When we were in elementary school, we get to learn about how vast and beautiful the space is, and eventually, we wish to visit space thus, we want to become astronauts when we grow up. But as we clear each grade and rise to higher classes, we learn that space is not just beautiful, but also dangerous plus, the amount of studying we have to do to become an astronaut, also kills the vibe. But only the determined, who stick till they reach space are called astronauts.

"He what?" three female voices exclaim in astonishment."Yeah, Isn't my husband really sweet?" Ruhee says happily. Afza scoffs. Ruhee was currently in college, and was telling her friends about Aayan's surprise, "He even cooked lasagna for me." she adds. "You'd be this happy if anyone cooks you something you like." Jian says, stating the point, and her friends nod. Ruhee signs.

She has a point, But food is life. The person who eats to live, isn't really living his life.

"Since he did something to cheer you up, don't you think you need to do something for him aswell?" Aina says. "But he did that to cheer her up, and as far as I know, he does not need cheering." Jian says, glaring at Aina. "Then, we will first make him sad, then cheer him up....." Afza says, and holds Ruhee's shoulders, turning her to face her, "You should not be indebted to him in anyway, and I know the perfect way to make him sad." Afza adds, mischievously. Ruhee just looks at her friend.

"Let's paint his house with colours. That's sure to make him sad." Afza says, nodding her head as if she said the most wise - est thing. "Yeah, that guy really has a problem with colours." Jian adds, nodding her head. "Girls, you people are being ridiculous. Ruhee needs to just show that she is grateful for his kindness, not destroy his house." Aina exclaims, getting annoyed by her friends. "Why should she feel grateful? She didn't ask him to cheer her up?" Afza says. "Ugh! I give up." Aina let's out, annoyed.

"Guys, Guys, calm down will you. No one is doing anything to Aayan's house, plus Aina is right, I need to do something. Something small, not to extravagant." Ruhee finally says. "But What?" Ruhee thinks. "Bake him a cake." Aina suggests. "That's a great idea." Ruhee exclaims, hifi - ing Aina. "But What flavour?" Ruhee thinks again, "Chocolate, everyone loves Chocolate." Aina says again. "Yeah, everyone loves colours aswell, but not Mr.Eligible Bachelor." Afza adds.

Well, she has a point.

"I'll ask Ammi." Ruhee says, taking out her mobile from her bag, and calling Sahma. Sahma picks up after a few rings, "Hello, dear." "Hello, Ammi. Did you have breakfast well?" Ruhee asks. "Yes, I did. Now, why did you call me during your college hours?" Sahma asks. "Oh yes, Um Ammi, What is Aayan's favorite cake?" Ruhee asks, getting shy. "Huh? Why?" Sahma asks, clueless. Ruhee's cheeks start to heat up, "I was wondering to maybe, bake him a cake, you know, to thank him for his surprise yesterday." she says, her voice going low by every word.

Ruhee heard a soft laugh from the other side of the call, and her blush deepened, "Well, that's a good idea. And he likes chocolate with vanilla flavour. You know, like the choco bar ice-cream, which is his favorite ice-cream, by the way." Sahma says. Ruhee thanks Sahma and ends the call.

Even his favorite flavour is dark and white.

Ruhee looks out to the sky from her class room. The sky was turning dark and the atmosphere humid. Even the weather report detects rain. Ruhee smiled at the sky.

I guess it's gonna rain.

And she was right, around 5pm in the evening, it had started to pour heavily. Thankfully, Ruhee was back from her ingredients shopping at around 4pm. Ruhee had told Aayan that she had rested enough, and she can begin cooking again. After cooking dinner, Ruhee had started mixing the ingredients one by one. She then placed the cake into the oven to bake and went on to make her chocolate frosting. She was making a vanilla cake with chocolate frosting.

At around 8pm, the front door opened and Ruhee turned around to see Aayan walking in, all wet. She quickly ran up to him worried and asked, "How did you get all wet?" Aayan looked at Ruhee and said, "My car broke down in the middle. So, I walked home." Ruhee looked at Aayan as if he had two heads.

He could have taken a taxi. I'll enquire about that later.

"Wait here. I'll get you a towel." and Ruhee ran upto their room and grabbed two towels, and ran back down to Aayan. Sahma was there by now and yelling at her son, ".... You have the money, then why didn't you take a cab or taxi, you fool?" Ruhee handed him the towel, and he accepted it and started drying his hair.

"Remove your clothes here and go upto the room, you are not gonna wet the costly carpet." Sahma said to him, sternly. As soon as she said that, he sneezed, and again, and again, and again. "See, now you have caught a cold. Remove your clothes fast." And Sahma started unbuttoning his clothes. Aayan looked at his mother then at Ruhee, who was looking elsewhere, "I-I'll bring you some clothes." and Ruhee, ran back up to their room.

That was close.

