14. The Day Roles Reversed
Shivika came out of her room, fully ready. She was happy because her morning sickness wasn't troubling her much today. She saw Rashmi aunty cooking in the kitchen.
"Good morning, aunty," Shivika said, going closer and giving her a side hug.
In such a short time, she had formed a sweet bond with her.
"Good morning, beta," Rashmi replied, tapping Shivika's cheek lovingly.
"Are you feeling better today?"
"Yes, all good," Shivika said with a smile.
Rashmi poured tea into Shivika's cup and handed it to her.
"Rakshit hasn't come out yet—" Shivika was saying when his room door opened.
She moved towards the dining table with her cup.
"Good morning, Aksh," Shivika wished him.
Before he could reply, he sneezed.
"God bless you," Shivika said softly.
"Good—" Rakshit started, but sneezed again.
Shivika frowned as he sneezed once more. She stood up and went towards him.
"Aksh, are you not fine—" Shivika tried to place her hand on his forehead, but he stepped back.
"Don't come near me," Rakshit said, his voice rough due to the cold.
"What?" Shivika asked, shocked.
"I mean… I get viral infections whenever the weather changes. It's normal for me. But if you come close, you might get infected, and that's not good for you or the baby," Rakshit explained, sneezing in between.
Still worried, Shivika said, "Okay, but don't tell me you're going to the office in this condition."
He was already dressed in his formal attire.
"I have to go, Ika. If I stay here, you might get infected too," Rakshit said.
"But I won't come near you then. What's the problem?" Shivika argued.
"Ika, you're not understanding—" Rakshit tried to explain, but sneezed again.
"You are not going anywhere. That's final," Shivika said firmly.
"Go back to your room. I'll send soup with Rashmi aunty."
Rakshit looked at her face and found himself unable to say anything. He opened his mouth to protest, but Shivika raised her eyebrows. He immediately closed his mouth and shook his head.
"Go," Shivika ordered, pointing towards his room.
Rakshit sighed and turned back, walking to his room, while Shivika stood there, worried.
She then turned towards Rashmi, who was smiling softly at her.
"What happened, aunty?" Shivika asked.
"He falls sick every time the weather changes," Rashmi said emotionally.
"I used to take care of him, but he never allowed me to come near him. Today, seeing you worry for him… I feel happy that he finally has someone who will look after him."
A tear slipped from Rashmi's eyes.
Shivika smiled and gently wiped her tears.
"Aunty, don't worry. I'm here now. Let's see how long he stays stubborn and doesn't let me take care of him."
Both of them chuckled softly.
Rashmi prepared the soup, and Shivika took it to Rakshit's room. She opened the door slowly and found him lying on the bed, one hand on his forehead.
He opened his eyes as he heard the door.
"Ika, why did you come?" Rakshit said, sitting up slightly.
"Keep the soup there only. Don't come near me."
Shivika didn't reply. She simply walked towards him.
"Ikaa—" Rakshit tried to stop her, but it was as if she couldn't hear him.
"Ikaa, you'll fall ill. Why are you not understanding?" he said worriedly.
"Then you'll take care of me," Shivika replied with a small smile.
"Ikaa..." Rakshit whispered helplessly.
"Now shhh… and sit properly," Shivika said gently, placing a pillow behind his back.
Rakshit finally sat up, realizing there was no point in arguing with her.
Shivika sat in front of him, took the soup in a spoon, and blew on it softly to cool it down before holding it near his lips.
Rakshit just looked at her, unmoving.
"What? Drink it now. You also deserve my care," Shivika said softly.
Rakshit drank the soup, his eyes never leaving her face.
She made him finish the soup slowly, spoon by spoon, and then helped him lie down. As he settled, she covered him with the duvet and checked his temperature.
"You don't have a fever," Shivika said in relief.
"But take proper rest, or you'll get one because of this cold."
She gently stroked his hair, and he slowly closed his eyes.
Shivika picked up the bowl and turned to leave, but she was stopped when Rakshit held her hand.
"Stay," he said quietly.
"Oh, now stay?" Shivika teased. "Someone was telling me to go away a while ago."
Rakshit shifted a little to make space for her beside him.
"It's not my fault. You're the one spoiling me," he said softly.
Shivika shook her head with a smile and sat beside him. She gently lifted his head and placed it in her lap.
Rakshit looked up at her, and Shivika smiled back at him.
He turned slightly towards her stomach and closed his eyes, only to suddenly feel a kick.
