26. Customised Gifts #2
"You know… I can't… I just can't." He ran his fingers through his hair nervously.
A tear escaped from the corner of his eye.
There were so many things he wanted to say.
So many feelings inside his heart.
But suddenly the words just refused to come out.
For the first time in a long while, Rakshit felt helpless.
Slowly he closed the ring box and lowered his head.
Almost as if he felt ashamed for not being able to express himself properly.
Shivika sat there quietly, looking at the man on his knees in front of her.
His head was lowered.
His shoulders slightly slumped.
And suddenly her heart felt unbearably soft.
"Aksh…" she called gently.
He didn't respond.
Rakshit slowly looked up at her.
His eyes were red… tears still shining in them.
Shivika gave him a small emotional smile.
Rakshit stared at her as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
Shivika then gently lifted her hand and gestured him to come closer.
Rakshit slowly slid forward on his knees until he was right in front of her.
She took the ring box from his hand.
Opening it again, she took out one ring.
Then looking at him with a playful yet emotional smile she said,
Rakshit let out a soft chuckle.
He quickly turned his face slightly to the side to wipe the tears that escaped his eyes.
Still… he didn't look directly at her.
Seeing that, Shivika gently held his chin and turned his face back towards her.
"Look at me." she said softly.
Reluctantly, Rakshit looked into her eyes again.
They were warm… calm… and full of acceptance.
She slowly lifted his hand.
"And now…" she whispered softly, sliding the ring onto his finger.
Rakshit froze slightly when the ring settled perfectly on his finger.
For a moment he simply looked at it… then back at her.
Shivika then picked up the second ring and placed it in his palm.
"Now your turn."
Rakshit looked at the ring… then at her.
His hands were still slightly trembling.
"Ika… are you sure?" he asked softly.
Shivika smiled gently.
"I have never been more sure."
Rakshit slowly took her hand.
Very carefully… almost as if she was the most precious thing in the world… he slid the ring onto her finger.
The moment it settled there… both of them looked at each other.
Neither of them spoke.
But everything was understood.
Shivika then leaned forward slightly and rested her forehead against his.
"Thank you for understanding… even before I could say anything." Rakshit said softly, pulling her into a hug and dropping a gentle kiss on her head.
Shivika's arms slowly wrapped around him.
Rakshit slowly pulled back and looked at her.
A soft smile appeared on his face.
For the past three to four days, he had been preparing himself for this moment.
He had thought about what he would say, how he would explain everything to her without saying the actual three words, how he would make her understand what she meant to him.
But when the moment finally came…
Nothing went according to his plan.
All the words he had practiced simply disappeared.
Still, looking at her now, he felt lighter.
As if she had already understood everything his heart wanted to say.
He rubbed the back of his neck slightly, a little embarrassed.
"I actually planned to say a lot of things…" he admitted with a shy chuckle. "But somehow I forgot all the words."
Shivika smiled warmly at him.
"It's okay." she said softly.
Rakshit shook his head with a small laugh.
"Wait… I have something else too for you," Rakshit said and took out another box from the bag.
Shivika's eyes widened as he opened it.
Inside lay a delicate and elegant gold chain.
"It's so pretty, Aksh," she said softly as he held it up for her to see.
"I wasn't sure whether you would like it or not," he replied honestly.
"Like?" Shivika looked at him in disbelief.
"I love it! And this leaf and flower design… it's so unique." she said, admiring the details before he placed the chain in her hands.
"Really?" Shivika asked, clearly shocked.
Rakshit nodded.
He could see the happiness on her face and that alone made all his effort worth it.
"Why did you choose leaf and flower, Aksh?" Shivika asked, still admiring the chain before looking up at him.
"Is there any reason… or you just chose it randomly?"
Rakshit smiled slightly.
"There is a reason," he said calmly. "But I will tell you that when we both confess our feelings… and when our relationship reaches that stage."
Shivika smiled softly hearing that.
"Now make me wear it," she said, handing the chain back to him.
"Me?" Rakshit asked, surprised.
"Of course you, Aksh. Aur hai hi kaun yahan par?" she said, rolling her eyes.
(Who else is here?)
Then she added softly,
He nodded and stood up, moving behind her chair.
Shivika gently moved her hair forward to give him space.
Rakshit carefully lifted the chain and moved closer to clasp it around her neck.
But he was so cautious that he barely let his fingers touch her skin. They only brushed lightly against her neck.
