"I will do all the work, Kumar. You relax, it's Sunday," Ishika said while cleaning the kitchen counter before starting to cook.

"You have a slight fever. You need rest," Ujjwal replied, rolling up his sleeves.

"You’re right, but until we find a maid, let me manage the work," she said, turning to see him, now seated at the dining table with his sleeves rolled up.

"I want to help you," he insisted.

She eventually agreed.

She grabbed three bowls, filled one with peanuts, and left the other two empty. Placing them on the dining table, she explained, "Look, you need to shell these peanuts. Put the kernels in this bowl and the shells in the other."

"Got it. Three minutes. This won’t take more than three minutes," he boasted.

She nodded with a smile.

He began shelling peanuts.

A while later, she glanced back and placed a hand on her forehead. "You mixed them up! Both bowls have peanuts and shells."

He realized his mistake and apologized, "It won’t happen again."

"I want to eat the fruit you bought yesterday," he said while fixing the mess in the bowls.

"Sorry, I was so tired yesterday that I didn’t wash them."

"No problem. I’ll wash them."

"I’ll do it... Wait-" But he was already went to wash the fruits.

He returned with washed grapes and sat down.

A little later, when she glanced back again, he quickly abandoned the grapes and resumed shelling peanuts.

Seeing this, she chuckled, "Someone said this would take three minutes,"

"Has it been three minutes already?" he asked, feigning innocence.

Due to the cold weather and travel, she had developed a slight fever. While Ujjwal suggested visiting the doctor, Ishika dismissed the idea, saying it wasn’t serious.

While she kneaded the dough, he helped chop vegetables.

Turning to him, she asked, "You didn’t have cold water or ice cream in my absence, did you?" She knew he caught colds easily.

"No."

After chopping, he handed her the vegetables for cooking.

"What should I do next?"

"Kumar, you can rest now."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded.

...

After dinner, he didn’t let her do any more work and insisted she rest in the bedroom.

Once he cleaned the dining table, he noticed the floor was dirty. Before mopping, he decided to do the laundry. Quietly opening the bedroom door, he took her bag, picked out clothes she might wear over the next three days, and added his own clothes from the previous day into the washing machine.

After starting the washing machine, he mopped the house, then watered the plants.

When the machine buzzed, signaling the clothes were done, he transferred them to the drying rack, as they were still slightly wet.

He drank some water and walked to the bedroom to check on her.

The room was dark, with curtains drawn. He tiptoed to the bedside lamp and switched it on.

She was deeply asleep under two thick blankets he’d taken out the night before.

He gently pulled back the blankets, one by one. She was drenched in sweat. He wiped her face and placed his hand on her forehead- it was hot. Checking her neck, he found it equally hot, confirming her fever had worsened.

"Ishika..." whispered.

"Ishika..." he said again, stroking her head.

She slowly opened her slightly red eyes.

"Your fever has worsened. Get up, we need to see a doctor."

"Hmm," she murmured, feeling the heat radiating from her own body.

When she tried to get up, weakness overwhelmed her. He extended his hand, which she held as she sat up.

She fixed her messy hair, and noticed her neck was soaked with sweat. Embarrassed, she wiped it off.

Holding her hand, he helped her stand. She said, "I’ll freshen up, then we’ll go,".

...

Supporting her with one hand on her waist and the other holding hers, he guided her to the car and helped her sit down. "Careful," he said.

She closed her eyes, feeling too weak to keep them open.

"Ishika... We’re here," he said, holding her hand as they walked to the clinic’s waiting area.

She has a shawl around herself to avoid feeling cold.

She observed the other people in the waiting area, some of whom were couples.

Her thoughts turned to comparisons. She compared her dark skin to their fair skin, her chubby body to their slim body.

She decided to eat less from now on.

Ishika has deep-seated insecurities about her appearance that are difficult to overcome.

"Ishika Ujjwal Kumar... Your turn will come after these two,"

"Okay," Ujjwal replied.

He held her hand.

She tilted her head to look at him. He mistook her red eyes as a symptom of her fever.

Gently, he held her head and rested it on his shoulder. She closed her eyes, unwilling to open them, fearing the comparisons would continue.

~

"By mistake, I ate what was meant for Ujjwal."

"You ruined the whole plan!" Shashank said angrily.

"But I only ate the part your guy told me to," Vihaan replied, distressed.

"Useless. You can't even do one thing right."

"Is there anything else will happen to me besides anger? Or is it just anger?" Vihaan asked.

"Impotent."

"Imported? Was that substance imported?" He didn't hear clearly.

Shashank repeated, "Impotent."

Hearing this, Vihaan's phone slipped out of his hand and fell to the ground.

~

After visiting the doctor, both returned home. Ishika was sitting at the dining table while Ujjwal handed her a glass of water.

The doorbell rang.

He opened the door.

"I'm Sarla," she said in a soft, hesitant voice, barely meeting his eyes.

Ishika also came to see who was at the door.

"What do you need?" He asked, his tone neutral.

"You… you mentioned needing a maid," Sarla said almost inaudibly, her eyes darting nervously between Ujjwal and Ishika.

"Yes. Come inside," Ishika said gently, sensing her unease.

Sarla stepped in hesitantly.

The three of them discussed her working hours, tasks, and salary. Sarla nodded more than she spoke, occasionally fidgeting with the edge of her dupatta.

Due to her weakness, Ishika went to rest in the bedroom.

"Sarla, Ishika has a fever. She needs to take her medicine after dinner," Ujjwal informed her.

"Yes, sir," she replied, "I'll start preparing dinner now." She moved to the kitchen.

~

When dinner was ready, he called Ishika.

Ishika and Ujjwal sat down while Sarla silently served them, her movements careful.

"Sarla, join us for dinner," Ujjwal said.

"No, sir, Y-You both eat first. I'll eat later."

"Sit and eat with us," Ishika said kindly.

Sarla hesitated, "I don't want to trouble you,".

"It's not trouble. Sit with us," Ujjwal insisted, his tone softening.

She finally nodded and sat down. She adjusted her dupatta nervously.