SS: Dheere Dheere Se - ArDhika + NeSam ~ 2/13/16 p63 - Page 43

Please excuse any spelling or grammatical errors

**No copyright infringement intended. I do not own the characters but storylines are my own.

Chapter 17: Ishq Bulaava

Arjun opened his eyes and groaned at the sound of the door bell ringing. He didn't know why his head felt like a ton of bricks as he hobbled his way off of the couch and to the front door. Without even looking through the peep hole he opened the door and stared groggily at the woman in front of him. She was holding what looked like a sealed round food container. "Rad-Radhika?"

"Neil was right you sound terrible," she replied and walked into the house.

Arjun didn't make a fuss and simply closed the door. He sneezed loudly and then asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Where's Ramu Kaka?" Radhika inquired ignoring his question.

"He should be here. Ramu Kaka? Ramu Kaka? Ra---m---" Arjun paused in mid sentence and turned his head to the side as he started to sneeze. He quickly walked into the living room and grabbed the box of tissues. "Ugh..." he sighed to himself after he had finished blowing his nose.

"It looks like he went to the store?"

"Yeah, probably...wait, what day is it?"

"It's Sunday Arjun Sir."

"Oh yes he's taken the day off. Actually he won't be back until Tuesday."

"Tuesday?"

"He has some family in town."

"Where is Aunt Nandini?"

"She's in Delhi for business. She won't be back until next week. Why are you asking all these questions? And you still haven---ahhh-choo..."

"Bless you Arjun Sir." He blew his nose again and then followed behind her as she made her way into the kitchen. "I can't believe Neil just left you by yourself in this condition...Ramu Kaka is out and Aunt Nandini is away too," she sighed as she began opening cabinets and drawers in search of something.

"I am fine by myself," Arjun sniffled. "What's in the container?"

"Daal soup. Ma made it for you before she left."

"She left? But didn't she just get here?"

"She only stopped through...some of her friends from school are having a mini reunion in Bangalore. She'll be back on Thursday," Radhika informed. "Neil called and told me he thought you were sick. He didn't mention Ramu Kaka and Aunt Nandini was away otherwise I would have come over sooner."

"I'm fine...ahh-ahhh-choo..." Radhika eyed him while he sniffled giving a grumpy look in return. "I can take care of myself. I've been doing it for awhile now."

"Have you had lunch?"

He gently pondered her question and then asked, "What time is it?"

"Arjun Sir!" Radhika said with exasperation. "It's 2:00pm...you're sick and you haven't eaten yet?"

"I had chai and some rusk," he childishly defended with a pout.

"And at what time?"

Arjun feeling a bit fatigued sat down on one of the stools in front of the breakfast bar and replied, "I woke up at 7am...did a light workout...took a shower...watched the news and had some chai and rusk...I said goodbye to Neil...he left around 9:30am to go play basketball with some friends...then I was feeling tired so I took a nap...then I woke up because of you...ringing that doorbell...my nose is stuffy, I have a headache, and I feel out of sorts...satisfied with my report?"

"Well, I was looking for a container to put this daal soup in so you could have it later...but now you are going to have this for lunch. Just sit there and don't do anything," Radhika ordered. Arjun was too tired to argue with her and obediently stayed put.

A few minutes later a bowl of hot daal soup was in front of him. He gingerly took the spoon in his hand and slowly fed himself. He felt the warmth of the soup clear his nose a bit making it easier for him to breath. He took a saltine cracker from a plate that Radhika had put to the side and nibbled on it. He barely reacted when he felt Radhika's hand on his forehead trying to measure his body temperature. "You don't have a fever at least...just rather warm...and you have a small bump here from yesterday." Withdrawing her hand she looked about the kitchen and asked, "Arjun Sir where is the ice pack?"

"It's upstairs in my bedroom...left corner room towards the back."

Radhika nodded and headed upstairs. The room was easy to find. She smirked at the state of the bed, the covers thrown to the side and the dark grey sheets ruffled and unkept. Her eyes roamed around the space curiously taking note of the locations of the dresser, the night stands, the walk-in closet, the en suite bathroom, and the balcony. She also observed the make shift workout area tucked in the corner of his room. It comprised of a hanging punching bag, a workbench, and a small weight rack with set of three dumbbells. She knew she couldn't linger very long before Arjun would get suspicious. She found the ice pack on the night stand by the photo frame of his parents. She smiled at the picture and then quickly exited the room returning to the kitchen where she found Arjun washing dishes and the food already packed away.