Rakshit jerked back in surprise and looked at Shivika.
"Even the baby is saying- rest, papa, rest," Shivika said, giggling.
Rakshit smiled, his nose red from the cold, and lay down again, closer to her stomach. Shivika continued stroking his head gently.
After a while, she felt something wet. Confused, she tilted his face towards her and froze.
Tears were slipping from his closed eyes.
"Aksh…" Shivika whispered, wiping them away as he slowly opened his eyes.
His eyes shimmered, filled with unspoken pain and emotions.
"What happened, Aksh?" Shivika asked worriedly, cupping his face.
"Should we call the doctor?"
He didn't reply. He just kept looking at her as tears continued to flow silently from his eyes.
Shivika's worry deepened. Her heart clenched painfully.
"Aksh, please tell me what happened," she whispered, her voice trembling.
"Or I'll cry too."
A soft, broken chuckle escaped Rakshit's lips. He reached up and gently wiped her tear, then sat up just enough to press a tender kiss on her forehead.
Without saying anything, he lay back down, resting his head in her lap.
He held her hand tightly, placing it over his chest, as if grounding himself in her presence. Then, looking up at her face, he finally began to speak.
His grip on her hand tightened.
Tears slipped from his eyes as he stared at her, the pain of those memories still raw.
His breath hitched.
Shivika remained silent, her eyes brimming with tears, her hand still pressed against his heart—listening, feeling every unspoken ache he had carried all these years.
Rakshit took a shaky breath, his fingers still clutching Shivika's hand as if letting go would pull him back into those lonely nights.
His voice trembled.
Shivika's other hand moved instinctively to his hair, stroking it gently, silently telling him she was there.
A tear rolled down his temple and disappeared into her lap.
Shivika's tears finally fell freely.
"And then you came," he whispered, lifting his gaze to her face.
He gave a small, broken smile.
She just held his face, her thumb brushing his cheek again and again, as if trying to erase years of hurt.
"Aksh," she said softly, her voice shaking, "do you know what scares me the most right now?"
He didn't answer.
"That you think you're easy to leave," she whispered.
Fresh tears rolled down her face.
"You talk about being alone like it's something you chose," she continued, "but you didn't. You were forced into it. And somehow you convinced yourself that needing someone is a weakness."
She shook her head, crying openly now.
"It's not. It never was."
She took his hand and pressed it firmly against her chest.
"Can you feel that?" she asked quietly.
Her voice cracked.
"You tried to send me away… it hurt," she admitted.
"Not because you were rude. But because you didn't think I deserved to stay."
Rakshit's breathing became uneven.
She rested her forehead against his.
His hand moved to her stomach and her to his hair.
"You're not that little boy anymore," she said gently. "And you're not alone in that room anymore."
She pulled him closer, holding his head against her stomach.
Her voice broke completely.
Rakshit finally broke, his body shaking as years of pain poured out—but this time, someone was holding him while it happened.
And Shivika stayed.
His breathing slowly began to steady. His grip on her hand loosened—not because he was afraid anymore, but because he finally felt safe enough to rest.
Before sleep took him, he whispered, "Thank you… for staying."
Shivika bent down and kissed his hair, her tears falling silently.
"Always," she whispered back.
Shivika stayed in the same position, her hand still tangled in his hair, her body leaning slightly towards him.
Somewhere between worry and exhaustion, sleep slowly claimed her too.
Time passed quietly.
After two or three hours, Rakshit's eyes fluttered open. The cold was still there, but the heaviness inside his chest felt lighter.
He realized first what had changed and then who hadn't.
Shivika was still there.
She was asleep in the same position, her head tilted slightly, one arm resting protectively near him, as if she had promised herself she wouldn’t move.
Her face looked tired, peaceful, and deeply trusting.
A soft smile spread across Rakshit's lips.
Carefully, as if handling something precious, he shifted. He didn't want to wake her.
Slowly, he lifted his head from her lap and adjusted the pillow behind her. With gentle hands, he helped her lie down properly on the bed.
"Akshh…" she murmured in her sleep.
His smile widened instantly.
He bent down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, then covered her carefully with the duvet, making sure she was warm and comfortable.
Rakshit moved to the other side of the bed and lay down, keeping a little distance so she could rest freely.
Still, he reached out and held her hand in his, his thumb rubbing small circles over her skin.
With his free hand, he picked up his phone and messaged Rashmi aunty, asking her to keep the food in the fridge and head home.
The room fell silent again.