The Stigma Called Love - Chapter 28

Feeling something was wrong, Aparna tried to loosen Nishant’s grip on her, but couldn’t.

“Nishant, please get up,” she said trying to pull him to the sofa but he did not budge.

She called out couple of times but he still did not move. As panic and worry started to settle in her, she somehow managed to loosen his hands from her back this time. The moment she did, he fell backwards and she caught him in her arms.

“Nishant, please, open your eyes. Please,” she pleaded sliding to the floor to cradle his head in her bosom.

Rocking him gently, she kept on shaking his head trying to wake him up from his semi-conscious state. As his face twisted with pain, she called out to him again and this time, he opened his eyes a little.

Looking straight into her eyes, Nishant could see her pupils dilating in panic. But, still she smiled at him as her fingers stroked his hair soothingly.

“Can you get up?”

He nodded trying hard to numb the throbbing in his temples, but now it was completely out of control.

Placing his arm around her shoulder, she managed to scramble to the floor bed with him.

Nishant collapsed on the bed the moment he reached it, but he still did not let go of her hand. As a matter of fact, he never wanted to let go of her hand.

Aparna adjusted his head on the pillow and then asked in a soothing low tone, “Tell me, what’s wrong? Migraine or sinus?”

“Both,” he managed to mutter.

She tried hard to think of a way to appease his pain, and then suddenly it occurred to her. She let go of his hand and was about to rush downstairs when he called her name.

“I am not going anywhere. I’ll be back soon. Just don’t move. I’ll be back,” she said trying to reassure him.

When she reached downstairs, she opened the refrigerator and pulled out the ice trays. Pouring all the ice in a bowl along with some chilled water, she again went upstairs. On the way to his bedroom, she stopped in hers and pulled out some tablets from the bag.

Nishant groaned her name just as the throbbing aggravated more than ever. When Aparna reached his side, his face was twisted with pain and his breathe was coming in short spurts.

“Nishant, Nishant,” she called him twice, waking him from his slumberous state.

When he looked at her, she came near his ears and said, “I need you to come with me to the washroom. Can you?”

The moment he nodded, she helped him up on his feet and took him to the bathroom. Finding no other place to make him sit, she sat him down by the bathtub on the floor, making him lean against its edge.

Aparna knew if she did not hurry then it would be impossible to keep Nishant in a conscious state. Quickly, she picked up the ice bowl and rushed inside the bathroom.

At first, she put some water with some ice in bucket and let it sit for couple of seconds. In the meantime, she kept on talking to him trying to keep him awake.

She dipped her hand in the bucket to check the temperature: it was cold enough. Next, she helped him out of his shirt and cradled his head in her arm.

“Aparna!” Nishant whispered as he felt her arm go around her him.

“Shhhhh! Just relax. It’s going to be okay soon.”

Slowly, she started pouring the ice cold water on his head, wetting his hair.

The moment the cold water hit his head, Nishant felt his nerves cry out in protest. He clutched her hand to stop her but she brushed it off.        

“Trust me!”

His hands fell away the moment he heard her. Gradually, the cold water numbed the pain-constricted areas of his temples and forehead.

Aparna quickly wiped off the water from his hair and then helped him back to the bed.

“Nishant, is there a medicine you take for your sinus?” she asked framing his face in her hands.

Nodding, he pointed to his bag.

She rummaged through his bag and found a toiletry pouch in it. It didn’t take her much time to recognise the name of the sinus medicine.

“How many do you take?”

But Nishant did not answer as he had again slipped into his semi-conscious state.

“Nishant, how many do you take?” she asked, shaking him hard.

“Two,” he answered trying hard to keep his eyes open.

Aparna took out two tablets and then stripped open the sleeping pills she had got with her. Taking one from there, she picked up his head and said, “I need you to take these medicines.”

But, somehow this time he did not respond at all.

“Nishant, please open your mouth. Take the medicines.”      

      

He still did not move at all.

“You cannot give up on me now. Please, open your mouth, Nishant,” she commanded in hard voice, shaking him with all her might.

He woke up with a start and looked at her. Seeing her tears, he framed her face in his palm and smiled. Then, opened his mouth and took the medicines.    

      

As he closed his eyes, Aparna placed his head gently on the pillow and started to rub his upper body and face with a wet cloth.

Eventually, after almost an hour, Nishant slipped into a dreamless sleep. As his breathing became normal, she placed a wet cloth dipped in ice cold water on his forehead. She continued changing it every now and then, all the while combing his hair with her fingers.

In the wee hours of the morning, Aparna snuggled close to him and closed her eyes. Placing her hand over his heart, she slept off knowing that nothing would go wrong now. She was with him and that was what he wanted. She would never let go of him again. 

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