Kabir's POV

After I came home, I gave the medicines to Aunty and looked around the whole house.

'She has already left,' Aunty told me and I went into Raj's room.

Kavya wanted to tell me what she was hiding but as soon I realized aunty has fever, I ran to take medicines.

Aunty is one of the few people close to me and I can't see her in pain.

I sat beside Raj and saw that he was writing an essay.

'How is your pain?' I asked him.

'It's getting better, bhaiya,' he told me.

'You are taking your medicines, right?' I asked and he nodded in a 'yes.'

'What essay are you writing?' I asked.

'About the most favorite person in my world,' he said.

'And that is?' I asked.

'You bhaiya, who else?' he shrugged and went back to writing.

'Me?' I asked to make sure.

'Of course,' he replied and again went back to writing.

'What do you used to write when you were young?' he asked.

I don't want to remember about the person I used to write.

'I don't remember but right now you are my most favorite person in the world,' I said and caressed his head and he gave me a big smile.

'I love you, bhai,' he said and was looking at me with those big doe eyes and like always, was waiting for those three words but after everything happened in my life, after all the pain I suffered from people who were supposed to make me happy, I don't know will I be able to believe in love again.

I got up and kissed his forehead.

'You are too precious for me, Raj and I hope you remember this. Anyways, let's go and have dinner,' I said and walked out of the room.

*****

Kavya's POV

I had my dinner and laid on the bed.

I smiled remembering how he tickled me in the elevator to make me smile.

And, my feet was feeling very light after he massaged it.

The first time we met, I thought he is so cold hearted and rude and yes, sometimes he is, but for people close to him, he can do anything.

He helped Suraj Bhaiya when his mom was in hospital and even went to meet him.

He hired Tanmay Bhaiya who was begging in streets even though he told Kabir he was handicapped.

He cares for Aunty and Raj so much.

As I was remembering everything, the more I smiled.

I turned to my right side and suddenly my eyes fell on the photo frame.

Sh!t!

How can I think about Kabir instead of thinking about Sohum.

God!

I am so stupid.

I took the photo frame and kissed it.

'Good night, Sohum. I love you,' I said and kept the photo frame aside and tried to sleep in the hopes that sleep will soon welcome me but after tossing and turning for almost an hour, I don't know when finally sleep welcomed me.

*****

Next morning when I woke up, I realized my body was burning up.

Shit!

How did I suddenly got a fever?

How will I go to school now?

'You never take care of yourself. I will take you to doctor and then drop you at home and go to office.'

A smile escaped my lips as I remembered Sohum's words.

Now there is no one to tell me things like this.

I called principal and asked for leave and decided to freshen up and go to hospital.

But, as soon I placed my leg on the floor, it seemed like the whole world started spinning.

Times like this, I wonder to have someone by my side.

Someone whom I can rely on when I am not well.

Sohum never took a leave but at least he took me to hospital before leaving and made sure I am fine and even called after every two to three hours.

I sat on bed for few seconds and once again tried to get up and finally succeeded but when I took few steps my leg felt weak.

Why did I get a fever?

After Sohum left, I learned to go to hospital alone but this time I am not even able to walk for two seconds. How will I go to hospital?

Finally I got up and went to washroom and did my morning routine and managed to go back and sit on sofa.

I decided to call someone and go to hospital with them as I got a feeling that I will not be able to go alone but today all the flat mates have decided to go to picnic.

But, those who have work had not gone.

So, half of them left for work and half of them were enjoying their day.

They asked me on WhatsApp group but as usual I declined the offer politely.

Yesterday, they messaged me and asked me to convey my thanks to Kabir as he issued the lift problem so quickly.

Kabir will be happy when he gets to know this.

Anyways, I tried to get up and at least prepare something for breakfast to get energy but it seemed like my legs were not moving.

Today, I am really missing a presence of another human.

If there was somebody, they would have at least warm up the milk or do anything.

With all my strength I stood up and walked towards the kitchen.

I decided to warm up a glass of milk but while I was removing the packet of milk from the refrigerator, the doorbell rang.

I slowly walked towards the door and opened it to find Ravi standing in front of me.

'Ravi?' I asked and my eyes fell on the plate in his hand.

'Mom has send a plate of idli along with sambhar for you,' he said as he handed me the plate.

'Aunty is so sweet. Thank you, Ravi. By the way how is aunty's health?' I asked as I took the plate from his hand.

'She is getting better and after so many days for the first time she has prepared something and thought of giving it to you,' he said.

'Thank you, Ravi. Today I really needed it,' I said.

'Are you okay? I mean... your voice and your condition seem so---

'I have a little bit fever. I will be fine in some time,' I cut him off and suddenly he touched my forehead which surprised me.

