28. Eight Months Down #2
But Rakshit was too lost in Shivika… in her presence… in the moment… to even notice.
"Sir… you have to remove your hold from her hand, or it may give an incorrect reading of her weight," the doctor said, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Only then did Rakshit realize.
"Oh… yeah," he said quickly, loosening his grip.
Shivika bit back her smile, lowering her gaze slightly.
There was something so innocent, so real about him in moments like this.
"You have gained the proper weight, Shivika… and I can see you are much happier and glowing," the doctor said as they sat down again.
"How could I not… when he is guarding me 24/7?" Shivika said with a small chuckle, glancing at Rakshit.
He just smiled softly, his eyes still fixed on her.
"That's good," the doctor said warmly.
"I have seen many husbands coming here just for formality… but I can see he is genuinely careful. And sir, I hope you have followed all the instructions I gave you?"
Rakshit nodded sincerely.
"Yes, doctor. I have tried my best… but sometimes she gets angry suddenly, and then she starts crying, feeling guilty," he said honestly.
Shivika immediately glared at him.
But he wasn't looking at her now.
"I'll tell him at home…" she thought silently, narrowing her eyes just a little before looking back at the doctor.
The doctor chuckled softly.
"I can completely understand, sir. That's just her mood swings… nothing to worry about."
Rakshit nodded again, a little relieved.
Then the doctor paused for a moment, her expression turning slightly more professional.
"I need to ask you both something important," she said gently. "It's a routine question, just to understand everything properly."
Both of them looked at her, attentive.
"Are you maintaining physical intimacy? And if yes, how frequently?"
The question hung in the air.
Suddenly, the room felt a little too quiet.
Rakshit froze.
Shivika blinked.
Neither of them knew what to say.
Rakshit's mind went completely blank.
And Shivika… she just lowered her gaze slightly, unsure.
The doctor noticed their silence.
She cleared her throat gently and shifted her gaze to Shivika.
"Do you crave for physical intimacy?" she asked, her tone soft and professional.
Shivika looked at her, hesitation clear in her eyes.
For a second, she didn't speak.
Rakshit slowly reached for her hand again.
He held it gently--
Not forcing… not pressuring…
Just… supporting.
He didn't even look at her.
But his touch said everything--
Say the truth. I'm here.
Shivika took a deep breath.
Her fingers tightened around his.
And then… she spoke.
Rakshit's breath hitched.
Her voice trembled slightly now.
Silence.
Complete silence.
The doctor sat there… stunned.
For a moment, she forgot she was in a clinic.
Because what Shivika said, it wasn't just an answer.
It was love.
Pure, simple, unfiltered love.
And Rakshit…
He lowered his gaze immediately.
Tears slipped from his eyes before he could even stop them.
His chest felt heavy… yet full at the same time.
He had almost thought…
Maybe she was hiding her needs.
Maybe she was adjusting because of the situation… because of him.
But this was something he had never expected.
She didn't want anything else.
She just wanted him.
The doctor finally smiled, her eyes soft.
"It's completely normal to feel like that," she said gently. "Many women feel it… but they can't express it the way you did."
She paused, still looking at Shivika with admiration.
"But you explained it so beautifully… that I'm honestly at a loss for words."
Shivika smiled softly, a little shy now.
Then her gaze shifted to Rakshit.
He was still looking down.
Her smile faded slightly.
A small frown formed on her face.
She leaned closer to him.
"Aksh…" she called softly.
And that was it.
Just his name from her lips and he broke.
He pulled her into his arms instantly.
Tightly.
Desperately.
As if holding her was the only thing keeping him together.
Shivika was taken aback for a second…
But then she melted into his embrace.
Her arms wrapped around him just as tightly.
She gently rubbed his back, feeling his heartbeat.
Fast. Unsteady.
Emotional.
Her own eyes filled again.
She didn't say anything.
She didn't need to.
Everything was understood.
The doctor quietly looked away, giving them the privacy of their emotions.
The doctor gently cleared her throat, bringing them back from their moment.
Rakshit slowly loosened his hold, and both of them straightened themselves, though their hands were still intertwined like neither of them was ready to let go completely.
"I understand your emotions," the doctor said softly, her tone kind yet professional, "but now, both of you need to be even more careful."
