4. Heartbeat of Love
Morning had been nothing but a disaster for Shivika. Ever since she woke up she hadn't felt well she'd already vomited twice. Now she sat at the dining table, staring at the dishes in front of her but unable to eat a thing.
"Not feeling like eating anything?" Rakshit asked, reading her expression.
Shivika shook her head.
Rashmi aunty looked worried.
"At least eat something, beta. You're going to the hospital only then can the doctor help."
"I can't…" Shivika's voice trembled; she couldn't even name what she felt.
Rakshit's voice softened.
"What do you feel like? What would you want to eat?"
"Umm…something crispy," she said, and then, as if dreaming, she described it with a small smile: "Like poha with a little crunch, with onions, green chillies and peanuts, with a squeeze of lemon. Not too heavy, just light and spicy enough."
Rashmi aunty and Rakshit exchanged surprised looks -a moment ago she had been near tears, and now she was talking about flavours as if she could almost taste them.
Rakshit shook his head with and went toward the kitchen. He tied an apron on without a word.
"I'll make it.You don't have to," Rashmi aunty offered.
"It's fine, aunty. I want to do it myself," Rakshit replied, and Shivika felt her heart swell. Tears slipped down her cheeks.
Who cared for her like this?
My comfort, my health-everything.
It felt like he worried for her more than she did for herself.
Rakshit busied himself in the kitchen, preparing poha for Shivika, while Rashmi aunty stayed back, chatting softly with her.
A few minutes later, Rakshit came out holding a plate, the steam rising with the aroma of fresh coriander and lemon. He placed it in front of Shivika.
Shivika looked up. "Thank you."
"There's no need to thank me," Rakshit replied firmly.
"Now eat. We're already getting late." He sat opposite her with his own plate.
Shivika picked up a spoon and took the first bite, only to stop midway with a frown. "Something's missing."
Rakshit's brows furrowed as he mentally ran through the ingredients.
Had he forgotten something?
"Yes!" Shivika exclaimed suddenly, her eyes lighting up as she turned toward Rashmi aunty. "I want pickle!"
Rashmi froze for a moment, her gaze shifting to Rakshit. He hated pickles couldn't even stand their smell, so naturally there wasn't a single jar in the house.
"There's no pickle, beta," Rashmi aunty said gently.
Shivika's face fell instantly.
"I've never seen anyone eat poha with pickle, you know," Rakshit muttered, half amused.
"I never ate it either," Shivika shot back with a stubborn pout, "but now I want to."
The way she said it was less a request and more an order, making Rakshit blink in surprise. Her behaviour today was throwing him off at every turn.
Without another word, Rakshit pulled the plate of poha toward him.
"Alright then. Tell me… what would you want to eat if we went outside?"
The distraction worked like a charm. Shivika's eyes lit up as she launched into a dreamy description.
"Chole bhature! That spicy, tangy gravy with those big, fluffy bhature, so crunchy when you tear them apart. And onions on the side… oh! Some restaurants even serve chaat with it, that mix of sweet and spicy, it's just too yummy."
All the while, Rakshit hummed in response, quietly feeding her spoon after spoon of poha.
Rashmi stood nearby, watching with wide eyes she could hardly believe what she was seeing.
By the time Shivika stopped for breath, the plate was empty. Rakshit pushed it toward Rashmi aunty. "Done."
Shivika frowned, confused.
"What's done?" She blinked down at the plate, only then realising she had finished every last bite without even noticing.
Her eyes shot to Rakshit.
"Do you… know black magic?" she asked seriously, as if trying to spot invisible horns on his head.
Rakshit smirked. "No."
"Then how did you make me eat without me realising?" Shivika pressed.
"You were too busy describing food," he said casually, finally starting his own breakfast.
"I just fed you in between."
Shivika stared at him, both annoyed and touched.
"Let's go," Rakshit said, already prepared to leave for the hospital.
Shivika quickly adjusted her suit and draped her dupatta neatly over her shoulder before following him. But just as she stepped forward, Rakshit halted abruptly, and she bumped into his back.
"Ahh," she hissed, stepping back a few feet.
Rakshit turned with a sharp look. "Again... What if it wasn't me? What if something else had happened?"
Can't be anything else… because I've done a PhD in bumping into you, Shivika thought in her mind, biting back a smile.
But aloud, all she said was, "Sorry."
"You walk ahead. I'll follow behind you," Rakshit instructed firmly.
Her heart skipped a beat. She turned away quickly, hoping he wouldn't notice the sudden chaos inside her, and started walking toward the elevator with him right behind.
