32. Pregnancy BooksInternet?? #2
"Aksh!" Shivika hit his chest lightly while he laughed softly.
Rashmi aunty shook her head fondly before explaining, "Usually the mother-to-be is dressed beautifully, relatives and close women bless her and the baby, bangles are made to wear, favourite food is prepared and everyone prays for safe delivery and happiness."
Rakshit listened carefully as if attending an important meeting.
"And yes," Rashmi aunty added teasingly, "the husband is also expected to fulfil all the cravings and demands of his pregnant wife during the function."
Rakshit sighed dramatically.
"As if she waits for functions to make demands."
Shivika immediately glared at him while Rashmi aunty laughed again.
"But seriously," Rakshit said after a moment while looking at Shivika lovingly, "I want everything to be perfect for her."
The softness in his voice made Shivika emotional all over again. She quietly rested her head on his shoulder while holding his hand tightly.
"So when should we plan the ceremony?" Rakshit asked.
"Usually people ask a priest for the proper auspicious timing," Rashmi aunty explained. "But I think we should do it after five days because that day is Navratri Sthapana. No other day could be more auspicious than that."
Rakshit silently looked at Shivika, asking for her opinion through his eyes.
Shivika smiled and nodded happily, making him smile too.
"Okay then, it's final. We'll perform my wife's God Bharai on the 21st," Rakshit announced.
Both Shivika and Rashmi aunty clapped excitedly hearing that.
Later in the evening, Shivika was doing her usual walk around the house while Rakshit and Rashmi aunty sat at the dining table discussing the ceremony preparations.
Rashmi aunty kept explaining the rituals and arrangements while Rakshit listened seriously and even noted important things down.
Suddenly, something clicked in Shivika's mind.
She turned and started walking towards the other room, but before she could open the door, Rakshit quickly held her hand.
"Ika, what happened? Why are you going there?" he asked nervously.
Shivika frowned at his question.
"Can't I go there? I used to live there earlier," she replied grumpily.
Rakshit let out an awkward chuckle.
"Of course you can go there. I was just asking. There's no need for you to go into this room now, so I asked genuinely."
It was half a lie and half the truth.
Shivika narrowed her eyes at him for a moment before replying, "I want to take my diary from the drawer near the bed."
Rakshit quietly let out the breath he was holding. "Okay, I'll bring it for you."
He turned to enter the room himself, but Shivika immediately stopped him.
"No, I'll go."
"But Ika-"
Before he could complete, she had already walked inside, making him sigh deeply before following her.
Shivika looked around the room carefully.
Everything looked exactly the same as before. Then why was he trying so hard to stop me from coming here? she wondered suspiciously.
She slowly walked towards the drawer and took out her diary while Rakshit simply stood there, waiting for her to leave the room as quickly as possible.
That definitely didn't go unnoticed by Shivika.
He's behaving as if he's hiding someone here, she thought and looked at him suspiciously while he gave her a nervous smile.
"Let's go outside," Rakshit said immediately.
"I want to take something from the closet too," Shivika replied casually and walked towards the closet door.
But the moment she touched it-
"No!" Rakshit almost shouted.
Startled, Shivika placed her hand on her chest.
"Aksh! What is even happening with you? Why are you behaving like you're hiding someone inside?" she asked angrily.
"Ika... there is nothing like that," he replied, stammering slightly under her sharp gaze.
"Open the closet for me," she ordered while crossing her arms over her chest.
"Huh?" Rakshit whispered because she was literally standing in front of the closet herself, yet asking him to open it.
"Open it," she repeated firmly while staring at the door.
Rakshit slowly walked towards her, looking as if he had accepted defeat. He opened the closet door slowly and instantly closed his eyes, preparing himself for her reaction.
But the moment Shivika looked inside, she froze in shock.
Her mouth fell open while her eyes widened at the sight before her.
The entire closet was filled with pregnancy books.
Books about pregnancy care.
Books about labour pain.
Books about newborn babies.
Books about motherhood.
Books about diet during pregnancy.
Even books named "How To Support Your Pregnant Wife."
Shivika slowly turned towards Rakshit, who still stood there with his eyes tightly shut, refusing to look at her.
After a few seconds, Rakshit carefully opened his eyes and looked at Shivika.
She stood frozen in front of the closet, staring at the shelves filled with books.
