32. Pregnancy BooksInternet??
"Aunty, you took so long to come back," Shivika complained while side-hugging Rashmi aunty.
"Sorry, beta, but I brought something for you." Rashmi aunty smiled and took out a band from her bag.
"What is this, aunty?" Shivika asked curiously, glancing at Rakshit, who looked just as confused as her.
"Beta, this is a protection band against evil eyes. I went to our deity's temple and got it made for you and the baby's safety," Rashmi aunty explained softly.
"Thank you so much, aunty," Shivika said happily as she took it from her hands.
Rashmi aunty smiled warmly, relieved that Shivika liked it. Her smile widened when she saw Rakshit gently tying the band around Shivika's wrist with utmost care.
"Aunty, now that you're back, please make something different for me. I'm bored of eating the same things," Shivika said, making a childish face.
Rakshit shook his head, already expecting this behavior from her.
"Okay, beta," Rashmi aunty replied before walking into the kitchen.
Shivika sat beside Rakshit and frowned when she noticed him still reading the newspaper.
"That's enough, Aksh."
She snatched the newspaper from his hands and folded it before placing it on the table.
Rakshit chuckled softly.
"Just admit that you don't like it when I pay attention to something other than you while you're around me."
"So what? It's my right to have your full attention as your wife," Shivika replied proudly before resting her head against his chest.
Both Rakshit and Rashmi aunty chuckled at her words.
"Rakshit, you've taken such good care of her," Rashmi aunty said from the kitchen. "She was so thin when she first came here, but now look at her-healthy, glowing, and a little chubbier too."
Rakshit smiled proudly hearing that.
"Thank you, aunty. Only I know how much effort it took to make her eat properly. And you also know how many tantrums she throws," he said teasingly, earning a glare from Shivika.
"You never complained, and that only encouraged me to throw more tantrums," Shivika replied while puffing her cheeks adorably.
Rakshit smiled lovingly and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek.
Rashmi aunty noticed their little exchange from the kitchen and smiled to herself. She could clearly see how much closer they had become since the last time she saw them.
The distance between them had disappeared, and in its place bloomed the warmth, comfort, and love of a true husband-wife relationship.
After lunch, Shivika sat with Rashmi aunty, eager to talk about many things that had been on her mind. Rakshit, too, wanted her to clear all her doubts and feel completely at ease, so he quietly left them alone to talk comfortably.
"Aunty, you already know everything... I want to ask so many things, but my mother..."
Her words got stuck in her throat, yet she took a deep breath to compose herself.
"My mother... I can't ask her anything anymore... but now you're the only one I have. I want to ask you so many things..." Shivika said softly, swallowing the pain hidden behind her words.
Rashmi aunty immediately held her hand lovingly.
"Beta, I'm like your mother too. Ask me whatever you want without any hesitation."
Shivika smiled at her genuine words, feeling warmth spread inside her heart. She felt like someone truly cared for her like a mother would.
After staying quiet for a few seconds, Shivika finally spoke hesitantly.
"Aunty... does delivery hurt a lot?"
Rashmi aunty smiled softly, understanding the fear behind her question.
"Every woman feels scared thinking about it for the first time, beta. Yes, there is pain, but a mother forgets most of it the moment she holds her baby in her arms."
Shivika listened carefully, her fingers nervously playing with the edge of her dupatta.
"But what if I can't handle it? Sometimes I get scared thinking about hospitals and injections only..."
Rashmi aunty gently caressed her hand.
"You won't be alone, Shivika. Doctors and nurses will be there to help you, and Rakshit..." she smiled knowingly, "that boy won't leave your side for even a second. I can already imagine him panicking more than you."
Shivika laughed softly through her nervousness.
"That's true. He already gets worried if I sneeze twice."
Both of them chuckled lightly.
"But aunty..." Shivika hesitated again before whispering, "what if something happens to me during delivery?"
Rashmi aunty's expression softened instantly. She shifted closer and gently cupped Shivika's face.
Tears unknowingly gathered in Shivika's eyes.
"Sometimes I feel I'm not strong enough for all this."
"You are stronger than you think," Rashmi aunty said firmly yet lovingly.
"A woman becomes stronger automatically when it comes to her child. The moment you hear your baby cry for the first time, you'll realize how powerful a mother's heart truly is."
Shivika smiled emotionally and rested her head on Rashmi aunty's shoulder.