"Sorry I took too long. You should have just left everything. I would have packed it away and washed the dishes."

Arjun put the last dish on the drying rack and then wiped his hands dry with a towel. "You're the guest here. You don't have to do these things. Besides you brought me the soup which was delicious. Please tell your mom thank you." He crinkled his nose and then lunged for the tissue box to capture his sneeze in a tissue.

"Medicines?" Radhika inquired. "You should really take some cold medicine."

Arjun made his way to a closet in the hallway and took out a medium sized storage container with a red cross on the top. He opened it at the kitchen table so they could inspect the contents inside. "Headache medicine, indigestion, sinuses...there isn't any cold medicine for you," Radhika said with a frown.

"Wait there is this," Arjun replied.

Radhika took the yellow box from his hand and inspected it. "It's already expired Arjun Sir."

"It is? Oh, 2013...well, I guess we don't get sick very often," he gave a croaky chuckle and then noticed Radhika's disapproving face. "What?"

"I'm going to the chemist shop to get you some medicines."

"Radhika you don't have to do that I can go myself. It was enough that you dropped by and gave me the soup."

Shaking her head, "You should rest Arjun Sir. It's not a big deal there is a shop nearby. And you really don't look like you are in any condition to go out right now."

Arjun held his head and sighed, "I guess I should take the headache medicine for now."

Radhika opened the Tiger Balm and placed the ointment along his forehead. "This should help with the headache until I return with the proper meds." She then took the ice pack and unscrewed the top dumping all the water out of it and replenished it with a fresh batch of ice.

"Thanks," Arjun replied as he took the pack from her.

"I'll be back soon Arjun Sir."

Arjun couldn't help but smile watching her leave the house. "This girl..." he uttered in amusement. He then sneezed and groaned at his condition and placed the ice pack on his head.

Scrutinizing mocha eyes inspected the rising tissue and the beginning formation of a ring of purplish black on the left cheek. "So how bad does it look?" Neil asked.

"Certified black eye by the end of the day," Amit replied with a chuckle. "I don't think I have ever seen anyone catch a ball with his face before."

Neil frowned while Amit and the rest of the basketball group laughed at his misfortune. "Ha-ha...very funny. Like you should say anything you have the passing skills of a nine year old. The ball was all over the place."

"You're just sore cause your team lost," Amit's brother Sunny replied.

"Tell the truth you didn't want to be on the team with him because of his passing skills."

"No," Sunny replied shaking his head but then laughed, "Amit Bhaiya really is a horrible passer."

"Sunny!" Amit exclaimed at this open betrayal.

"Oh come on Bhiaya everyone knows this. You're always picked last."

Amit crossed his arms and grumbled, "You guys are unbelievable."

"So Amit, how is married life? Is it worth it?" one of the friends inquired.

"Enjoying every minute of it," Amit replied with a beaming smile.

"I'm surprised Asha hasn't spent all your money going shopping," joked a friend wearing a red tank.

"But Amit you score in the looks department...Asha is very---"

"Hey, hey, hey that's your Bhabhi we are talking about! Mind your manners...have some respect."

The group of friends all laughed while the friend corrected his statement, "What I mean is you two will have beautiful babies. The looks will definitely come from her side that's a fact."

Sunny was in the middle of his laughing when he spotted someone at the entrance of the cafe. He started to nudge the guys sitting next to him to make them focus. He did a quick eye motion to his brother who paused wondering what was wrong with him. "Hi Asha Bhabhi!" Sunny greeted warmly.

"Hi guys!" Asha replied. "Guess who I ran into at the mall?" The friends tried to contain their laughter though not very successfully. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing Bhabhi. Hi Sam!" Sunny waved trying to salvage the situation.

Neil immediately turned his head when he heard her voice. Sam and Asha both gasped at Neil's appearance. Neil stared at Sam as she curiously looked at his cheek. "Neil? What happened to you?"

"This," answered one of the guys from the group. He handed over his iPhone S5 and Asha watched the video clip of Neil getting slammed in the head with a flying basketball.