Some books even had folded corners and sticky notes attached to them.
Shivika slowly picked one up and opened it. There were highlighted lines inside. Small handwritten notes too.
"Avoid stress during the last month."
"Never let her skip meals."
"Mood swings are normal."
"Talk calmly during panic attacks."
Her eyes slowly shifted towards Rakshit.
He suddenly looked everywhere except at her, almost like a child caught hiding something embarrassing.
"Ika..." he cleared his throat awkwardly. "I was just reading normally. It's not a big deal."
Shivika looked back at the books again.
Her heart felt unbearably full.
"You read all these?" she whispered softly.
Rakshit rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"I didn't know anything about pregnancy. I didn't want to make mistakes while taking care of you."
Shivika's eyes instantly turned emotional.
"You could have simply asked the doctor," she said quietly.
"I do," Rakshit replied honestly. "But doctors only answer what we ask. What if there's something important I don't even know to ask?"
Her lips parted slightly hearing that.
"So I started reading." He shrugged lightly. "At first only one book... then I realised every book had different information."
Shivika couldn't stop staring at him.
"And some things scared me too," he admitted in a lower voice while looking down. "Like how much your body changes during pregnancy... mood swings... pain... delivery complications..."
He paused before continuing softly.
"I just wanted to understand what you're going through a little better so you never feel alone in this."
That was it.
Shivika's eyes filled completely.
Before Rakshit could say anything else, she suddenly walked towards him and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
Rakshit immediately held her carefully, startled for a second.
"Bacche... what happened?" he asked softly while rubbing her back.
Shivika shook her head against his chest.
"Nothing."
But her voice already revealed how emotional she had become.
Rakshit sighed softly and kissed the top of her head.
"Ika..."
"Aksh... I want to ask you something genuinely. Don't feel like I'm doubting you or that you're lacking anywhere... I just want to ask," Shivika said softly.
Rakshit hummed gently, asking her to continue.
She slowly broke the hug just enough to look at his face properly.
(You asked today, but from now on don't even dare to think something like this again.)
His voice was soft, but there was firmness in it because he truly wouldn't take such thoughts lightly in the future.
His hand slowly rested over her bump lovingly.
"I hope you got your answer."
Shivika's eyes filled instantly. She leaned forward and kissed his forehead softly before whispering, "Sorry."
"Don't be," Rakshit murmured before kissing her forehead lovingly too.
For a few moments, neither of them spoke anything.
"Our baby is really lucky, Rakshit," she whispered lovingly. "Because before even coming into this world, their father already loves them this much."
For a moment, Rakshit simply looked at her silently.
Then he slowly lowered his forehead against hers again and closed his eyes, a soft smile appearing on his lips.
"And the baby's mother?" he asked quietly. "Is she lucky too?"
Shivika's eyes instantly filled again. She nodded without hesitation.
"Very lucky."
Rakshit smiled softly and pulled her into his arms carefully while Shivika hugged him back tightly, feeling safer than ever in his embrace.
After a few quiet moments, her eyes again landed on the closet door and a small amused smile appeared on her face.
"You told me not to trust the internet," she murmured against his chest, "and here you opened an entire library on pregnancy books."
Rakshit coughed lightly, trying to act serious.
"Books are still more trustworthy than the internet."
That made Shivika smile brightly before hiding her face against his chest while Rakshit simply held her closer with a helpless but loving smile.
Their moment was suddenly interrupted by Rashmi aunty's voice.
"Sorry, beta..."
Both of them immediately looked towards the door only to see Rashmi aunty standing there with her back turned towards them, clearly trying to give them privacy before quickly walking outside again.
Rakshit couldn't help but chuckle softly at the situation while Shivika instantly hid her face back in his chest out of embarrassment.
"Now aunty will tease me," Shivika whined softly.
Rakshit smiled mischievously and tightened his arms around her slightly.
"Tell her she can hug her husband too after going back home," he replied casually.
That instantly made Shivika laugh softly against his chest.
"Aksh!" she said while lightly hitting him.
Rakshit only grinned before kissing the top of her head lovingly.
"What? I only gave a solution."
Shivika shook her head while smiling shyly, her cheeks turning pink as she stayed comfortably wrapped in his arms.
By dinner time, the whole house was filled with the mouthwatering smell of chole bhature. The moment Shivika entered the dining area, her eyes lit up instantly.