'Kavya, you are burning. Let's go to doctor.'

'Ravi, I am really fine,' I tried to make him understand as I didn't want to bother him as his mom is not fully fine.

'I don't want to listen anything. First eat the idli and then we will leave,' he said and suddenly came inside my house and sat on the sofa.

'I will not leave till I take you to the hospital,' he said making me chuckle.

I have never seen this side of him.

The stubborn side.

'Okay. Just give me ten minutes,' I said and took the plate of idli in kitchen and took out two from them in a plate and poured sambhar on the side and walked towards sofa and sat on it.

'Only two?' he asked.

"I am really not feeling like having anything. I am just having it to have some energy. I don't know what I had done if aunty had not sent me this,' I said as I took bite.

'Wow! It's so tasty. Aunty makes the best sambhar,' I complemented.

'She knows you love it,' he said and laughed.

'You have also not gone to picnic?' I asked.

'I cant leave mom alone but thank god I have not gone. I can take you to the hospital,' he said.

'Thank you so much,' I said and we were both silent as I finished my idli.

I got up and again felt like the whole world started spinning and hurriedly sat on the sofa.

'Are you okay? Do you need my help?' he ran towards me.

'No. I am fine,' I said and he took the plate from my hand and gave me a handkerchief.

'Wipe your hands,' he said and went towards the wash basin and kept my plate in the washbasin.

'Let's go,' he said and I slowly got up and we walked towards the door.

As I was going to open the door, I stopped midway.

'Wait a minute! Let me take my purse,' I said and was going back but he held my hand.

'Let's go. I have money. You can give me money later. Now, your health is important,' he said, and took the lock and keys and pulled me before I could say something further and locked the door and took the elevator.

We reached the ground floor and we walked towards his scooter and gave me a helmet and wore his helmet and I wore mine.

I sat on scooter and hanged both of my legs on one side and held the back seat handle tightly.

'Hold me, Kavya,' Ravi said.

'No... no... it's fine.'

'You couldn't even walk two steps, Kavya. I want you to hold me as it will give me assurance that you are fine and have not fallen down,' he said and his words made me laugh but when he didn't join me, I realized he is serious and held his shoulders tightly and he started the scooter.

Kabir's POV

I sat in the car after taking Samosa for Raj as he was craving for it from early in the morning.

From where he wanted Samosa was far from my house but, then again, I can't deny if he asked for it.

He loved Samosa from that particular sweet shop.

I sat in the car and was driving towards my house but I suddenly stopped when I saw Kavya coming out of a medical shop and she was with someone and that guy gave her a packet.

Is she okay?

She is looking so pale and weak?

Who is this guy?

As far as I remember, he is not her husband.

She wore the helmet and sat on the backside of his scooter and held his shoulders tightly.

I didn't know what to do.

Should I go and talk with her and ask her if she is okay?

Before I could think of anything, they left.

The way Kavya held his shoulder seemed that she was comfortable with him.

Who is he?

Even if she is ill, she should have come with her husband.

Anyways, I decided to go to her house and meet her.

With the packet of samosa in my hand, I got inside the elevator and pressed the number of her floor.

I rang her doorbell and the same guy who she was with opened the door and looked at me with questions in his eyes.

'Kabir?' I heard her voice and looked behind him to see Kavya with a glass of water in her hand.

She kept the glass on the table and got up but that guy ran towards her and held her in his arms.

How can her husband allow some other guy to be so comfortable with her?

'What are you doing here, Kabir?' she asked.

'I came to meet you. Are you okay and who is he?' I asked looking at him.

I didn't like the close distance between them.

'Kabir, he is Ravi, my neighbor and my friend and Ravi, he is my friend, Kabir,' she introduced us as I walked inside the house and we both just stared at each other and then I walked and stood in front of Kavya.

'Are you okay?' I asked her.

'I am fine, Kabir. It's just a fever,' she said and I touched her forehead with the back of my palm.

'God! You are burning, Kavya.' I said, but the way she flinched made me realize that I shouted at her.

'Are you okay?' Ravi asked and looked at her and my blood was boiling seeing them so close.

'Eat the remaining idlis and take medicines. I will ask mom to prepare lunch for you,' Ravi said.

'No,' me and Kavya said at the same time and Kavya looked at me.

'Ravi, I will be fine after taking a dose and I will cook something for myself. Please don't disturb Aunty. She is just recovering.' she said to him.

'Now I am here to take care of her, Ravi. Now you can leave. Thank you for taking care of her till now,' I said to him and both of them were looking at me with a shocked expression on their face.

What?

Did I say something wrong?

Was I too rude?

Maybe, I couldn't control my tone of voice just like I controlled my anger.

