"What is it, Miss? Something serious?" Rishav asked uneasily.
Mrs Saha nodded.
She began signing "When you first describe her symptoms,"
She looked at Rai "I thought it was a regular indigestion and hence the nausea. But you said she was fine on your way to school and did not show a single sign of discomfort over the past seven days. It all started after you brought her back from the toilet. According to your information on her medical history, she isn't particularly allergic to anything. I also checked if she's on or a few days away from her cycle,"
She turned to Rishav " But I confirmed that she is not."
"Then..." Rishav looked at her, puzzled.
"It's.." Mrs Saha proceeded to explain the situation when Ankita got up from the bed abruptly.
Covering her mouth, she dashed towards the washroom, propelled the door open and began vomiting like crazy.
Rishav and the others ran up to her but Mrs Saha stopped them from going inside by raising her hand. She pulled the door leaving it slightly ajar and went back to her seat.
She started signing "So, as I was saying, it's something more serious. It's some kind of poisoning."
They gasped.
"Not a life-threatening one, but it'll cause her severe discomfort for several days. I would suggest she gets a proper treatment at a hospital though I've given her a pill that would make her vomit everything out." Mrs Saha tried to ease them.
While she was speaking, Koushik's eyes were locked on the washroom. He got fidgety every time Ankita knocked something down inside. It was Mrs Saha's knock on her Board that made him turn his head towards her with a start. He blinked at her, baffled.
"Don't worry, throwing up will help her relieve her discomfort for some time. It might sound painful now but it's for the best." She smiled reassuring him.
Koushik glanced at the washroom, Ankita was inside, coughing furiously. He lowered his eyes and sighed, then looked up at Mrs Saha and nodded with a small smile.
Mrs Saha started telling them about a rough diet plan for Ankita for the next few days. Rishav clicked on his watch and opened an app to take note of everything she said. Rai also chipped in with some questions which the doctor patiently answered. Rishav noted them down too. In the meantime Rishi gave Koushik a small hug and left.
While the two of them were busy, Koushik noticed Ankita coming out of the washroom, holding the wall. He quickly went over and supported her. After vomiting for ten minutes straight, Ankita was feeling so weak that she could barely walk. She was stumbling at each step. Seeing her struggling to walk Koushik frowned and picked her up in his arms before walking off towards the bed.
He gently laid her down and put some pillows behind her to lean on to. He also pulled a light blanket over her. He had felt her shivering against him while carrying her.
After taking everything out of her system, Ankita was feeling much better than before. Her head had also somewhat cleared up. She stared at his face in a daze.
Koushik looked up feeling her eyes. Seeing her dazed look he could not resist the desire to pat her head. But, no sooner than he placed his hand on her head, Ankita slapped it away. Although the force in it was incredibly weak, it shocked Koushik.
"What are you doing?" She spoke with difficulty, through her hoarse and cracked voice.
He jolted his hand back, muttering an apology.
"How are you feeling?"
"...Better than before." Ankita leaned on a pillow and answered looking away from him.
She pulled the blanket up to her chin and rolled on her side. Koushik felt relieved to see her pale face regain some of its colour. His lips curled up watching her doze off peacefully. It had truly been a stressful moment ever since seeing a half conscious Ankita being dragged by Rai. Now that she was fast asleep, Koushik decided to step away for a break.
On returning, he found Ankita curled up in a ball. The blanket was tossed aside. Koushik shook his head and firmly tucked her under the blanket, when suddenly she stirred and muttered something. Unable to comprehend her words, he frowned and brought his ears closer to her lips.
"Uh... umm... thi...irsty... wa.. ter."
Perhaps Koushik's head was lowered too much or Ankita lifted her chin but somehow her lips accidentally brushed against his ear.
He sprang up, touching his ear. It became slightly red.
"Ahem W.. wait." He hurriedly fetched a glass of water and held it closer to her lips.
While Ankita gulped it down greedily, Koushik's eyes unintentionally followed the movement of her lips.
"Ahem." He averted his eyes.
A light tint spread on his cheeks.
By now Rai and Rishav were done with their conversation with Mrs Saha and came up to Ankita. Koushik gave his seat to Rishav.
"How are you feeling?" Rishav asked patting her head.
Ankita smiled weakly and said, "Better."
"I won't ask you about what happened at the toilet right now, but don't you dare think that you can escape this conversation. I am certain something happened there that caused this." Rishav said in a strict voice.
Ankita laughed weakly and said "Okay, Maa. I'll tell you everything."
"Alright alright, let her get some rest now. You can interrogate her all you want once she is in the pink of health." Rai said putting her hands between them.
"Don't spoil her. I have a strong feeling that she would try to brush this incident off." Rishav said, narrowing his eyes at Ankita.
"Hahaha. You two are acting exactly like my parents. Hahaha." Ankita said.
Seeing her laugh, Rai and Rishav stopped their bickering and looked at one another.
'She looks better.'
Both had the same thought.
Their interaction, made Koushik smile too. But he also felt a tiny sapling of envy creep its roots into his heart.
'Ankita is chatting so happily now. But, to me, she didn't even speak properly, for once.' He lowered his eyes and pouted.
'Wait. No. I shouldn't be an envious jerk. Rishav and Rai are her best friends, so of course she would feel more comfortable around them when she's sick. I should rather pray that she gets better fast.' He jerked his head up and clenched his fist with a determined gleam in his eyes.