During the break, everyone was sitting in the canteen. The Fusion Five were having lunch, but Shubman, looking pale and exhausted, barely touched his food.

Tunisha, with a concerned look, urged, "Just one more spoon, Shub."

Shubman shook his head weakly. "I am not hungry, Nisha."

Abhishek, clearly worried, asked, "You want to go home?"

Shubman shook his head again. "No. I will manage."

Abhishek sighed and looked at Kamlesh, whispering, "Sid bhai is on the way. I informed him."

Ashnoor overheard and nodded approvingly. "Good job, Nagar."

Kamlesh smiled, feeling a sense of relief as they waited. A few minutes later, Sidharth arrived. The students, excited to see him, surrounded him. Shubman sighed, knowing that it would take some time for Sidharth to reach him through the crowd.

After about ten minutes, Sidharth finally made his way to Shubman. He touched his forehead and frowned. "Seriously, Shub? You have such a high fever and you're here in college?"

Shubman frowned back. "Who told you I had a fever?"

Sidharth replied, "I got to know. Now, I will go and inform the Principal. You pack your bags."

Shubman nodded and headed to the classroom to pack his things. As he was gathering his books, Sara approached him. "Hey," she said softly.

Shubman turned and nodded in acknowledgment.

"Are you fine?" Sara asked, her voice filled with concern.

Shubman forced a small smile. "Yeah. We'll start the project once my fever comes down."

Sara nodded. "Sure. Take care."

Shubman walked out of the classroom, and Sidharth took his bag. They got into the car and headed home. Once there, Shubman went to his room and changed into something comfortable. Rimma came in and asked, "Baccha, do you want something?"

Shubman looked at her with tired eyes. "Mumma, can you stay here with me?"

Rimma smiled warmly and nodded. "You sleep, I will be here."

Shubman nodded, comforted by her presence, and soon dozed off.

Kiara and Sidharth entered the room shortly after. Kiara asked, "Maa, how is he?"

Rimma replied, "I still need to check his temperature. Sid, do you know where the thermometer is?"

Sidharth nodded and rushed to his room to get the thermometer. He handed it to Rimma, who checked Shubman's temperature. "103," she said, her worry evident.

Sidharth nodded, and Kiara offered, "Maa, do you need any help?"

Rimma nodded. "Kiki, if possible, start making some khichdi. I'll join you shortly."

Kiara nodded and headed to the kitchen. Rimma kissed Shubman's forehead before leaving the room, and Sidharth went to his own room.

After a while, Shubman woke up to a missed call from Abhishek. He called him back. "What happened, Abhi?"

Abhishek's voice was filled with concern. "Nothing, yaar. Just wanted to check if you're fine."

Shubman replied, "Mumma and Bhabhi are downstairs making some khichdi. I was just sleeping."

Abhishek sighed in relief. "Okay, take care. Take a leave tomorrow too."

Shubman replied, "We will see." He disconnected the call and went downstairs. Kiara noticed him and said, "Shub, you could have called us there, right? Why did you come down?"

Shubman smiled faintly. "Arre bhabhi, it's just a fever. I am fine."

Sidharth, seeing him, made him sit down. "Just a fever? Your body temperature is 103 degrees Fahrenheit, Shubman Malhotra."

Shubman sat quietly, not arguing. Rimma had made some khichdi and started feeding Shubman. After eating, Sidharth handed him his medicines.

Shubman asked, "Lena zaroori hai kya?"

Sidharth nodded firmly. Shubman gulped down the medicines, and Sunil, who had joined them, said, "Now, go and sleep."

Shubman nodded, saluting playfully. "Yes, sir."

He went back to his room and lay on his bed, scrolling through his phone, watching videos. Despite the fever, he felt a sense of comfort knowing his family was taking care of him.

The next day, Shubman woke up feeling much better. His fever had subsided, so he decided to go to college. It was a special day where everyone had to wear ethnic clothes, adding a festive touch to the campus atmosphere.

Shubman opted for a bright teal kurta that reached his knees. The kurta had long sleeves and a straight cut, featuring a vertical self-striping design. The neckline was simple and unembellished, giving it a classic look. He paired it with white pants made from a lighter material that fit closely to his legs. To complete his outfit, he wore black shoes.

As he went downstairs, he saw Abhishek and Kamlesh already waiting for him. Abhishek was dressed in a black kurta with white trousers. His kurta had subtle sparkling details that added a festive touch. The kurta's long sleeves and length just above the knee gave it a traditional yet stylish look.

Kamlesh wore a stylish blue kurta with a textured pattern. The kurta had a traditional design with a collar and a few buttons at the neckline. He also wore white trousers that complemented the blue kurta perfectly.

Ashnoor entered the room next, looking vibrant in a bright pink kurta adorned with small white embellishments and reflective details scattered across the fabric, giving it a subtle sparkle. The kurta had long sleeves and reached just above her knees. She paired it with white churidar pants, tightly fitting trousers designed to showcase the contours of her legs. Her hair was styled in a long, thick braid over her shoulder.

Tunisha followed, wearing a blue kameez with full sleeves and a round neckline. She paired the kameez with matching blue trousers. Draped over her outfit was a dupatta with a cream or light beige base color, adorned with a floral pattern featuring large blue flowers and green foliage. The border of the dupatta had a green stripe running along its edge, complementing the greenery in the floral design. She had let her hair fall free, with a slight curl at the edges.

Shubman greeted everyone with a smile. "You all look amazing!"

Abhishek grinned. "Thanks, Shub. You clean up pretty well yourself."

Kamlesh nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you look great. Ready for the day?"

"Absolutely," Shubman replied, feeling a renewed sense of energy.

Ashnoor, with a twinkle in her eye, added, "Let's make this day memorable. I can't wait to see everyone in their ethnic outfits."

Tunisha smiled. "It's going to be a colorful day for sure."

With spirits high, they all piled into the car and sped towards the college, eager to embrace the day's festivities. As they arrived, the campus was alive with vibrant colors and the chatter of excited students. The festive atmosphere was contagious, and they couldn't wait to join in the celebrations.