18.I have found My Person.
"At least tell me why are you packing?" Shivika said, getting up from the bed in frustration.
Rakshit didn't answer immediately. He simply shook his head, walked to her, held her shoulders gently, and made her sit back on the bed. He picked up the plate of fruits she had kept aside while questioning him and placed it back in her hands.
Then he sat down in front of her, his gaze soft yet serious.
"We are going for a small break," he said calmly. "Not far. The doctor has clearly declined travelling, and after whatever you went through yesterday..." His voice lowered.
"I want to you to feel different from daily life. We'll go to my farmhouse, just a little outside Mumbai."
He finished, watching her carefully.
Shivika made a small oh face, finally understanding.
They had returned from the hospital in the afternoon, and it was almost evening now. She had asked him again and again about what the doctor had said, but he hadn't told her everything. Still, she wasn't worried.
If Rakshit was with her, she felt safe.
"Now... can I continue packing?" Rakshit asked with a small smile, clearly amused by her expression.
"Yes," Shivika replied, biting into an apple slice.
Rakshit stood up, kissed her forehead gently, and whispered, "My cute baby."
He thought she wouldn't hear it but she did.
Her cheeks and ears instantly turned red. She lowered her gaze to the plate, refusing to look at him. Rakshit smiled to himself and went back to packing, while she sat there eating and secretly watching him.
"Ika," Rakshit called from the closet.
"Hm," Shivika hummed, scrolling through reels.
"I was saying-" He stepped out mid-sentence and stopped when he saw her completely lost in her phone, the fruit plate untouched.
"Ikaa," he called again, this time firmer.
She hummed again, still not looking up.
Rakshit sighed, walked to her, took the plate from her lap, picked up a slice of guava, and placed it directly into her mouth.
She started chewing obediently, still glued to her screen.
Rakshit shook his head, helpless.
Only I know what I felt seeing you like that yesterday, he thought.
It felt as if someone was stabbing my heart again and again. But now... seeing you smile in front of me-alive, here-it makes me so happy.
I'll make sure that in these three or four days, you forget your every worry. And I'll make this small vacation unforgettable-for us.
He fed her fruits one by one. When he picked up a grape and moved it towards her mouth, she accidentally bit his finger.
"Ouch," Rakshit hissed.
Shivika looked up, shocked.
"Sorry, Aksh, sorry!" She immediately put her phone aside, held his finger, and checked anxiously if she had hurt him.
There wasn't any mark.
She sighed in relief and then looked at him, only to find him staring at her blankly.
"Kya hua?" she asked.
(What happened?)
"Mil gayi aapko fursat?" Rakshit said dramatically.
"Mujhe laga ab woh phone aapke liye zyada zaroori hai... aapke pati se bhi."
(Have you finally found some time? I thought that phone was more important to you than your husband.)
He placed the last grape in her mouth, stood up with the plate, and turned to leave.
When suddenly he froze.
A loud laugh echoed behind him.
He turned slowly.
Shivika had fallen back on the bed, laughing uncontrollably, holding her stomach. Laughing like she hadn't in days.
Rakshit's eyes instantly filled with tears.
He saw her laughing after whole 21hours, 17 minutes.
He quickly wiped the tear that escaped the corner of his eye and blinked, composing himself.
"So now you're laughing at me?" he said, trying to sound normal.
She laughed a little more before finally stopping.
"Okay, okay," she said, still smiling, and tried to stand up.
But Rakshit rushed forward and made her sit again.
"You don't have to stand. Sit only," he said firmly.
She frowned.
"But why aren't you letting me stand even for a second? Since we came from the hospital, I haven't stood for more than three seconds."
"Because you're weak," Rakshit replied seriously. "And the doctor has said you need proper rest for a complication-free pregnancy."
She stared at him silently.
"You'll make me cry," Shivika said softly.
She fake-cried dramatically, closing her eyes.
Rakshit chuckled, leaned down, and kissed her cheek. She instantly stopped, eyes wide, cheeks burning red.
"Haww! When did I not listen to you?" Shivika protested.
"You're the stubborn one. You keep feeding me every ten minutes."
"And don't forget water," she added.
"You've reminded me to drink water at least a hundred times in the last hour."
Rakshit bit his lip to control his laugh.
He leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers.
"Shhh," he whispered.
His breath brushed against her skin. Shivika took a deep breath, her heart finally calming.
"You know I want you strong," he whispered, still that close. "Healthy. For me... and for our baby."
