34. Baby Shower #3
Then she leaned close to her ear.
"May your child always be surrounded by as much love as you are today."
Shivika's smile widened.
One by one, the ladies started coming forward.
Each woman placed something in Shivika's lap and whispered a blessing in her ear.
"May your baby always be healthy and happy."
"May your family always stay together."
"May your child bring endless happiness into your home."
"May you have a safe delivery, beta."
Some blessings made Shivika emotional.
Some made her smile.
And some made her laugh.
One elderly aunty leaned closer and whispered,
"Sleep as much as possible right now."
Shivika blinked.
The lady nodded seriously.
"You'll understand later."
Shivika burst out laughing.
The photographer instantly clicked multiple pictures of her laughing.
Across the hall, Rahul frowned.
"Why is she laughing?"
Rakshit looked towards Shivika.
A smile had already appeared on his face.
"No idea."
Rahul stared at him.
"Then why are you smiling?"
Rakshit's eyes remained on Shivika.
"Because she is laughing."
Satyam immediately looked away to hide his laugh.
Another woman came forward and placed gifts in Shivika's lap.
Then she whispered something that made Shivika cover her mouth while laughing.
The women around her laughed as well.
Rahul looked at Rakshit again.
"Now what happened?"
Rakshit shrugged.
"No idea."
"But you're smiling again."
"Because she is smiling."
Rahul groaned.
"Hopeless."
The ritual continued.
"May your baby always know how loved they are."
"May your child always walk on the right path."
"May happiness never leave your home."
Slowly, Shivika's lap started filling.
Then overflowing.
Fruits.
Sweets.
Flowers.
Dry fruits.
Gifts.
Grains.
There was barely any space left.
The women finally completed the ritual and stepped back.
The photographer gathered everyone for a few group photographs.
Only then did Rakshit walk towards the stage.
The moment he reached her, his eyes fell on her completely filled lap.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"How are you even sitting with all this?"
Shivika looked down.
"I honestly don't know."
Rakshit chuckled.
"Let me help."
Carefully, he started removing the gifts and fruits from her lap.
The women around them smiled at the sight while the photographer quickly clicked more pictures.
Once her lap was finally lighter, Shivika let out a relieved sigh.
"Much better."
Rakshit smiled.
After helping Shivika with the gifts, Rakshit sat down beside her on the couch.
His fingers immediately found hers.
The moment he held her hand, Shivika smiled and tightened her hold around his fingers.
Rakshit looked towards Rahul and gave him a small look.
Rahul immediately understood.
Without needing a single word, he grabbed the microphone and walked towards them.
"Here."
Rakshit took the microphone.
The hall slowly became quiet.
Everyone's attention shifted towards him.
Rakshit looked at Shivika first.
Then at everyone present.
Suddenly, all the words he had prepared seemed stuck in his throat.
He swallowed hard.
Shivika immediately rubbed his arm supportively.
The simple gesture gave him courage.
"Thank you everyone for being here and blessing my wife and child."
His voice was calm but emotional.
The hall became silent.
Everyone listened carefully.
Rakshit looked at Shivika.
A smile automatically appeared on his face.
Several people smiled hearing his words.
Shivika simply sat there, admiring him.
Her eyes never leaving his face.
"I want to share something."
Rakshit chuckled softly.
"I am someone who never had any relation with songs or feelings."
That earned a few laughs.
"But she introduced me to every single thing I never thought I would experience."
Shivika shook her head smiling.
"And today..."
Rakshit pointed towards her.
"I have probably listened to more than two hundred songs because of her."
The guests laughed.
"You also liked hearing them."
Shivika immediately complained.
"Yeah, yeah. I didn't deny that."
Rakshit replied making her smile victoriously.
A comfortable silence settled.
Then Rakshit looked at the microphone.
Then at Shivika.
His voice softened.
A smile appeared on his lips.
The guests smiled.
Rakshit leaned slightly towards Shivika and lowered the microphone away from his mouth.
Shivika felt her breath stop.
And then Rakshit started singing.
"Ek din aap yoon Hamko mil jaayenge
Phool hi phool raaho Mai khil jayenge, Maine socha na tha..."
(One day you would come into my life like this, and flowers would bloom on every path of mine. I never imagined it.)
Rakshit lifted her hand and pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles.
"Ek din aap yoon Hamko mil jaayenge
Phool hi phool raaho Mai khil jayenge, Maine socha na tha..."
(One day you would come into my life like this, and flowers would bloom on every path of mine. I never imagined it.)
