🎵 Song: Apna Bana Le – Instrumental Version

"Sometimes...

recovery isn't measured by medicine.

Sometimes...

it's measured by the smile someone brings back to your face."

Two days passed.

Thankfully...

Aarohi's fever had finally gone.

The medicines had worked.

The doctor's visits had stopped.

And everyone in the Sharma house finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But...

She still wasn't completely fine.

Her body felt weak.

Walking too much made her dizzy.

So the doctor had strictly instructed—

"Complete bed rest for two more days."

Which meant...

No school.

Malhotra House

It was Saturday afternoon.

Kabir looked across the balcony toward the Sharma house.

"Didi hasn't come to school for three days now."

Reyansh looked up from his phone.

"The fever is gone."

Kabir nodded.

"Anaya messaged me."

"But she's still very weak."

Silence.

Then Kabir smiled.

"Let's go meet them."

Reyansh looked at him.

"Now?"

"Yes."

"What if she's sleeping?"

"We'll check."

Before Reyansh could answer...

Kabir had already shouted downstairs,

"Mumma!"

"We're going to Sharma Uncle's house!"

Meera smiled from the kitchen.

"Don't trouble Aarohi."

Kabir grinned.

"We won't!"

Reyansh quietly picked up the fruit basket Meera had prepared.

"Let's go."

Sharma House

The door opened before they could ring the bell twice.

Anaya beamed the moment she saw them.

"Kabir!"

Kabir smiled.

"Hi!"

"How's Aarohi Didi?"

"The fever is gone."

"But she's still weak."

Kabir nodded.

"We came to meet her."

"Come!"

The boys entered the living room.

Rajeev and Nandini welcomed them warmly.

Meera had already called earlier to ask about Aarohi's health.

After talking for a few minutes...

Anaya looked at Kabir.

"Kabir."

"Hmm?"

"I want to show you my new drawing."

Kabir immediately understood.

A mischievous smile appeared on his face.

"Oh!"

"Let's go!"

Anaya nodded enthusiastically.

"This way."

The two younger siblings disappeared down the hallway.

Not before secretly exchanging a victorious glance.

Operation Cupid... activated.

Aarohi's Room

Reyansh gently knocked.

No response.

He slowly pushed the door open.

The sight in front of him almost made him laugh.

Aarohi was sitting on her bed.

Wrapped from shoulders to feet in a thick cream-colored blanket.

Only her face was visible.

She looked...

Like a tiny burrito.

A very...

Very cute burrito.

She looked up.

Their eyes met.

"Reyansh?"

He leaned against the door frame.

A grin slowly spread across his face.

"So..."

She blinked.

"So?"

"I came to meet my Ocean."

She smiled weakly.

"You finally came."

He pretended to be offended.

"I've been worried for three days."

"And this is how you greet me?"

She laughed softly.

"I'm sorry."

He walked inside.

Closed the door halfway behind him.

Then looked at her carefully.

"Hmm."

"What?"

"I've discovered something."

She frowned.

"What?"

He folded his arms dramatically.

"My Ocean..."

"...has turned into a burrito."

Aarohi looked down at herself.

Then back at him.

"I did not."

"You absolutely did."

"It's cold."

"So you wrapped yourself like this?"

She nodded.

"It's comfortable."

He laughed.

"No."

"It's adorable."

She immediately hid her face deeper inside the blanket.

"I'm not adorable."

"You are."

"I'm not."

"You look like someone rolled you inside a blanket."

"I'll throw a pillow at you."

"You'd first have to free your hands."

She looked down.

Both hands were trapped inside the blanket.

Reyansh burst into laughter.

She finally pulled one hand out.

"I hate you."

"No."

"You don't."

She pouted.

"You're making fun of me."

"I'm appreciating your burrito form."

She couldn't stop herself from laughing.

"There."

He smiled.

"That's better."

"What?"

"You smiled."

For a brief second...

Silence settled between them.

Reyansh looked at her more carefully.

She was still pale.

Her cheeks had lost their usual color.

Even smiling seemed to take effort.

His teasing expression softened.

"You're still weak."

She nodded slowly.

"A little."

"I hate staying in bed."

"I know."

"It's boring."

"It'll only be for a day or two."

She sighed.

"I miss school."

He raised an eyebrow.

"You miss school?"

"I also miss..."

She stopped herself.

"What?"

"Nothing."

He smiled knowingly.

"Go on."

"I forgot."

"Liar."

She looked away.

Her loose hair had fallen across her face.

A few strands covered her eyes.

Without thinking...

Reyansh stepped closer.

Very gently...

He lifted his hand.

His fingers carefully brushed the loose strands away from her face and tucked them behind her ear.

The movement was so soft...

So unexpected...

That Aarohi completely froze.

She slowly looked up.

Their eyes met.

The room suddenly felt much quieter.

Her breathing unconsciously became slower...

Then deeper.

Her heart beat so loudly she was sure he could hear it.

Reyansh smiled faintly.

"There."

"I can finally see my Ocean."

Aarohi couldn't speak.

Not because she didn't want to.

Because she genuinely couldn't.

His hand had only touched her hair.

Nothing more.

Yet somehow...

It made her entire world stop.

Reyansh noticed her silence.

"What happened?"

"N-Nothing..."

"You look shocked."

"I..."

She looked down nervously.

"You suddenly..."

"What?"

"...touched my hair."

He chuckled softly.

"It was covering your eyes."

"T-Then you could've just told me."

"But this was easier."

She pulled the blanket closer around herself.

Trying very hard to hide her flushed cheeks.

He tilted his head.

"My Ocean..."

"Hmm?"

"...you blush even when you're sick."

She covered her face with the blanket.

"I do not."

"You do."

"I'm not talking to you."

"You've said that before."

"And yet..."

He smiled warmly.

"...you always end up talking to me again."

Just then...

Laughter echoed from outside.

Kabir and Anaya were clearly having fun together.

Neither of them had any intention of returning soon.

Exactly as planned.

Inside the room...

The silence no longer felt awkward.

It felt comfortable.

Peaceful.

Reyansh pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat down.

"I'm staying here."

Aarohi peeked out from her blanket.

"Why?"

He shrugged.

"Until my Ocean finishes being a burrito."

She couldn't help but laugh.

"You really won't stop teasing me, will you?"

He smiled.

"Never."

And for the first time since falling sick...

Aarohi laughed without feeling tired.

Because somehow...

The annoying junior sitting beside her...

Had become the best medicine she never knew she needed.

End of Chapter 37 🌊🤍