Dushyant rang the bell with exhausted hands, as he stood waiting for the door to be answered soon, sighing in frustration. It was unlocked soon as ishita appeared in front of him, as he passed on a weak smile out of politeness, making ishita feel bad for him, getting aside to make for him, while he just walked quietly inside. Ishita followed him after she locked the door behind her.

"tabiyat zyada kharab hai?" asked ishita, as dushyant shook his head in no lightly, keeping his briefcase on the dinning table, while ishita stood next to him.

He didn't meet his glance with her, as she placed her hand on his shoulder, making him finally look at her.

"thak gaye na?" asked ishita sweetly, as dushyant couldn't help but nod in agreement, after he took a huge sigh, making her pass a tight lipped smile at him.

"chaliye phir, bas araam karenge ab aap..." instructed ishita, as dushyant didn't seem convinced just yet.

"woh...jia..." attempted dushyant to ask.

"haan woh doodh pila diya hai...phir woh joh bada waala teddy bear haina uska, jiski lap mein woh hamesha baith jaati hai...usmein hi sogayi thodi der khelne ke baad uske saath..." stated ishita, as she couldn't help but chuckle thinking of it, making dushyant smile too.

"chalo, shukar hai theek hai..." stated dushyant, as he walked towards his room, and ishita followed.

***

Kavin stood in the living room, as he consistently looked at his phone's top right corner that displayed the passing minutes of the time. He looked towards his room constantly, as this time he couldn't hold himself back from speaking.

"purvi yaar jaldi karo!" exclaimed kavin.

"bas 2 minute..." replied purvi from their bedroom, as kavin only sighed in frustration.

"arre 10 minute hogaye hain! ab nahi aayi na tum, toh main chala!" proclaimed kavin his ultimatum, as purvi came out of the room in frustration.

"tum bhi na..patience nahi hai...chalo ab..." stated purvi in frustration, as she was simultaneously putting on her earrings, meanwhile kavin looked at her head to toe in awe, even though she was seemingly dressed quite simply with minimal makeup.

"kya!" exclaimed purvi in response, as kavin shook his head in no, before making a serious face.

"kuch nahi...bas dekh raha hoon...itna time lagake bhi tumhari shakal mein koi sudhar toh aaya nahi!" remarked kavin, as purvi only glared at him, with her one hand resting on her hip.

"kya! ab khade rehna hai ki chalna hai?" questioned kavin, glaring back at her, as she sighed in annoyance before leaving along with him.

***

Ishita entered the room, as dushyant was lying down on the bed, resting on his side, while he tried to clear his throat again and again, letting a cough out in the middle.

"dushyant..." called ishita softly, standing by the bed, making dushyant look upto her.

"yeh kadaa banaya hai maine aapke liye...pilijiye acha lagega aapko..." offered ishita, placing the glass in front of him.

He sat up on the bed, before accepting the glass from her and taking a sip slowly.

"kadwa hai..." stated dushyant as ishita chuckled.

"yeh kadhwa hi hona chahiye..." remarked ishita, making dushyant nod as he let out a chortle.

"thanks though...i think neend bhi aa jayegi isse peeke..." stated dushyant, as ishita nodded in agreement, while he continued to sip from the glass.

***

kavin and purvi sat in the table of a restaurant that seemed to be very minimal and cozy with its design, few tables occupied in a small space, as people chatted away along with the meal.

"i'm still surprised...tumhe yaad tha..." expressed kavin his surprise, as purvi nodded in agreement.

"shinchan had us obsessed with sushi like forever now...can you believe it, jab bhi humari maa ko milna hota tha, woh humein bas saath mein cartoon dekhne bitha deti thi, aur dusre kamre mein chali jaati thi ghanton tak..." recounted purvi, as kavin just chuckled.

"i swear...i like how hum bas yahi sochte rehte yeh sushi kya hoti hai...." remarked kavin, as purvi chuckled too.

"remember when we tried to make rice balls after watching this episode...aur humne pura kitchen ganda kardiya tha...." reminded purvi, as kavin nodded in agreement, remembering too.

"haan-haan, woh dono shopping ke liye chali gayi thi na...i think uss din ke baad se hi humein akele chodna band kardiya unhone..." stated kavin, as purvi smiled.

"i think it was because we would fight so much if there were no cartoons on...they really wanted us to be best friends and we were so not...." noted purvi, as kavin nodded in agreement.

"see, this is why they betted on a wedding now..." joked kavin, as they both let out mocking laughter.

"i think this is working out better than the best friends stint though..." stated purvi, as kavin sighed heavily.

"this may actually turn out well you know...i mean for starters, you are not nearly as annoying now..." remarked kavin, as purvi glared at him before she slapped his arm playfully, while he just laughed, making her burst out in a giggle too.

***

Dushyant turned left and right anxiously lying on the bed, as he grabbed onto his aching chest that left him with utter discomfort, while he felt certain amount of difficulty in breathing. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, as ishita ended up coming inside after it, only to get inside worried in the room.

"aap soye nahi?" asked ishita, concerned.

"soya thodi der...par phir thodi der mein khaasi shuru hui...aur saans nahi aa rahi hai...." attempted dushyant to explain in a hoarse voice, as he still grabbed onto his chest. Ishita stood extremely worried now.

"main aapke liye bhi vicks le aati hoon, uske saath thodi strong dawai hai, woh deti hoon, taaki aapko araam pad jaiye raat tak...bahaut zyada tabiyat kharab hai aapki..." informed ishita as she immediately rushed out of the room, as dushyant lay there in discomfort, trying to feel better, keeping his eyes closed.

Ishita then entered the room, as dushyant sat up slightly on the bed and she offered a pill and glass of water to him, which he was quick to gulp down his throat before handing it back.

"vicks rakhdo...thodi der mein lagaunga...abhi himmat nahi hai..." stated dushyant, as he lied down again, trying to sleep with his eyes closed, before clearing his throat.

Ishita felt bad for him, as a thought struck her mind, and with concern, she couldn't help but suggest.

"main laga doon...." requested ishita, as dushyant couldn't help but look at her in surprise.

"uhh..." dushyant was left unable to respond, not knowing what to say, meanwhile ishita sat on the bed next to him immediately.

"it's ok...aapko aaram toh padega..." stated ishita, as dushyant only remained quiet, but ishita knew exactly what was behind the silence, the reluctance coming through. But she shrugged it off somehow, as she grabbed the vicks and opened the lid, grabbing some of it in her hands, and keeping the container aside.

She then looked down to dushyant, as their eyes met, clearly indicating an apparent awkwardness. Her hand shivered slightly, as she moved the blanket covering him down slightly with her other hand, and moving the hand covered with the vapo rub through his t-shirt, slowly moving to his chest.

Their shared glance didn't break off even for a second during this, as the shivers in her hand still persisted. She looked deep into his eyes for a second, as there was something different in his gaze today, and her hand was starting to move up and down his chest in slow and circular motions that remained constant.

Her hair were starting to fall off from where they were before, neatly tucked behind her ear. A strand ended up falling on dushyant's cheek, but his gaze from her remained unmoved, while hers was getting deeper. He gently lifted his hand and took those strands of her hair in his grip, as he placed them behind her back, through her ear. Her hand shivered more as she felt the touch of his hand through her ear. But he traced his hand back to her cheek, softly caressing it, while their eyes remained lost in the others.

Her hand was no longer moving, it was still, but remained placed on his chest, feeling his heartbeat, while he could feel her breath due to how close they were at this point.

A strange feeling occurred to them, as they felt an absence of the initial awkwardness, and instead felt more comfortable remaining like this.