Awkward Heartstrings (HEARTSTRINGS SERIES-1)

Aadya pov

Kashmir was a dream come true.  Everywhere I looked, it was like a postcard come to life.  Snow-covered mountains, frozen lakes, and charming little villages.  Reyansh and I were having the time of our lives. 

We explored ancient temples, I even convinced him to try a little skiing (he wasn't nearly as graceful as he pretended to be), and we took so many pictures my phone was practically bursting.  The shikara ride on Dal Lake was pure magic.  The stillness of the water, the breathtaking scenery… it was incredibly romantic.

One evening, though, I started feeling a little off.  My head was pounding, and I felt a bit feverish.  I tried to ignore it, but it was getting harder to pretend I was okay. 

Reyansh noticed I was quiet.  "Aadya, are you feeling alright?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

"Just a little under the weather," I mumbled, pulling the blankets closer. "Probably just a cold."

He placed a hand on my forehead, and I knew I couldn't hide it anymore.  "You're warm," he said, his brow furrowed.  "We should probably call a doctor."

"No, no," I protested weakly.  "It's just a minor thing. I'll be fine after a good night's sleep."  I really didn't want to make a fuss.  I knew he was worried, but I genuinely felt like it was nothing serious.

"Are you sure?" he pressed, his voice still anxious. "We're in a remote area. What if it gets worse?"

"Relax," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "I'm tougher than I look. Just give me some rest, and I'll be back to my old self tomorrow."

He was still hesitant, I could tell.  But he finally relented.  "Okay," he said, "but I'm keeping an eye on you."

I managed a weak smile.  I knew he was worried, and that thought, strangely, was comforting.  He stayed by my side all night, checking on me, making sure I was comfortable.  It was sweet, and it made me feel so loved and protected.  Even though I felt a little under the weather, having him there made everything feel a little bit better.

The next morning, I woke up feeling even worse. My head was throbbing, my throat was sore, and my body ached all over.  I tried to put on a brave face, but I knew Reyansh could see right through me.  He looked at me with a mixture of worry and frustration.

"Aadya," he said, his voice laced with concern, "you're not getting any better.  In fact, you look worse."  He paced the room restlessly.  "I told you we should have called a doctor last night.  We should have come prepared.  This is my fault. I should have..."

His words, though spoken out of worry and concern, made me feel a pang of sadness.  I knew he was blaming himself, but hearing him say it out loud made me feel like I was ruining our honeymoon.  I felt terrible that my getting sick was causing him so much stress.  "It's not your fault," I whispered, my voice hoarse.  "These things happen."

"But it is my fault," he insisted, his brow furrowed.  "I should have been more prepared.  I should have… I don't know… brought a first-aid kit, or something.  We're in the middle of nowhere, and you're sick, and I feel completely helpless."

I could see the genuine worry in his eyes, and it touched me.  But at the same time, I felt a little guilty.  I didn't want him to blame himself.  I didn't want him to feel helpless.  I just wanted to feel better so we could enjoy the rest of our trip.  My heart sank a little.  This was supposed to be our dream honeymoon, and now it was turning into a disaster.

But then, something shifted. He stopped pacing and looked at me, his expression softening.  "Okay," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "No more talk about whose fault it is. We need to focus on getting you better."