She went into the walk-in closet, opened Aayan's cupboard, which surprisingly had colours. Instead of going all black and white again, Ruhee picked out the brightest colour he had, a yellow t-shirt and blue jeans. She contemplated whether to get him any briefs, and without looking, she opened his brief drawer and grabbed something, placed it between his clothes and went back down.

I guess, I don't need to get his eyes checked.

As she went to the mother - son duo, she saw that Aayan's upper body was on full display and Sahma was trying to remove his pants, but he was strongly denying it. Ruhee looked the other way and walked to them, "Here." she said, handing him the clothes, still looking the other way. He accepted them, detached himself from his mother and ran into the guestroom to get changed.

Ruhee had set the table while Sahma took Aayan's wet clothes to the laundry. Aayan came out of the room sneezing and rubbing his nose. He put his pants in the laundry and came to sit at the dining table. Ruhee served dinner to all and sat down. In between the meal, Aayan would either sneeze or cough. "You okay, son?" Sahma asks, looking at him worried. Aayan just nods his head and continues eating.

After completing her meal, Ruhee bought out the cake she made and placed it on the table. Aayan looked at her confused. Ruhee looked at him and said shyly," Um, it's a thank you cake, for the surprise you gave yesterday." "You didn't have to." is all Aayan said. Ruhee cut a slice and gave it to Aayan, then Sahma and herself. As Aayan took a bite, Ruhee analysed his reaction. He looked at her with wide eyes and said, "It's really good." in a calm and collected voice. Ruhee smiled brightly and digged in herself. Sahma had already eaten her slice and went for another by then. After Aayan had another slice, they all went to bed.

They got changed in there night wear and went to sleep. At sometime, in the middle of the night, Ruhee got up, as she felt thirsty. She saw her bottle was empty and was feeling very lazy to go down and fill it back up. She looked at the bottle full of water, kept on the bedside table, beside the spot Aayan was sleeping on the bed. She tip toed her way to grab the bottle and drink it. When she placed the bottle back in its spot, Aayan shifted in his sleep, to face Ruhee, and Ruhee froze. She slowly turned to look at Aayan, he was sleeping but at the same time, sweating profusely.

She straightened up and turned to him. She moved closer to his face, to see him frowning and breathing heavily. She placed her hand on his forehead, to find it burning hot. She quickly went into the bathroom to grab the first aid kit, and came back to the room. She switched the lights on and went to kneel beside a laying Aayan. She slightly shook Aayan to wake him up, but he pushed her hand away. She called him out in a low voice, not to fright him, "Aayan." "Hmm." she heard him say. "Can you sit up? I wanna check your temperature." she says, again in a low voice.

Ruhee was speaking to him like she would speak to a child. "Mhmm." she heard him say, which sounded like a no. "Please." she said, she heard him sign and slowly sat up, leaning on the head rest. "Open your mouth." she asked him, "Whaa." is all she heard. She signed, "Say Aahhh." And he did. She kept the electric thermometer in his mouth and he closed it. After one minute, she pulled it out to see the temperature.

F

God, he has a high fever. Maybe due to getting wet in the rain. Why the heck did he not take a taxi?

Ruhee opened up the first aid kit, and picked out a strip of Tylenol. She broke one out, poured some water in a glass and gave it to him, "Here, have this. You'll feel better." she said. Aayan's eyes were still closed as he was drowsy. He sleepily took the pill and gulped it down, handed the glass back to Ruhee. He was about to lay back down but Ruhee stopped him, "No. After taking a medicine, you should not lay down immediately. Wait for 15 minutes, then you can lay down."

"What!!? No!!! I am sleepy." Aayan was whining like a baby. Ruhee just blinked at his behaviour. "Please, Aayan. Only for 15 minutes." Ruhee pleaded. "No. I wanna sleep." he said, pouting. "Please, only 15 minutes tops, promise." she felt like she was talking to a nagging child. "Okay...." Ruhee signed, "But, I want something in return for this." he added. "Huh?" Ruhee looked at him. "Ammi usually hugs me and sleeps when I fall sick. So, you should also do that." he said. Ruhee stared at him.

Hug him and sleep? On the same bed? With him?

Of course, Ruhee was not gonna do that. "If you won't do it, then I am gonna lay down." he says and was gonna lay down, when Ruhee stopped him, "Wait, I cannot hug you but, you can hold my hand and sleep." Ruhee says, showing her hand. Aayan opens his eyes lightly and looks at her hand, then at her, "Okay." he says, and closes his eyes back.

After fifteen minutes, Aayan stretched his hand out to Ruhee. Ruhee looked at his hand, before hesitantly placing her hand in his. Aayan smiled, as he lay down while holding her hand. Ruhee sat down, next to the bed. Aayan held her hand with both his hands tightly, as he drifted off to sleep. Ruhee just stared at his relaxed face, and a smile crept up her lips. Her heart was beating fast.

What have I gotten myself into?