Raghav blinked blearily and found his entire body sweat soaked and achy. His head particularly felt like someone had decided to dump a boulder on it. He tried getting up, but in vain and let out an embarrassing whimper instead and sensed a movement beside him.

Then he saw her. 

His wife sleeping in a very uncomfortable position, her hair half into her parted lips, her hands tucked under her face which was resting on one of his hand which she had for some reason clutched in her sleep. She seemed like she had fallen asleep while seated on the bed, beside him. 

The early morning sunlight filtering through the heavy blinds of the large French windows of their bedroom fell on her. Pallavi looked ephemeral, a figment of his sweetest dreams and he took a lungful of her fragrance which had spread itself across their entire room. He was about to remove the hair from her face so that he could see her beautiful face when the bitter tang of reality gutted him and unwanted tears sprang to his eyes. 

'She is not mine...'

He tried to turn towards her so that he could remove his hand from her hold as gently as possible but discovered much painfully that he had a saline drip attached to his other hand. 

"Oh fuck!"

Pallavi's eyes flew open and she sat up on the bed with a start and goggled at his contorted face with disbelieve for some time before a huge grin split her face into two. He immediately felt butterflies in his stomach like always, whenever she would look elated. 

"Deva! Thank God! You woke up. I am so happy... but.. what.. tum kya karne ki koshish kar rahe ho Raghav? Don't tug at that.. for God's sake this man!"

She climbed out of the bed and circled it to come at his other side and immediately pulled him to a proper position so that there is no pressure on the drip and tucked pillows behind him. Raghav was amazed at how easily, his slender wife whose waist's girth came almost in his palms itself, managed to pull him in her arms and manoeuvre him around like he weighed next to nothing. 

Maybe he was weaker than he expected. 

'Oh Damn! I had a fever last night. Is that why she looks so concerned?'

"Oh Raghav! You are completely wet. Maybe the fever has finally come down, Thank Heavens."

Pallavi sprinted towards the washroom and came back with a towel. Raghav looked on ruefully and also with an affection he could hardly help as his wife wiped the sweat off his body, with a tenderness which left something aching strongly inside his chest. 

"Tum kal soya nhi kya raat ko Saree Ka Dukaan? Aankhein itni sooji kyun dikh rahi hain?"

He asked worriedly catching sight of her puffy eyes all of a sudden. She was looking oddly pale too. She hadn't caught onto his fever right? Pallavi looked down for some reason unable to meet his gaze before blinking her eyes rapidly as if trying to blot the fluid which was threatening to spill out of them. 

"Pallavi..."

"I am sorry Rao.. I.. didn't.. I just... I was so terrified when I found you in that condition in the study. I have never lost control like that before... ever. Not when I found about Mandar's apparent demise, not when I found Baba lying unconscious in his room after suffering a heart attack... not ever. Seeing you... like that..."

Raghav felt wretched seeing the tears finally spilling out on her cheeks as she struggled to speak through the massive lump stuck in her throat. He always made her cry and he detested himself for that. Pallavi rested her face against his heart gently and let the tears fall on his chest. 

"Meri sansein ruk gyi thi Raghav. Ek pal keliye toh laga tha ki main mar hi jaungi. I was hysteric. Kal agar Farhad situation sambhalne keliye nhi hota toh pata nhi kya hota..."

Raghav stroked her head gently with the hand which had the drip attached to it while the other searched to grab her free hand. 

"Shhh... main theek hain sweetheart. Calm down."

"Kya calm down! Kya kartein ho tum bhi Ghamandi Rao! Itne beemar the, ekbaar bol nhi paaye mujhe, Amma, Farhad.. kisiko? Itna bukhar chadah hua tha toh Doctor ko call kyun nhi kiya? Agar tabiyat theek nhi thi to mujhe toh bol detein ekbaar? Aur Study mein kyun so rahe the.. bedroom mein kyun nhi aayein?"

Pallavi was glaring at him in frustration having seated up straight from her position the next moment. Raghav sighed and closed his eyes throwing his free arm over his closed eyes in fatigue. 

"I didn't think the fever would rise up so much. It was just a flush before. I did try to tell you in the morning but you were busy so I think you hadn't caught it then... phir raat ko mera bohot kaam tha jo main Den mein kar raha tha, toh mereko laga wahich so jaega.. bekaar mein tum disturb ho jaega, neend ke beech agar bedroom wapas aaya toh. Waise bhi ajkal kuch thaka thaka sa dikh raha hain tum."

Pallavi remembered then, yesterday morning Raghav had been trying to tell her something at the breakfast table when she had gotten a call from the D'House. Mandar had called her and he sounded very anxious. Pallavi had gotten a flashback from where Dr. Ramya had berated her for not staying near Mandar when he felt uneasy and that he could go into coma due to her negligence. 

She had almost flown from the table throwing hasty excuses at her bewildered husband before taking off to the Deshmukh House. She had gone to her shop from there itself and came back there following up to Baba's suggestion of Antakshari which might help in Mandar's regain of his memories. She had actually come back to the Rao Mansion pretty late in the night and had gone up straight to sleep. 

