Page 12 of Since You Came Along (Ever Since #1)

T he golden sunlight streamed through the curtains, nudging Raghav awake. He stirred, stretching his arms above his head before sitting up. A glance at the clock told him it was already ten in the morning. Despite the mere six hours of sleep he had managed, he felt refreshed.

Then, like a wave, memory of their kiss last night flooded in, bringing a smile to his lips. A flicker of heat rose in him as he recalled the soft warmth of her lips against his and the way she’d melted into him.

God knows where that kiss would’ve led them if they had been somewhere private. Raghav wondered whether to feel relieved or disappointed that it happened in public. He shook his head to clear his thoughts and got out of the bed.

As he stepped into the shower, his mind wandered to the evening ahead. Maybe he could go bowling with Meera. He considered inviting their friends too but dismissed the idea. It sounded much better to spend time with Meera alone.

He remembered how she had insisted he drink a glass of warm milk before bed to avoid getting sick. Her thoughtfulness had a way of tugging at something deep inside him, making him want to protect her, care for her. It wasn’t something he questioned anymore. It simply was.

Once dressed, he decided to take Meera out for breakfast. Perhaps she liked waffles too. He stepped out of his room, expecting to find her back from her morning run. Instead, the sight before him stopped him in his tracks.

Meera was slumped onto the living room floor, leaning against the couch, looking as if she had fallen asleep there. Her face was flushed and damp with sweat.

Alarm surged through him as he rushed to her side and kneeled down. When he touched her cheek, he felt she was burning up.

She stirred at his touch, her eyelids fluttering open to reveal tired, feverish eyes. Despite her condition, she offered him a faint smile. ‘Good morning,’ she rasped.

‘Good morning?’ he echoed, trying to keep the panic out of his voice. ‘What’s happened to you?’ He tried to stay calm, but seeing her so weak made his chest tighten. She looked as though even speaking was a struggle.

‘Fell sick,’ she murmured, as if it were no big deal. Her red nose and chapped lips told him otherwise. She looked so frail, every slight movement seeming to drain her of energy.

‘Why aren’t you in bed?’ he asked, frustration and concern mingling in his tone.

‘I got up to drink water. I felt weak and… I guess I passed out here,’ she explained, her words slow and punctuated by laboured breaths. She closed her eyes again, dismissing her condition with a shrug that made his heart ache.

‘You’ve been here all night?’ His voice cracked, betraying his guilt.

‘I’m okay, Raghav. Don’t worry,’ she said, her lips curving into a faint, reassuring smile.

‘Okay? In what world is this okay, Meera?’ he muttered, his frustration bubbling over. ‘Why didn’t you wake me up? I would’ve gotten you water. You should’ve woken me up the moment you felt unwell!’

‘I didn’t want to bother you,’ she whispered, her words slurring with exhaustion.

Raghav closed his eyes for a moment. She wasn’t okay. Not even close. Each breath hitched as a shudder wracked her fragile form under the covers. The marble floor must’ve been freezing after last night’s rain, and the thought of her spending hours like this made his stomach churn.

Meera opened her mouth to speak, hesitated, then closed it again. After a brief pause, she asked, ‘Will you please help me?’

‘I’m going to pick you up and take you to bed, all right?’

‘Water,’ she whispered, her voice cracking.

‘I’ll bring you some after you’re in bed,’ he reassured her. At her faint nod, he slid an arm under her knees and another around her back, lifting her carefully. She winced and whimpered, and his heart twisted at the sound.

‘Migraine,’ she muttered, her forehead resting against his chest as he carried her to the bedroom. Even through the layers of fabric, he could feel the heat radiating from her feverish body.

He laid her down on the bed, tucking the blanket around her. She let out a small sigh of relief as she snuggled into the warmth.

In the kitchen, he grabbed a glass. As he rinsed it under the tap, he noticed the sink held only his empty milk glass from last night.

It hit him then that she’d given him the only glass of warm milk last night, even though she’d needed it more.

His chest tightened with guilt and anger at himself; he should have made sure she had some too.

He returned to her room, water in hand. She looked so fragile lying there, her face pale and drawn. He sat beside her and touched her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open, and she smiled faintly.

He slid an arm under her head, helping her sit up so she could drink. She drained the glass and whispered, ‘Some more, please.’

