26. Customised Gifts
"I am so sorry, sir, but you know it's wedding season and I don't have extra staff right now. So you will have to come and collect your order yourself." The jeweller said apologetically.
Rakshit rubbed his forehead tiredly.
"It's okay, I understand. Let it be, I will come in an hour." he said calmly.
"Okay sir… and really sorry for the inconvenience." The jeweller said again.
Rakshit just hummed softly and cut the call.
For a moment he stood there thinking. Today was Satyam and Jhanvi's haldi ceremony, and Rakshit had planned a surprise for Shivika. But because of this sudden change, he had to go and pick up the order himself so that he could still surprise his Ika.
Taking a deep breath, he walked towards their bedroom and knocked on the closet door where Shivika was getting ready.
"Ika… how much time will you take?" Rakshit asked while knocking lightly.
But he didn't receive any response.
Soon the door opened and Shivika came out. Rakshit's eyes immediately moved to her… but she was still in her earlier clothes.
"What happened?" he asked with a slight frown.
Shivika tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Actually… I am thinking to take a bath again. I am feeling very sweaty and itchy." she said softly.
"What? Why suddenly?" Rakshit asked worriedly as he stepped closer and gently held her face in his hands.
"It happened sometime ago, Aksh. Nothing to worry about." Shivika said gently, trying to calm him down.
"And you know I woke up early today because of sudden vomiting… so I already bathed early. If I take another bath now and then get ready, I will feel better."
She explained patiently.
She knew him very well. Even the smallest discomfort in her would make him worry endlessly. And if he felt something was wrong, he would cancel their plan of attending the function without thinking twice.
"Do you need any help?" Rakshit asked softly while wiping the sweat from her forehead with his handkerchief.
Shivika raised her eyebrow teasingly.
"In what? How exactly will you help in bathing?" she asked playfully.
"What? No!" Rakshit almost shouted in embarrassment.
"I meant… general help." he said awkwardly.
Shivika couldn't stop the small smile forming on her lips.
"I know, Aksh." she said softly. "You go and get ready too. I will take a bath and then get ready."
She was about to turn back when Rakshit gently held her wrist and stopped her.
"Ika… I have some urgent work. I can't tell you right now, but can I go? I will be back by the time you get ready." he said carefully.
Shivika looked at him for a moment and then smiled warmly.
"Why are you behaving like this suddenly, Aksh?" she asked softly. "It's fine. I understand. Go… and don't worry about me so much."
Rakshit sighed lightly.
"I don't know… I think I am just nervous about attending a wedding function for the first time." he said, hiding the real reason for his nervousness.
Shivika chuckled softly.
"It's fine, Aksh. I will be there with you." she said gently. "And whenever you are with me, you don't think about anything else except my health, my food and my comfort."
Rakshit also chuckled hearing that.
"Okay, understood." he said. "Now you go and take your bath. I will make pomegranate juice for you before leaving. Drink it after coming out. I will keep it here so you don't have to go to the kitchen."
He cupped her face tenderly and kissed her forehead softly.
"Okay." Shivika replied.
She took her clothes and went inside the bathroom while Rakshit walked towards the kitchen.
After some time, Shivika came out after bathing.
Her wet hair rested on her shoulders as she slowly walked towards the vanity table.
On the table there was a glass of juice… and a small sticky note beside it.
Shivika picked up the glass and then read the note.
"Drink the whole juice and get ready slowly. Don't rush yourself.
And don't wear the jewellery Devyani had sent. I will tell you why after coming.
Wait for me."
Shivika frowned slightly.
"Now what is this about not wearing jewellery?" she murmured to herself.
Shaking her head lightly, she sat down on the chair and slowly finished the juice.
Then she began getting ready.
She wore the off-white creamish suit which had been delivered in the morning along with their mehendi outfits.
Slowly she did her makeup and styled her hair.
Soon she was completely ready.
She looked at herself in the mirror.
"Now only jewellery is remaining… but he told me not to wear anything." she murmured softly.
With a small sigh, she stayed seated there, quietly admiring herself in the mirror.
After a moment her hand moved unconsciously to her stomach.
She gently caressed it.
A soft smile appeared on her lips.
"I can feel the changes in my body and emotions…" she whispered slowly.
"Can't wait to see you…"
Her eyes softened.
Just then a sudden knock came on the door.
Shivika got slightly startled.
"Aksh?" she called.
