27. First Photo Together #2
"It doesn't feel real."
A tear slipped down his cheek.
His voice broke slightly.
Silence fell between them.
Satyam didn't say anything. He just stepped forward and pulled Rahul into a tight hug.
A hug that held understanding, respect, and years of unspoken struggles.
Jhanvi stood there, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at them… and then again at Rakshit and Shivika walking away together.
Those two men had seen Rakshit at his worst.
They had worked beside him, endured his silence, his coldness, his pain.
And yet…
They never forgot what he had done for them.
Jhanvi wiped her tears softly, her lips curving into a small, emotional smile.
Because today…
For the first time...
Rakshit didn't look like machine.
Rakshit started the car.
Shivika yawned softly, covering her mouth.
Rakshit glanced at her and then smirked a little.
"Madam, it's time for your afternoon nap. Sleep," he said, chuckling.
"I want to sleep… but before that answer something," Shivika said, turning slightly towards him.
Rakshit hummed in response, focusing on the road.
"Who is this Shraddha?" Shivika asked.
"The one you met at the orphanage?" Rakshit asked.
Shivika hummed.
"She is a helper and teacher at the orphanage," Rakshit said casually.
"Not that… who is she to you?" Shivika asked, her tone turning slightly irritated.
Rakshit glanced at her briefly, confused.
"Who is she to me?"
"I am asking that only. You have to answer," Shivika said, crossing her arms slightly.
"She is no one to me," Rakshit said, shrugging lightly.
"But…" Shivika stopped herself.
Rakshit narrowed his eyes slightly, finally understanding.
"But what, Ika?"
"Why was she staring at you continuously?" Shivika said, a hint of grumpiness clear in her voice.
Rakshit's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Only she can answer that," he said calmly. "But did I stare at her?"
Shivika looked down at her lap.
"No… the whole time you were just looking after me," she said softly.
A teasing smile appeared on Rakshit's face.
"So…why getting jealous, baby?" he asked, his tone light.
Shivika's cheeks turned red instantly.
She looked down, avoiding his gaze, her fingers fidgeting in her lap.
Rakshit chuckled.
"So that's why you were behaving angry when I came with our food?" he asked.
Shivika just hummed in response, still not looking at him.
That was enough for him.
A loud laugh escaped Rakshit--rare, free, and completely unguarded.
Shivika looked at him, a soft smile forming on her lips as she watched him laugh like that.
A small chuckle escaped her lips too.
Rakshit stopped the car as there was traffic ahead. He glanced at her, noticing how tired she looked.
Then he opened his seat belt and picked the pillows from the back seat.
"Ikaa, turn towards me… sit like that. I will keep this pillow behind your back," Rakshit said.
"I am fine, Aksh. You will have problem while driving," Shivika said, though she also wanted to stretch her legs.
"Ikaa, don't think about me, just turn," Rakshit said.
He leaned towards her and kept the pillow properly behind her back as she slowly turned.
Rakshit then gently pulled her legs onto his lap.
After that, he buckled his seat belt again.
Shivika sighed, finally feeling comfortable, and leaned her head properly on the pillow.
Rakshit gently started massaging her feets, making her relax.
He kept doing it with one hand while driving with the other.
He was already driving slowly because she was sitting in that position, so that even a sudden brake wouldn't make her lose balance.
Soon, he parked the car in the basement of their building.
He looked at Shivika, who was already asleep.
He knew she would wake up with even a slight movement as she wasn't in deep sleep.
So he adjusted the AC temperature and kept massaging her feet.
"Meri jaan…" he said, admiring her, and leaning down, he pressed a soft kiss on her toes.
Then he leaned back to his seat, turning his face towards her.
He kept sitting there, just admiring her while she slept.
He had to reply to some emails that Rahul had told him about before, but he didn't want to miss this moment… the chance to look at her without any disturbance.
His eyes stayed on her face.
Calm. Peaceful.
Completely his.
After a while, he looked at the time on his watch and decided to wake her up after half an hour, knowing that even this position wasn't very comfortable and could cause her lower back pain.
Still, he didn't move.
He just sat there… quietly… admiring her.
And just like that, half an hour passed.
Rakshit gently woke her up.
Shivika slowly opened her eyes and sat properly, still drowsy. She adjusted herself and wore her flats while Rakshit stepped out of the car to open the door for her.
He extended his hand towards her.
She looked at it for a second… and then placed her hand in his without a word.
He held it firmly, helping her step out carefully, and then locked the car as they both walked towards the elevator.
They didn't speak.
Shivika was too tired after the long day… and Rakshit didn't say anything either. He knew she wasn’t in the condition to hold a conversation right now.
Soon, they reached home and after changing their clothes, both settled on the bed.
Rakshit sat against the headboard while Shivika lay down, resting her head in his lap.
His fingers moved gently through her hair… slow, comforting strokes that made her feel at ease.
The room was quiet.
"Aksh… can I ask you something?" Shivika said, breaking the silence.
"Only on one condition," Rakshit replied.
She frowned slightly. "What?"
"You have to ask anything anytime… just ask. Don't hesitate like this, okay?" he said.
Shivika got a little confused but nodded.
"Aksh… as you know you are a businessman… you are rich too, like other businessmen…" she started, clearly hesitating.
He didn't interrupt.
"You know… like the men… I mean… like you know…" she struggled to find the right words.
"Ika, just ask. You don't have to think that I'll feel bad. Just ask," Rakshit said calmly.
Still, she wasn't sure.
"I want to ask… like you know… I mean I… I…" she tried again.
"Ika, look in my eyes and speak," he said, now understanding that it was something important… something about him.
Shivika looked straight into his eyes.
She took a deep breath and held his hand, the one resting in her hair, tightly.
"Aksh… don't think that I am judging you or anything. I just want to know, that's why I am asking. And even if you don't want to answer, it's fine too, I won't mind--"
She stopped when Rakshit leaned down and placed a soft peck on her nose.
She swallowed and finally spoke.
For a moment, there was silence.
Rakshit looked at her… then smiled softly.
Leaning down, he kissed her forehead.
"No… relationship is something I never even thought about. And one night stand…" he paused slightly, "I don't know, I just hated the idea of going that close to someone unknown."
His voice was calm. Honest.
Shivika just looked at him.
She didn't say anything.
But something inside her shifted.
That one line… stayed.
You are the first woman in my life… in every sense.
She understood what he did there.
He could have said you will be my first… but he didn't.
He chose his words carefully… so she wouldn't feel awkward… so she wouldn't feel pressured.
And that…
That meant more than anything.
Time passed quietly after that.
It was around 7:35 pm when Rakshit was in the kitchen, making dinner.
They didn't want to eat anything heavy, so he was just preparing soup for both of them.
Shivika, meanwhile, was sitting in the balcony.
She had told him in the evening that she wanted to sit alone for some time.
And Rakshit didn't question it.
He just made sure she was comfortable and let her be.
It had been almost one and a half hours.
He didn't disturb her.
But his eyes kept glancing towards her again and again… making sure she was fine.