Back! (feels proud!) I had tests, so this took a longer time, I guess. :(

Happy Reading! :D :D

Chapter-16

She looked at him lovingly as her gaze met his once again, "So why do you this to yourself?" she asked, making sure that her voice does not hurt him. She was agitated, that was one for sure.

"What did I do?" Ranveer asked silently when Ishani remarked, "What didn't you do? And, I asked you something," she reinstated again when he snapped, "I told you. I am feeling dead," his voice was slightly louder than the last time when Ishani sighed hugely, leaving a distressed look as she once again asked, "May I ask why?"

"I-I don't know," he replied honestly when Ishani asked him, "What do you mean by I don't know?"

"Oh, stop it, Ishani. I am not in a mood to talk with you or anyone for that matter," he turned aside, making sure that his head isn't forcefully turned when Ishani stood up and replied, humiliated, "Okay, goodbye then. I will not ask a single question. It's your life and manage it on your own," she turned up to move when Ranveer's voice slowly merged up, "Ishani, hold on," she turned towards him in a retorting fashion when Ranveer slowly said, "Sit down, don't leave." Ishani felt a sense of victory that she had at least made him open up. At least, he asked her to sit with him. So he found solace in her, she thought and sat down, reproachfully when Ranveer's hands searched for hers. Grasping her soft fingers after a few minutes of search Ranveer looked at her silently whilst she looked at him puzzled. He thanked God that nothing had happened to his left hand. Otherwise, the mere chance of even holding her fingers would have been a question of a million dollar.

"Don't leave, Ishani," he finally managed to say though his breathe was now irregular. He cussed himself for going to the bar. He wouldn't have to count for words and talk. Breathing problems sucked, he thought as he exhaled very gently this time, his head hitting a pang, in sudden shock.

"Ouch," he screamed when Ishani looked at him petrified and asked, "Hey, is everything okay?"

"My skull, it's-it's paining. A sudden... shock, I... don't know why," he said, closing his eyes in pain when Ishani got up with an instant and said, "I-I'll call the doctor. Hold on," and turned when she was clogged again by him, "No, I asked you to stay here."

"But, Ranveer, this is not safe," she countered when Ranveer snapped; "I am okay now. But please, stay here," he pleaded when Ishani sat down again, half-heartedly looking at a lifeless Ranveer, just like a vegetal. Both of them sat in stillness, their heart beats heard in reiteration whilst Ishani's grip grew stronger as she held Ranveer's hands tightly now.

"Ishani, what do you think about me?" he asked suddenly, his eyes already dewy along with his black eye. Ishani looked at him confused and answered, "What do I think?"

"I mean, you should have something in mind when someone says my name, right? What is it?" he asked slowly, his voice almost imperceptible though Ishani could make out. Thank God, she knew to lip-read to an extent.

"I sense butterflies inside my tummy," she replied honestly when Ranveer sighed, "Anything more?"

"Um, I feel like I am home hearing your name," she gave him soothing answers when Ranveer asked, "What will you do if I say that I'll die tonight?" he asked her, his eyes still and numb, breathe going slow, when Ishani looked at him frightened. She quickly opened her mouth to counter when she saw his eyes dwindling and slowly closing, his hands going cold and numb when Ishani screamed, "Ranveer," her eyes finding it hard to believe. She shouted his name thrice as she got up from the seat and shook him by his shoulders only to feel his cold frame.

"No, no, no! This...this cannot hap-happen. I-I know about Ranveer. He is a fighter and there's nothing wrong with him," she said to herself when she ran away from his cubicle, calling for Raymond.

"Mr. Ray-Raymond," she came in without any permission, her breathe irregular when he looked at her in sudden shock. "What happened, Miss? Did he speak up", he asked softly when she remarked, "No, no. Ranveer's...Ranveer is..." hot tears welled up and started to river her cheeks when he got up and walked through the corridors towards Ranveer's cubicle.

She buckled on the floor, her heart shattered and traumatized. She had never wanted this to happen. Praying that nothing should have happened to him and that the nightmare of hers shouldn't turn true, she cried her heart out, the plump tears flowing through her cheeks, making them wet. Her heart hit a paroxysm when she heard the footsteps of someone coming closer to the room when she got up, her hands locked into her hair in frustration and fear. As she moved forward, she saw the nurse calling her, "Madame, The doc wants you at the cubicle number A12, right now," and left the room in a hurry as Ishani followed, her feet trembling with each of her step. As the constant prayers to the Lord left her mouth, her tears were half dried out when she turned towards the cubicle. Thankfully, it wasn't far away, she thought as she entered the room, in fear and silence.

"Please, get in, Miss," Raymond sounded cooler than he was, Ishani thought when she slowly stepped inside the cold atmosphere.

"Wh-What happened to Ranv-"

"He's gone unconscious, that is it. He is really weak and needs to have some good food, Ishani," he sighed as Ishani replied back, "But, but glucose...he is taking it every day, right?"

