His hands were moving fast. He was making a cup of coffee and a bowl of soup. Right now, he was shredding chicken meat. He heard a faint cough from inside the bedroom and his hands started moving faster. He poured coffee in a mug and then poured the soup in a bowl in which he shredded the meat. He took them both in the bedroom. On the bed, she was lying. She was covered with a white sheet. Her eyes were closed and her face showed that she was sick. He put the tray on the side table and said
"Get up, drink the soup."
She opened her eyes and looked at the soup. She made a very bad face. He said
"I know you do not like chicken that much but chicken soup is very good for the cold."
"I am fine."
"I believe you. Now drink the soup."
She sat up. He started sipping coffee. His eyes were fixed on her. She drank some and then tried to put the bowl away.
"Umhmmmmm."
She heard him. She started drinking again. She was sick for one whole day. After the rain, she got cold when she sat under the fan while still wet. He finished his coffee and put the mug away. He sat quietly.
She was slowly drinking the soup.
"You could have gone to the office. I am fine."
"Drink the soup."
"I am in bed, it is just a cold."
"Drink the soup.....quietly."
"I am just saying that it is not that bad. I can make soup for myself and walk around. I do not have to be in bed all day."
"I found the tablets under your pillow. You forgot to take them."
She looked at him and gave him a smile. He stayed serious.
"Now tell me, how could you be fine if you even forgot take your tablets?"
She laughed. He was staying home to take care of her. He was very strict when it comes to her safety or health. She looked outside the window and saw the clouds. She looked back at him.
"No, you are not going in the rain today."
"It is your fault in the first place. You pushed me in the rain and I got this cold."
"I also told you to dry your hair before coming under the fan."
"I did."
"Not good enough. Now look at you. You are coughing, sneezing and you have a fever."
"Well, still your fault."
"Forgot to take your medicine. Whose fault is that?"
"You pushed me in the rain."
She did not have any argument so she came back to the pushing. He smiled at her. Bowl was almost empty. She tried putting it away.
"Umhmmmmm"
"It is empty."
"I see some meat still. Eat it."
"No."
"You have to eat the chicken if you want to get healthy. I am serious. Eat it."
His face expressions changed slightly to angry. She made a very bad face but he remained serious. He was not in the mood to compromise about her safety. She slowly started eating the shredded meat. He got up and walked to the kitchen. He poured a glass of water and came back. Meat was finished and bowl was in the tray on the side table. He placed the glass on the side table. She said
"Will it be a problem?"
"What?"
"Day off?"
"Na, I have my leaves remaining."
"What if your go over your limit?"
"They will deduct salary."
"So why didn't you go?"
He did not say anything. He gave her the glass and the tablets. She took the tablets and drank some water. She laid back down. He took her temperature. Thermometer showed 80 degrees. It was normal and less then last night. He was relieved. Her mobile rang, she slowly picked it up. It was from one of her friends. Before she could answer, he snatched the phone and disconnected the call. She yelled
"Why?"
"You have to sleep so tablets can work."
"So?"
"So no calls, no getting out of the bed until you are healthy."
"This is not fair."
"I don't care."
She made an angry face and turned to the other side. He put her mobile on silent and placed it on the side table. Got up and picked the tray. She quickly turned around and said
"Just so you know, No kisses for one whole week."
He laughed slowly. This made her more angry.
"Oh you like it huh? how bout two weeks? No kisses for two weeks."
He kept on laughing and slowly walked to the kitchen. After putting the tray near the sink, he looked at the bedroom door. After sometime, he put the thermometer in his mouth. His hand was in his pocket trying to find something. He took out some tablets out of his pocket and poured a glass of water. After sometime, he pulled out the thermometer and looked at the temperature. It was showing 98 degrees. It was more than last night. He looked at bedroom door quickly to check if she is coming or not. After he became certain that she is not coming or out of the bed, he quickly put tablets in his mouth and drank the water.