In her tiredness she had not even thought to check up on Raghav assuming him to be busy in the study at his absence in their bedroom. 

'Brilliantly done Pallu! Give yourself a gold medal!'

Pallavi moaned in mortification and buried her face in her own hands, feeling her stomach twist in guilt. A searing pain seemed to pass through her trembling frame and she heard her husband call out to her softly. 

"Pallu... calm down. It's okay dear. Don't you dare blame yourself for all this.. it didn't feel like a big deal then."

"It is a fucking big deal!"

Raghav almost jumped out of his skin at the suddenness of the half yell and the sheer unexpectedness of the swear and the familiar agony in her voice. 

"Saree ka.."

"Nhi Raghav! Let me speak. It is a big deal. How could I have not noticed it? I am your wife! I should have seen this! I should have! But I didn't. I was too busy running errands for someone else to focus on the man I should have. Raghav.. I.. I feel like a total loser."

She moaned and kept her still covered face on his chest, bending over him in apology. 

"I am sorry.."

Her voice was muffled and she felt Raghav drag her on himself completely from the floor on which she was kneeling the next moment. 

"Raghav... careful! You are still weak.."

"Not that weak wifey. Now listen carefully Pallavi Rao. I won't hear a single word against my wife, do you get it? She is magnificent and if you dare call her a loser again you will regret it big time. Artham aiynda?"

Pallavi dropped a few kisses on his chest at that, smiling against his cool skin, knowing that she is forgiven. And suddenly, wrapped in her husband's arms after what felt like eons, inhaling his musky natural fragrance and their bedroom curtains fluttering in the breeze from the AC she felt like everything was falling in place again. 

Suddenly her mobile rang startling both of them out of their half sleep and she rolled over him to the other side and picked it up sleepily. She had sensed her husband's body seizing up for a fraction of a second. 

"Hello?"

"Hello Pallavi? Where are you yaa?"

"Huh?"

She looked at the caller id then and realised that it was Mandar. Raghav was trying to pretend that he wasn't interested in her call at all and was busy checking at the patterns made by the sunlight on the ceiling of their bedroom but she knew him better. 

"Mandar.. I am in my house. What's wrong?"

"Arre tum bhul gyi? Aaj tum mujhe Charminar bazaar le jaane waali thi.. because we apparently went there before our wedding. I may remember something then."

Pallavi sighed and wondered how had she missed her own exasperation at this uncanny situation surrounding Mandar priorly. She made sure her tone wasn't rude but was firm enough so that her words hit home. 

"I am so sorry Mandar. I can't come today."

He sounded disappointed. 

"But why? Kal toh itne plans banaye the toh.."

"Raghav ki tabiyat theek nhi hain. So I can't come. Tum ek kaam karo Ammu ko ya Manasi ko leke chale jao. Unhe bhi bohot ghumatein the tum wahaan, pehle. Kuch yaad aa sakta hain."

"Arre Pallavi. Raghav ki dekh bhaal karne keliye itne log hain wahaan, uski Amma, behen, woh Farhad aur hazaar naukar chakar.. tum kyun pareshaan ho rahi ho. I am sure he won't mind if you leave for some hours."

Pallavi sat up on the bed abruptly, aghast at Mandar's reply not realising that Raghav had heard every word of it too and was struggling to hold in his evident ensuing heart break at her supposed reply. 

"Tum pagal ho gaye ho kya Mandar? My husband is sick, how can you expect me to leave him alone in this condition and go have fun with you? Or anyone for that matter?"

"No.. I.. didn't mean it that way.."

"Then how did you mean it? Please cut the call, I am sorry I had to cancel our appointment but I think this is for the best anyways. I don't think I can keep doing this anymore. Have a good day!"

Pallavi cut the call before Mandar could get a word in sideways and dropped the phone at the side table and started muttering in Marathi, looking completely annoyed. She missed the incredulous but ecstatic expression on her erstwhile husband's handsome face which he straightened before she turned to him looking cute in her fury. 

"Ridiculous! Did you hear him? Kehta hain naukar chakar hain.. aisa hota hain kabhi? Tum yaha beemar pade rahoge aur main wahaan dahi chaat khaun mazein mein.. ye ho kya gaya hain logo ko? Isi wajah se iss desh ka kuch nhi hota! Useless."

Raghav burst out laughing at her completely overdramatic complaints much to her confusion. 

"Shaant shaant mera Marathi mulagi. Ab sab tumhari tarah itna caring thodi hota hain. Maine kitna aurat aur mardo ko dekha hain, mazein karte hue even as their spouses lay ill beyond measure. Tum exception hain Saree ka Dukaan.. warna Mandar ne jo suggest kiya woh toh normal behaviour hain."

"Tum uski side le rahe ho? I don't give a damn what others do. Most people have never fallen in love truly with someone so they wouldn't understand. Apne pati ko fever mein tadapte hue dekh ke jo dard hota hain na, woh kitna ghatak hain ye har kisiko samajh hi aayega, samzla mere veda manus?"

