Dropping the clothes on bed, I dashed out of my room.

"Are you okay!?", I asked breathlessly.

"It's just fever, Kabir. Nothing extreme.", She sighed as she got up from the dressing table stool.

I know it's just fever. And there's nothing to worry about. But with the way my heart is beating so fast, why does it feel that it's more than just a fever. A haunting feeling that's brewing within me. Something that is nothing in reality, but feels so terrifying.

"Just keep him away from me for tonight.", She said as she walked up to the bed.

"I'm scared.", I blurted out.

"Scared for what?", She asked as she sat down and nestled herself between the sheets.

"I don't know. I just am.", I breathed out.

"Go, Kabir. Go back to your room and sleep. Good night.", She said sliding down and turning to one side after switching off the lights. I stood there for a minute more before walking out slumped. Closing the door shut behind me, I took a deep breath.

May be I'm just overreacting. But why? Why is this restlessness burning so furiously inside me. I've had fever before. A lot of times. I know it's nothing to stress about. Then why are my insides screaming at me to stay by her side. Why is my heart so uneasy and erratic?

Shaking away the thoughts, I strolled back inside my room and saw Reyansh doing something on my phone. "You should go to sleep now, champ.", I said as I grabbed the fallen clothes before arranging them neatly in wardrobe.

"How's Mommy?", He asked, distracted.

"Fine. You'll sleep with me tonight.", I said as I closed door and turned. He was still busy on my phone. "What are you doing?", I asked as I flopped down on bed beside him.

"Game.", He bit on his bottom lip. Completely focused.

"I can see that, smarty-pants!", I said nudging him on his shoulder. He fell to side before groaning loudly. "I'm sorry!", I laughed as I made him sit again.

"Don't do that! I lost the game because of you!", He shouted as he tossed my phone on bed. Fortunately it just hit the soft mattress and didn't tumble down on floor.

"Why so pissed, huh?", I said as I grabbed his small body and brought him on my lap.

"They called me loser!", He said grumpily.

"Who?"

"The game! I didn't lose. You pushed me!", He put all blame on me before puffing out his cheeks in anger.

"Okay I'm sorry. Let's go to sleep now.", I said as I laid down on my back and made him lie beside me.

"I don't wanna sleep!", He shook his head.

"And why is that?"

"Tell me a story and I'll do.", He grinned up at me.

"I don't know stories.", I shrugged guiltily.

"You're so boring!", He grunted before snuggling himself beside me and closing his eyes shut. I sighed in relief. At least he isn't putting up tantrums before me.

An hour later he was in deep slumber. But I was unable to sleep. My thoughts frequently drew to her like magnet.

Did that bastard do anything to her? Is that why she has fever? Because she was all fine until yesterday.

I carefully untangled myself from my clingy son before getting off bed. Covering him with the duvet, I pecked him on head and turned off lights. Wearing the slippers, I quietly walked out of room before slowly closing the door after me. I gently knocked on the door to her bedroom, waiting to hear any response. Five minutes went by but I didn't hear anything.

Did she fall asleep?

It's good if she has fallen asleep. May be she'll feel better tomorrow? I shouldn't disturb her right now. Deciding to check up on her tomorrow morning, I turned around and was about to head downstairs to drink a glass of water when the sound of knob halted me. I quickly spun on my feet, she stood there, looking so tired and weak.

"Are you okay?", I asked in whisper as I moved front.

"You need something?", She asked instead.

Ignoring her question just like she did mine, I hoisted my hand up and touched her forehead with the back of my palm. She wasn't burning with high fever. But it was still there. "How much is it?"

"101° F.", She mumbled. "It's not too much. I'm fine.", She said and was about to close the door but I held it midway and gently opened it again. She looked at me with frown.

"Let me in.", I said and she sighed before stepping aside. Closing the door softly behind me, I nodded at her to get into bed.

"I'm fine, Kabir. Don't worry about me.", She murmured stubbornly.

"Okay fine. I'll not worry about you. But let me worry about the baby. It's inside you, you know?", I said and gently held her arm, guiding her towards bed. Making her sit on bed, I brought a pillow behind her against the headboard and told her to lean on it. "Don't move.", I instructed before moving towards bathroom. Filling up the small bucket with water, I grabbed a hand towel and came out.

"It is not needed, Kabir.", She said as soon as she saw me.

"It is."

"C'mon, Kabir! Do you really think this will work? We're not some daily soap couple.", She groaned.

"This works!", I insisted.

"It doesn't."

"What proof do you have?"

"Then what proof do you have?", She countered back.

"None. But what's the harm in trying?", I shrugged and sat down at the end of the bed beside her. She gave me stink eye.