After bringing her another glass, she settled into the bed and pulled the blanket tighter around her.

‘You didn’t drink water last night?’

‘No,’ she admitted. ‘I fell before I reached the kitchen.’

‘And the warm milk?’ he probed, though he already knew the answer.

‘No… I gave it all to you,’ she replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

‘Why didn’t you wake me, Meera?’

‘I could’ve handled it,’ she murmured, her words slurred with sleep.

‘But I could’ve helped,’ he insisted.

‘Didn’t want to wake you,’ she muttered, drifting off to sleep.

‘You should’ve, Meera,’ he whispered, knowing she couldn’t hear him now. The anguish in his chest was a silent vow that he wouldn’t let her neglect herself like this again.

Meera slept until the afternoon. Raghav stayed by her side the entire time, keeping a vigilant eye on her. Her fever had worsened, and every time she moved, she clutched her head and whimpered in pain. If she didn’t show any improvement by evening, he’d decide to take her to the doctor.

Raghav woke her up just enough to feed her a few spoonfuls of oatmeal and give her the medicine. Her body was aching, and even simple gestures seemed to exhaust her, yet she didn’t complain once. Instead, she thanked him each time he did something for her.

Her gratitude grated on his nerves. She was treating him like some outsider doing her a favour instead of her husband. He wanted to tell her to stop. Taking care of her wasn’t just his duty; it was something he wanted to do for her.

As he watched her, she raised trembling fingers to her forehead, rubbing it gently in small, circular motions. Without thinking, he moved closer, laying on the bed beside her. Propping himself up on one elbow, he pulled her hand away and started massaging her temples with firm but careful strokes.

She groaned in relief, the tension in her face easing bit by bit. Her breathing slowed, and soon, she relaxed enough to drift back into sleep. But not before murmuring another tired, ‘Thank you.’

Raghav stayed with her a little longer, brushing his fingers across her cheek and holding her hand. Before leaving, he gave in to the urge and pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

In the kitchen, he rummaged through the pantry, trying to figure out what to cook. Meera needed something nutritious, something that would help her regain her strength. But he was out of his depth. His thoughts flitted between concern and helplessness until the answer hit him. He needed help.

He grabbed his phone and called Siya. She didn’t answer. Frustrated, he paced the kitchen, waiting for her to call back. When ten minutes passed without a response, he called Swayam.

Swayam picked up on the first ring. ‘I’m in the middle of an intense game here, so call me later!’

Raghav rolled his eyes. He knew intense games could go on for hours. ‘Meera is sick,’ he said, knowing it would grab Swayam’s attention.

There was a momentary pause before Swayam said, ‘I’ll be there in ten,’ and disconnected.

True to his word, Swayam arrived within a few minutes. Together, they stood at the bedroom door, watching Meera as she slept. Swayam’s expression darkened as he took in the scene. He didn’t need Raghav to explain, he already knew.

‘When her migraines hit, especially with fever, it’s bad. She stays in bed for days, hardly eating or drinking,’ Swayam said. ‘And once it’s over, she’s left feeling weak for days or more.’

Raghav’s jaw tightened. He’d already been planning to rearrange his schedule to stay home with her, but hearing this only solidified his decision.

‘Monitor her condition,’ Swayam added. ‘Sometimes, she sleeps so much she gets dehydrated.’

Before Raghav could respond, Swayam turned to him with an accusing glare. ‘Where the hell were you?’

‘I was in the other room, sleeping,’ Raghav admitted. ‘She didn’t wake me up. I’m not a heavy sleeper. If she’d called out or knocked, I would’ve heard her. But she didn’t.’

Swayam sighed, patting Raghav’s shoulder. ‘Makes sense.’

‘What the hell is that supposed to mean?’ Raghav snapped.

Instead of answering, Swayam walked to the living room balcony, his shoulders tense. Raghav followed, his patience wearing thin.

Swayam leaned against the railing, staring at the setting sun. His fists clenched and unclenched as if he was struggling to find the right words. ‘She never asks for help, even when she desperately needs it,’ he said, his voice low.

‘Why not?’ Raghav asked, his voice rising with frustration.

Swayam laughed bitterly as he said, ‘In her defence, it has become a habit now.’