Raghav felt tears swim in his eyes which he immediately tried to blot, lest they betray him and slide down his cheeks. Pallavi smiled at him and brought the hand which had the saline drip in it towards herself. She kissed over the band aid which had secured the drip piercing his skin tenderly. 

"I love you."

He mumbled feeling strangely shy for some reason. She gave him the brightest smile ever with unshed tears. 

"I know. I love me too."

"Picchi ammayi!"

She kissed his pouty lips and laughed and went towards the bathroom, getting ready for the day, mentally jotting down the recipes of the dishes she is going to prepare throughout the week which she is going to then force down her Ghamandi Rao's throat. 

God knows, the man doesn't eat enough.. 

Except the dratted protein shake of his. 

--------------------------------------------------------------

"No no no! I am not watching some sappy romantic family drama which will end up with all four of you sobbing all over me. Nope. Nada. Zilch."

Raghav shook his head violently refusing to look at his wife, sister, mother and brother's pouty faces. He started shuffling through the other options displayed on the television of their hall. But it seemed his family was hell bent on torturing him even though he was the sick party here. 

"Nhi nhi.. hum toh yahi dekhenge. It's such a good film."

Pallavi retorted, snatching away the remote from her husband's hand while he groaned, sinking into the couch exasperatedly. 

"Come on Anna! Don't be a spoilt sport."

Farhad said from the side, supporting his sister in law, as always and received a glare worthy to burn anyone into ashes from his boss for all his troubles. 

"Seriously? Kabhi Khushi Khabhi Gam..ye kiss zamane ka movie hain yaar..."

"Par Bhai ismein Sharukh Kajol hain.. the ultimate pair!"

Keerti said dreamily earning a stink eye from her brother. 

"It's a bollywood trash film which regressive ideals broadcasted as emotional family traditions."

"Uff! Tu itna har cheez ko analyze kyun karta hain? Film dekh na humein.. uspe thesis nhi likhna. Ghochu kahika."

Jaya said soundly cutting off her son's protests much to Pallavi, Keerti and Farhad's joy. Raghav resigned to his horrible fate as usual and prepared himself to be the human tissue all of them would no doubt turn him into. 

Farhad was busy arranging the takeout food on the table in front while Pallavi and Keerti were fighting over the number of cushions which they could tuck all around Raghav like he was some unstable toddler who would fall over if not barricaded from all sides and Jaya looked like she was more interested in the real life film going on in front of her than the movie on the screen. 

"Arre bass bass... Saree Ka Dukaan, Keerti.. tum log Hyderabad ka sarein bistar ke pillows utha laye kya? I am fine. I am not made of glass. Devuda...viral fever hua hain.. goli nhi lagi hain"

Pallavi glared at him so piercingly that he swallowed drily once before smiling nervously. 

"I was just saying.. not that I plan on getting shot. You know.."

"You better not if you know what's good for you."

" What a bossy wife I have gotten..."

"Kuch kaha kya?"

"Kuch bhi toh nhi jana... I love you bola."

"Jhootein. Abhi chup chaap, jo plate mein dungi, khaa lena.. artham aiynda? Warna neem, karelein ke saath saath dhatura bhi khilaungi kal se. "

Pallavi gave him the stink eye and much to his dismay started pilling his plate with the Chinese takeout which they had ordered from outside for the impromptu movie night. The movie had just started and Raghav had started nibbling on his food resignedly while his wife snuggled into his one side and his sister on the other, both of them trying to get inside his shawl like kids which was he would admit, frankly adorable.

 Farhad and Amma looked pretty comfortable together at the other side and childishly engaged in the screen in front. 

Suddenly Rehman, his security head came in looking disturbed and Farhad got up half from his seat irritated at the interruption. 

"Farhad bhai, Anna...Sorry to disturb you but their is someone at the gate wanting to meet with Vadina."

"Who is it Rehman?"

Raghav asked thought having a good guess which proved to be right when his other guards followed behind him looking irritated as hell. 

"Pallavi! Pallavi! Here you are! Main kabse tera phone try kar raha tha. Tune uthaya kyun nhi ekbaar bhi?"

"Baba aap.. itni raat gaye..sab theek hain na?"

Pallavi got up surprised and went towards a harried looking Vijay Deshmukh as the others looked slightly perturbed. Raghav had also gotten up and gingerly followed his wife, wrapping the shawl tightly over himself. He was still weak from the recurring bouts of the fever. 

"Everything alright Marathi father in law? Itna ghabraya hua kyun dikh raha hain aap?"

Vijay ignored Raghav characteristically and addressed Pallavi instead. 

"Pallu please ghar chal mere saath beta. Mandar behosh ho gaya tha.. Dr. Ramya bhi aayi hain. Woh bula rahi hain tujhe. You remember what the Doctor said right? Please you have to come back."

Pallavi gawked at her former father in law completely stunned.