Chapter Text
1st Apr, 1PM
Siya was trying to figure out how she got stuck in this plot-twist of April’s Fool day.
She was discharged in the morning. But why was she in Raghav’s room?
“Siya, settle in okay. I will take a quick shower and then cook us some lunch. Or are you hungry? Should I cook first and clean up later?”, Raghav asked awkwardly.
“I am not hungry Raghav.”, Siya replied sheepishly.
“You need to tell me how you are feeling Siya, if you are tired, if you need feel breathless or discomfort of any sort, please tell me.”
“Okay, I will. I will just rest in the room for a bit.”
Raghav sighed. He realized in the moment, that it would take Siya a lot of time to be free around him. But he was a patient man. And he was a man who had already sought Meenal aunty’s blessings to date Siya after all.
After his shower, Raghav showed Siya around the house briefly. When Siya when to take a shower, Raghav prepared lunch.
Raghav had arranged the food by the time Siya was ready, but instead of eating with him on the table, Siya put her food into a plate and began to retreat to Raghav’s room or her temporary room.
“Won’t you eat with me?”, a confused Raghav asked.
“I don’t want to expose you to virus. I read that virus can spread 200% more when we are eating. I will stay in the room as much as possible. I don’t want to cause problems.”
“Siya!”, Raghav sighed, “that’s very thoughtful of you. But I will be fine. You sit at one end of the table. I will sit on the other. You were all alone for so long in the hospital. Let’s at least eat together. That was the whole point of us staying together, right? Fear of exposing elderly people and vulnerable to corona virus is valid. But I am fine. Please let’s eat together.”
“I am not willing to take that risk Raghav. I would never want anyone to get this from me. Please Raghav. Let me be. I am hovering enough. I already feel guilty about troubling you. And if you get covid because of me, it will kill me…please.”, Siya said with tears in her eyes.
Raghav silently wondered how much Siya had suffered. He just wanted to comfort Siya and make her feel a little less lonely. Take care of her. But he also knew that it would be sometime before Siya would even consider him to do all that.
“If you are comfortable staying in the room, stay there okay. Will it be okay if I get you food there?”
“Maybe place it on a table near the door and knock. I will pick it up from there and then drop it back after finishing? Will that be okay.”
She won’t even let me see her face, Raghav thought internally. “Okay…that will be okay.”, he replied.
Raghav diligently made food 3 times a day. Cut fruits for snacks twice. Made coffee twice. And each time, he received a simple ‘thank you Raghav’ from Siya’s end. This went on for 3 days before Raghav had to head out to buy groceries and fruits and vegetables. Before going out, he knocked on Siya’s door and asked her -
“Siya, I am going out to get some stuff. Do you want anything?”
“I am fine Raghav.”
“Anything particular that you want to eat?”, Raghav asked again.
“Hmmm…nothing. I am good.”, Siya paused before replying.
“Siyaa!!”
And this ‘Siyaa’ of all the things, was the thing that did the trick.
“Can you get me something that's not healthy.”
“Not healthy?”, Raghav asked puzzled.
“Junk food Raghav.”, Siya clarified, as if talking to a child.
“Oh! Street food stalls are closed. But I will get you something.”
“What do you mean street food stalls are closed. How will those poor people make their living.”, Siya asked perplexed.
“A lot of things have closed sweetheart.”
“Huh…okay…”, Siya mumbled at hearing this endearment.
“Are chips and chocolate, okay?”, Raghav asked quickly to move on from Siya’s confusion.
“They are more than okay.”, Siya replied enthusiastically.
Raghav chuckled, “Anything else?”
“I don't want fruits.”
“Okay…”
“I really, really don't like musk melons. Not even a little bit.”
“Then why have you been eating it all this time. You should have told me Siya.”, Raghav said.
“I have issues with food wastage.”
“Hahahaha.. Fine. No good food. Or anything healthy this week.”, Raghav laughed.
“Why are you laughing?”
“I feel like I finally know something about you.”, Raghav said giddily.
“You have known me for so many years Raghav.”
“Yeah... But this is something I know about you sweetheart. That’s the difference.”
“You were serious about being my friend, weren’t you?”
“And more, if you let me.”, Raghav replied without pause.
“Can I ask for something else.”, Siya asked sheepish.
She couldn’t see Raghav bite his fist to stop himself from screaming out of joy. But Raghav sure was having an out of body experience with this simple gesture.
“Anything sweetheart.”
“Can you get some biscuits. I eat 3 of them with coffee in the morning. Also, I drink coffee without sugar.”, Siya bit her lips from laughing while saying this.
“Babe!!! You really should tell me when I am making a fool out of myself assuming things about you, you know.”, Raghav whined.
“And deprive myself a chance to tease you darling? I don’t think so.”, Siya teased.
“Da…wha…you!!!”, Raghav stuttered profoundly.
On the other side Siya laughed heartily. And this was music to Raghav’s ears.
“I am leaving now. Text me if you think of anything. If I find it, I will get it.”, Raghav mock huffed, “Oh! Forgot. Is it okay if I lock the door and go or do you want to come out and lock the door after I leave?”
“It’s okay if you lock the door behind you Raghav. Thank you for asking though. I appreciate it.”
“Bye sweetheart. I will come back soon.”
