17. Almost Lost The Baby
It was almost midnight, around 3 a.m. Shivika hadn't left Rakshit's side since they returned from shopping.
He somehow managed to make her eat an apple, even though she clearly didn't want to. After that, he gently made her lie down and tried to put her to sleep.
But she kept clinging to him tightly refusing to look at him, not speaking a single word.
No answers, no reactions.
Just soft hums in response.
Rakshit's worry grow deeper with every passing second.
Rakshit closed his eyes, holding Shivika closer to his chest, as if his warmth alone could protect her from whatever storm she was fighting inside. Her head rested against him, her fingers fisted into his shirt, her breathing uneven.
He tried to calm his own racing heart, convincing himself that she would be fine, that she just needed rest.
But suddenly, he felt it.
Her body trembled.
Not a small shiver-no.
It was violent, uncontrollable.
Rakshit's eyes flew open instantly. He looked down at her in alarm. Shivika was shivering badly, her lips trembling, her face pale. The AC wasn't even on.
"Ika…" he whispered, panic seeping into his voice. He pulled the blanket higher around her, wrapping her protectively in his arms.
"Ikaa bacche, what happened?" he asked worriedly, brushing his palm over her arm, trying to give her warmth.
Her eyes remained lowered. She didn't look at him. Her grip on his shirt tightened.
"Ak…" she murmured weakly. "sh… I am a.."
Before she could complete her sentence, her body suddenly stiffened. Her hand flew to her mouth, her face contorting in discomfort. She pushed herself away from him abruptly.
"I.." she gasped.
The next second, she stood up unsteadily, her legs barely supporting her. She stumbled forward, losing balance as nausea hit her like a wave.
Rakshit barely had time to react.
Shivika ran toward the washroom, but she couldn't even walk properly. Her steps faltered, her knees almost giving up beneath her.
Rakshit was already on his feet, fear flashing across his face.
"Shivika!" he shouted, rushing after her.
He caught her just in time as she stumbled again, his arm wrapping firmly around her waist, supporting her entire weight. She was trembling harder now, her body weak and shaking.
"I've got you… I've got you," he kept saying, his voice breaking as he guided her into the washroom.
The moment they reached, Shivika bent over the sink, her body convulsing as she threw up violently. Rakshit didn't hesitate for even a second.
He pulled her hair back gently, gathering it in his hand so it wouldn't fall forward. With his other hand, he rubbed her back in slow, soothing circles, trying desperately to ease her discomfort.
"It's okay… let it out," he murmured softly, though his own heart was pounding painfully in his chest. "I'm right here."
Her vomiting didn't stop easily. Her body shook with each retch, tears streaming down her cheeks, her breath coming out in broken sobs.
Rakshit felt helpless watching her like this.
"Shivika..." his voice cracked.
"Please… please be okay."
Once she was done, her body sagged forward, completely drained. Rakshit held her firmly, not letting her collapse.
He turned on the tap, wet his palm, and gently cleaned her face, wiping away tears and sweat. His fingers trembled as he did so.
"Look at me," he whispered softly.
She didn't.
Her eyes were half-closed, her lips pale, her breathing shallow. She leaned heavily against him, as if she no longer had the strength to stand.
"Ika?" he called again, fear now clawing at his chest. "Baby, answer me."
She let out a faint hum, barely audible.
That was it.
Panic surged through Rakshit like fire.
He lifted her carefully and made her sit on the edge of the bed. She was shivering even more now, her forehead burning under his touch.
"No… no, this isn't right," he muttered to himself, pressing his palm against her forehead again.
"You're burning."
Shivika tried to speak, but her voice came out weak, broken.
"Aksh… I feel… dizzy…"
Before she could finish, she gagged again, clutching her stomach. Rakshit rushed her back to the washroom, holding her tightly as another wave of nausea hit her.
Her body was clearly giving up.
Rakshit's hands were shaking now.
He had never felt this helpless in his life.
Once she was done, he cleaned her again, made her rinse her mouth, and guided her back to bed.
He wrapped her in the blanket once more, pulling her close to him, but his mind was racing.
She suddenly placed her hand over her stomach, her face tightening in pain.
Rakshit froze.
"Does it hurt?" he asked urgently, fear flooding his voice.
"Baby, tell me, where does it hurt?"
She nodded faintly, tears slipping from her eyes.
"Aksh… my stomach… I feel very uneasy…"
That was enough.
Rakshit felt pure panic grip him.
He carefully laid her down, keeping her head elevated, and wrapped the blanket around her again.
She was shivering and burning at the same time-a sight that terrified him.
Rakshit grabbed his phone with shaking fingers and dialed Satyam's number.
