31. Talking Anything & Everything
Rakshit's gaze was cold, sharp enough to make anyone uncomfortable.
"What did you think?" he asked, his voice low but dangerous. "That you would run a background check on my wife... and I wouldn't find out?"
Rahul, sitting across from him, let out a slow breath.
"I knew you would," he admitted quietly.
"But I had to do it... I needed answers."
Rakshit's brows furrowed.
"What answers?"
Rahul hesitated for a moment, then said it in one go, "Ishu... and Shivika... they're childhood best friends."
The words hit like a shockwave.
Rakshit abruptly stood up.
"What?"
For a second, everything seemed to freeze.
Ishu... Ishani Mehta-Rahul's girlfriend.
Rahul gave a small nod, already prepared for this reaction.
Rakshit ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. Shivika had told him about her best friend... but she had not mentioned a name.
"What did she say?" Rakshit asked, sitting back down, his voice now edged with urgency.
Rahul leaned forward slightly and began explaining everything, how Ishani had found out that Shivika was thrown out of her house, how she and everyone believes Shivika had left with her boyfriend, how she had been desperately trying to find her.
Ishani had asked Rahul for help... and that was how everything started unraveling.
"And when I got Shivika's picture from Ishu..." Rahul continued, shaking his head, "I had to go through Shivika's background ."
He paused, his jaw tightening.
"I thought you both just met randomly... fell in love. But what I found..." he exhaled sharply, "it was shocking for me too."
Rakshit closed his eyes for a moment, absorbing every word.
A heaviness settled in his chest.
He had worked so hard to keep Shivika away from all this, from her past, from the pain, from the stress. Especially now... when even the slightest emotional strain could harm her.
"I only did the background check to be sure," Rahul added, his voice softer now.
His fists clenched unconsciously as anger flickered in his eyes.
"Her parents... and that man--"
He stopped himself, swallowing the rest of his anger.
"But the main point is..." Rahul continued, "Shivika's family, Ishu... everyone thinks she's happily living somewhere with her boyfriend."
Rakshit opened his eyes and stood up again, his expression firm.
"Let them think that," he said calmly. "Because she is living happily... with her husband."
Rahul stood up as well, but hesitation still lingered on his face.
"But Ishu-"
"I'll talk to Shivika after her delivery," Rakshit cut him off, his tone final.
He took a deep breath before continuing, more controlled now.
"The doctor has already warned us. We can't take any risk. Not now. Not when it could harm her... or the baby."
His voice softened slightly, but the authority remained.
"Until then, you will not tell Ishani anything. And even after that... if Shivika doesn't want to meet her, that will be her decision."
Rahul nodded, understanding the seriousness behind every word.
"But still..." Rakshit added, his eyes narrowing slightly, "you shouldn't have dug into Shivika's life."
Guilt crossed Rahul's face instantly.
"I'm sorry."
"Say that to Shivika," Rakshit replied. "Make up any reason if you have to... but apologize to her."
Rahul nodded again.
"And control your anger," Rakshit added, his tone slightly lighter but still firm. "It won't help you."
"Yes, sir," Rahul said quietly.
Rakshit spoke agai, his tone now carrying a different kind of authority.
"And you're not getting away with just an apology."
Rahul looked up, confused but silent.
"The Sharma project files-you'll handle everything alone. Every report, every meeting, every presentation. No delegation."
Rahul didn't even blink.
"And the Singapore client deal," Rakshit continued, his voice steady, "I want a complete restructuring plan by Monday morning. No delays. No excuses."
It was an impossible workload.
Anyone else would have protested instantly.
But Rahul simply lowered his gaze and nodded.
"Yes, sir."
There was no argument. No justification.
Because somewhere... this wasn't just a boss assigning work.
And Rahul accepted it.
The conversation ended there.
By the time Rahul left, it was already around seven.
Rakshit walked into the bedroom and found Shivika still asleep, her face calm, unaware of the storm that had just passed outside her world.
For a moment, he just stood there... looking at her.
All his tension melted into something softer.
Carefully, he walked over and lay down beside her, making sure not to disturb her. His hand instinctively moved towards her, resting protectively near her baby bump.
Closing his eyes, he let himself relax.
Right now... nothing mattered more than her.
And slowly, just like that, sleep took over him too.
"Aksh, what is all this?" Shivika asked, looking around at the cozy setup.