Raghav didn’t have patience for riddles, so he asked, ‘Explain, Swayam. What are you talking about?’

Swayam sighed and admitted, ‘She thinks if she asks for help, she is being weak.’

Taken aback by that, Raghav asked, ‘Why?’

Swayam clenched his jaw as he spat out, ‘Rutvik.’

The name hung in the air like a curse.

Raghav felt a surge of anger. ‘She spent the entire night on a cold floor, half-passed out from exertion. She was in pain, and she didn’t say a word. Instead, she acted like it wasn’t a big deal.’

Swayam’s expression mirrored his anger. ‘A relationship with Rutvik would do that to anyone.’

‘I don’t understand, Swayam.’

‘Neither do we,’ Swayam said. ‘No one does. At least, not completely.’

Sighing, Swayam continued, ‘When I met Meera in the first year of college, she was already in a relationship with Rutvik. The first time I met the guy, I couldn’t understand what Mihu saw in him. He’s one of the most self-centred people I’ve ever met. Needless to say, we didn’t become friends.’

Raghav listened, his hands curling into fists as he struggled to take in Swayam’s words.

Swayam leaned back and ran a hand through his hair, anguish written all over his face. ‘One time, Meera wasn’t feeling well and told Rutvik, but he insisted she still come over for a get-together he was hosting for his friends.’

‘What happened then?’

‘She collapsed. Right there, in the middle of his living room.’ Swayam exhaled, his voice laced with poison. ‘Instead of getting her help, do you know what that bastard did? He told her she should leave because she was “ruining the vibe”.’

Raghav yelled, anger bubbling in his chest, ‘He did what?! He just sent her off on her own? What kind of man does that?’

‘He does,’ Swayam spat, his disgust clear. ‘He stayed back to entertain his friends. She had to drive herself back, Raghav. You saw how she was today, so imagine her in that state, driving alone. He didn’t even care enough to drop her or call someone to pick her up.’

Raghav shuddered at the image. ‘She still stayed with him after that?’ he asked, his voice low and disbelieving.

Swayam replied, ‘Because Meera is too kind for her own good. If the two of you were caught in a storm with only one umbrella, she would give it to you without a second thought.’

Raghav frowned. ‘I don’t understand.’

Swayam turned sombre and sank into the chair. ‘That’s who she is. She is the kind of person who would forgive the world for hurting her but can’t bear the thought of hurting anyone. She is an even bigger fool when it comes to love.’

He understood. ‘And Rutvik took advantage of that, didn’t he?’

Swayam nodded. ‘He didn’t just take advantage. He manipulated her, Raghav. The bastard made her believe she had no right to ask for anything in return and that her needs didn’t matter.’

Raghav clenched his fists, his heart aching for Meera.

Swayam continued, ‘Over time, she started internalising it. She stopped asking for help, stopped expecting anything from anyone. Rutvik had her convinced that relying on others made her a burden.’

Raghav gripped the edge of the table so tight that his knuckles turned white. He could feel the anger simmering, a protective rage that made him want to punch something or someone. ‘She didn’t deserve that,’ he said, thinking of all the ways Rutvik had hurt her.

‘Of course, she didn’t!’ Swayam snapped. ‘But now, she’s so used to handling everything alone, she doesn’t even let us know if she ever needs help.’

Swayam continued, his voice tinged with sorrow.

‘After Rutvik, she became this closed-off version of herself. Siya noticed it the most. It’s like she locked away a part of her.

That’s why I got so concerned when you told me she was unwell.

If Meera asked you for help, it must’ve been serious.

God knows what she’s been through in silence. ’

Raghav could feel the weight of his words. He knew how Swayam felt. This was his first time witnessing her like this, and it had nearly driven him mad. What must it have been like for her friends, watching her withdraw and deal with everything alone?

He thought of her fragile state earlier, curled up in pain. The idea that she might have gone through similar episodes alone, with no one to care for her, made his blood boil.

‘This ends now,’ Raghav said, his voice hard with resolve. He vowed to show Meera that she wasn’t alone. She had people who would be there for her, no matter what.

Within an hour, three men stood in his kitchen, staring at him with confusion. Raghav had called Abhay and Luv over after checking on Meera again.

‘Gentlemen,’ he said, a determined spark lit his eyes. ‘We are going to bake brownies.’