At this time Satyam is the only one who can handle everything because he needs to be with Shivika.
The call connected almost immediately.
"Satyam," Rakshit said urgently, his voice strained.
"Get up. Come fast. Be ready with the car."
Satyam instantly alert didn't ask anything.
"I'm coming right now," Satyam said firmly.
"Please be fast," Rakshit said, his voice breaking. "Shivika is not well."
The call ended.
Rakshit threw the phone aside and turned back to Shivika. He knelt beside the bed, cupping her face gently.
"Look at me," he whispered, his eyes filled with fear and love.
She didn't open her eyes fully. Just a faint hum escaped her lips.
Rakshit pressed his forehead against hers, his hand instinctively moving to her stomach.
"Please… stay strong."
Minutes felt like hours.
Her condition didn't improve.
She gagged again, her body shaking violently. Rakshit helped her vomit once more, cleaned her again, his heart racing uncontrollably.
By the time the phone rang, Rakshit was already ready.
He lifted Shivika carefully into his arms, holding her close, shielding her protectively.
Satyam rushed outside the car, alarmed by the sight.
"What happened to her?" he asked.
"Don't ask," Rakshit said, already moving. "Just drive fast."
As they rushed toward the hospital, Rakshit held Shivika tightly, his hand never leaving her hand on her stomach, his heart pounding with fear, love, and a desperate hope that both his wife and munchkin would be safe.
Her breathing was uneven. Sometimes shallow. Sometimes shaky. Every small sound she made felt like a knife piercing his heart.
She gagged softly again, her face tightening.
Rakshit panicked instantly.
"Ika-"
He leaned forward, supporting her carefully. "Easy..."
She didn't vomit this time, but her body shivered violently again. Rakshit pulled the shawl tighter around her, rubbing her arm desperately.
"Satyam, thoda fast," he said, his voice strained.
(Little fast)
Satyam didn't reply. He didn't need to. His foot pressed harder on the accelerator.
Rakshit's eyes never left Shivika's face.
Pale. Drained. Weak.
Carrying their baby inside her fragile body.
Guilt crushed his chest.
He remembered her tears. The way she had cried earlier. The way she had clung to him without words. The past memories she never talked about, but carried like wounds that never healed.
"I should have understood," he whispered brokenly. "I should have stopped you… I should have-"
Her fingers tightened around his hand as if she heard him.
"Aksh…" she murmured faintly.
"I'm here," he said instantly, leaning closer. "I won't leave you. Not now. Not ever."
The car screeched to a halt in front of the hospital entrance.
Before the Satyam could even react, Rakshit was already out of the car. He opened the back door carefully, his movements fast yet controlled like a man holding himself together by force.
Rakshit lifted Shivika into his arms. She didn't resist. She simply leaned into him, weak, exhausted, her body trembling slightly. One of her hands rested against his chest and other around his neck.
"Ak..sh.." she whispered, barely audible.
"I'm here," he replied immediately, his voice steady even though his chest felt tight. "We've reached."
The hospital doors slid open.
A nurse rushed forward the moment she saw them. "Sir-"
"Call Dr. Pratibha," Rakshit said without hesitation. "She's handling my wife's pregnancy."
The nurse nodded instantly.
"She's in the hospital, sir. I'll inform her right now."
They moved quickly, Shivika being placed on a stretcher instead of a wheelchair. Rakshit stayed right beside her, one hand resting protectively on her stomach, the other holding hers.
Another doctor joined them, checking her pulse and blood pressure while they walked.
"BP is on the lower side," he said calmly. "Pulse is fast."
"She's been vomiting since midnight," Rakshit said. "Shivering, fever, dizziness."
The doctor nodded.
Satyam followed silently, his face tense.
They entered Dr. Pratibha's consultation room, which immediately turned into a controlled emergency.
Shivika was shifted onto the examination bed.
Dr. Pratibha entered within moments.
Her expression changed the second she saw Shivika.
"How long has this been going on?" she asked, already putting on gloves.
"Since evening," Rakshit answered.
Dr. Pratibha checked Shivika thoroughly, temperature, abdomen, vitals, her movements professional but gentle.
"Severe dehydration," she said. "Stress-induced gastritis symptoms. Emotional exhaustion."
She turned to Rakshit.
"She needs to be admitted."
Rakshit nodded immediately despite trembling from inside.
No questions. No hesitation.
"Start IV fluids," Dr. Pratibha instructed calmly. "Blood tests. Electrolytes. Pregnancy-safe antiemetic."
The other doctor wrote the medicines quickly.
"Satyam," Rakshit said quietly, handing him the slip. "Get these."