Asha covered her mouth and laughed. "I'm sorry Neil but this..." She then handed it to Sam to see.

Neil shook his head sadly as he heard the cheerful laughter of his best girl friend. "Neil...it's the way you fell down...I'm so sorry..." Sam gasped trying to breathe.

"It's fine...go laugh away at your heart's content...what else is new? I got accosted by little street children, got harassed by a pregnant lady, and now I got in the way of a basketball..."

"Neil," Sam sighed shaking her head and put his ice pack back on his face. "Keep that thing on or you'll get a huge bump." She then giggled, "Both cousins with bumps on their faces...how is the office going to react to this?"

"Karmatic retribution...I kicked him yesterday and it caused him to bump his head against that pipe...and today I got smacked in the face with a basketball," Neil replied providing the much needed explanation to the group.

"Neil how long have you been icing?" Asha inquired.

"Fifteen minutes on and off like you are suppose to. I'm not sure how long it's been. Why?"

Without answering his questions Asha disappeared to find one of the waiting staff to make a request. A few minutes later she returned to the table with a plate of butter. "You want bread with that? We have to order some," Amit stated staring at the slab of butter.

"It's not for that." She then looked at Neil and ordered, "Remove the ice pack please." He obediently followed her instructions and then grimaced when he felt soft butter being rubbed on his face.

"What are you doing?" Neil protested.

"Stay still Neil."

"Seriously Asha what are you doing?" Amit asked.

"It's a home remedy I read online. You can treat bumps and bruises with butter. The original article I read was about egg whites and chocolate. That just sounded messy with the egg whites and the chocolate part didn't make sense since it said not to melt it. It's a little hard to rub a bar of chocolate on yourself. And quite frankly I'd rather eat the Cadbury then rub it on my skin. Anyways, the butter can be substituted for the egg whites and chocolate," Asha explained. "Honestly Neil stop fidgeting."

"Why are you being so rough with me?"

"Here Sam put the rest on him. He'll probably behave better with you."

Sam took the plate from Asha's hand and dipped her fingers into the creamy butter scooping up a little mound and gently rubbed it along Neil's cheekbone and under his eye. "So how long does he have to keep this on?"

"About 15 minutes. It is suppose to help stop the spreading of the bruise...the article went into some chemical break downs which I can't remember...but it has to do with the fat in the butter. Something about that stops the blood vessels from breaking down and causing the black-eye appearance. Tomorrow you should have no bruise."

"So you've never done this before?" Neil asked.

"No. This is the first time. Let me know how it goes."

"You're trying a home remedy on me for the first time? What if it doesn't work? What if something happens?"

"Stop being dramatic Neil. The worst that could happen is that you have a black-eye...which is what you were getting anyways. At least be thankful I didn't try to smear egg whites on your face."

Neil was about to retort when his cell phone went off. "Hello Chashni? Oh...well, I---okay...yes we're done...I had my lunch...okay...I didn't know he was that bad...he just sounded funny when I left...oh...okay...I'm leaving right now. I'll be home soon, okay?" He glanced over at Sam and asked, "Can you drive me home? I don't think I should be driving with butter on my face."

"Yeah sure," Sam replied taking his keys from him. "I took an auto today to the mall because Chashni had to take my car to drop off her mom."

"You guys seriously leaving early?" Amit asked.

"Sorry. Chashni will have my head if I am not home soon."

"Chashni? Who's that? And why would she be angry?"

"Chashni is Rads," Asha explained. "It's their nickname for her. And she's probably upset because of Arjun."

"She's upset with me over him," Neil said.

"Is that so? This is a change," Asha smirked.

After everyone waved and said their farewells to Neil and Sam, Amit looked at his wife curiously, "Why are you smiling so much?"

"I predict wedding bells..."

"Of Sam and Neil?"

"Well maybe...Sam is a bit picky...but I was actually thinking about Rads and Arjun."

"They didn't get along very well in Goa. He was kind of silent and he looked irritated every time she talked. You sure about this?"

"Bhabhi you telling fortunes again?" Sunny teased.

"Just have a feeling that's all. Those two would have either stayed enemies or fallen for one another."

"Heh, I don't think so. You wanna bet?" Amit asked.

