22. A Homecoming Surprise
Rakshit was carefully placing their luggage in the car's trunk. They were leaving after the four best days of their life, a vacation neither of them would ever forget.
It was midnight.
Since Shivika had been craving a long drive, he had planned their return at night. The roads would be clearer, and more importantly, she felt less nauseous during nighttime.
Even then, he hadn't taken any chances. Lemon juice bottles, fruit candies, and everything that could help with sudden nausea were neatly packed in the side compartment. He always thought two steps ahead when it came to her.
"Aksh, I want to take this plant too," Shivika said, walking toward him with a flower pot in her hands.
Rakshit immediately closed the distance between them and gently took the pot from her hands.
"You could have told me instead of carrying it all the way here," he said softly, placing the flower pot securely inside the trunk before closing it.
As soon as the trunk shut, Shivika's eyes caught a glimpse of something on the back of the car.
She gasped.
Rakshit looked at her as she slowly walked toward the rear of the car, her eyes fixed on the sticker.
A bright little sticker read: "Bump on Board", along with a tiny diagram of a pregnant woman.
"Aksh… seriously??" she asked, turning toward him.
Rakshit awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.
"I just thought… umm…"
He tried to reason but found no proper explanation. There wasn't one. He had simply stuck it there because these little things made him realize that he, too, had someone to call family. That he wasn't alone anymore.
"Aksh, you don't need to lie to me," Shivika said gently. She stepped closer and cupped his face in her hands.
"Tell me, when did you do this?"
"When I was going to office, I saw a car ahead of me having this sticker. So I thought… why not stick one on our car too?" he admitted, looking down shyly.
Shivika chuckled softly.
"Why are you shy? It's cute."
"Really?" he asked, still unsure, as if expecting her to call it silly.
"Of course, my cutu," she said, pulling his cheeks playfully.
She turned and walked back inside the house. Rakshit stood there for a moment, smiling to himself. His lady had changed him so much without even realizing it.
He followed her inside.
"Ika, let's gooo. Where are you?" he called out from the living room.
"Aksh!" Shivika's loud crying voice echoed from inside.
His whole body stiffened in shock.
"Ika! Bacche!" he rushed toward the corner from where her voice came.
"Ika…" he called, holding her shoulders gently and making her turn toward him.
He froze.
Her face was completely devoid of tears.
She was becoming dramatic day by day, crying like a baby over the smallest things and Rakshit? He never complained. In fact, he loved this version of her the most.
No.
He loved her in every version.
"I planned to spend some time here with you before going," Shivika whined, hugging him tightly, "but I'm not even able to sit down."
Rakshit gently stroked her back.
"Ika, the doctor has completely restricted you from sitting on the floor. If not, I would have somehow fulfilled your wish. But I can't… and I'm really sorry for that."
"Why are you saying sorry? It's not your fault," she said, making a crying face again.
"Okay, okay, I'm not sorry," he corrected himself softly.
"Listen… we'll come here again. And that time, our baby will be with us too. Then we'll enjoy this corner properly. We should leave something for next time, right?"
She nodded, finally satisfied.
"So now, should we go?" he asked.
She hummed in agreement.
Rakshit held her hand carefully, making sure she walked steadily, and after locking the gates, they both settled into the car and began driving back toward the bustling city.
For a while, comfortable silence filled the car.
"Aksh, you didn't tell me why you were sleeping in the balcony last night," Shivika asked suddenly.
Rakshit glanced at her, then back at the road.
"I already told you. I was just sitting there looking at the moon… and I don't know when I slept."
It was true.
But not the whole truth.
"What were you thinking so hard about that you didn't realize when you slept?" she asked suspiciously.
Rakshit went silent. He didn't want to lie. But he couldn't tell her everything either.
"You," he finally said.
"Huh?"
Her cheeks turned pink instantly.
"So what were you thinking about me?" she asked, placing her hand over his that rested on her lap.
"That how you came as the brightest source of light in my life full of clouds of darkness," he said quietly.
Her heart swelled.
She smiled at him, leaned closer, and kissed his cheek.
"Ika!" Rakshit exclaimed as he almost lost balance for a second.
She giggled.
"Bacche, please don't do these things while I'm driving," he pleaded.
"What things, Aksh?" she asked innocently.
Shivika stared at him in shock.
Was this her husband?
What happened to her shy Aksh?
(Author- I never said he is shy man ??)
Her eyes widened, her mouth slightly open.
