21. I Love MY IKA
"Please talk to me," Rakshit pleaded again, repeating the same line for the twenty-fourth time.
But his lady was hell-bent on not talking today.
Shivika turned her face away the moment he moved in the direction she was looking. The same thing had been going on for the past hour.
They were sitting outside the house on the couch, enjoying the evening breeze, but today too Shivika didn't see any peacocks. And somehow, that was Rakshit's fault in her mind.
He had given her hope that peacocks still visited this place, and now she felt betrayed like a little child whose dream didn't come true.
"Please, bacche, don't turn your face. At least look at me," Rakshit pleaded again, his voice soft and helpless.
But Shivika didn't respond.
"So you will not talk before seeing peacocks?" Rakshit asked firmly, getting up.
Shivika nodded, stubborn as ever.
Rakshit walked inside the house, leaving her shocked.
"Did he just leave me here?" she whispered, eyes wide.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she muttered, "Now I will not talk to him. Till now I was just teasing, but now... no, Rakshit Mahajan, now you just wait and watch."
But the next second, worry crept in.
"But what if it didn't matter to him?: she whispered, uncrossing her arms.
She shook her head quickly and crossed them again.
"No, no. I am important for him. He will make me talk somehow."
A small smile formed on her lips as she looked at the sky that had turned soft pink.
After some time, she heard the door open. She turned around, and her breath hitched at the sight in front of her.
Rakshit stood there... as a peacock.
Behind him, Uncle stood at the door, trying hard not to burst into laughter with Rakshit's phone in his hand recording the scene.
Her mouth fell open.
"Aksh..." she whispered, completely stunned.
He was standing with his hands raised above his head. Mor pankh(Feathers of Peacock) were joined together and connected to his hands with threads and tape, forming a big fan of feathers behind him.
Then he opened his hands wide, and the peacock feathers spread out just like a real peacock's tail.
Rakshit took a few dramatic rounds in a circle, copying a peacock's walk, and Shivika burst out laughing.
Uncle laughed too, shaking his head, while Rakshit laughed at himself.
He sat down near her feet, still laughing, and Uncle quietly went back inside, giving them privacy.
Rakshit started removing the threads and tapes, carefully keeping the feathers aside. When he looked up, Shivika was watching him with the softest smile, her eyes shining with affection.
She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck from behind, still sitting on the couch.
"You are too cute," she whispered and kissed his cheek.
Rakshit chuckled, placing his hands over her arms. They stayed like that for a few seconds, peaceful and close.
Then Rakshit stood up and held her hand.
"Come, let's go inside. Mosquitoes will bite you," he said gently.
Shivika shook her head at his overprotectiveness but smiled. She stood up slowly, still holding his hand, and together they walked inside.
Rakshit helped Shivika sit on the couch and went to the table where Uncle had kept his phone.
He picked it up and unlocked it, curiosity lighting his eyes. The moment he saw the video, he let out a laugh.
"What?" Shivika asked.
"I want to see too."
Rakshit sat beside her and tilted the phone so she could see clearly. He played the video.
On the screen, Rakshit was seen standing like a dramatic peacock, spreading the feathers, turning in circles, and trying his best to copy the peacock walk. Shivika's shocked face was also recorded, her mouth wide open like she had seen a miracle.
They both burst out laughing again.
"You look so stupid," Shivika said between her laughs, lightly hitting his arm.
"And you look like someone saw a ghost," Rakshit replied, laughing harder.
They looked at each other, their laughter slowly turning softer, warmer.
"It will be one of the best memories of this vacation," Shivika said, still smiling at the screen.
Rakshit just hummed, not saying anything. He kept looking at her instead of the phone.
For him, every moment with her-her anger, her childish demands, her laughter, everything was a memory he wanted to keep forever.
Her presence anywhere with him already made everything perfect.
After dinner.
They sat on the small couch placed in the open space connected to their room. The night air was cool, and the sky above them was filled with scattered stars. A soft silence surrounded them, the kind that didn't feel awkward, just peaceful.
Shivika curled her legs up and leaned back, looking at the sky for a while before speaking.
After a few moments, she started talking about her childhood, the things she missed and the moments she cherished the most. Her voice was calm, but Rakshit could hear the emotions hidden between her words.