The hospital corridors were crowded, filled with doctors, nurses, and patients.
Rakshit and Shivika walked side by side after stepping out of the lift.
Suddenly, a group of nurses and guards rushed past them, wheeling a man covered in blood on a stretcher toward the OT.
Shivika's breath hitched. Her stomach churned, and before she could think, her hand clutched Rakshit's bicep tightly.
She squeezed her eyes shut, unable to bear the sight, and pressed her face against his arm as though trying to block it all out.
Rakshit glanced down at her, concern flickering in his eyes.
"What happened?"
"Feeling… like vomiting," Shivika murmured, her voice muffled against his sleeve.
"Should we go to the washroom first?" he asked gently.
She shook her head faintly, still holding onto him. "No… it's fine."
Taking a deep breath, she slowly lifted her face, though her hand remained firmly around his arm, as if afraid to let go.
Rakshit guided Shivika toward the gynaecologist's cabin.
"Hello, Mr. Mahajan," the doctor greeted warmly, rising from her chair.
Rakshit gave her a curt nod in return and pulled a chair out for Shivika. Only after making sure she was seated comfortably did he sit beside her.
Shivika noticed the small gesture, her heart stirring quietly.
The doctor, who had known Rakshit for years, this was the first time she had ever seen him with a woman.
"I hope this stays between us only, Doctor, before you start with your check-up," Rakshit said, his tone calm but carrying an unspoken weight.
The doctor swallowed, almost nervously. "Y-Yes, sir." She sat back down.
Turning her attention to Shivika, she asked gently, "Tell me, how many months have you completed?"
"Three months and one week," Shivika replied softly.
"Alright," the doctor said with a reassuring smile.
"We'll start with your vitals first, blood pressure, weight, and a quick physical check. Then we'll move for an ultrasound to see the baby's growth." She jotted something down, then looked up again.
Her gaze shifted briefly to Rakshit before returning to Shivika. "You are the father, right? So, you can come inside too."
Rakshit's breath hitched. The words hit him harder than he expected. His body froze, every muscle taut.
For a moment, he didn't even blink just sat there, staring at Shivika as if time had stopped.
The doctor, sensing the sudden shift in the air, cleared her throat awkwardly. "I… did I say something wrong?"
Shivika lowered her eyes quickly, fighting the sting of tears.
Her throat tightened, but she managed to whisper, "No… you're right."
She turned her head toward him, forcing herself to meet the depth of his gaze.
Those stormy blue eyes of his, always unreadable, always guarded were locked on her now, heavy with emotions.
"He can come."
Rakshit's world seemed to tilt.
Father.
The word echoed in his ears like something both foreign and sacred. He, who had grown up with nothing, no family, no one to call his own - an orphan who had only silence and loneliness for company.
His lips parted as though to speak, but no words came out.
His chest tightened painfully. He never smiled, never let emotions slip past his walls, but right now, he couldn't move. Couldn't even breathe.
The doctor stood and gestured toward the adjoining room. "Alright, let's proceed for the ultrasound."
Shivika rose slowly, adjusting her dupatta with slightly trembling hands.
Rakshit followed silently, his face unreadable, but his chest felt unbearably heavy.
Each step toward the room felt like he was walking into a reality he had never imagined for himself.
Inside, the nurse guided Shivika to lie down on the examination bed. Rakshit stood near the door, his hands fisted at his sides, uncertain if he should move closer.
He had faced storms, betrayals, even death without flinching -but this?
This scared him.
"Sir, you can stand near her," the doctor said kindly, as she prepared the equipment.
Rakshit hesitated before moving closer. His eyes never left Shivika, her face pale, her lips pressed tightly together, her fingers nervously clutching the bedsheet.
A cold gel was applied on Shivika's stomach, making her flinch slightly. Shivika's hand instantly found Rakshit's.
He held her hand tightly with both of his, gently rubbing it, not knowing if he was comforting her or himself.
The doctor moved the probe gently. The screen lit up with flickering images, black and white shadows that slowly took form.
And then… a sound filled the room.
Thump-thump.
Thump-thump.
Thump-thump.
A steady heartbeat.
Tiny, yet powerful.
Rakshit's eyes fixed on the monitor, his body going rigid. His chest tightened painfully, and for the first time in years, his silence shattered, his tears fell, unrestrained.
Shivika turned her head toward him.
Her lips trembled, and a tear slid down her cheek as she whispered,
"My baby…"
Rakshit's hold on her hand tightened, almost instinctively. His throat burned, but he didn't let go.
His heart ached in ways he couldn't understand, and the words slipped out of him, raw and broken.