"That is not enough. He has to have some good food, now. It'd be better if he does. Don't worry, his heart beat rates are fluctuating sometimes, but he'll be alright, very soon," he assured her and she gave him a sad smile, looking at the now sleeping Ranveer.

"Don't worry, doctor. I'll get him something after dusk. I'll stay here tonight and take good care of him. He is right now feeling very lonely and is hankering for love. I'll stay with him," she said involuntarily as a serene smile popped up now whilst the doctor smiled and left the room, giving her some space. Moving closer to him and keeping her hand over his injured head, she whispered, "Don't worry, Ranveer. Your death will be after mine," caressing his head in a serene fashion, she once again continued, "You sound really depressed and off track. Don't worry, everything will be fine as it was," she sat down and went closer to him, her lips finding its way to his temple, for a soft kiss as it was interrupted by the buzz from her phone. Cussing, she took the phone and looked at the display. It was Abel. Picking up the call, she heard him say, "Madame, what should I make for lunch? I heard that you were in the hospital."

"No, no. Take an off. I will take care of mine," she said before she continued, "Where is the recipe book?"

"Which one do you want, Madame?"

"Anything which can fill my bag," she chuckled when she heard him say, "There are three in the newspaper rack."

"Okay. Thank you!" she quipped and cut the call quietly as she saw Ranveer sadly and said, "I'll be back soon. Take care," and left the room in silence, waiting for the dusk.

She entered the house after visiting Skittles in a hush affair as she removed her badge and sat down on the couch, in a relaxing fashion. Removing her stilettos which were three inches long, she rested her ankle on her lap, in pain as she sighed out, wind sweeping her hair, tired. Checking her watch which said 4.30, she thought that she cannot afford for a late lunch now. She quickly went inside her room and removed the buttons of her shirt, searching for a night dress when flashes of her meeting with Ranveer interrupted her. The very thought of she losing him leaves her in shudders. How can she manage to live without him? But before everything, why did he even say that he would die the same night? What made him say so? Her thoughts seemed to have no end when she took a lemon coloured tee and black shorts. Changing as quickly as possible, she tied her hair into a scruffy bun, her hair tangled here and there as she left the room, searching for the recipe books.

Quickly taking one of them, she entered the kitchenette and prayed God that she shouldn't spoil his dinner for tonight, "God! I know, I cook really bad! But, I should be cooking at least to a decent level. Poor guy, he is going to have his food after three days!"

Skimming through random pages, her eyes stopped looking at the Fresh pea soup's recipe. Gazing at it for a minute, she felt, "He cannot have anything solid right now. So, let me do this. The recipe is quick too," she winked for herself and looked out for the elements. She traced her fingers through the page as she took butter, peas, shallots, salt and pepper, some water and cream and kept everything aside, arranging them in a neat order, for a change.

Taking a heavy bottomed saucepan from the tray, she kept in one flame and sliced butter into six, making it melt with its medium flame. As it melted, the aroma of the butter slowly filled the kitchen's air as the entire place smelled buttery, making it more appetising. Taking the shallots from the slab and cooking it in a translucent fashion, she tossed them slowly until it became soft. Quickly cooking them for three minutes, she slowly poured in water and added some green, fresh peas, allowing to cook for some more time. Seasoning the salt and pepper and bringing it to a boil, she slowly mixed the ingredients, simmering them as minutes passed by.

Exactly eighteen minutes later, she took the pan from the stove and made puree out of it, draining all the juice from the peas with the blender. Straining back in the saucepan, she added the cream and stirred it for a few minutes before adding some more salt and pepper, for taste.

"Ha! Finally, it is done. I hope it will be good enough for a meal. Sigh, " she mumbled to herself and transferred the hot soup into a flask, making sure that nothing was spilled when her phone buzzed again. Panicky as she was, she quickly jerked, as she looked at the phone, cursing as usual.

Thanking God that nothing happened to the soup, she quickly picked up the call and said a rough Hello as she heard through the other end, "I asked you to be at the beach for today's fest," the voice was seemingly annoyed when she tried to explain- "Oh, Sandra, let me explain," when she was interrupted, "Bye, Ishani," she kept the phone to rest as Ishani looked at the floor, embarrassed.

"I should better concentrate and juggle with both. I shouldn't have disappointed Sandra," she sighed and left for the kitchen, packing them. Checking the time, she gasped and went towards the door with the same clothes to meet him. It was already 6.15 p.m.

Ranveer slowly opened his eyes as he now saw a creature standing before him, laughing tartly. Blinking for a number of times now, he saw the same devil before him, laughing the same it always used to when Ranveer looked at it fumbled, shocked- both at the same time. He looked at all the ends of the room to notice no one behind or beside him as he now thought that he was stuck up this time. Gulping, he looked at it petrified when he heard, "What's up, dude? Long time, eh?" he saw the devil slowly taking up a magician's form this time when he roared, "Hey, hey! Don't-don't come near me," he sniffed and puffed when he heard the magician say, "Why not, dude? What's wrong? I was noticing you all while. You were happy in your life, right?" it sneered as he countered, "What's your problem? Why do you always follow me? What do you want?" he barked to his maximum when he felt a pang hit his heart as he rested his head once again in pain before it answered, "Your life. Not costly, yeah?"