They had just finished their lunch, and Rakshit had brought her into the bedroom, dimmed all the lights, pulled the curtains, and slightly decreased the AC's temperature, making the room cold and comfortable.
Rakshit grinned and helped her sit properly on the bed with the support of cushions.
"We are going to talk... finally, about everything," Rakshit said, pulling her closer by her shoulder.
"So, where should we start?" Shivika asked, holding his hand on her lap.
"Umm... tell me the reason why you cried that day," Rakshit said gently, knowing it would be sensitive for her.
"Aksh..." she whispered, tightening her hold on his hand.
"I am listening, Ika," Rakshit said softly, rubbing her shoulder gently.
"Aksh, I used to get many proposals during my school life and the starting years of college, but I never accepted any because I wanted to date a person whom I would marry... not just for some time pass," Shivika said, leaning into him.
Rakshit listened patiently, letting her continue.
"When Kritaarth proposed, even at that time I asked him what his thoughts were about marriage. When he said he was dating me to marry only... I trusted him and said yes to being his girlfriend. And about physical intimacy...
it was always my wish to experience it for the first time on my wedding night."
Shivika paused and looked up at him, trying to read his expression but he remained calm and composed.
"I never thought my life would take such a big turn... just because I trusted the wrong person," she said, letting out a breath.
Rakshit silently rubbed her shoulder, giving her support.
"When that day you told me you never dated anyone... not even had..." Shivika trailed off, unable to say it.
Rakshit understood and gently placed a kiss on her head.
Rakshit immediately lifted her face and wiped her tears.
"Shh... listen to me. Look into my eyes," he said softly, making her meet his gaze.
"What do you see?" he asked gently.
As she broke down, he pulled her into his chest.
His words made her heart swell.
"So... is there any doubt left?" Rakshit asked, noticing her staring at him.
Shivika shook her head, and he smiled.
"And promise me... you will never think about this again, and never let it come between us," he said.
"I promise," Shivika replied, smiling softly as she wrapped her arms around his torso.
Rakshit kissed her head.
"Ika... now the second thing. About what the doctor said-about me being present inside the OT during your delivery. What do you want?"
She moved back slightly to look at him.
"But--" he tried to say something, but she didn't let him.
Rakshit turned red instantly.
She giggled.
"Aww... you're already blushing," she teased, making him cover his face.
"I don't want any nurse to change my clothes or help me with anything. You will be the one doing everything," Shivika said firmly.
Rakshit took her hand and placed it on his heart.
"Ika... at least think about this heart. I know you want me to do everything... but I don't know if I can," he admitted.
Shivika smiled gently, understanding him.
She cupped his face.
"I trust you... and I know you will do everything perfectly," she added, placing a kiss on his cheek.
Then she hugged him tightly.
Rakshit wrapped his arms around her too, holding her close.
Rakshit held her close for a moment, his hand gently moving over her back.
Then, after a pause, he slightly pulled back to look at her face.
"Ika..." he called softly.
Shivika hummed, still close to him.
"What are you scared of?" he asked, his voice calm but serious.
Shivika looked up at him, a little surprised. "How did you get to know?"
A faint smile appeared on Rakshit's lips.
"I observe you," he said simply. "Every time we talk about the delivery... there's a fear in your eyes. You try to hide it, but it's there."
Shivika stayed silent for a few seconds, her eyes lowering.
"I..." she hesitated, her fingers tightening slightly around his shirt.
"I am scared, Aksh."
Rakshit didn't interrupt, just waited for her to continue.
"I don't know what will happen... how much it will hurt... what if something goes wrong..." her voice started trembling. "I've heard so many things about delivery. Pain... complications... women shouting..."
Her breathing became uneven as her thoughts spilled out.
"And I..." she paused, her eyes filling with tears, "I don't have anyone to guide me."
Rakshit's expression softened instantly.
"Mumma hoti..." she whispered, her voice breaking, "toh shayad main unse pooch leti... samajh leti... thoda strong feel karti."
(If my mother were here...maybe I would have asked her... understood things... and felt a little stronger.)
She wiped her tears quickly but they kept falling.
"Even Rashmi aunty... she's not here. Otherwise, I would have asked her... at least someone who could tell me what to expect... how to handle everything..."
Her grip on him tightened again.
"I feel so lost sometimes," she admitted quietly. "Like I'm going into something so big... without knowing anything."
Rakshit gently cupped her face, wiping her tears with his thumbs.