So far:
Tamil had attended the tender success party, had lunch there, and returned to the office in the evening.
Now:
"Nila, are you done? Can we leave? I need to head out early," Nandhini asked.
"It'll take me another half hour, Nandhini. You go ahead," Nila replied.
"Okay, finish up and leave soon. Bye!" said Nandhini as she left.
After finishing her work, Nila was about to leave when she heard some strange noises coming from Tamil's cabin. Unsure whether to go in or not, she hesitated for a moment, then knocked on the door. When there was no response, she slowly opened it and stepped inside.
From the washroom came the sound of someone vomiting. She rushed in to find Tamil bent over, throwing up. Shocked, she quickly held his head gently with both her hands to support him. When he finished, she helped him out, guided him to a chair, and cleaned up the washroom before returning.
"What happened, sir? Should we go to the hospital?" Nila asked anxiously.
"Nila, no hospital… please. At the party, I ate something that looked like gravy — I didn't realize it was mushroom gravy. I can't tolerate mushrooms. Since then, I've vomited five or six times and it hasn't stopped. I think this is my punishment for hurting you," he said with a weak chuckle. "Maybe you cursed me?"
"Even in this condition, you still have the strength to joke?" Nila scolded softly. She immediately called Tamil's driver and told him to come to the office. Together, they helped Tamil to the car and seated him.
"Madam, what do we do now?" asked the driver.
At that moment, Nila remembered Tamil's mother once mentioning that Tamil was terrified of hospitals, injections, and medicines.
"That's why he doesn't want to go to the hospital," she thought.
But looking at Tamil, who was half-conscious and pale, she said firmly, "Brother, please drive fast to the nearest hospital."
"Madam, sir doesn't like hospitals…" the driver hesitated.
"I know, but in his condition, we have no choice. Just drive — I'll handle it," Nila said, and they hurried to the nearby hospital.
Tamil was admitted immediately.
"Doctor, how is he?" Nila asked, her voice trembling.
"He has eaten some food he's allergic to. And also, has he not been eating or sleeping properly for the past two days?" the doctor asked.
"Yes, doctor. He's been very busy with work — hasn't eaten or slept properly for two days," Nila explained.
"That's what caused this. I've prescribed an injection to stop the vomiting. He's very weak, so we'll put him on IV fluids. He can be discharged in the morning, but he must take complete bed rest for two full days," said the doctor before leaving.
Nila told the driver, "Please go and bring sir's parents." The driver agreed and left. Nila also called Tamil's father and explained everything, then returned to check on Tamil.
"I don't want an injection, please," Tamil cried like a child, trying to resist the nurse.
"Sir, don't be scared. I'm right here," Nila said gently, turning his face toward her and holding his hand tightly. The nurse gave the injection and set up the IV drip. Still sobbing, Tamil slowly fell asleep — his head resting in Nila's lap.
When Tamil's parents arrived, they saw him sleeping with his head resting on Nila's lap, his hand tightly holding hers in fear.
"What happened to Tamil, Nila? He's always so active and full of energy — how has he become so weak and lifeless like this?" Raji asked in shock, tears streaming down her face, while Nila explained everything that had happened.
"Nila, thank you so much. If you hadn't been there at the right time, Tamil's condition could have gotten much worse. We truly owe you our gratitude," said Tamil's father. "It's getting late — the driver will drop you home."
"It's alright, uncle. Tamil has helped me so much — I just got a chance to return the favor, that's all. There's still time for the last bus, so I'll go now. Aunty, I know how much you love Tamil, and how deeply you'd be hurt if anything happened to him. Please don't worry — the doctor said he'll be fine and can be discharged tomorrow morning. I'll come early to check on him," Nila said gently.
She then carefully loosened Tamil's grip, lifted his head from her lap, and placed it softly on a pillow before leaving.
"Take care on your way, dear," Raji said.
As Raji wept beside her sleeping son, her husband consoled her, "Raji, don't cry. If you keep crying like this, you'll fall sick yourself. He's fine now."
A little later, Tamil murmured in his sleep, "Nila… please don't leave me. I'm scared… stay with me…" His mother quietly stroked his hair to calm him down.
"Dear, when Tamil said he was in love with Nila, I didn't believe it. Even when he brought her home, I doubted it. But look — that girl comes every week to see us, helps us, and truly cares for Tamil. She stayed with him and looked after him like family. And now, seeing how attached Tamil is to her, I'm convinced their love is real. If that's true, it makes me so happy," Raji said softly.
"So you've accepted Nila as our daughter-in-law, haven't you?" her husband smiled. "I had the same feeling from the start — she's the right one for him. I like her a lot too."
Morning came. Nila arrived early at the hospital.
The doctor checked Tamil and said, "Everything's normal. You can discharge him now. But he must take full bed rest for two days — if not, he could faint again and end up back here, and that would be risky. Only light food for now."
"Okay, doctor, we'll take good care of him," Raji assured.
Tamil, who had been scared to even stay in the hospital, finally felt peace return.
Raji and her husband began the discharge formalities, leaving Nila with Tamil.
When Nila saw him quiet, she asked, "What's wrong, sir? Should I call the doctor?"
"No, goddess… please, spare me," Tamil said dramatically. "You've already taken your revenge on me!"
Nila laughed.
"Anyway, thank you — not for bringing me here," Tamil said with mock seriousness, "but for forgiving me and talking to me again."
After all the paperwork was done, they took Tamil home.
"Tamil never listens to us," Raji said. "So, Nila, bring his work files home and help him for two days. You can work from here and keep an eye on him."
"No need, Raji. I'm fine. I'll go to the office," Tamil protested.
"Aunty, I'll do as you say," Nila said firmly. "He never listens, and the doctor clearly said if he doesn't rest, he'll faint again and need to be admitted — that'll be risky. Please listen for once, sir."
Frightened by her warning, Tamil stayed quiet and went to his room.
Raji and her husband exchanged a knowing look — they could hardly believe the change in both of them.
For the next two days, Nila worked from Tamil's house — helping him with his office files, assisting his mother with chores, and caring for him devotedly. Seeing her care so genuinely for him, Tamil felt a new warmth bloom in his heart — a feeling he could no longer deny.
Soon, his friends and colleagues visited or called to ask about his health, and after recovering fully, Tamil returned to the office.
To be continued…