“I gathered.” I shift slightly so I can see his face.
“I hate medicines and hospitals even more.” His expression softens. “When I fall sick…” I trail off for a second.
“You try to ignore it,” he finishes quietly. I nod. A lump forms in my throat before I can stop it.
“I have spent so much time in hospitals already.” The words come out smaller than I intend. I swallow hard but the lump refuses to go away. “I don’t deserve any more of it, Aditya,” I whisper. A tear slips down my temple before I can stop it. He immediately tilts my chin up so I have to look at him. His thumb brushes the tear away gently, the touch so careful it almost hurts.
“I know,” he says softly. Then he presses a light kiss exactly where the tear fell. “I wish I could promise you that you’ll never have to deal with hospitals again.” His thumb continues tracing slow circles against my cheek. “I can’t promise that.” The honesty in his voice makes my chest ache.
“But I can promise something else.” I hold my breath. “If you ever end up there again for any reason,” he says quietly, “you won’t be alone.”
His forehead touches mine. “I will be there.”
The warmth of his words settles somewhere deep in my chest. I bite my lip. “Can I ask you something?” He nods immediately. “If something ever happens to me…” My voice trembles slightlydespite my efforts to control it. “Will you take care of Neel?” The words feel heavy in my mouth.
“I always wonder what will happen to him if someday I…” My voice breaks before I can finish the sentence. Tears spill down my face now without permission. My head feels thick and foggy, and I hate how easily illness turns me into someone who cries over things I normally keep buried.
Aditya’s frown deepens. “Nothing is going to happen to you.”
“I know,” I say quickly, wiping my face with the back of my hand. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to obviously, it’s just something that scares me and you’re the only person I could—”
“Divya.” He interrupts gently. His eyes are softer than I’ve ever seen them. “You do not have to ask for that.” His hand squeezes mine lightly. “You already know I would take care of him.” Relief floods through me so suddenly that my chest almost hurts. I didn’t realize how tightly I’d been holding that fear until this moment.
“Thank you,” I whisper. He brushes his thumb across my cheek again.
“You should take a nap.” I sniffle.
“Yeah.” I attempt a weak smile. “Before I burden you with more responsibilities.”
He looks at me like I’ve just said something ridiculous. “One,” he says calmly, “Neel is not a responsibility for me.” His lips curve slightly. “I adore that kid.”
He kisses my forehead again, “two, you are absolutely fine. It’s mostly a fever and you’ll be okay soon.” he meets my gaze andsmiles softly, “and three,” he adds, leaning closer, “anything I do for you is never a burden.”
He taps the tip of my nose lightly. “You,” he says softly, “will never be a burden for me.” He kisses my cheek so lightly, I barely feel it, "Ever."
Warmth spreads through my chest as my eyes slowly drift closed. And for the first time since the fever started, my body finally relaxes, maybe because the realization dawns on me, I am not alone anymore.
17. SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS
ADITYA
The front door sticks a little before it opens.
It always does.
Divya says the wood swells in the evenings when the air gets damp, but I suspect the door just enjoys putting up a fight before letting people in. I push it with my shoulder and step inside, dropping my bag on the small side table by the wall.
The house smells like detergent and something faintly sweet.
Not food. Just the lingering scent of the attar bottles from the shop downstairs drifting up through the stairwell. And then I hear it.
“Neel that piece does not go there.”
“It absolutely goes there.”
“It literally doesn’t.”
“You’re sabotaging the architecture.”