If Raghav smiled like a fool and skipped steps while going and coming back, no one had to know about it.
Day 7 of them living together, when Raghav knocked Siya’s door announcing that dinner was ready, Siya said –
“Raghav… Are you there?”, placing her hands on the door.
“Yes Siya. I am still here.”, Raghav replied and unknowingly placed his hand on other side of the door.
“I got an email for an interview.”
“Congratulations Siya.”
“I didn’t yet get the job…”
“It’s still progress sweetheart.”
“Can I ask for some help regarding this?”
“Anything Siya.”
“Can you take a mock interview? I haven’t attended an interview in quite some time now.”
“Sure babe. Send me the JD. I will prepare some questions.”
“Raghavvvvv…”, Siya groaned.
“What? What happened? Are you okay?”
“No babe and sweetheart while taking mock please. I can’t be blushing…”, Siya stopped suddenly.
“Can’t be blushing, huh…I heard you…”, Raghav teased.
“Raghavvvv!!”
“Okay…okay. No babe, darling, love, sweetheart… but you need to come out for a face-to-face interview my love.”
“AAAgghhh Raghavvv… The interview is via teams. There is no need for me to come out.”
“Fineee… You know you can’t be cooped up in your room forever, right?”
“Your room.”, Siya corrected and hit her forehead immediately for unnecessary bringing this up.
“Hahahaha…, babe you are so cute. Fine, I won’t tease you about this, for now. Eat up while the food is still hot. And send me the JD and let me know when you are ready, okay?”
“Thanks Raghav.”
“You are welcome sweetheart. Goodnight. Get some rest.”
Day 15 of them living together – Siya finally, voluntarily came out of the room and went looking for Raghav.
Raghav was about to finish his last work call. When he saw Siya, his eyes grew large with surprise, but he motioned to her that he was wrapping up the call in 5mins.
When he came to the living room, he saw Siya observing a painting there.
“Hi Siya.”, Raghav said to make his presence known to her.
“Hi Raghav.”
“How are you feeling?”, Raghav tried to ask as coolly as possible.
“I am feeling better. It’s actually about that. It’s day 15. I don’t need to technically stay in isolation anymore.”
“But you can stay here for a few more days, if you want to.”, Raghav added hopefully.
“I will ask colonel uncle’s permission, if it’s okay. And if you are okay too, of course.”
“‘If I am okay’”, Raghav huffed, “I am more than okay babe.”
Siya cheeks turned a delicious shade of pink. Raghav had to fist his palms to stop himself from touching her.
“Raghavvv!!”, she gritted her teeth.
Raghav raised his palms in defense but was giggling like a teenager.
“Okay…okay. Shall I make some coffee?”, Raghav asked as a peace offering.
“I want to tell you something.”
“Sure. Come on, lets sit.”, saying this Raghav picked the corner seat of the 3-seater sofa to sit.
Siya could have picked the other end of the sofa. She could have picked the single seat. She could have remained standing, but she chose to sit beside Raghav. Not too close to malfunction Raghav completely. But close enough to hear Raghav’s breath hitch.
“I got the job I interviewed for last week.”, Siya finally said.
Raghav held Siya’s hands without any thoughts, “I am so happy for you sweetheart. Congratulations.”
It was Siya’s turn to stop breathing as she looked at their hands clasped together.
Upon realising what he had done Raghav started to withdraw his hand, but Siya held on to it.
“Can we watch a movie.”, Siya asked completely out of topic.
“Oh… like this… I mean… Yes. Yeah…sure…which one?”, Raghav rambled.
“Do you want me to move to the other side of the sofa.”, Siya asked confused by Raghav’s malfunctioning, after all, this was not how she had seen him at work.
“No!!”, Raghav exclaimed urgently, “give me 5mins. I think I need to go scream into a pillow or pinch myself to believe that you are actually sitting this close to me and holding my hand.”
“You are so cute darling.”, Siya teased.
Raghav turned his head so fast to catch Siya’s reaction that she feared he might have sprained his neck.
“You are not leading me on, are you?”, Raghav asked, just to be sure.
“No darling. I am giving you a chance, to be my friend and more, if you want.”
“Really?”, Raghav smiled broadly.
“Really darling. Now pick a movie already.”, saying this Siya moved closer to Raghav.
“I don’t want to push my luck Siya, but can I kiss you. Once?”
“Just once?”, at this Raghav let out a screech.
“You are just perfect babe. I might fumble once in while like get too lost in work, or not answer messages or forget anniversaries. But don’t give up on me. Please.”
“I won’t Raghav.”
“I will always want to take care of you. And might try to baby you and you might not like it. When I do it, tell me. You need to tell me when I am being stupid. Open communication? Promise.”
“I promise Raghav.”
“I tease. I know. That’s my stupid love language. I can’t help myself. In future, remember this, I will tickle you too. I can be childish sometimes.”
“Why are you telling me all these Raghav?”
“I have liked you for too long Siya. I am scared I will overwhelm you. And scare you away.”
“I don’t scare easy Raghav. And trust me, I will tease you back. Don’t worry. I put a lot of thought before taking action. You make me happy. You make me feel safe. I have seen the way you care for me. I want to reciprocate darling.”
“You do?”
Siya didn’t answer, instead pulled their clasped hands to her lips and kissed Raghav’s hand.