Aayush

It was the third lecture going on, I was as usual glaring at Vidhi, who gave me a sudden glare.

As I looked at her, she was looking pale, she was uninterestingly scribbling something on the paper. It's been four days since we talked and five days since we met, and five days before she looked okay, unlike today. Her eyes looked baggy,

"Vidhi, tereko kya hua hai? Pehli class mein dekhke lag raha tha jaise aaj hi MBBS crack karegi" I asked her, when she tiredly looked at me.

(What happened to you? When I saw you first, it seemed like you'll crack MBBS today only)

She clutched her stomach, as she winces in pain. "I thought it was a minor stomach bug, but it's really painful" Vidhi said in a small voice, when I tried comforting her.

"Pani pee le?" I suggested, when she takes her water bottle.

(Drink some water)

She was about to have it, when she covered her mouth.

"Sir she's feeling nauseous" I quickly said, when I stood up from my seat. Our teacher told her to leave

Vidhi

As I pushed open the washroom door, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I had been holding it in for so long, trying to pretend that everything was fine. But it wasn't fine. My stomach was churning, and I felt like I was going to throw up at any moment.

I rushed into the stall, locking the door behind me. I leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths as I tried to calm myself down.

I threw up, my hair strands were typically coming on my face, my ears and nose were wrecked, it hurts.

Why was this happening to me? I had always been so careful about what I ate, so meticulous about my routine. But now, it seemed like my body was betraying me.

I took a few moments to collect myself, trying to push aside the wave of nausea that was threatening to overwhelm me. As I splashed some water on my face, I felt a tiny bit better.

But as I looked at myself in the mirror, I couldn't help but feel a pang of worry. What if this was something serious? What if I needed to go to the hospital?

I pushed the thoughts aside, trying to focus on the present moment. I would get through this, I told myself. I just needed to take it one step at a time.

With a newfound sense of determination, I stepped out of the stall and made my way to the sink. I washed my hands, taking a few deep breaths as I tried to calm myself down.

As I turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My eyes looked sunken, my skin pale. I looked like I had been through a war.

I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the feeling of vulnerability that was washing over me. I would get through this, I told myself. I just needed to be strong.

As I went to the classroom, I saw how Aayush was peeking out of the small mirror on our door, waiting for me. His furrows raised, looking quite concerned about me.

It was my mistake, I should've told him about my condition already.

As I sat near him, he made an angry face, when he looked away. I knew he was angry with me,

"Aayu..."
I continued to speak, when he looked at his book angrily.

"Ek beemar insaan ke saath aisa karega?" I asked him, as I looked at his face, who lowered, his eyes focused on his books.

(Will you do such things with a sick person?)

"Ab tu IAS banke merese badla lega?" I asked when he looked at me, and we chuckled.

(Will you become IAS and take revenge from me)

"K..Kya?" He asked laughing, until he realised that he was angry with me.

(W... what?)

He lowered his eyes, his focus determined on his book, when I tried taking his attention "baby girl, look at me" I said, I knew he'd be furious making a pout, but instead he stood up.

"Sir, can I change my seat?" He asked furiously, almost banging his hands on the table, when I looked at him with widened eyes.

Was he trying to ignore me?

I felt a sting of hurt and surprise. Why was Aayush behaving like this? Didn't he care that I was feeling unwell?

"Aayu, kya hua?" (Aayu, what's wrong?) I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.

But Aayush didn't respond. He just kept looking at the teacher, waiting for permission to change his seat.

The teacher nodded, and Aayush quickly gathered his belongings and moved to an empty seat on the other side of the classroom.

I felt a pang of sadness and hurt. Why was Aayush ignoring me like this? Didn't he know that I was feeling unwell and needed his support?

I tried to focus on the lecture, but my mind kept wandering back to Aayush. Why was he being so stubborn and ignoring me?

