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“Properly taken with honey, it won’t taste bitter and will be comfortable. This is an excellent home remedy that will quickly cure your cold and won’t disturb your digestive system either.”

Jhankar glances at Sharda, who is smiling at her, prompting her to quickly move away. Sharda’s eyes go to Vikrant, who is smiling very slightly. When Sharda notices Vikrant smiling, she reciprocates the smile and tells him,

“You have no idea how happy I am; you just keep smiling like this. This is very important for me. Now go to your room because you came to the office after a tense day. She is also tense, but still, she has gone to the kitchen for you. You both take a rest.”

Vikrant soon goes to his room, and he likes Jhankar’s care for him. Because of this, he has started becoming happier day by day. After some time, Jhankar brings something in a cup for him, and she also carries a bottle of honey with it. Vikrant remarks upon seeing the bottle of honey in her hands,

“Are you sure that you brought this only for me?”

When he says this, Jhankar simply extends the cup in front of him, keeping the bottle of honey with it.

“I thought I should help you a little, but since you don’t want it, now drink this bitter medicine. You don’t need honey.”

Vikrant takes the cup from her hands, sits comfortably, takes a sip, and looks at her with a smile.

“I’m not saying anything different; you like to give me bitter things. I thought there should be no shortage of your favorite thing—that’s why I said it.”

“Absolutely, Sharda Maa, getting upset for no reason; you like all these things.”

Vikrant tries to drink it quietly without saying anything, but it is very bitter, which causes him discomfort. When Jhankar notices his difficulty in drinking it like this, she quickly hands him the honey and starts looking at him while mixing it into his cup, and he, too, keeps looking at her.

“I’m giving it to you because it is a very effective home remedy. If you take it, you will not have any problem. Last night, you got wet in the rain, and you’re sneezing in such a way that God knows what has happened to you. This is the problem with grownups because you never enjoy the rain and never enjoy anything properly; that’s why you fall ill as soon as you come in contact with nature.”

After saying her piece, Jhankar sits down on the bed. Suddenly, she sneezes, and Vikrant, still drinking his medicine, smiles at her. When she notices his gaze, she addresses him.

“Now that I’ve been living your foolish lifestyle with you for the past few months, some of your effects are bound to affect me too; that’s why all this has happened.”

“Yes, I am responsible for all mistakes.”

He resumes drinking his medicine quietly, and Jhankar keeps glancing here and there, repeatedly trying to avoid Vikrant’s gaze, because of which he looks at her closely and asks,

“Any problem…?”

“I was thinking of going to my parents’ house for a few days; I haven’t seen them for a long time.”

As Vikrant places the cup to his mouth, he suddenly glances at Jhankar, understands what she’s said, and responds,

“You know that Sharda Maa is not allowing both of us to go anywhere so easily, so don’t ask me—ask her.”

Jhankar suddenly smiles and runs out quickly. Vikrant smiles as he sees her running like that and sits quietly.

Jhankar rushes to Sharda, who is just getting ready to sleep. Immediately, Jhankar sits beside her and asks,

“Maa, I want to go to my parents’ house; should I go?”

“What happened suddenly...?”

“No, it’s just that it’s been a long time since I met my parents; that’s why I’m thinking of going.”

“Then tell Vikrant to let you visit them for a few hours. You both stay in front of me until I’m at peace, because I get very nervous when you’re not around. Whenever you go to the office, you know how many times I call you in a day. Now you’re asking to go to your parents' house. I don’t want you to go at all. If this accident hadn’t happened, just wait for a few more days. Let me be at peace knowing that you both are absolutely fine. Then there will be no problem.”

“Maa, you’re not understanding. I’m having severe pain in my stomach, and I think I will get my period tomorrow or the day after. You know how much of a problem I face.”

Sharda glances at Jhankar, then her gaze swiftly shifts to the door where Vikrant stands. He shakes his head at Sharda, signaling that she should stop Jhankar at any cost. As a result, Sharda looks at Jhankar, then again at Vikrant, briefly closes her eyes, and says to Jhankar,

“Jhankar, I wasn’t able to understand. This problem will always remain. You cannot go to your house all the time. And why do you need to go to your parents' house during your periods? My heart is already worried about you two all the time… You facethis problem every month. I can’t just send you to your parents every month. So don’t go.”

Jhankar immediately turns her gaze towards Sharda, feeling that she might not understand her problem. Sharda carefully examines Vikrant, who is standing behind her at the door. He smiles slightly. Then she says to Jhankar,