Little Butterflies

Sindhuja woke up late the next morning. Still dizzy, she got up and looked around. He was there, buttoning his white shirt's sleeves. He saw her get up and walked to the bed.

"How are you feeling now?" He checked her forehead and neck for fever again. This was not the first time he did this, but his touch felt something different. 

"I'm better..." She somehow managed to say ignoring this weird feeling.

"Good. But you still have some fever. I think you should take some medicines for it. In fact, there are pills here-"

"No, no... It's fine. I'll have some ginger-water for the headache, that would be enough."

He raised his eyebrows. "Of course! You're a Baidh's daughter aren't you? How would you trust these pills... But have your ginger-water made from Srinath. Or, I'll tell him now before going. You rest here, don't work and tire yourself out."

She nodded. 

As he went back to getting ready, she watched him. The sunlight coming from the  window played on his sharp nose and high cheekbones. His eyes gleamed in a honey-colour when light fell on them. It was now that she realised he had dark-brown eyes, not black like hers. Her eyes went to the black hair laying neatly on one side of his forehead, and traced down to his face again, down to his lips...

He sensed her staring. 

"What happened?"

She broke out of her trance at the question. "Huh? No... Nothing." Reading the suspicious look in his eyes, she quickly added, "I... Was wondering where you found the white shirt."

His eyes relaxed again. She was out of suspicion. "Oh, this... You had kept it with the sweaters, madam. I'm tired of telling you not to touch my cupboard without asking. I can keep my stuff properly, much more organized than you. 

Anyways, I'm leaving now, and YOU are going to rest today. I'm also going to tell Srinath to keep an eye on you, so better obey me and stay in bed quietly. Good-bye."

And he left the room. Sindhuja stared at the door he left from. She felt strangely sad that he left her alone. She wanted to ask him to stay here. His kurta from last night was lying on the bed. She picked it up and and dramatically imitated his voice "I can keep my stuff properly!..."

She folded the kurta, but suddenly the last nights events flashed before here eyes. She could still feel his hands holding her face, his arm around her, his hard chest where she hid her face. She held the kurta close to her, smelling his scent on it lightly. She suddenly felt something. Something twisting and tickling in the pits of her stomach, like little butterflies. A shy smile appeared on her face. 

Maybe he isn't that bad...