23. Office Surprise #2
She wanted to scold him for hiding Satyam's wedding invitation.
"I am really sorry, Sir… please don't decline my leaves. Please, Sir… I promise I wouldn't call you now on when you are at home. Please Sir, let me have my leaves for Satyam's wedding… please Sir."
Rahul was almost pleading continuously.
But in front of him, Rakshit was sitting calmly behind his desk, working on a file like he wasn't even hearing a single word Rahul said.
His face was expressionless. His pen moved smoothly across the paper.
But inside?
He was irritated.
He was enjoying his time with his Ika… and this man had to interrupt it. He told Shivika about the loss. And now here he was, forced to attend the meeting.
"Rahul," Rakshit finally spoke, without even glancing at him, "just go and do your work. You know I don't change my decisions."
"Please Sir, don't do this," Rahul almost cried. "I want to enjoy the wedding too. I wouldn't tell anything to Mam now onwards, but just don't decline my leave."
Rakshit's pen stopped.
Slowly… he lifted his eyes and looked at Rahul.
"You telling Shivika isn't the problem, Rahul," he said calmly.
"Sir… I am really sorry. But you know I was declining this meeting since last week. And I couldn't let more loss happen, so I told Mam about it… knowing if she sends you, you wouldn't be able to decline," Rahul said.
The last line he whispered.
But Rakshit heard it clearly.
"Go, Rahul," Rakshit said in a final tone, ending the discussion.
Rahul sighed and stepped out.
As soon as he came out of the cabin, he muttered to himself in a dramatic crying tone--
"Rahul, you are idiot. Let him have the loss. What was affecting you when he don't care? Or bano mahan… kar liya na apna hi nuksaan."
(Rahul, you are an idiot. Let him face the loss. What was it affecting you when he doesn't care? Trying to act like a hero… now see, you caused your own loss.)
"Mere bhai ki shaadi kese hogi ab mere bina," he said, wiping his fake tears while entering his own cabin.
(How will my brother's wedding happen without me now?)
Inside his cabin, Rakshit closed the file.
His irritation slowly faded.
Instead, something else replaced it.
He picked up his phone and dialed Shivika.
She didn't pick up.
His eyebrows frowned slightly.
He called again.
No answer.
"Ika… please pick the call," he whispered.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Just like that, he called her ten times.
But today… without thinking… he kept calling Shivika back to back.
Still no answer.
A strange uneasiness crept into his chest.
He immediately opened the camera footage of outside their home.
His eyes narrowed.
He stood up instantly.
"Satyam is not there… and Shivika is not picking the call. What is happening?"
His heartbeat increased.
He called Satyam but it went on voice mail saying he was out of network coverage area.
Without wasting another second, he rushed out of his cabin. His car keys were in Rahul's cabin because in the morning he had come directly to his own cabin.
He walked swiftly towards Rahul's cabin, which was at the last corner of the same floor.
The elevator doors opened.
Shivika and Satyam stepped out.
The private floor was silent. No employees. No noise.
Satyam walked her towards Rakshit's cabin.
A few steps away, he stopped.
"Shivika, that's his cabin. You go and surprise him. I will stand here," Satyam said with a soft smile.
"Okay, Bhaiya," Shivika said excitedly and moved closer to the cabin.
But what she saw… caught her breath.
Her steps slowed.
Her eyes widened.
The nameplate outside the cabin had her name.
Yes. Her name.
A tear slipped from her eyes.
Not letting her emotions take control, she wiped it quickly and pushed the door open, her excitement doubled now.
But seeing the cabin empty… she frowned slightly.
"Where is he?" she murmured.
She stepped inside slowly, her eyes roaming around the cabin.
It was huge. Elegant. Dominating.
But warm.
Suddenly--
"Mummyyy!" she shouted.
Her hand went straight to her chest.
She took a deep breath.
Her eyes were already fixed in front of her.
She took slow… hesitant steps ahead.
Right in front of Rakshit's desk, on the wall was her portrait.
Her big portrait.
Almost covering the whole wall.
She was laughing freely in it. Head slightly tilted back. Eyes shining. That unfiltered, pure laugh of hers.
The kind of laugh that made Rakshit forget everything.
The kind of laugh he fell in love with.
The portrait wasn't just a picture.
It was admiration.
It was devotion.
It was love carved on a wall.
Her fingers trembled as she reached out and touched the frame lightly.
"He… he put my portrait in his office?" she whispered to herself.
In the empire where his name alone ruled… he placed her face above everything.
