Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Naira's POV

For few days Ehan didn't show up in front of me. Though it bothered me but at the same time I felt somewhat relieved in his absence because I didn't need to give effort to act normal.

On the weekend

I was in charge of the kitchen on the weekends. But Mom being herself kept trying to help me.

Late in the afternoon I got into the kitchen to make my favourite broccoli tomato soup after forbidding Mom to enter into the kitchen.

When I was done with preparing my soup. I transferred them into four bowls and got into the living room while uttering some words to Akash.

Akash always kept praising my cooking however it tasted. But I wanted him to tell me the truth.

I forwarded the bowl towards him only to get shocked seeing the person I wanted to see the least.

Ehan was sitting there. He was looking somewhat sad. Giving my thought a break, I was about to take the bowl away from him but couldn't as Dad spoke up that.

Ehan was being hesitant also and finally held that. I took a seat between Mom and Dad.

When Dad took a spoonful and seemed pleasant and I got my bowl asking about Akash and then shoved a spoonful in my mouth.

I didn't turn to Ehan but I could feel his hesitation to taste the soup but when Dad got uttering about it supported by Mom, he started eating it.

Though he praised the cooking and kept eating but there was something about it that I couldn't help noticing.

He wasn't looking normal by the time he finished the bowl. When I found him reaching for the glass of water, I immediately forwarded the glass towards him as I got uttering, "Ehan, are you okay?"

He gave me a blank look and then gulped down the water hurriedly in one go.

He tried put the glass on the table but couldn't do it. His hand was trembling and like he didn't have the energy in him to hold even a glass. It fall on the floor getting into pieces.

I hurried to him but before I could say something, I heard Akash uttering quite loudly, "Ehan?" and ran to him.

Akash looked at him all worried as he uttered, "Ehan, what happened?" and looked all around.

I got confused as after glancing the empty bowl, Akash got uttering as he turned to Ehan, "You ate broccoli soup! Have you gone mad?"

Ehan couldn't utter anything between his coughs. His hand got filled with red patches. His face as turning to the same as well.

Holding Ehan, Akash got out of the mansion uttering, "I am taking him to hospital. He needs medical attention."

Ehan was still trying to get hold of himself and utter something but I could see him failing terribly. I felt guilty. It was all because of me.

"I will be with them." uttering this to Mom and Dad, I hurried. Akash was getting into the car when I spoke up, "I will go with you."

He just nodded and got into the car with Ehan. I stopped the driver and took the driving seat.

In these years, I got to learn many things from Akash. Driving was one of them.

All the way either Ehan kept coughing badly or saying, "I am burning Akash. It's paining."

I felt guilty even more.

Reaching the hospital, we got Ehan admitted. The doctor checked him and put him on saline as he injected some medicine in it. Soon he fall asleep. The doctor got uttering, "Come with me." and left the cabin.

Asking me to stay with Ehan, Akash followed the doctor. I got seated beside him being all blank.

After sometime Akash entered the cabin and when I  gave him a questioning look, he got uttering, "Ehan is severely allergic to broccoli."

I couldn't get to utter anything for few moments.

I turned to him with thousands of questions in mind.

Yes, I wanted him to be away from me. After what he did to me, I didn't want to face him.

He was on a dare and he won that. Now just what was he trying to show off?

When he knew broccoli would be dangerous for him, he would have just said that.

Why he had to go through all this and made me feel guilty?

What did I even do?

Akash got uttering again, "Don't worry. He will be okay. You go home. I will be here with Ehan."

I wanted to stay right there to yell at him at least.

How could he be so careless!

I didn't utter anything but kept sitting there silently.

I wanted to stay until he woke up at least.

Akash's phone rang off and he got out of the cabin. He got back after few minutes and uttered, "Ehan is sleeping sweetie. He will take time to wake up. You should go home. It's getting late."

Nodding at him, I left the cabin in dilemma. Reaching at home, I found Mom and Dad were still in the living room. Seeing me, Mom spoke up, "How's Ehan now?"

All I could utter, "Somewhat better. He is sleeping now." And forwarded towards my room. I took a long cold shower. Then dressing myself, I sat on my recliner in the balcony.

I couldn't just understand why he did that? Just why?

I was lost into the memories of past days when Ehan was with me. I got out of my trance due to a sound. It took me sometime that my phone was ringing.

I got to the phone with a hope that it was Akash to tell me that Ehan was awake now. Disappointment covered my face when I saw it was Sameer, Akash's PA.

I answered the call.

"Sorry for disturbing you Naira but it was important and Sir wasn't answering his phone."

I uttered calmly, "It's okay. What's the matter?"

"Naira, our deal with Hobsons needs attention. Akash Sir or yours presence is needed there in New York by tomorrow evening."

I could feel the urgency in his voice.

"Okay. I will tell Akash." Saying that, I cut off the line.

I called Akash but his phone was switched off.

Right then I heard Mom calling me. I got downstairs. Mom was setting the table for dinner. I wasn't feeling like eating but I didn't want to answer their questions. So I took my seat silently.

Getting back to my room, I again called Akash but still it wasn't switched off now but he didn't answer it. I was getting restless. I was thinking of visiting the hospital when Akash called me back.

"Ehan is still sleeping, dear. Doctor has checked him again and said there is nothing to worry. He will be okay by morning. So you stop worrying now and get some sleep."

After that, he cut off the line. I tried to get some sleep but couldn't.

I took out the diary that I used to write while battling myself as I was falling for Ehan.

I opened a random page.

"Not everything that begins, progresses. Something stops as soon as they begin indicating every beginning is frightening. But still I can't get my head around it. I am not being able to stop myself from falling for you even more with every passing minutes."

I closed the diary with a jerk as I felt my eyes getting teary.

The next day early in the morning I got a message from Akash to head to office. He would be late.

Despite my wish I listened to him. But being unable to control myself, without calling Akash, I forwarded towards the hospital when he didn't get to hospital though it was getting almost noon.

Parking the car, I forwarded towards the entrance but got stopped seeing them coming out of the hospital building. Two people were behind them and they were gossiping smilingly.

I felt relieved seeing him alright now and a small smile crept on my lips.

I thought of leaving but they caught of my sight. Getting myself together, I forwarded towards them and tried to act all normal.

My face fell when the other two got into my sight. I recognized them immediately. They were Ehan's friends back then.

Seeing me, one of them spoke up, "Akash, isn't she the girl with whom you gave that dare to Ehan? I can't believe she is still after Ehan knowing all these."

I turned to Akash who seemed to get all shocked but then got his head down seeing me staring at him. I stood there silently and kept staring at him blankly for few moments. When tears started threatening to roll down any moment, I left from there though I heard Akash uttering, "Ira, please listen to me."

Tears rolled down and I didn't even bother to stop them anymore as I got into my car and drove away without any destination in my mind...