and luckily it was normal.

She layed beside him and carassed his hair and made him sleep. As she was also tired, she slept unknowingly.

Around 9:30 she woke up from her sleep and saw him hugging her tightly, all snuggled to her chest sleeping like a baby in mother's warmth. She smiled at him and kissed his cheeks.

Slowly without disturbing him, she removed herself from his hold and moved to the washroom without making any noise.

After finishing her morning chores, she came out and saw him still sleeping. So she went to the kitchen, prepared porridge for him and returned back to the room.

She entered the room and saw him sitting on the bed. He was too weak and he was trying to get up from the bed.

Shreya: Washroom ponnum ah pa?

Arun: Hmm aama ma.

Shreya: Seri vaanga naa help panren.

She put her arms around his waist and he held her by shoulders. She somehow managed him and made him walk inside the washroom. Suddenly Arun's face expression changed which she noticed immediately.

Shreya: Enna aachu nga?

Before he could answer, he threw up everything. She patted his back and cleaned his mouth and made him brush his teeth.

He was not able to stand properly as he felt dizzy. When he was about to fall, Shreya held him tightly from falling.

She brought him out of the washroom and made him sit on the bed. She went inside the washroom and cleaned everything. She brought a bowl with water and washed his face.

She went to the kitchen, brought the porridge and fed him slowly. As the porridge was hot, she blew it and fed him.

Arun: Maa pothum ma. Ennala idhuku mela sapda mudiyathu ma. [His voice was very low and he was totally drained out of energy].

Shreya: Innum konjam dhan irruku pa. Please idha saptutu, you should have your medicine.

She fed the remaining porridge slowly and cleaned his mouth with the back of her palm.

He was overwhelmed by her care and he could see his mother in her. She handed over the tablets and asked him to have it.

He made a yuck face and gulped the tablet in one go.

Shreya: Neenga konjam neram rest edunga pa, you will be alright.

Arun: Hmm...Shreya ma. [He called her hesitantly to which she looked at him questioningly]. Adhu...un madila paduthukatum ah?

She smiled at him and nodded her head. She sat on the bed comfortably and patted her lap. He laid his head on her lap and closed his eyes. She carassed his hair and looked at him who is already looking at her with a smile.

Arun: Thank you ma.

Shreya: Thoongunga pa.

She patted his chest and due to effect of the medicine, he went into a deep slumber holding her left hand close to him.

She kissed his forehead and slept in the same position.

Thank You !

__________________________

Holi Lovlies

Here is my next shot HER CARE.

Please do give it a read and provide your feedbacks.

Comment pannunga.

Vote pannunga

Love From
Your Authoreyy 🤍