30. Satyams wedding #3
"Yeah... he gave me permission to call him bhai except at work. He said he loves me," Satyam said happily.
Shivika smiled warmly.
"Hey! I didn't say I love you," Rakshit complained.
"But your words did," Satyam replied with a grin.
Rakshit rolled his eyes.
Jhanvi and Shivika chuckled at their bond.
Rakshit and Shivika then moved towards the food counter, while the couple went to attend the guests.
Rakshit fed Shivika first, then ate himself.
He noticed how she was eating properly, more than usual and it made him smile.
It was good for her... and for the baby.
"You drink water. I'll just go wash my hands," Rakshit said, handing her a glass of water.
Shivika nodded.
As Rakshit was walking back towards her, his phone pinged.
He took it out and whatever he saw made his expression go blank.
He quietly locked the phone and slipped it back into his pocket, walking towards Shivika as if nothing had happened.
"Aksh..." Shivika said suddenly, her voice filled with shock.
Rakshit followed her gaze.
And his expression shifted instantly.
In front of them was Rahul.
His hand... was bleeding.
Glass pieces were deeply pierced into his palm, blood dripping down.
Rahul walked past them without noticing, heading to the other side.
"Aksh... he..." Shivika said, gripping Rakshit's arm tightly.
"Relax, Ika," Rakshit said calmly, pulling her into a side hug.
"Maybe he got angry about something. He has a habit of doing this. He doesn't get angry easily... but when he does, it ends up like this.
You don't worry. He'll come around."
He gently rubbed her arm, trying to calm her.
But his eyes they didn't leave Rahul.
He knew what was wrong and he had to talk to him before something major happens.
Rakshit gently helped Shivika sit inside the car before moving to the driver's seat.
As the car started, silence filled the space for a moment.
"I have always seen him happy and mischievous," Shivika said softly, still stuck on Rahul's condition.
Rakshit glanced at her briefly.
"He is like that only... but when something disturbs his mind, he ends up doing things like this," Rakshit said, gently caressing her hand with one hand while driving with the other.
"He was so excited for Satyam bhaiya's wedding... but he didn't even enjoy it properly," Shivika added, her voice filled with concern.
Rakshit looked at her again.
He knew she wouldn't stop thinking about this unless he distracted her.
"Ika... are you happy that I let Satyam call me bhai?" Rakshit asked, changing the topic softly.
Shivika's expression instantly softened as she remembered the moment.
"Yes, Aksh... I am so happy that you are finally expressing your feelings," she said, a smile forming on her lips.
"And did you see the happiness on bhaiya's face? He was so happy," she added, her eyes shining.
That smile... it brought a small smile to Rakshit's lips too.
"I am learning from the best," he said, glancing at her meaningfully.
Shivika instantly understood.
"I know I am the best," she said proudly, flipping her hair dramatically.
Rakshit chuckled.
It was night.
Rakshit and Shivika were just about to go to bed.
But Shivika frowned slightly when she noticed Rakshit still using his phone. It wasn't normal, he usually kept everything aside once they were in bed.
"Aksh... is there any problem?" Shivika asked gently, placing her hand over his.
"No, Ika. It's just some email. It's late... you lie down, i am almost done," Rakshit replied glancing at her.
But even as he said that, he didn't let her remove her hand.
Instead, he held it firmly in his, typing with his other hand.
Shivika noticed that.
A small smile appeared on her lips, and a faint blush spread across her face feeling her importance in this small act.
Slowly, she lay down beside him, still holding his hand, feeling that quiet comfort he always gave her, even in silence.
Meanwhile, Rakshit's attention remained on his phone.
He wasn't checking emails.
He was messaging Rahul.
"Meet me at 5 a.m. at my house. Don't ring the bell, Shivika will wake up. The door will be open, just come inside... but remove your shoes before you even step in.
Keep your voice low. Make sure you don't disturb her sleep. If she wakes up... I won't like it."
Rakshit typed the message and sent it to Rahul.
His face remained calm.
But his eyes, they held something else.
This was just a message.
Simple words.
Normal instructions.
But hidden within them... was a clear warning.
Because for Rakshit, Shivika's comfort, her peace, her rest... came above everything.
For anyone else, it was just a message.
For Rahul, it was a line he shouldn't cross.
Rahul, who was lost in his thoughts and unable to sleep, picked up his phone when it buzzed.
Reading the message, he sighed deeply.
"I am sorry for doing that... but I had to. Because I know you wouldn't have told me the truth if I had asked you directly," he murmured to himself.
He closed his eyes, his mind still heavy.
"How can you be so selfless...?" he whispered softly.
And slowly, sleep took over him.