"You're so stubborn.", She sighed as she laid down.

"I know.", I winked with a lopsided smile.

She averted her eyes thereafter and didn't made any attempt to start a conversation by her side. I sat close to her, changing the wet pleats of cloth frequently.

"Tell me something about you.", I said and she hummed in confusion. "Tell me something about you.", I repeated my question.

"I'm a single mother.", She shrugged.

"No. You're not!", I said offended.

"Okay, I was a single mother.", She chuckled.

"Hmm. That's correct.", I said wringing out the wet cloth and then putting it on her forehead. "Can I ask you one more question?"

"Hmm?"

"Uhm- Why did I call you a cheater?", I asked while biting on the inside of my cheek. I was afraid. Not of the answer, but of her reaction. What if she just yells at me to get out? Damn! I shouldn't have asked such sore question! "Let it be. I was not thinking when I asked the question.", I dismissed it, praying internally to recover any damage if it's already caused because of my stupid question.

"I don't know.", She said as she turned her head and stared at the wall on the side.

"Did I yelled at you?"

"No you didn't. You asked me leave.", She mumbled.

"You said I married you for revenge. What was the revenge?"

"I-I slapped you.", She said before looking back into my eyes.

"That's it!?", I exclaimed in disbelief.

"Hmm."

"Was I mentally unstable!? Fuck! How could I think of such disgusting thing just because of a slap!?", I muttered to myself. I was pissed off. Disgusted by my own self. How was I so cruel and a monster?

She sat up. "Hey, it's fine. We've decided to never talk about the past right? So let's just leave it there. Once Reyansh is all fine, I'll go back and you can start a new life.", I wanted to disagree and yell that I don't need a new life. I'm ready to start a family with her. May be I'm still not in love with her, or may be I'm, but who cares!? She makes me feel the things I thought didn't even exist.

"New life?"

"Yes, Kabir. You should start a new life. With someone special. Forget about me. Or your past. It doesn't matter. Meet someone new. Fall in love. Get married. Have kids. And Reyansh and this baby will be always there in your life. I promise you I'll never stop you from being a part of their life. You're their father and you've every right over them. But don't stop because of us.", She said and I looked at her in disbelief.

"You really want an escape from me, don't you?", I smirked.

She gulped.

"Is it because of this morning?"

"N-No. I just want you to be happy. You've been through a lot and-"

"Shut up, Rivaah.", I said pushing the wet strand behind her ear. She shivered. "Happiness for me will be the last thing you'll wish for.", I said as checked her temperature with my hand.

Grabbing the thermometer, I nudged her lips with the tip of it. "Open your mouth.", She slowly parted her lips and I pushed the thermometer inside. My eyes stayed fixed on her as we waited for the thermometer to beep.

"98° F.", It has come down. I shook it before placing it back on the nightstand. As I looked back at her, she was busy in picking up on the threads of the bedsheet. "C'mon, say what you want to.", I said as crossed my legs and waited for her to speak.

"You- What did you mean by it?", She asked tilting her head up and meeting my eyes. I scooted closer. My left arm was draped over her knees, resting on her side.

"What are you talking about?"

"This morning.", She mumbled.

"Elaborate.", I said and she gulped second time this night.

"You-You said that I've you on your knees.", She whispered, her breathing turned shaky and uneven.

"Don't you?", I cocked my head to one side innocently.

"What do you mean?", She asked shifting back, pressing herself more against the headboard.

"You tell me.", I whispered hoarsely.

"You-You can go now. I'm fine. Go-Good night.", She said turning her head away.

"Why are you stuttering?", I asked as I cupped her chin and made her face me. She gulped. Third time.

"Wha-What are you doing?", She said moving away from my grip.

Instead of answering her, I pulled my legs up and sat on my knees. Her legs trapped between my both thighs.

"Wh-What!?", She gasped and looked at me flushed.

"See. You've me on my knees.", I said looking down at her. She ducked her head down, but then directly came face to face with my crotch area. Her jaw dropped as red coated her whole face and she coughed. I fell down on bed laughing hard. Her expressions were priceless.

"You're such a pervert!", She said slapping my legs.

"What did I do?", I laughed.

"You know what you did!", She growled.

"No I don't.", I shook my head acting innocent.

"Get out of my room! I want to sleep!", She said pointing at the door.

"Okay okay!", I said getting up. "No thank you, darling?", I asked as I went to pick up the bucket and towel. I received a flying pillow on my head. "The domestic violence is so real!", I said shaking my head.

"Shut up and get out!", She snapped.