"And one more thing," Rashmi aunty added playfully, wiping the corner of Shivika's eye. "Don't search too many things on the internet. Half the fear comes from there only."
That made Shivika burst into laughter.
"Aksh says the exact same thing!"
"Because your husband knows you very well," Rashmi aunty replied teasingly, making Shivika blush softly.
"But beta," Rashmi aunty held her hand warmly, "never stop talking to each other. Never sleep keeping things in your heart. The biggest strength of a marriage is not perfection... it's understanding."
Shivika smiled softly at her words.
"And one more thing," Rashmi aunty added with a teasing smile, "after the baby comes, don't forget your husband completely. Poor boy already looks like he survives only around you."
Shivika laughed softly, her cheeks turning pink.
"Aunty..."
"I'm serious," Rashmi aunty chuckled.
"Many women become so busy with the baby that husbands start feeling ignored. A child brings husband and wife closer, not apart."
"I will keep that in mind aunty," Shivika said to respect her advice but she knew she can never ignore her Aksh.
"But there is one thing I wanted to talk about."
"Yes, aunty, tell me," Shivika said curiously.
"Beta, it's already your ninth month now," Rashmi aunty began softly.
"And in our tradition, during this time or in 7th month we do God Bharai(Baby shower) for the mother and baby's blessings."
Shivika looked at her quietly.
"I know your situation with your family," Rashmi aunty continued carefully, not wanting to hurt her, "but a girl shouldn't miss these beautiful moments of her first pregnancy because of sadness."
Shivika lowered her eyes, trying to hide the emotions rising inside her.
"So... if you and Rakshit don't mind, I was thinking we should do your God Bharai here. Properly. With all rituals, blessings, food, bangles, songs... everything."
Shivika looked at her in surprise.
"Really?"
"Of course," Rashmi aunty said as if it was the most obvious thing.
"This house has been waiting for happiness for so long. Why would we not celebrate our baby and mother?"
Shivika's eyes instantly became teary.
"But aunty... who will do all the rituals?"
Rashmi aunty lovingly cupped her cheek.
"I will. And whoever loves you truly will stand beside you. Relationships are made from love, beta, not only blood."
A small emotional smile appeared on Shivika's lips.
"And honestly," Rashmi aunty added teasingly, "I already know Rakshit won't let anyone organize anything without personally checking every little detail."
Shivika laughed softly through her tears.
"That's true."
"He'll probably behave like the function is for him instead of you," Rashmi aunty joked, making Shivika laugh even more.
At that moment, Rakshit entered the living room after finishing a call and frowned seeing Shivika wiping her tears.
"What happened?" he asked immediately, walking straight towards her.
He sat beside her and gently wiped the tear droplet stuck on her eyelid with his thumb. Shivika instantly passed him a bright smile.
"Nothing, she just got emotional when I told her about God Bharai," Rashmi aunty said to Rakshit, making him frown slightly in confusion.
"God Bharai? What is that?" Rakshit asked because he had never heard about it before.
"Aksh, it's a kind of ceremony performed during a woman's first pregnancy to bless both the mother and the baby," Shivika explained gently.
"Women from the family perform different rituals, shower blessings, make the mother wear bangles, feed sweets and celebrate the baby's arrival."
Rashmi aunty looked at them with a smile that refused to leave her face. Seeing them talk so naturally and comfortably filled her heart with warmth.
Rakshit nodded slowly in understanding.
"So aunty is saying that we should also plan it," Shivika continued softly. "And because of my past and the distance from my family, I shouldn't be deprived of one of the biggest happinesses in a woman's life."
She spoke nervously while looking at him because somewhere inside, she feared he might refuse considering all the complications related to her health.
But Rakshit didn't even take a second to think.
"She's right," he said calmly with a reassuring smile. "If there's something that can bring blessings for you and our baby, then we'll do it without thinking about anything else."
"Really?" Shivika asked immediately, her eyes shining with happiness like a child's.
Rakshit nodded and wrapped his arm around her shoulders protectively.
"Of course."
The smile on Shivika's face widened instantly.
"Aunty, I don't know anything about these rituals," Rakshit admitted honestly.
"So tell me what I have to do, what happens in the function... everything."
Both the women smiled hearing him.
Rashmi aunty chuckled softly.
"There's not much for you to do except take care of your wife and make sure she doesn't get tired."
"That's already a full-time job," Rakshit replied seriously, making Shivika gasp while Rashmi aunty burst into laughter.