Chapter 38 - I want to sleep and without you... I can't!

|Innaya|

"Oh God, you are soaking wet. What happened?" I asked as I rushed to assist Eshan.

I almost faltered in my steps, my worried heart going in overdrive with anxiety.

Eshan walked in holding his laptop bag and coat in one hand, he was drenched from head to toe as if he stood below the shower with his clothes on. His clothes were sticking to his body as water that dripped from his body, made a little pool of water where he stood.

It wasn't raining outside, was it?

"Nothing-" His words were cut off as he sneezed loudly and repeatedly.

"God bless you! You are sneezing," I stupidly remarked as I took things from his hand. He ran his hand through his wet hair, making water drops fall everywhere, including me.

"Thanks for noting the obvious," Eshan playfully retorted before he sneezed again.

"Hurry up, go take a hot shower and I will arrange dinner as well as make a hot soup for you. Go hurry up," I pushed him towards our room, worried for his health as I wiped the fallen water from my face.

"Okay," he nodded before he sneezed again. He was at the bottom of stairs when he abruptly turned and called out, "Sweetheart, I will just have a soup, nothing else."

I frowned but then nodded and rushed towards the kitchen to fix him some soup and some boiling water for steam.

*

I put the bowls in a tray and after covering the bowls with lids, I made my way towards our room. Thankfully, Eshan had kept the door of the bedroom open. I made another trip to bring the remaining bowls and water.

I arranged everything on the table and till the time I finished, Eshan emerged out of the bathroom, freshly showered and changed into a cotton white shirt and black mid-rise joggers.

"Are you okay?" I couldn't help but ask as soon as I saw the tiredness on his face.

"Stop worrying Tesoro. I am fine. It's Mumbai and raining is the common occurrence." Eshan assured while wiping his hair with the towel. He smiled before he joined me on the sofa.

I handed him his soup before I stood up from my place and walked behind the sofa. "Hmm... Let me," I urged, taking the towel from his hands.

Eshan leaned back as I started wiping his hair dry with the help of the towel.

"Have your soup first otherwise it will get cold," I gently push him ahead while continuing my work. Like an obedient child, he obliged but in a midway, he tugged at my hand and I had to comply with his unsaid order of having my soup too. Thankfully, his hair had dried by then. We finished our soup with small conversations. I did most of them because he wanted to listen to me.

In-between Eshan had sneezed, so once we were done, I brought the bowl of hot boiling water from downstairs. I added few drops of eucalyptus oil in it before I asked him to take a steam.

Nowadays he was being more on the refusing and childish side. So how would he agree so easily?

"I am alright Innaya, no need of doing this," Eshan protested.

There. He said it but I knew better than to agree. His sneezing hadn't reduced a bit.

If you want to be stubborn Mr. Husband, then I am no less. You haven't seen it yet.

I took a new towel from the cupboard and literally forced him to take the steam as I covered him and bowl by the towel.

Once he finished taking steam, I gathered up everything and took it downstairs. I did the dirty dishes and cleaned everything in the kitchen. I switched off the lights after locking all the doors properly.

Eshan was lying in the bed with his hand over his eyes and had switched off the AC. I thought to check on him first before changing.

"Better?" I asked after I joined him on the bed. I sat with my back resting against the headboard and stretched out my legs in front of me.

However, I was completely baffled when Eshan turned abruptly and buried his head in my lap. I stilled, for a second there, I forgot to breathe as he snuggled more into me and wrapped his hands around me. His hairs tickled part of the skin of my stomach as I had pinned my pallu after plating on my shoulder.

Why I had to wear a saree today? I groaned to myself. Because last week Eshan had complimented you saying, you look beautiful in saree and he had never seen you wearing them. In addition, your dear husband bought this sari. My consciousness mocked me.

"My head hurts," Eshan's mumbled and that brought me out of my self-conversation.

"Do... do you want me to bring medicine?" I stuttered as the completely new sensation took over my whole being.

"Uhu..." he denied tilting his slightly. His eyes were dropping and the pained expression covered his face.

"Umm... shall I apply balm to your forehead and give a massage?" I asked after a moment of silence.

"Hmm... Please."

I nodded and tried detangling myself from his hold, only to have him deny, and clung tighter.

How was I going to get the balm, if he did not leave me?

Sighing, I let my fingers slip in his silky, smooth hair and started gently massaging his scalp. Why was he behaving this way, was beyond my understanding. Leaning little, I massaged his neck and shoulders, hoping to provide him some relief. Gauging from his relaxed facial features, I could say, I was doing a good job.

Thankfully, his sneezing had stopped. He turned and I thought he was moving away but he just turned on his back with his head still on my lap. I massaged his forehead. He was on the verge of falling asleep. I stared at his face, taking in all the minute details in the account. Before I could stop myself, I was leaning and before I knew, I had placed my lips on his forehead.

Eshan's lips curved in a smile before he rolled away from me and tugged me until I was lying beside him.

"Eshan I have to change," I whispered even though I obliged to his wish.

"Let it be. I want to sleep and without you... I can't," Eshan mumbled sleepily and trapped me in his arms. He kept his head on my shoulder and put my hand in his hair, asking me to run my fingers through them. However, he did not realize what he was doing to me. Hell, I did not realize what was happening to me.

His hand that had slid under my sari and draped across my stomach as well as, the feel of his warm body, so impossibly close, was doing something to me I had no idea of. I blushed deeply as he cuddled me as if I was some teddy bear for him. I had no other way to get up or rather had no heart of leaving him or his embrace. While running my fingers through his hair, at some part of the night, I fell asleep with his peaceful sleeping face on my mind.

*

I walked to our bedroom with the tray of our tea. What is the need of going to work when he clearly wasn't keeping well? From the time, we woke up around nine in the morning, why he has to insist on working. I groaned internally.

He was getting ready for the work while sneezing frequently. His forehead had felt feverish in the morning but the stubborn man didn't let me check for temperature nor did it by himself.

"Eshan, please take a day off. I think you should rest for today," I huffed angrily as I placed the tray on the coffee table.

"Sweetheart, I would have agreed anytime, however, sadly today I would have to deny you. I can't take off today. I have an important meeting to attend in the afternoon. It's really very important," Eshan answered as he adjusted his tie around his neck. His charcoal coloured suit with the white shirt underneath complimented his physique beautifully yet the tiredness on his face was clearly visible.

"Eshan-"

He sat beside me as I forwarded him his cup of tea before he interrupted me, "I understand you are worried for me and I also do not want to worry more. I am fine; it was just a common cold, nothing else."

"Don't stress yourself anymore; I will try to come back as soon as possible. I won't take much longer. I will return before three and I'll call you after every hour," he added as he cupped my face once he finished his tea.

"Hmm?"

I sighed. I couldn't win in this argument.

"Fine, don't exert yourself and don't eat outside food. I have packed lunch for you," I commanded. I raised my hand when Eshan was about to deny, adding, "No, don't refuse now. I know you will be back soon but I want you to have something, last night also you did not eat much and this morning too. We will visit the doctor when you return okay?"

He sneezed before he dramatically bowed. "As you say my highness, now give me your beautiful smile."

I smiled as I accompanied him to his car.

He hugged me before he placed a kiss on my forehead. "Ok bye, now I'll leave."

"Shh... say I will return back," I admonished him as unknowingly fear gripped my heart.

Eshan shook his head as I gave him a disapproving look. "I will return back, as soon as possible Tesoro," he smiled as he patted my cheek fondly. He left but not before taking me in brief hug once again and dropping another kiss on my forehead.

*