Arjun gently turned to his side and awoke to the darkness inside his bedroom. He tossed the covers away and sat up feeling no better than this afternoon. His head was still congested and his body was warm. It took a lot of effort for him to get out of bed and make his way to the bathroom. A few minutes later, he was outside in the hallway wondering if anyone was in the house. Looking out the window he could tell that it had to be past 6:00pm as the sun had already set. He shuffled his feet along what he felt was a cold wooden floor trying to make his way downstairs. Even in his groggy state he could hear faint voices coming from within Neil's bed room. His eyes squinted as he placed his concentration on what was being said.

"Don't stop...keep going..."

"Like this?"

"Yea...hmmm..."

"Not enough? Need more?"

"A little more. Two times..."

"Two times? Okay, I don't know if I'll have enough energy or patience but anything for you."

"You're doing great. I'm enjoying this."

"I guess practice makes perfect."

"Oh no, no, no...use the other one."

"It's hard..."

"Of course it's suppose to be..."

"This correct?"

"Mmm..."

Arjun's eyes narrowed in relentless unexplainable anger. The female voice he could recognize anywhere. It was Radhika. His mind was in a jumble mess unable to proper process the conversation he was overhearing. This was the same girl that never had a kiss before? Just what was she doing with Neil? Why wasn't she choosing him? After all they were the ones that had shared a moment together he thought bitterly. Arjun tore open the door and hollered, "What is going on in here?"

"Um, it isn't what it looks like," Neil sputtered immediately.

Arjun blinked a few times as he looked at his cousin who appeared to have eyeliner, powder, blush, and lipstick on one side of his face. His left cheek had a large lipstick mark as if someone had planted a big kiss. He was holding a nail polish brush in one hand while the other held Radhika's hand. He had been painting her nails.

"Arjun Sir? How are you feeling?" Radhika asked.

"What are you guys doing?" he asked ignoring her question.

"Oh, we're testing out some of the Maybelline samples we received," Radhika informed with a smile. "Neil's learning how to put on nail polish."

"Did you know you have to apply a base coat then two coats of nail polish and then a top coat?"

Arjun shook his head at his cousin's explanation. "What happened to you?" He then sneezed and looked about the room for a box of tissues.

"Here Arjun Sir."

He took the box and then went out to the hallway to clear his nose. He tossed the dirty tissues in the waste basket in Neil's room causing him to protest. "What? It's trash."

"I don't want your sick germs in my room."

"You going to stuck your hands in the waste basket? No, right...so why does it matter?" Arjun argued back. "And you look ridiculous."

"I didn't do it voluntarily," Neil protested. "And go wash your hands."

Arjun replied with a croaky cough and left to go to the bathroom in the hallway. Just then Sam appeared at the doorway, "Chashni I got all the groceries." She then looked over at Neil and giggled. "You look adorable Neil."

"No I don't," he replied sourly. "Hey, no pictures you promised! Sammy, put the camera down!"

"Oh but we really should keep one for memories."

Neil got up and lunged after her trying to take the mobile phone away. "Sammy give me the phone!"

"No!" she replied sticking out her tongue.

Radhika laughed at them as they chased each other around the bedroom. She then turned her attention to picking up the makeup from off the floor and packing them away. After she was done with her task she started to make her way to the door leaving the two besties to duke it out. "Hey Chashni where are you going?" Neil shouted. "Help me! Stop Sammy with this photo nonsense!"

"I have to go make dinner Neil."

"Perfect! Take her with you!"

"What about your nails?" Sam asked as she continued to weave to and fro with her phone held high trying to take a picture.

Radhika peered into the large pot on the stove to inspect if the chicken and vegetable broth had started to boil yet. She did a gentle stir watching the noodles, carrots, celery, onion, basil, oregano, and pepper swirl around. She then moved onto the chicken breasts that she was grilling on the grill pan taking great care to get the grilled-marked look without burning the chicken. Her eyes were focused on the food in front of her but a part of her was keeping an eye on the presence sitting at the kitchen table. At first she wasn't so bothered but as time drew on she felt a little self conscious. He was acting a little more like his previous avatar, grumpy and silent. Then again he was ill so that may have been one of the contributing factors. She wasn't sure why he was sitting in the kitchen instead of the living room. Every time she asked him he declined to move citing he was fine where he was.