As the lecture came to an end, I slowly got up from my seat, feeling a bit dizzy and weak. I made my way out of the classroom, hoping to catch up with Aayush and clear up whatever misunderstanding was going on between us.

As I turned behind, he was standing behind me, as usual. "Chal" he instructed me in a stern voice, when I walked behind him to the sick room.

Urgh, I hated coming here, knowing that they'd tell me to lay down, this nurse knew nothing.

"Aayu..." I tried to speak when he turned at me.

"I was asking you right, why do I feel like you've stopped considering me your best friend? Bhai yeh nahi hota hai best friends me? Char din se paglo ki tarah din raat call kari jaa raha hu, hum pehle itne ache friends hua karte the yaar" he said, hurt and anger laced in his voice, when I felt guilty. True that, I was changed but that wasn't something I really wanted to do.

(I was asking you, right, why do I feel like you've stopped considering me your best friend? this doesn't happen between best friends, does it? I've been calling you day and night like a madman for four days, we used to be such good friends.)

Before I could speak, I felt my muscles cramping. I had fever, and nausea since a few days. I used to eat DOLO.

Author's POV

Vidhi's eyes drooped as she clutched her stomach, the wave of nausea washing over her again. Her body ached with fever, and her head spun with dizziness. She felt like she was going to collapse at any moment.

"You shouldn't have come to school" Aayush said, looking at her timid body.

"I thought I'd be okay today" she said making Aayush roll his eyes.

Aayush's expression softened slightly as he looked at Vidhi's frail form. "Come on, let's get you to the nurse's office," he said, offering her his arm for support.

Vidhi nodded weakly, taking his arm as they walked out of the classroom. Aayush's grip on her arm was firm, but gentle, and Vidhi felt a surge of gratitude towards him.

As they reached the nurse's office, Aayush helped Vidhi onto the examination table. The nurse looked up from her desk, concern etched on her face. "What's wrong, dear?" she asked Vidhi.

Vidhi took a deep breath, trying to explain her symptoms. "I've been feeling nauseous and dizzy...and I have a fever. I've been taking DOLO, but it's not helping."

The nurse nodded, taking Vidhi's temperature. "We'll need to call your guardians, you're seriously ill" the nurse said, when Vidhi's eyes widened up.

Guardians means calling any member of her family to school. Vidhi had an entire joint family, grandparents, parents, uncle aunt, but no one who cared for her truly.

The thought of telling something to her parents dreaded Vidhi to core, Aayush could sense her fears when he decided to call his mother to school.

Before Vidhi could speak her parents number, Aayush quickly gave his mother's number to nurse.

Aayush saw Vidhi's worries disappear as a smile came on Vidhi's face.

Aayush's mother was the comfort person to Vidhi.

As soon as Simran, Aayush's mother reached school, she saw Vidhi laying on the bed, while Aayush was told to go back to class.

"Sorry Simran aunty, aap busy the, and that Aayush called you" Vidhi apologetically looked at her when she Simran caress her cheeks.

(Sorry aunty, you were busy and I called, Aayush called you)

"A mother can be never busy for her kids" Simran said, Vidhi always had a soft corner in her heart for Vidhi because she was the best friend of her late mother.

A small smile came on Vidhi's face. Simran was about to sign on the gate pass, when the receptionist, reorganized, that she was Aayush's mom.

"Mam, we need to inform her parents about her, if you aren't her mother, we can't let you take her" The receptionist said.

Vidhi sighed looking at Simran, who'd already talked to Vidhi's grandmother about this situation.

As they came out of the school, Aayush couldn't help but think about her. His feelings, friendship, love, everything for Vidhi was so genuine, but on the other hand, Vidhi hesitated to share the small and unimportant details of her life.

In her case, everything was different, her words impacted him more than her actions. He always expects Vidhi to share her thoughts to him, he felt as if he mattered nothing for her, but at the same time, she asks him everything, she doesn't need anyone just because she's there.

He sighed, "I should focus on Vidhi, there must be something going in her life that's why she's being so tough, I can't and won't leave her alone" He thought.

