Exposed

There was a knock on the door of their room the next day . Eyes darted open & turning to the alarm, he realised it was almost 8:30 in the morning. He had surprisingly overslept through the usual 5:30-6:00 am he rose at. Sitting up he hastily put on his kurta, pulled the blanket over a still disheveled Sindhuja and rushed to the door.

Opening the wooden door slightly as it creaked, he stuck only his head out and saw Kaaki standing on the other side.

"Kaaki, good morning..."

"Good morning... A little late to wish today isn't it?!"

He ran a hand through his already messed hair. "Yeah I... I didn't realize I overslept."

"Why, what happened? Did she struggle last night too?"

"Y-yes. At about midnight..."

"I see. Was it the bad dream or..."

"Yeah, the same one. She got scared and panicked again."

"Ohh poor girl... I've told you Felu, call me when you can't handle her alone!" Kaaki suddenly realized something and arched a brow. "Why're you holding the door like this?"

He quickly let go off the door that he still kept half closed. "Me? No, nothing..."

"Well, is everything alright? It was a little late so I just came to check upon you and her..." Kaaki craned her neck to the left to try and get a glimpse of Sindhuja.

He quickly came in between and tried to sound as casual as possible. "Yes yes... She's fine. But she's still sleeping, so let's not disturb her-" And he quickly stepped out of the room, closing its door behind. This, however, made Kaaki more suspicious than relaxed.

"Felu? Is she really okay? Are you hiding something?"

"No, no Kaaki... Everything is alright. Really."

"Let me see her myself."

Kaaki reached out to the door but he blocked her way again. "Sindhu is sleeping, Kaaki. You can talk to her when she wakes up."

"I'm only checking on- what's that?" Kaaki pointed to his neck and he looked down to realize that he hadn't buttoned up the kurta properly, which meant it must be some mark from last night. How much he wished he had taken his usual shawl right now...

Pulling the collar together, he said, "What? Nothing?!..."

But it was too late. Kaaki understood."Felu?!" Her voice was shocked and stern at the same time.

He was flustered. "Kaaki, it's not what you-"

"Did you really...?"

"No- I mean- yes... But-"

"Felu do you remember she's ill?!" Kaaki exclaimed.

"Yes, of course-"

"Can you not keep yourself in check for even a week?!"

"Kaaki I-"

"You what? Why have you suddenly become so irresponsible?! I can't take your side in front of your Kaka for every mistake if this goes on...!"

He hung his head down. "I didn't want to... She forced-"

"Enough!" Kaaki scolded.

He remained silent.

Kaaki composed her voice again. "When will she wake up now?"

"I... I don't know..."

"Make sure to call me when she does."

She did wake up half an hour later, when he had just come out of the bathroom bathed. She had to blink several times to see everything clearly. Her eyes were still sore from crying yesterday night and she felt incredibly tired despite the sleep.

He saw her move and went to the bed, helping her sit up.

"How are you?" His face had worry written all over it.

"I-I'm tired... And dizzy..."

"See? This is why I was saying no. Look what's happened to yourself!"

She sighed hard. "Please..."

"Well, you didn't listen when I said 'please' yesterday, did you?"

"Mitter babu!" This was the final call, when she really wanted him to shut up.

He shook his head and sighed. "Now, if your health gets worse, who's responsible?"

"Me." She said like a tired student repeating the tables. But she added on taking his hand, "And I don't regret it."

He raised an eyebrow.

"It really helped me... Go through it all... And face my emotions. Thank you."

He remembered the time they were done, when she slumped and cried her heart out to the emotions and grief she had been suppressing all these days.

"And it may cost your body a lot still..."

She scoffed. "What else is remaining to happen to me now?! Everything is already at its worst."

"No Rosogolla!" He said clasping the hand she had kept on his as a strange wave of fear swept over his eyes."There's... worse things.... And I don't want anything more to happen to you. That's why I'm so worried about it."

She was taken aback by this unfamiliar shadow his eyes had been taking sometimes after the attack. It scared her because it changed his entire persona in moments, and he never explained what it was.

He quickly averted his gaze and cleared his throat.

"Do you think you can get up? I'll walk you to the bathroom."

He slowly made her stand up. A few steps from the bed and her head spun suddenly. She lost balance and slumped down to be held on to by him, and be settled down into the chair close by. "Sindhu! Wait here, I'll get some water..."

He rushed to get her water and made her gulp some down.

She got back to normal again in a few minutes.

"Okay again?"

She nodded and he put an arm from behind her again. "Come on."