'Thank you so much for helping me, Ravi. I don't know how will I repay your debt,' she said.

'Debt? Has he given hospital bill and medical bill?' I asked.

'Kabir, I was not talking about that. I was talking about mental support. The way he took out his time and took me to doctor and specially I am thankful to aunty for giving me idlis. I was too weak too even warm up a cup of milk but you came as an Angel and gave me a plate of idlis,' she was replying to my question but was looking at him with a smile on her face.

I didn't like it.

She introduced me to him as just a friend, then why am I feeling so much angry when her husband has no objection.

I know they have some issues but he cant leave her to go with someone else when she is ill.

Nowadays, people wait to take use of someone who needs help.

What if Ravi uses her helplessness and try to make place in her heart?

'Okay then, I will leave. Please give mom a call if you need something. I will come to help you,' Ravi said and was leaving but stopped midway.

'Next time when we meet, I will make sure we exchange our numbers,' he said and laughed and Kavya laughed with him.

'Thank you so much once again for today, Ravi,' Kavya said once again and he left but smile on Kavya's face didn't fade away.

I am glad that they don't have each others number yet.

But Kavya suddenly called his name and he turned around and came back.

'Wait. I will give you the hospital bill and expenses of medicines. 800 right?' she asked and was going inside the bedroom.

'Wait.' I said and gave Ravi the money.

'I will take it from you later,' I said to her and she nodded in understanding.

'There was no hurry, Kavya. You would have given me the money when we meet next time,' he said.

Next time?

'I would have not slept till I had given your money back to you,' she said but he didnt reply, gave her a small smile and left and I took a deep sigh of relief.

'You didn't like Ravi? Why were you acting like that?' she asked and sat on sofa

'Acting like what?' I asked as I kept the packet on the table and sat beside her.

'I don't know but you were acting different.'

'You are thinking too much, Kavya. It's nothing like that. Now your top priority should be your health,' I said and went in the kitchen.

'What are you making? Aunty, I mean, Ravi's mom has given me idli for breakfast. I will eat leftover,' she told me.

'No, you will eat khichdi which I will make for you. I will ask aunty how to make it,' I said and called aunty and told her everything and asked him to take care of Raj till I return.

I cut the call and in few minutes she gave me the recipe of khichdi.

Perks of giving aunty mobile and teaching her how to use social media.

'By the way, you should have called me when you realized you have high fever?' I said as I took the pressure cooker and she looked at me.

'You didn't cross through my mind.'

'But, Ravi did?' I asked.

'No, he luckily came to give me idlis and when he saw me in a weak condition, he came to know about it.' she told me but I didn't knew how to react so I kept quiet and silently started preparing khichdi for her.

It was hard as I didn't knew all the ingredients in her house but I didn't want to disturb her sleep.

Yes, finally she fell asleep ten minutes ago.

I wanted to wake her up and ask her to go and sleep in the bedroom but I was scared that if she wakes up she will not be able to fall asleep again.

So I let her sleep on sofa.

At last, I closed the pressure cooker and kept it on the gas and went and sat across her on the sofa.

For the first time I am looking at her so closely without any hesitation in her eyes, without any creases of confusion on her forehead, without any restriction of my guilty heart trying to stop me as she is married.

For the first time I am looking at her without any barrier of her sindoor and mangalsutra between us.

I was so glad when I saw her without sindoor and mangalsutra but my happiness died down when I saw her in Ravi's arms.

I wanted to push him away from her.

Her hair fall down on her forehead and she groaned in her sleep.

Slowly, I removed the hair from her forehead.

Can I touch her one time without the barrier of her sindoor and mangalsutra between us?

I slowly went down and touched her cheek.

Even though she had fever, still she was looking so beautiful.

I caressed her soft cheeks for few seconds.

I went downward and while I was going to touch her lips, it didn't felt right.

I quickly took my hand away and went in her room to take a quilt and suddenly my eyes fell on her husband's photo frame.

Sohum.

I went and took the frame in my hand.

The man who has her heart.

The man who has her body.

But, she said she lives alone.

Do they had a fight and he left her?

Are they getting divorced?

Whatever it is, whether they are together or not, he is the man who has her whole heart.

I am not anything for her.

She herself told me that my name never crossed her mind when she got ill.

Maybe she wanted to call her husband but due to their issues she didn't call him because he is the first person she will run to if something happens to her, not me.

And I have to accept the fact that in any situation my thought will not cross her mind.

*****

I hope you liked the chapter.

What do you think of Kabir?

Do you like the type of craziness Kabir has towards kavya or you dont like it?

What do you think of Kavya?

And what about, Ravi?

Random Question:- Do you all play garba and Dandia?

Please COMMENT and VOTE if you like it.

*****