"Yes. Can I come inside?" Rakshit asked from outside.
Shivika took a deep breath to calm herself.
"Yes, Aksh."
The door slowly opened.
Rakshit walked inside holding a bag in his hand.
And the moment his eyes fell on Shivika…
He froze.
For a few seconds he simply stood there, looking at the beauty standing in front of him.
Her off-white suit made her glow softly. Her hair framed her face perfectly and the natural glow of pregnancy made her look even more beautiful.
But what caught his attention the most was something else.
She wasn't wearing any jewellery as he said not to.
And still…
She looked breathtaking.
"Ika…" he murmured unconsciously.
Shivika turned towards him.
"How am i looking?" she said softly.
Rakshit slowly walked closer, still looking at her as if he had forgotten everything else.
"You look…" he paused, searching for the right word.
Shivika tilted her head slightly.
"What?"
Rakshit smiled faintly.
"Beautiful is a very small word for you today."
Shivika blushed slightly.
"Stop exaggerating."
"I'm not." he said seriously.
Then he gently placed the bag to the side and sat down in front of her.
For a moment, Rakshit simply looked at her.
Straight into her eyes.
His gaze was so intense, so full of emotions, that Shivika couldn't hold it for long. Her heart began to beat faster and she instinctively lowered her eyes.
A faint smile appeared on Rakshit's lips.
Gently, he held her chin between his fingers and lifted her face so she would look at him again. His thumb slowly caressed her cheek with a tenderness that made her breath hitch.
But still… she couldn't look directly into his eyes.
Seeing her shy nervousness, Rakshit leaned forward and softly kissed her forehead.
(You are looking very beautiful, my love.)
The moment the word "jaan" left his lips, Shivika's heartbeat completely lost its rhythm.
It was the first time he had called her that.
Rakshit's ears and neck had already turned red because of the words he spoke, but Shivika's entire face flushed deep red as a heavy blush spread across her cheeks.
Slowly, she gathered the courage and looked into his eyes.
They were shining… bright with emotions he had been holding inside for so long.
"Jaan?" Shivika murmured softly, almost as if she was unsure she heard it right.
Rakshit's lips curved into a soft smile.
(Yes… my love.)
Before she could say anything further, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a warm hug. It was almost as if he needed that moment… that closeness… to gather the courage to say what he had been planning.
Shivika's fingers slowly curled into the fabric of his shirt.
"Aksh--"
But before she could continue, Rakshit tightened his hold slightly.
"I know… I know," he murmured softly near her ear. "Just breathe. I am not going to say anything that will make us both awkward."
His hand gently moved up and down her back in a soothing motion, trying to calm both her and himself.
For a whole minute they stayed like that.
Quiet.
Close.
Breathing in each other's presence.
Then slowly, Rakshit loosened the hug and pulled back.
He reached for the bag beside him and took out a small box from inside it.
"First listen to me… and then react, okay?" Rakshit said softly.
Shivika nodded.
But inside her mind… everything was chaos.
A storm of thoughts.
She didn't want him to say something like he loved her… or that he had feelings for her.
Not because she didn't feel anything.
But because right now… she was too confused.
Too overwhelmed.
She didn't know if she could say no.
And she wasn't sure if she was ready to say yes either.
Her emotions were tangled… messy… and fragile.
Somewhere deep in her heart she knew Rakshit understood her. She knew he would never force anything and would always respect her comfort.
But still… a small part of her heart was afraid.
Because the last thing she ever wanted… was to hurt him.
And right now, she didn't even know how to explain what she herself was feeling.
Meanwhile Rakshit was watching her carefully.
He could read the storm running inside her mind just by looking at her eyes.
So instead of rushing… he smiled gently and opened the small box.
Inside were two rings.
Shivika didn't need to think twice to understand -- one was for her and the other was for him.
Her eyes slowly lifted to Rakshit.
"Ika…" Rakshit began quietly.
"I know we are already married… but we both know in what situation we were in." His voice was soft but heavy with emotions.
"I don't ever want you to feel that I just helped you… or that I accepted you out of pity--"
He stopped mid-sentence and sighed deeply.
"I can't even say that because I never thought like that." he corrected himself immediately.
He looked at her with complete sincerity.
"You and our baby… both are my family, my home now. And when our baby comes into this world, I want him or her to see us as a couple… as perfect parents… as the perfect--"
Again his words broke.
He stopped.
For a moment he looked lost.