Another tear slipped down her cheek.
At that exact moment… behind her..
The cabin door opened with jerk.
Shivika turned.
And there he was.
Rakshit.
Standing at the door.
His usually perfect hair slightly messed up, his coat not properly aligned, sweat glistening on his forehead as if he had rushed without caring how he looked.
His chest was rising and falling heavier than normal.
"Ika-"
"Aksh-"
They both spoke at the same time.
And in the very next second, the distance between them disappeared.
Rakshit reached her first, wrapping his arms tightly around her. Shivika clutched him just as strongly. His hold wasn't just affectionate, it was desperate. Protective. Relieved.
He had gotten too worried in just a few minutes.
And she… she couldn't control her emotions anymore.
Standing in his cabin. Seeing her name beside his. Seeing her portrait covering his entire wall.
She had never felt this special before.
She had never seen herself as this beautiful before.
Rakshit slowly broke the hug but didn't step away. His hands immediately came up to cup her face gently.
"Mera baccha… you are fine, right?" he asked, his voice low but trembling slightly with leftover fear.
(My baby... you are fine, right?)
Shivika looked directly into his eyes.
And what she saw there wasn't anger.
It wasn't irritation.
It was pure concern and love.
"Yes, Aksh," she replied softly.
"Did you like your surprise?"
A small grin appeared on her face as she placed her hand over his.
"Of course, Ika. I loved it," he said, his thumb brushing softly against her cheek as he moved a strand of hair behind her ear.
"But your little surprise made my heartbeat stop, you know."
"Matlab?" Shivika asked, confused.
(Means?)
He exhaled slowly.
"You didn't pick up my calls," he said quietly. "Not once. I called you ten times."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"And Satyam wasn't outside the house," he continued, his jaw tightening faintly at the memory.
"You weren't answering. The camera showed no one there."
His grip on her face tightened just a little.
"For a few seconds, I couldn't think straight."
Shivika wrapped her arms around him still looking in his eyes.
"I just went to Rahul's cabin to get the car keys and was going to come home," Rakshit said softly, still holding her face.
"But I saw Satyam standing before the elevator… so I got to know everything."
He completed the sentence with a slow exhale, the leftover tension finally leaving his body.
Then he leaned forward and kissed her forehead lightly.
"I am fine, Aksh," Shivika said gently.
"I forgot my phone at home only in excitement to meet you."
She grinned innocently.
And that grin…
That was enough to melt whatever remained of his worry.
"It's fine," he replied, a small smile finally appearing on his face.
"So, Mrs. Mahajan… you are most welcomed in your own empire."
He bowed slightly in front of her in an exaggerated gentleman manner.
She giggled softly.
The sound echoed in the cabin.
"Aksh… I am getting tired standing," she said, placing a hand lightly on her lower back.
His expression changed immediately.
"Come then," he said softly.
He held her hand carefully, guiding her towards his chair.
And without hesitation, he made her sit on it. He stood in front of her.
"So liked the office?" he asked, offering her a glass of water and waiting till she took a sip.
"Yes, Aksh," she said sincerely.
"How can I not? You have worked so hard for it… and I am feeling very proud to be your wife."
Her voice carried admiration.
Not for his money.
Not for his power.
But for his efforts.
His journey.
His strength.
His heart swelled at her words.
"My Ika…" he murmured, gently caressing her cheek with his fingers.
She leaned slightly into his touch.
Then suddenly her expression changed.
Her eyes moved toward the wall again.
"Aksh… what is this?" Shivika asked, her voice turning slightly firm as she pointed at her portrait.
Rakshit followed her gaze.
And immediately stood straight.
"It's your portrait, Ika," he answered calmly.
"Ohhh… good to know," she replied, raising her eyebrows and crossing her arms over her chest.
"Can you tell me why is it here?"
Her tone wasn't angry. But it was serious. He took a step closer.
"Ikaa…" he said softly.
Then without hesitation, he came in front of her and knelt down.
In his own cabin.
Before his wife.
He gently took her hands in his.
His voice wasn't loud.
But it was steady.
His grip on her hands tightened slightly.
His eyes softened deeply.
Shivika's throat tightened.
His thumb traced lightly over her fingers.
He glanced at the portrait briefly.
Shivika's eyes filled, but she didn't cry.
She didn't need to.
She leaned forward slightly from the chair and placed her hand on his cheek and kissed his forehead.
For a moment, Rakshit just stared at her.
Shock.
Pure, silent shock.