Her words immediately made Rakshit attentive. Shivika, too, looked at her seriously.
"As you've entered the last month of your pregnancy," she continued, "it's important to understand that the baby may not necessarily arrive exactly after four weeks. Labor can begin anytime within this period."
Shivika nodded slowly, absorbing every word.
"You may start experiencing false contractions also called Braxton Hicks contractions," the doctor explained.
"They can feel uncomfortable and sometimes even painful, but they are not actual labor pains. Along with that, there may be times when you feel heavy or slightly unstable, so I would strongly advise that you avoid moving around alone, especially to places like the washroom.
Always have someone with you."
Rakshit's grip on her hand tightened slightly again at that.
"I will be with her," he said immediately, his voice firm, almost instinctive.
The doctor gave a small approving nod.
"That's good."
Then her expression turned a bit more serious.
"As you both know… last month, Shivika went through a stressful phase. Although she has recovered well and medically everything looks stable, it has had some impact on the pregnancy."
Shivika's fingers curled slightly around Rakshit's hand.
Rakshit's breath hitched.
His eyes immediately went to the doctor, alert… anxious.
The words landed heavy.
Rakshit's hold tightened unconsciously.
"There wouldn't be any risk to… either of them, right?" he asked, his voice low, controlled but the fear underneath was clearly visible.
The doctor shook her head gently.
"No, there is no risk to the baby or the mother," she reassured him.
"Everything is medically fine. But yes… compared to a normal case, Shivika may experience more intense pain during labor."
A small silence followed.
Shivika swallowed nervously.
The doctor noticed and immediately handed her a glass of water.
"It's okay," she said softly.
"Don't be afraid. I'm telling you this now so that you are mentally prepared. Because at that time, your mental state will play a very important role in how your body responds."
Shivika took a sip of water and nodded slowly.
Rakshit watched her closely, his thumb gently rubbing over her knuckles in reassurance.
The doctor continued, maintaining a calm and steady tone.
"Also, based on your medical history and the stress you experienced during the early months of pregnancy, I would not recommend opting for unnecessary interventions or elective procedures unless medically required."
She paused briefly before explaining further.
"We will aim for a normal vaginal delivery, as it is the safest option in your case right now. Any alternative method especially without strong medical indication could increase complications for the baby."
Shivika's throat went dry again, but she nodded.
Rakshit listened to every word like it was something he had to memorize for life.
"We will, of course, monitor everything closely during labor," the doctor added.
"If at any point there is a need for medical intervention, we will take the safest decision for both mother and baby."
That gave them a little reassurance.
"And one more thing," the doctor said, shifting her gaze between them.
Shivika and Rakshit both looked at each other instantly.
A silent conversation passed between them.
"If you choose for him to be present," the doctor continued, "we will need to make arrangements accordingly both medically and logistically. So it's better if you inform us in advance."
Rakshit cleared his throat slightly.
"I'll… discuss it with her at home and let you know," he said.
The doctor nodded with a small smile.
"Of course. Take your time."
She leaned back slightly, her tone softening again.
"That's all from my side. But if you have any doubts, questions, or even the smallest concern, you can ask freely."
Silence settled for a moment.
Rakshit didn't stop there.
He asked everything like he was preparing himself for every single moment.
What he should do when the time comes… how he should react… how he would understand what exactly was happening… food precautions… and especially about the constant back pain Shivika had been facing.
Shivika and the doctor both kept looking at him slightly surprised, but more than that… deeply touched.
The doctor patiently answered each of his questions, explaining about light and nutritious meals, proper hydration, avoiding oily and heavy food, and making sure Shivika doesn't strain herself or stand for too long.
Then, regarding her back pain, the doctor picked up her phone.
"Let me show you something," she said, opening a video.
She turned the screen toward Rakshit.
It was a simple video of a couple, where the husband stood behind his wife, gently holding her belly from underneath and slightly lifting it to reduce the pressure on her back.
"This position helps in relieving lower back pain," the doctor explained. "You just have to stand like this for a few minutes whenever she feels discomfort."
Rakshit watched the video carefully.
Not casually…
But with full attention, as if he was memorizing every second of it.
"How long should I hold?" he asked immediately.