He listened silently, not interrupting, just looking at her like every word mattered.
Then he shared his side, how he worked hard, how he struggled, how he built everything with effort and patience, how success never came easy for him.
He didn't brag, he just spoke like he was sharing a part of himself she had never fully seen.
They talked about dreams, fears, and little things that shaped them into who they were.
At some point, Shivika rested her head on his shoulder. Rakshit shifted slightly so she could be more comfortable.
"I didn't know all this about you," she whispered.
"There are many things you still don't know," he replied softly.
She smiled and intertwined her fingers with his.
"I think I want to know everything," she said quietly.
He looked at her, his expression softening.
"I will tell you. Only you," he said.
She looked up at him, eyes calm and sure.
Shivika was leaning against Rakshit's shoulder, looking at the sky, when suddenly his voice broke the silence.
She froze.
Her breath hitched, and for a second she forgot how to breathe normally. She slowly turned her face to him, her heart starting to race uncontrollably.
Her heartbeat thundered in her chest. She tried to keep her expression normal, but inside she was panicking.
She forced a playful smile and said, "Kyun, mujhse pyaar ho gaya kya?"
(Why, did you fall in love with me?)
She laughed lightly, trying to make the situation lighter, but her heart didn't calm down.
Rakshit chuckled softly, but his eyes didn't leave her face. He moved his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer, so close that she could feel his heartbeat against her temple.
"That depends on your answer to my question," he said quietly.
She swallowed. She could feel her heart racing, and she knew he could feel it too.
"You know I would never force you," Rakshit added gently.
Never force you to love me back. Just your presence is enough for me.
His words relaxed her a little. She looked back at the sky and hummed softly, trying to gather her thoughts.
"Answer me," he said, his gaze fixed on her, not on the stars above them but on the star of his world.
Shivika took a deep breath. She knew she couldn't joke anymore.
"Aksh..." she whispered, her voice softer than before.
"You know, I used to think about this a lot."
She paused, her fingers playing with the fabric of his shirt. Rakshit didn't interrupt. He just listened, his hand resting protectively on her shoulder.
"I thought love is simple when it comes to family. They are your parents, your siblings, your people. You grow up with them. You are born into that love. It's normal. It's natural. You don't question it."
She looked at him briefly, then back at the sky.
"But how can you fall in love with someone unknown?" she whispered.
Rakshit's fingers tightened slightly on her shoulder, but he stayed silent, letting her speak.
Shivika took another deep breath.
"Then I realised something," she said softly.
"Love is not about knowing someone since birth. It's about feeling something you can't explain."
She turned her head slightly so her cheek brushed against his chest.
"You know you love someone when you feel safe with them. When their presence feels like home. When silence with them is comfortable, not awkward. When you don't have to pretend. When you can be weak and strong at the same time."
Rakshit's hand slowly slid down her arm and intertwined with her fingers. He didn't look away even for a second.
She laughed softly at herself.
Rakshit's thumb gently traced circles on the back of her hand.
She hesitated, then continued, "And you start wanting a future with them. Not because you need someone. But because you choose them. Every day."
She turned her face to him slowly. Their eyes met.
Rakshit's eyes darkened with emotions he never showed anyone.
She paused, her voice trembling.
Rakshit leaned closer, his forehead almost touching hers. He was breathing slowly, deeply, as if every word she said was carving itself into his heart.
"You asked how can you know if you love someone," she whispered.
"You know when your heart answers before your mind does. When logic fails but feelings stay. When you stop asking why and just feel this is it."
She looked away again, her gaze returning to the sky.
Rakshit's grip on her hand tightened slightly.
She took a shaky breath and leaned fully against him.
Shivika stayed quiet for a few seconds after speaking, her eyes fixed on the sky. The stars looked distant, but her thoughts felt closer than ever.
"Aksh...I think I understand love a little better now."
Rakshit shifted slightly but didn't speak, giving her space to continue. His hand stayed on her shoulder, not possessive, just present.
"Before, I thought love was only about intensity," she said softly.
"Strong feelings, fast heartbeat, missing someone all the time, wanting them to choose you. I thought if it hurts and excites you at the same time, then it must be love."
She paused, thinking.