Arjun sat with his arms folded trying to keep his body warm. He had changed into a long sleeve shirt and sweat pants to help him keep his body temperature in check. When he had initially awoken from his nap he had felt warm but now he was feeling chilly. He hated these temperature swings during colds. He sniffled and watched Radhika move about the kitchen cooking dinner. He was a bit confused as to why he was sitting in the kitchen watching Radhika like this. A part of him was still put off by what had happened earlier in Neil's bedroom even though it turned out to be something completely different and innocent. And another part of him was upset with himself that he was even thinking about such things. Neil seemed to be interested in Sam not Radhika. And as for Radhika, he was bothered that he was so concern over her actions. It wasn't like they shared a relationship in that way. In fact he had made a decision to not get too close with her yet here he was in the kitchen keeping an eye on her.

He coughed into his arm and then reached into his pockets searching for something. "Looking for these?" Sam inquired as she entered the kitchen with a bag of cough drops. "They were left on the couch. Why are you sitting here instead of the living room?"

"Thanks," he replied and took the bag from her.

"That's what I have been asking. But he just wants to sit here," Radhika said.

"Sorry for my tardiness. Neil was making just as much as a fuss when we were putting makeup on him when I was helping him wash it off. It was like he never washed his face before. Arjun you wash your face right?"

"Yes, in the shower."

"I wash my face. When I take my morning shower and before I go to bed at night," Neil defended as he walked into the kitchen. "You were rubbing on my face like I was a piece of dough you were trying to flatten out to make naan with. And have you forgotten about what happened earlier today with my cheek?"

"No, I did not forget you got hit by the basketball. I was gentle on that side. And it looks like Asha's remedy worked. Hardly a bruise now. Anyways, I already apologized to you about that. It was the waterproof and stay long lipstick and eyeliner. I forgot I had the travel bottle of the special eye and lip remover with me. We got it removed in the end. You don't have to worry about showing up at work with Zubin and Teji looking at you funny and Kritika taking pictures of you and posting it on Instagram stating you like to cross dress."

"Sam..." Radhika gasped at her last statement.

"You know that's the truth. Don't act like you don't know that isn't something she wouldn't do. She likes to gossip along with Zubin."

"And Teji?" Neil asked.

"He is just a silent participant. He may not say anything to anyone but deep down he likes to listen to them talk."

Neil looked over towards Arjun and gave him a questioning look. "So you've just been sitting here watching Chashni cook dinner for us?"

"He's ill. I don't expect him to do anything," Radhika replied.

"By the way what are you making for dinner? It smells fantastic."

"Chicken noodle soup, cornbread muffins, spinach and tomato salad."

"Wow, that's quite an international meal...I heard you're a great cook. I didn't get to eat the daal and chapati you made...someone really enjoyed it last time and wouldn't stop talking about it." Radhika glanced over at Arjun who gave her a faint smile. She looked away feeling herself blush. "I was hoping to get some Indian but Western will be a treat for sure."

"I heard chicken noodle soup is good for colds. I thought it would be good for Arjun Sir. And since both of you stayed for some time outside of India...the US and UK...I thought way not make a more Western meal for dinner. Sam's going to help me with the spinach and tomato salad."

"You cooking?" Neil asked with an arched eyebrow.

"Yes, what is wrong with that? I may not be as good as Chashni but I can put some things together."

"So what is in this salad of yours?"

"Spinach, tomatoes, sliced red onion, cucumber, and shaved parmigiano-reggiano with a Italian vinaigrette...it was something I really enjoyed when I was visiting in the US. How does that sound for you?"

Neil grinned, "Not bad Sammy. Need any help? I can chop up the tomatoes and cucumbers for you...wash the spinach...I'll leave the onions for you cause I can't stand crying."

"No, in fact you should take your cousin and go sit in the living room."

"Are you afraid I would mess things up for you?" replying with a mischievous smirk.

"Yes, I don't trust you. So go..."

"Looks like we have been banished from the kitchen," Neil said looking at Arjun. "Let's go." Arjun nodded and got up from the kitchen table and followed his cousin into the living room leaving the two best friends to finish making dinner.