Rakshit glanced at her and smirked.
"Aapko bukhar hai kya?" she asked, placing her hand on his neck and forehead to check.
(Do you have fever?)
Rakshit laughed.
"Okay, okay, let me think of a comeback too," Shivika said, sitting straighter in her seat, pretending to think deeply.
Rakshit smiled and continued driving slowly.
"Oh yesss!" she suddenly shouted and clapped her hands.
"Got the comeback?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Her eyes drifted toward his hand on the steering wheel as he took a turn.
Rakshit's ears and neck immediately turned red.
"Hmm… cat got your tongue, Mr. Mahajan?" she smirked.
But Rakshit wasn't someone who would lose easily.
He looked straight at the road and replied calmly,
And this time--
It was her turn to blush.
Shivika immediately looked away, her fingers tightening slightly around the end of her dupatta.
The silence inside the car suddenly felt different.
Rakshit intertwined his fingers with hers while still steering carefully.
"Ika?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
Shivika leaned closer and rested her head lightly against his shoulder this time, carefully so he could still drive.
He looked at her.
Rakshit's jaw tightened slightly as emotions rose in his chest.
Shivika yawned softly.
"Tired?" Rakshit asked.
"Little bit."
"Sleep."
"No. I'll stay awake with you."
"Ika," he said gently but firmly, "you need rest."
She leaned her head back against the seat after that, watching him quietly for a few seconds.
The soft yellow highway lights passed over his face one by one.
Strong.
Calm.
Focused.
Her husband.
Her Aksh.
"You drive," she murmured softly.
"I'll sleep for a while."
Rakshit glanced at her.
"Good. Sleep."
She adjusted her dress properly, shifted a little to get comfortable, and placed her hand over her belly.
Within minutes, her breathing evened out.
Rakshit reduced the speed slightly.
One hand on the steering wheel. The other occasionally reaching to check if she was comfortable… if her head tilted too much… if the AC was too cold.
Every few minutes, his eyes drifted toward her.
A small smile never left his face.
After some time, the familiar city lights surrounded them.
Home.
Rakshit parked the car carefully in their building's parking area. He turned off the engine but didn't move immediately.
He looked at her.
She was still asleep.
Her hair slightly messy.
Her lips parted softly.
He got down quietly, closed his door gently, and walked to her side.
Opening the door slowly, he was already bending slightly, ready to lift her in his arms--
Her eyes opened.
"Aksh…" she said softly.
He paused. "You're awake?"
She blinked a few times. "We reached?"
"Yes."
"You were going to pick me up?" she asked, noticing his posture.
He straightened a little.
"Obviously. I won't disturb your sleep for this silly reason."
She smiled sleepily. "I can walk."
"But I can-"
"No." Shivika said knowing well what he would say.
She carefully stepped out of the car, holding his arm for balance.
He locked the car and took the suitcase in one hand and the flower pot in the other.
"Aksh, give me the plant at least," she said.
"No."
"I can hold it."
"No."
"It's light!"
"Ika," he looked at her firmly.
She sighed dramatically.
The elevator stopped at their floor with a soft ding.
"Home," she whispered.
Rakshit looked at her.
"Home," he repeated.
They stepped out together.
She unlocked the door while he stood behind her, still holding everything.
As the door opened, the familiar scent of their house wrapped around them.
She stepped inside first.
Rakshit followed.
Something felt… different.
Her eyes moved around the living room again, properly this time.
And then she froze.
"Aksh…" she whispered.
The dark grey walls that once made the house look heavy and silent were gone. In their place were soft cream and pastel-toned aesthetic wallpapers. Subtle floral textures. Warm undertones. The entire room looked bigger… lighter.
The thick, dark curtains that used to block almost all sunlight were replaced with soft beige and sage green drapes that would let morning light filter in gently.
Even the cushions were changed, lighter shades, softer fabrics.
A warm floor lamp stood in the corner where there used to be nothing but emptiness.
The house didn't look cold anymore.
It looked… alive.
"Aksh…" she turned toward him slowly, eyes wide. "What is all this?"
Rakshit stood there quietly, watching her reaction carefully.
"Surprise," he said softly.
"That's why you were asking me about the colours in some or the other way?" Shivika asked curiously, her eyes slowly narrowing as realization dawned on her.
Rakshit gave a small, guilty smile and stepped closer to her.
"Yes. I wanted it to be your choice… but asking you directly could have ruined the surprise, so…" he trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck lightly.