She hummed softly, eyes closed.
"Then let me take care of you properly," he said gently. "Okay?"
She hummed again.
Rakshit kissed her forehead and stayed there, not moving, feeling her warmth, assuring himself she was fine.
Somewhere deep inside, his heart was still trembling from last night.
After what felt like eternity, he pulled back, his hands still cupping her face. Her eyes were closed, cheeks flushed with a soft blush.
"Ika," he called.
"Hm," she hummed again, eyes still shut.
"Open your eyes."
She opened them, only to shut them again immediately.
Rakshit chuckled.
"Akshhh," she whined.
"Okay, okay," he laughed.
"I'm going to continue packing."
He pecked her nose before standing up, making her turn red once more, and walked back to the closet after keeping the plate aside.
Shivika slowly opened her eyes, placed one hand on her heart and the other on her stomach.
"Why were you kicking again and again when Papa was kissing Mumma, hmm?" she murmured softly.
She felt another kick and smiled.
"Ika," Rakshit called from the closet.
"Is it fine if I pack your normal dresses instead of suits? Only if you're comfortable."
"It's fine," she replied.
"Just add two night suits as well."
He agreed and continued packing. Soon, he placed both their clothes in the same suitcase, it was just a four-day trip.
But the real reason was something else.
Seeing their clothes together made him realize, again and again, he wasn't alone anymore.
Someone to share his life, his home, his heart.
Rakshit packed quietly while Shivika sat there, admiring her favourite person.
She remembered how Satyam had told her about Rakshit breaking down yesterday, something no one had ever seen. Not to make her feel guilty, but to remind her that she had a man who loved her completely.
(Author's message - Don't get happy guyss it is Satyam's POV)
She wouldn't be alone. Ever.
"Ika," Rakshit called, pulling her out of her thoughts. "Where are you lost? I called you three times."
"Nothing," she smiled. "What were you saying?"
"I was asking..." he paused.
"Where are your undergarments? I didn't put them in the closet while arranging your clothes."
Her eyes widened in shock.
"Akshhh!" she whined, hiding her face in her palms.
"You don't have to worry. I'll pack them."
Rakshit blinked, confused for a second then understood.
He shook his head and sat in front of her.
"Ika, there's nothing to be embarrassed about."
She slowly removed her hands.
"It may not be embarrassing for you," she said softly, "but for me... it is."
Rakshit looked at her, tenderness filling his eyes.
Seeing her hide her face like that, his expression softened instantly. He gently held her wrists and slowly pulled her hands down from her face.
"Ika," he said calmly, his voice low and steady, "look at me."
She hesitated but finally lifted her eyes, her cheeks still burning red.
"There's nothing embarrassing for me here," he continued softly.
"You're my wife. These are normal things. I didn't ask to make you uncomfortable."
She swallowed, nodding slightly.
"I know," she whispered.
"But I have never talked about such things so openly. Not even with Mumma. It just feels... awkward."
Rakshit's gaze softened even more. He shifted closer.
"And that's okay," he said.
"You don't have to change overnight. I'll understand your pace, Ika."
She looked at him and something inside her eased.
"So," he added gently, trying to lighten the moment without teasing, "just tell me where they are. I'll pack them. You don't need to move."
Her eyes widened again.
"No," she said quickly. "I'll do it."
He raised an eyebrow, amused but careful.
"Doctor said rest," he reminded her.
She sighed, defeated, then pointed towards the side drawer without meeting his eyes.
"In... in the lower drawer," she murmured.
Rakshit nodded once, no reaction, no smile-only respect.
"Okay," he said simply.
He stood up and moved towards the drawer, leaving her sitting there, still flustered but strangely comforted.
He bent slightly, opened it.
But there was no pause in his movements.
No hesitation.
No awkward shifting.
No change in his expression.
He took out her undergarments with the same calm ease with which he had taken out her dresses and night suits. As if it was just another part of her clothes. Just another responsibility that belonged to him now.
Shivika slowly lifted her gaze as he came.
He kept them on the bed beside the suitcase.
Not once did he act conscious of what he was holding.
Not once did he rush or look away.
She watched him, her chest tightening in a way she couldn't explain.
This is how I would have packed them, she realized.
No embarrassment. No second thoughts.
Rakshit opened the suitcase again and placed them inside, arranging them properly on her side, just like her other clothes.
He adjusted the stack slightly so they wouldn't get crumpled, then closed that section and zipped it halfway.
Only after he was done did he look up at her.