Ahem came home from work in a foul mood. He had had back to back meetings all day and the headache that started off as a niggling irritation had manifested itself into a full blown migrane. Of course having that darned pigeon in the house had not helped matters.
He was greeted at the door by Meethi who offered her usual greeting. He just grunted. He didn't have the energy to reply. Both his mum and Kaki came into view and he just about managed to offer a salutation to them both. Then Gopi came into view and he nodded at her. She came to him, a concerned look crossing her pretty features as she surveyed him.
"Ahemji? Are you alright?" She asked before Kokila had a chance to ask.
"I just have a slight headache." He replied. He looked at his mom, "Mom, if it is alright with you I shall go upstairs and try and sleep it off." Kokila nodded. Gopi watched as Ahem slowly reached the bottom of the stairs and saw him sway slightly as he reached the second step and saw that he had grabbed the bannister tightly. I can't let him go up the steps alone, she thought and turned to Kokila.
"Maaji? May I see Ahemji up to our room? I will then come down and get some tablets for him." Kokila nodded. Gopi ran to the stairs and joined Ahem. She took his laptop bag from him and took his arm. He looked at her through a haze of pain. She was not 100% better and she was slight. But she was there to support him and thankful for her help he let her accompany him to the room.
As they entered the bedroom she put his bag down on to the table and then helped him off with his jacket and dropped it onto the chair. Ahem moved towards the sofa.
"Ahemji?" she stopped him and he turned towards her. "I think rather than you sleeping on the sofa you should sleep on the bed." He nodded and sat on the edge of the bed. Gopi helped him lie down and removed his shoes and socks and pulled the blanket over him. As you would do to a small child she reached out and touched his forehead and cheek. Both were hot. He was becoming feverish. "I shall go down and get you some painkillers." Ensuring that he was somewhat comfortable she left the room.
On arriving back with the painkillers, water and a simple snack she saw that he wasn't in bed. She turned towards the bathroom when she heard retching. Putting everything down she went to the bathroom door and tried it. He had locked it. She rapped on the door.
"Ahemji? Ahemji? Please open the door." She heard running water and could make out his form at the vanity. Finally he opened the door and looked down at her concerned face. "Ahemji, are you ok?" He nodded but she wasn't convinced. It was the first time she had seen him so pale. Leading him back to the bed and making him comfortable she poured some water and offered it to him. He took a small sip. She then picked up the plate of kichdi and offered it to him. "Gopi. I don't really feel like eating." Sensing that he would be awkward she sat on the bed beside him, took up a spoonful and offered it to him.
"Maaji says that before you can take the tablets you will have to eat. You can't take them on an empty stomach." Despite himself he took the first spoonful and allowed her to feed him until it was all finished. She then gave him the glass of water and the painkillers. As he lay back on the pillow she switched off the table lamp and gathered the plate. "Try and sleep now. I will come up later and massage your head." He closed his eyes. Gopi waited until his breathing changed, alerting her to the fact that he was sound asleep, then as quietly as she could she picked up the plate and slowly tiptoed out.
It was late evening by the time she returned. He was still asleep. She put down the bottle of sweet almond oil she had got from the kitchen. She had cleared it with Kokila that it was alright to take the oil and gave her reasons. Anything for the wellbeing of her son, she agreed happily. Gopi looked at the bed and thought to herself that if Ahem was sleeping on the bed she should not disturb him. In the dim darkness of the room she picked up her bedding and moved it to the sofa. She then picked up her night sari and went into the bathroom.
He stirred as she emerged from the bathroom.
"How are you feeling?" she asked. He sat up an switched on the light above the bed.
"Much better than before. Thank you." Gopi did her usual little nod and went and picked up the bottle of oil. "Is that for me?" he asked.
"Yes. I thought that it might help." Thankfully the tablets had taken the edge off the headache but he was happy to let Gopi massage his head. He sat up and moved to the edge of the bed. She placed one towel on the bed and sat him on it and made a little mound with the hand towel and placed it on the bed to her left. Pouring the oil into a little bowl she secured it in the middle of the mound and got on the bed behind him on her knees. She dipped her fingers into the oil and realised that if she used this method then that would take forever. So she picked up the bowl, got up higher on her knees and drizzled the oil onto his head and then quickly rubbed it in. Using her fingertips she worked the oil properly into his hair, ensuring that each strand was covered and then she began massaging. Starting at the crown her hands worked their way down to the nape of his neck and back to the crown again. Ahem closed his eyes. He had never had a head massage before and was beginning to like it. He lifted his head back and revelled as Gopi moved her fingers to his temples. She snuck a look at him from the dressing table mirror. He looked so relaxed. She afforded a little smile. It made her happy. Still looking into the mirror she massaged his forehead. Her fingers making little circular motions across his forehead before moving to the top of his head. As she continued with the scalp massage he felt the weirdest sensation ever. His head felt like there was a thousand ants crawling on his scalp and then a feeling like water was being poured over his head and he could feel the heaviness and the mugginess that had engulfed him lift. He opened his eyes and stared at the mirror in front of him. Gopi was still concentrating on massaging his head and for the first time that evening allowed himself a small smile. He saw the way that Gopi was so deeply involved in her task. And he loved her for it. His brow furrowed. "Was that right? He did love her. How that had happened he did not know. But he did. What would her reaction be to this bit of news?" he wondered. He quickly brushed those thoughts to the side. He was really enjoying the massage. In fact if he had been a tom cat he would be purring loudly by now and never leaving her side!
Will post part two later. 😊
Update on page 5.
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