From the mirror, Shivika noticed this.
She smiled softly as he held the hook of the chain slightly away from her neck so his fingers wouldn't accidentally touch her.
It wasn't even a problem if he did.
They had already crossed that stage long ago.
But seeing him still being so careful and respectful warmed her heart deeply.
After clasping it, Rakshit stepped back.
Shivika gently ran her fingers over the chain, admiring it.
She was just about to say something when suddenly her phone rang.
Rakshit stepped out of the closet because her phone was lying on the bed in the bedroom.
He picked it up and looked at the screen.
'Satyam Bhaiya.'
He shook his head with a small smile and went back inside, handing the phone to her.
Shivika picked up the call.
"Yes, yes Bhaiya, we are coming… No, no, how will he not agree? … Yes okay, see you, bye."
As she ended the call, she saw Rakshit walking towards her holding the jewellery boxes that Devyani had sent earlier.
"Can I help you with wearing it?" Rakshit asked, already hopeful that she wouldn't refuse.
"You can," Shivika said calmly, taking the boxes from his hands. "But right now we are getting late, so you just go and get ready."
"Ika please…" Rakshit whined.
Shivika looked at him in disbelief.
Rakshit nodded immediately.
Shivika stared at him for a moment before sighing.
"Okay okay fine. I am just sitting. You do all the work."
Rakshit's face instantly lit up.
He quickly started opening the jewellery boxes like an excited child.
Shivika couldn't help but smile while watching him.
How can someone be so happy just by doing such a small thing?
A soft smile appeared on her lips.
He is my husband.
He had every right over me. So many rights that came naturally with that relationship. Yet in all this time… he had never demanded anything from me.
He had always waited… patiently… respecting every space I needed.
Shivika looked at him again, noticing the way he was concentrating so seriously while opening each box.
He had always been that for her, calm, protective, sheltering… like a forest where she could breathe peacefully.
Meanwhile, Rakshit picked up the pair of earrings carefully.
"Come here," he said softly.
Shivika turned slightly towards him while he leaned closer.
Very gently he helped her wear the earrings, making sure not to hurt her ears. His fingers moved slowly and cautiously as if even the slightest discomfort to her would bother him.
"There," he said once he finished.
Then he picked up the necklace from the jewellery set.
But before he could move closer, Shivika stopped him.
"Aksh… no."
Rakshit looked confused.
"Why?"
"The chain is enough." she said softly, touching the delicate gold chain around her neck. "I don't want to wear a necklace today."
Rakshit studied her face for a moment.
He knew she wasn't saying it randomly.
So instead of insisting, he nodded understandingly and placed the necklace back in the box.
"Okay."
He opened another box.
Inside was a beautiful diamond watch.
Simple… elegant… but clearly special.
Rakshit carefully held her wrist and made her wear it.
Shivika blinked in surprise.
"It's beautiful but little different than it was in photo," she said softly while looking at it.
Rakshit smiled but didn't say anything.
She didn't know yet that he had actually customised that watch especially for her.
Before she could ask anything more, he took another small box and opened it.
Inside was a simple delicate bracelet.
He gently took her other hand and slid the bracelet onto her wrist.
"There," he said with satisfaction.
Shivika looked at both her hands.
The diamond watch on one wrist.
The bracelet on the other.
She hadn't chosen heavy jewellery today intentionally. She already got tired easily these days, and wearing too many ornaments would only make her more uncomfortable.
"Now go and get ready fast." Shivika said, lightly shooing him away.
"Yes, yes… going." Rakshit replied with a chuckle as he walked toward the door.
But just as he reached the doorstep, he suddenly stopped.
Shivika frowned seeing him pause.
"What happened?" she asked.
Rakshit didn't reply.
Instead, he quietly walked back toward her.
Before she could understand what he was doing, he bent down slightly and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.
And before she could even react, he quickly turned and ran toward the washroom like a mischievous child.
For a moment Shivika just sat there, stunned.
Then she shook her head and chuckled softly at his antics.
"Aksh, come fast! We are getting late." Shivika shouted for the fifth time in the last half hour from the living room.
"Aagaya, aagaya!" Rakshit replied from inside.
(Coming, coming)
After a moment he finally came out, dressed in a cream kurta and pajama, adjusting his sleeves as he walked.
But the moment he looked up…
He froze.
Shivika was staring at him.
Not just looking… staring intensely, without blinking.