After cleaning everything in her room, I bidded her night which I didn't receive back. After entering my room, I glanced at the table clock and it read 12:30. Falling down on bed, I breathed out tiredly and closed my eyes. With one arm I gathered my son close and eventually fell asleep.

The next day I woke up because of the darn alarm clock. Reyansh began stirring and so I had to get up to shut the annoying sound. It was already seven.

Yesterday I had decided to continue my gym from today, but I guess, now I've to push it to tomorrow. I came down and made some simple chicken soup with Taila's help.

"All the houses that I've worked in, I've never seen a man cooking for his wife on regular basis.", She chuckled when I was garnishing the soup with coriander.

"I'm one in million, Taila!", I winked at her.

"Silly boy.", She laughed.

"Boy? Damn I'm blessed.", I said chuckling at the compliment.

Picking up the tray, I walked out of kitchen humming a melody. Carefully climbing upstairs, making sure not to spill the soup I made it to her room. "Rivaah?", I called out knocking gently on the door frame.

There was no answer.

The sun is already up yet she's still asleep? Is she okay? With worry deeply engraved in me, I twisted the knob to see if the door is open. It clicked open and I slowly pushed on it. Cautiously entering inside, I took a look around and frowned at the sound of running water. Is she in shower?

"Rivaah?"

"I'm in bathroom!"

"Oh.", I whispered to myself. "I've brought you soup.", I said over the sound of shower.

"Why?"

"To eat!", I said in a duh tone. "I mean to drink.", I corrected myself. But there's chicken in it. And you don't drink chicken. "No, I mean to eat.", I said again.

"Kabir, keep it there!", She shouted.

"Geez! Fine.", I muttered and kept the tray on nightstand before falling down on her bed. This one is more soft than mine.

I played the game that Reyansh was playing last night to pass my time. It was fifteen minutes later that I jerked at the sound of ear piercing shriek. I jumped down the bed and eyed her. She looked so fresh with her wet hair and just bathrobe covering her.

"What!?", She shouted.

"What!?", I shrugged.

"What the fuck are you doing here!?", She spat out.

"I brought you soup!", I said. God! No one counts the good deeds in this big bad world.

"So? I told you to leave after keeping it somewhere.", She bared her teeth at me.

"Selfish!", I hissed before storming out.

"Whatever!", I heard her mutter under breath. "What now!?", She asked when I marched back.

"My phone!", I grunted out before grabbing the device from bed and leaving her bedroom.

When I barged inside my bedroom, the bed was emtpy and I could hear gargling sounds from bathroom. I waited for him to brush his teeth and then helped him with his bath.

"Rey, stop!", I said as he splashed his hand in the water, causing it to sprinkle all over me.

"No!", He giggled before doing it with more force now.

"Ugh!", I grumbled in despair before grabbing his flailing arms and raising them up. "Stop!", I glared at him. My brows furrowed as he tried to hold back his giggles, his cheeks were puffed and it looked like he was holding something in his mouth. "Rey, No!", I warned shaking my head. He just shrugged before a jet of water landed on my face. "You little monster!", I growled playfully picking him up from the bathtub.

He shrieked and his legs kicked in air. "Sorry, sorry!", He began apologising.

"Will you do it again?"

"No no!", He said shaking his head eagerly.

After readying him for the day, I got ready and we both headed down for breakfast. Taila served us toast and omelette before giving Murphy his food.

"Where's, Mommy?", He asked while munching on the toast.

"Don't talk while you eat, Rey.", The person he was asking for answered.

"Sorry.", He said after gulping down the food in his mouth. "How are you feeling now, Mommy?", He asked raising his both brows.

"I'm fine now.", She said pressing a kiss on his forehead. "You're all ready huh?"

"Daddy helped me.", He stated smugly.

"Is he going somewhere?", She asked me noticing the set of new clothes I had prepared him in.

"Yeah. Karthik said that his son gets bored at home so I thought of dropping Reyansh and Murphy there. Also his wife is a housewife, so she'll look after him too.", I said and she nodded.

"Did I do something wrong, sir?", I heard Taila's nervous voice.

"No, no! I meant, that my secretary's son and Reyansh is almost of same age. Just a year or two difference. So he'll have someone to play with.", I explained and she sighed in relief.

"I can tag along with him. To take care of him.", She suggested.

"That's a good idea.", Rivaah nodded as she picked up a slice of apple before shoving it in her mouth.

"How was my soup?", I asked blinking at her.

"Ugh!", She made gagging sound before smirking at me and strutting out.

"She cleaned the whole bowl though.", Taila mumbled beside me.

"Mommy is so childish.", Reyansh snickered.

"The world believes!", I said dramatically and everyone laughed.

_______