Chapter 76 - Martha's Last Few Attempts

Chapter - 76

"Ahhhh...hhaaaaaa... ughhh..." Yawning and stretching, Martha walked out of her room in her blue transparent baby doll nightie and her night robe in hand. With her eyes still half-open, she put on the night robe over her shoulders and made her way towards the kitchen. Martha was in a bad mood, she hoped for a fun night with George last night, but all she got was a cold shoulder and a night full of snores from him.

"Alex... Can I get a coffee? Ughh... I am damn sleepy," Martha called out for Alex as she reached the kitchen, but Alex was nowhere to be seen. He was neither in the hall nor in the kitchen. It was odd, but thinking that he might have gone to the gym, she looked towards the refrigerator for some kind of note. But yet again, there was nothing.

Usually, Alex would be the first to wake up and start preparing for breakfast after he was back from the gym. Was he not back yet? Martha looked at the time, and it was close to eight, 'He should have been back,' Martha thought.

But suddenly, something clicked in her mind, 'Shouldn't Alex be resting?' She totally forgot that he was in an accident yesterday and was badly hurt. Martha scolded herself for being so thoughtless, 'I have gotten so dependent on Alex that I don't even care about his well-being. I am taking him for granted,' Martha thought to herself as she climbed up the stairs.

Reaching his room, Martha gently knocked, "Alex... Are you awake?" but there was no response from inside. Martha knocked a bit louder this time, and with a slight push, the door that was ajar opened.

Without delay, Martha walked inside only to find herself suffocating in the scorching hot room. The air conditioner was off, yet Alex was covered from top to bottom in a blanket.

Martha walked up to him and pulled his blanket away. But she was shocked to find Alex shivering and curled up like a baby underneath it. And from the deep breathes he was taking, it looked like he was also having some difficulty breathing.

Martha hurriedly placed her hand on his forehead and found him burning with fever.

"Alex... Wake up," Martha gently shook Alex and tried to wake him up.

"What is it mom? Uhhh...." Alex asked, trying to open his eyes, but he couldn't. The moment he tried, he felt his eyes burning.

"Why didn't you tell me you had a fever?" Martha asked.

"I have a fever?" Alex sounded surprised. He tried to feel his forehead, but everything looked normal to him, "I don't think so. I feel the same," Alex said.

"Are you trying to be funny?" Martha, with her arms crossed around her chest, looked at him, not very pleased. But Alex was telling the truth. His hand didn't feel any hotter.

"I am really not," Alex shook her head. His eyes were still closed.

"Whatever. Just stay in bed for now. I will be back in no time," Margaret said and hurriedly left the room. Leaving the room, she hurried downstairs to wake up George. But as soon as she came to the hall, she found George tucking his shirt in his pants, with dishevelled hairs, ready to leave.

Seeing the panicked Martha climbing down the stairs, George asked, "What happened? Is there something wrong with Alex?"

"Where are you going dressed up like a homeless hobo?" Martha looked at George and could not help but crinkle her nose in disgust.

"I got a call. I need to head out," George told Martha, "What about Alex?"

"He is burning with fever. I am going to use wet towels and try to bring it down," Martha replied to him as she hurriedly entered the kitchen.

"Is it serious? Should we take him to the hospital? He is just done with his monthly checkup, " George asked as he followed her to the kitchen.

"Let's see if he gets well on his own first. I won't be going to the hospital today and will look after him," Martha told George.

"Sorry, but I can't stay. I have a very important meeting with someone," George, on the other hand, said with an unusual seriousness on his face.

"Is it serious?" Martha stopped what she was doing and looked at her husband.

"I don't know. Whatever there is, we will know, only after I have met him," George didn't say much.

Martha nodded, "Give me a minute. I will put together something really fast for you," Martha said.

"No need for that. Just take care of Alex. I need to leave early anyways". George tried to refuse.

But Martha grabbed hold of him by his arm and made him sit on the stool by the kitchen counter, "No more than five minutes. I don't want you eating something outside," Martha said.

Admitting defeat in front of the Minister of Home Affairs, George sat there, silently, watching Martha work. As Martha said, in five minutes, breakfast was ready and served in front of George. Nothing fancy, a glass of juice, toast, jam and butter.

George, in no time, was done with his breakfast. Putting the last bite of toast in his mouth, sipping some juice, he picked up his coat and walked towards the entrance. It has been so long since Martha cooked a meal for him and affectionately watched him eat. It was Alex doing the house chores for so long, and whenever she did, for one reason or another, they would end up fighting.

As she followed him to the door, Martha helped George wear his coat, adjusted his tie and styled his hair. She looked at him from head to toe appreciating the man she fell in love with.

"Now, the only thing remaining is this," Martha said and leaned forward to kiss George, but the latter backed away.

"I am really getting late now, honey. See you later," George said and hurried out of the house.

She looked at the door slowly close on her face in disappointment. This was one of the last few attempts of hers to hold on to this marriage. As soon as the door closed, she turned away towards the kitchen. She grabbed a bowl, filled it with water and emptied some ice cubes in it. When she was done, she picked up a towel with her as she headed back towards Alex's room.

Alex had finally opened his eyes by the time Martha entered his room. He was staring at the ceiling, lost in thoughts.

When Alex saw Martha walk in with a bowl in her hands, he felt guilty. As of late, he has been a real bother to his parents. All along, he tried his best not to be a burden on Martha and George, not cause any trouble to them on his part, but he ended up doing the same.

Looking at the downcast expression on his face, Martha smiled. After living with Alex for about a year now, she could easily guess what was going through the mind of her innocent son.

"You are not causing any trouble, neither to me nor to your father. You should know that not many parents like their kids to mature beyond their age," Martha said as she sat beside him.

Alex was surprised as to how Martha could accurately guess what he was thinking.

"Don't look at me like that. You will know when you have children of your own. The bond between parents and their children is something else, something special," Martha replied with a smile as she placed the wet towel on his forehead.

"But look at how you have to keep aside all your work just to take care of me," Alex said with guilt all over his face.

"So what's wrong with it? Shouldn't I take care of my son?" Martha asked, smiling.

"But I am not really your son," Alex blurted out thoughtlessly.

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