-

The class ended, when he straight went up home, looking his mother care for Vidhi, giving her fruit.

"Aa gaya apka raja beta" She said to Simran, when she turns and look at him.

(There he comes)

"Jaa ke khana dal le" Simran said, when Aayush slowly takes off his tie and rolled his sleeves.

(Go and have some food)

"Aap hospital nahi gayi?" Aayush asked his mother, who's a senior neurosurgeon.

(Didn't you go to hospital)

"Vidhi ko stomach infection hai, abhi 3:30- 4 baje tak chali jaungi" Simran said, when Aayush clapped on Vidhi, who simply rolls off her eyes.

(Vidhi has stomach infection, I'll go till 3.30-4)

"Tujhe dhyaan dena chahiye tha, vahi main sochu ki kya hua, bachi aa kyu nahi rahi hai" Simran scolded, when Vidhi shows a teasing face. "Aur tu Vidhi, beta kisi aur ko nahi to mereko to batati?"

(You should pay more attention, that was what I was thinking, why isn't girl coming) (And Vidhi, you could've informed me at least)

"Sorry aunty, mujhe laga ki normal fever hai, par aaj jab meri tabiyat jyada hi kharab hui too..." Vidhi said, lowering her eyes.

(Sorry aunty, I thought it was a normal fever, but when my fever worsened today then..."

"Dhongiiii, mummy sab natak hai, isko batana hi nahi hoga" Aayush intervened.

(Poker, she's acting mom, she doesn't want to tell)

"Tujhse kisine baat ki?" Vidhi asked, showing him narrow eyes,

(Did anyone spoke to you?)

"Par main to kar raha hu na?" Aayush said, as he ate a bite of rice, sitting in front of his television.

(But I'm talking)

As Simran exited the room, Vidhi throws a pillow on him. "Kya haii?" He asked frustrated.

(What is it?)

"Gussa hai?" Vidhi asked when Aayush raised his furrows

(Are you angry at me?)

"Yeh kaisa tareeka hai ye puchne ka?" Aayush asked.

(What's this way of asking this question?)

"Aur kya ab main teri aarti utaro puchte hue? Itni tameez se mara hai abhi to" Vidhi said.

(Or else should I pray to you? I have hit you with manners)

"Chup ho ja dayan" Aayush said.

(Shut up)

"Mereko doctor ne drip lagane hai aur mereko mere ghar bhi jaana hai, aur aaj un khas dino mein se ek din bhi hai jab humara pura khandan ek saath beth ke khana khata hai" Vidhi said.

(And I need to get a drip from the doctor and I need to go home, and today is one of those special days when our entire family sits together and eats)

"Kiski birthday ya anniversary hai?" Aayush asked.

(Whose birthday or anniversary is it?)

"Tauji taiji" she said, as she laid on the sofa

"Enjoy Vidhi" Aayush said, as he started watching his phone, while Vidhi hits him.

"Ouch" he winces in pain as he looked at her "haath hai ya hathoda?" He asked

(Is it your hand or hammer?)

"Kaisa dost hai tu?" Vidhi asked him, her eyes beaming with fear.

(What kind of friend are you?)

"Goli thodi na mar denge, keh diyo ki mujhe to apni tension hai agar kisi aur ko nahi hai, enjoy" Aayush said.

(They won't kill you for this, tell them that you're tensed for your life)

"Abhi thodi der Vartika ke room mein so ja, mar rahi hai dard se" Aayush said, when Vidhi nods in agreement.

(Now sleep in Vartika's room, you're dying in pain)

"Tujhe kaise pata?" Vidhi asked

(How do you know?)

"Kyunki main apka best friend hu, ab jaake so jaiye, kyunki aap aaj regular se jyada badsurat lag rahi hai" Aayush said, when Vidhi rolled her eyes

(Because I'm your best friend and sleep because you're looking uglier at this point)

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