"What? Do you think that my life is a joke?" he retorted when it remarked, "May be...or maybe not," and laughed to its heart's fullest as it now came forward, its sharp nails directing out when he gasped, "What are you going to do?"

"I told you...I need your life today!"

"Hey, stop coming near me and go, get a life!" he cried before it once again countered, "And that's why I have come here! To get a life! And I need yours!"

"Don't come forward," he tried to move away from the bed but cursed himself for being ridden when it slowly advanced towards him, its tongue out and the drool juicing out in desperation to slaughter him.

"Stop, stop it!"

"I don't have any plan to."

"Ish-Ish-Ishani," he called out for her name hoping that she would come for his rescue as always when he closed his eyes in fear, his mind telling him that it was his last day. He shouted her name in panic and buried his face as much as possible when his eyes turned red again along with his black bruises as his fingers of his left hand trembled involuntarily. He heard the wicked larks of it as his lips quivered, in the same fear, worrying about his last minutes of life.

"Ranveer?" he heard a familiar voice when he opened his eyes, in shock as he saw a confused Ishani.

"Ish-ish," he sniffed, "Don't come near me, go away!"

"What's wrong, Ranveer?"

"No-no! Go away! Don't stay here. It'll kill you too! I don't want that to happen. Please, go away!" he screamed in pain before Ishani countered, "Ranveer? What's wrong? There's no one here!"

"Ishani, I am going to die today. Look at the magician. He is going to kill me today, now."

"What? There's no one here, God dammit!"

"No, you never know! It's existing everywhere and is following me!"

"Oh, shut up, Ranveer! Stop saying this. You are not going to die, get that." Ishani snapped.

"B-but, there was someone here..."

"No one, Ranveer. It was just another dream, I guess," she came forward now, her feet finding its way beside Ranveer as he looked at her frightened, his sweat droplets seen through his face, very clearly. She took time to wipe them off, calming him down as she sat down, serenely, giving her best of smile as he noticed her dress-shorts and a loose tee.

He chuckled as he said, "What is this?" he looked at her dress whilst Ishani flushed and answered, "Well, I was busy the whole day and I never realized," she showed her tongue out as he answered with a bear smile.

"You look good in this too, Ishani," he let out a sigh as she whispered, "What happened? Why did you give me a rude shock?"

"Didn't you see anyone in the room? Someone was trying to kill me!"

"There was no one in the room and who would kill you?" she countered when he roared, "Didn't you see how frightened I was? Do you think I am lying?"

"Oh no, I did not say that. Don't get angry now, please. And I have brought you something," she slowly took her flask out from the bag as he looked at her puzzled when she continued, "You shouldn't deny this."

"What is this, firstly?"

"I have made the dinner today. But trust me, this wasn't a disaster," she quickly confessed when he let out a chortle, her innocence stealing his heart from him.

"What's in it? Coffee?" he smiled sheepishly when she hit him jokingly when he shouted, "Ouch!"

"Oops, is it paining? Sorry!" she quickly massaged them when he asked, "What's in it? I am not going to have them. You have it and get back home."

"Excuse me? I am not going anywhere before making you have this. And for your kind information, I am not leaving anywhere today. I am going to halt here, taking care of you."

"What?" he looked at her aghast as he continued, "Why?"

"Why? What do you mean by why?"

"Oh, Ranveer. I told the doctor, too. Don't fret. I'll be fine, "she reassured him but he continued ranting, "What if the devil comes again and..."

"There's no such devil, okay? Stop this now!" she quipped and took a soup bowl, adding some to it as she looked at him and asked, "Guess the soup's name!"

"I thought this was juice!" he chuckled as she gave a deadpan look before she spoke, "Oh, hello..."

"I was joking, Ishani...I guess its green chillies. It's green, right?"

"Who made you the owner of a resort and a restaurant, Ranveer? You suck at this, sometimes!" she rolled her eyes when he countered, "Okay, I agree. What's this, anyway?"

"It's Green Peas!" she exclaimed, "Now c'mon, get up and sit, I'll give you some," she placed the bowl on a desk and made him sit steadily, making sure that his hand isn't hurt as he simply stared at her beauty, cherishing the way she takes care of him.

"Shall we have some now?" she took a spoon and dunked it into the bowl, feeding Ranveer as he saw her, his eyes in puppy love.

"No, I don't-don't want." He turned reluctantly as Ishani caught hold of his left hand and said, "Please, Ranveer. Have some. Don't you want to come out and enjoy with me?" she asked honestly whilst he nodded, flushed by her behaviour.

"So now, no questions. Have it, Ranveer," she slowly fed him as he drunk the whole soup without any protest,whilst he thanked his stars for bringing Ishani closer to him.s

Done! Constructive Criticism will be more than welcome and sorry for typos. :D :D