BONDING

I wake up, and find Abhishek still sleeping, I thought it might be because of a hangover that he is sleeping so long. I took a warm soothing shower and got ready for the day, I went to prepare some juice and a sandwich for me to eat. After enjoying my breakfast by myself I walk to the room and see he was still sleeping; it was getting too late so I went closer to him and tried to wake him up, his body warm was more than usual. I got my thermometer from my bag and checked his temperature, he had a mild fever, and it might be mostly because of ice-creams late at night. I got some bread for him and tried to wake him up again. After waking him up, I fed him some bread and gave him Paracetamol tablets which were the only tablet I had with me which could help him to recover from fever. He again dozes off. I call Riya, "Hello, I guess Abhi and I can't join you guys today"

"Why?" she questioned me

"Abhi isn't feeling well, so I guess we shouldn't leave him alone"

"What happens to him?"

"Mild Fever"

"Ohh I see"

"Hmm"

"Okay take care", I say

I wait in the room until he wakes up. As he wakes up I go near him

"How are you feeling? Your temperature seems to be reduced now and how are you feeling?", I said placing my hand on his forehead

"I'm fine, the ice cream is the root cause, probably"

"I know, you should have listened to me"

"Now onwards I'll always listen to you"

"That's good"

"Didn't you go out"

"No I can't leave you alone here", I say and he smiles.

He tries to get up from the bed and failed, he was feeling weak because of a fever. I put my hand around him and help him

"It is fine, I'll manage", he says

"You are weak let me help"

"No need"

"Shut up", I raised my voice at him and help him to sit.

I fed him some food and took care of him. We spoke about random things to kill the time and then just wander around the room, and read some books and articles. I was still bored it was already evening Riya was not still back. I call to the hospital and check what was going on and then call dad and speak with him. The view of the sunset from the balcony was a very mesmerizing view to my eyes so I decided to spend more time sitting there and sightseeing. When it started darkening I order some simple dinner for me and Abhishek. I check his temperature again after finishing the dinner, it was getting low at noon but now it had increased again. I give him some tablets, and then he fell asleep I sit with him the whole night because I was concerned.

I woke up from a bad dream; I had slipped and fallen from the top of a thirteen-floor building. I rub my eyes and look around I was still in the apartment room safe and sound. Abhi wasn't there in the room. I walk out and see he was already awake and preparing something in the kitchen. I walked to him and checked his temperature; the fever has completely vanished I was happy.

"You are completely alright now", I said to him

"Only because of your care. Take have this hot breakfast and coffee"

"Thank you"

That day still noon we spent time out and during the late afternoon, we were with no plans.

We were back in the room having some noodles. I was swirling the fork in the noodles and pretending to eat them, even though I wasn't so interested.

"Hey, Megha… do you… umm… have plans today evening", Abhishek stammers

"No", I said still playing with my food

"I heard that they both are going to be spending time alone today"

"Hmm-mm"

"So can we both go out, if you don't mind"

"Sure, we can take walk to the Eiffel Tower", I recommend

"I would love to", he says cheerfully and I stop playing and start eating like a good girl.

I was ready to go for the walk in a pair of black trousers and a white sleeveless T-shirt. I was waiting for Abhishek outside the apartment with one of my hands in my pocket and the other one holding the mobile phone. After 5 minutes Abhishek stepped out of the apartment, he was wearing black jeans, a black T-shirt, and a grey pullover. He stood in front of me tilted his head and gave a warm smile.

"Don't you think you are late", I question him

"Sorry", he apologized and we stepped into the crowd and started to walk towards the Eiffel Tower.

We walked in silence until I spotted a good place to capture a good picture. I pull my phone out of my pocket and hand it over to him.

"Here click me a picture", I said to him

"Your phone is locked", he says

"The password is my birthday..."

"December 9", he blurts

"You know my birthday"

"I got to know about it while I was seeing your Instagram highlights", he said rubbing the back of his neck, I smile and poked him with my elbow.

After clicking a good amount of pictures we resumed our walk in silence, it was pretty cold out there, and I regret wearing these short dresses. I rub my hands to make myself feel warm, while Abhishek removes his pullover and wraps it around me. We reached the destination, and both of us didn't will to go up again. We just stood down and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. He passed me a chocolate bar and both of us enjoyed our chocolates while seeing the beauty of the Eiffel Tower. We sit for a while and start to walk back to the apartment.

"Hey can I ask you something", Krish interrupts the silence

"Just ask", I said wrapping his pullover tighter

"Your arm has a lot of cuts on it, the one near your wrist looks deep, what happened"

"When did you see those, nobody has ever observed it. I used to cut myself because physical pain can sometimes soothe the heartache"

"I didn't understand a thing"

"So this is something that only my dad, Riya, and Rachael know. So I am an orphan, I spend my days in an orphanage. I moved to Bangalore for higher studies, and I stayed as a paying guest in the house where am living now. Krish Malhotra was my flatmate as well as my classmate. In beginning, we both used to just argue a lot. As days passed we became close, he became my best friend he used just like keep me so safe, and happy, and only he was the one who could handle me. He was the only person I was happy with. His local guardian became my dad"

"Seems like he is someone very important in your life."

"He was everything to me. Indeed we both were in a beautiful relationship. We loved each other so dearly but right the next day of my graduation I fought with him. The next day he was going to Mumbai and I just disappointed him and he left with tears in his eyes. That was the last time I saw him."

"I'm very sorry"

"After losing him, I couldn't come out of it; I started living only because he wanted me to live long and happily. Then, I was no more than Megha who was happy and talking all the time", I said and I don't know why did I tell him everything. I couldn't control my tears I started to sob he held my hand and I rested my head on his shoulder. This was weird I was feeling too comfortable with him, Abhishek was slowly entering into my personal space.

It is Riya and Rachael's anniversary today. Both of them look cute together just like always. I hug Riya tightly and wish her. The couple cut the red velvet cake. We eat the cake happily and then dance and spend the whole day happily.

We happily end our trip and catch our flight back to Bangalore. This trip surely gave me another good friend Abhishek Malhotra, maybe I feel close to him because he shows the characteristics of Krish.