"Ek din zindagi itna hogi haseen
Joomega aasman gayegi yeh Zameen..."
(One day life would become so beautiful that even the sky would sway with joy and the earth would sing.)
"Ek din zindagi itna hogi haseen
Joomega aasman gayegi yeh Zameen
Maine socha na tha..."
(I never imagined life could become this beautiful.)
Shivika couldn't take her eyes off him.
She had heard countless singers before.
But something about Rakshit singing from his heart made every word different.
Every lyric felt personal.
Every line felt real.
"Dil ki dali pe kaliya khilne lagi
Jab nigahe nigaho se milne lagi..."
(Buds began blooming on the branches of my heart when my eyes met yours.)
"Ek din is tarah hosh kho jayege
Paas aayege madhosh ho jayege..."
(One day I would lose myself like this, and being close to you would leave me intoxicated with happiness.)
"Maine socha na tha..."
(I never imagined it.)
By the end of the stanza, a tear slipped from Rakshit's eye.
He wasn't simply singing.
He was living every word.
Shivika's own eyes had become emotional.
Not because of the song.
But because of the feelings behind it.
Then Rakshit continued.
"Jagmagaati hui jhagadi raat hai
Raat hai ya sitaro ki barat hai..."
(The night shines so brightly; it feels less like a night and more like a procession of stars.)
"Ek din dil ki raho me apne liye
Jal uthege mohabbat ke itane diye..."
(One day so many lamps of love would light up in the pathways of my heart.)
"Maine socha na tha...
Maine socha na tha..."
(I never imagined it... I never imagined it.)
As the final note ended, complete silence filled the hall for a second.
Then applause erupted everywhere.
But before anyone could say anything, Shivika leaned towards him and wrapped her arms around him in a side hug.
She didn't care about the audience.
She didn't care about the photographs.
At that moment, she simply wanted to be close to him.
Rakshit immediately kissed her head.
"I hope I didn't sing that badly."
He whispered.
Shivika pulled back and shook her head rapidly.
"No."
Her eyes were shining.
That made everyone laugh.
"It felt like you were born to sing."
Rakshit chuckled softly.
Before he could reply-
"Yesss bro!"
Rahul shouted dramatically.
"I never thought you could sing this beautifully."
Rakshit's eyebrows immediately furrowed.
"Why are you calling me bro?"
Rahul stared at him.
"You told me I can call you whatever I want outside work hours."
"But I don't like bro."
Rakshit replied instantly.
"Call me something else."
Shivika immediately bit her lips to stop herself from laughing.
"I'll call whatever I want."
Rahul crossed his arms.
"If you don't like it, that's your problem."
Satyam burst out laughing.
Before Rakshit could respond, Rahul grabbed a plate full of flowers and walked towards the stage dramatically.
"Okay guysss!"
He announced.
"Dear BigB has completed his performance."
Everyone laughed.
"And now I would like to inform everyone that me and my team wish to shoot a special reel with our soon-to-be mother."
Shivika laughed immediately.
Rakshit simply rolled his eyes.
"Who exactly is in your team?"
Rakshit asked.
Rahul grinned.
"This is my team."
He pointed dramatically.
At Satyam.
Then Jhanvi.
Then Rakshit.
And finally himself.
"Team Diamond."
Everyone laughed already.
Then Rahul pointed at himself proudly.
"Full time bevda."
(Full-time drunkard.)
Then he pointed at Satyam.
"Bhari banduk sipahi."
(A loaded gun soldier.)
Satyam looked extremely pleased with his title.
Next Rahul pointed at Jhanvi.
"Badmash baccha."
(A mischievous child.)
Jhanvi grinned proudly.
Finally Rahul pointed at Rakshit.
"Or ek sanki jhadiya."
(And one crazy chubby guy.)
For a second Rakshit blinked.
Completely confused.
Meanwhile Shivika immediately understood the reference.
And burst out laughing.
Then suddenly her expression changed.
She sat up straight.
"My Aksh is not fat!"
The entire hall froze.
"Dare you say that."
She pointed at Rahul.
"Tum Hoge mote. Bhalu."
(You are the fat one. Bear.)
Rahul immediately raised both hands in surrender.
"Yeah, yeah."
He nodded seriously.
"I am fat. I am the bear."
Everyone laughed.
The matter settled instantly.
Rakshit was still trying to process what had just happened.
Meanwhile Rahul looked extremely relieved that he had survived.
Rakshit picked up a glass of water and handed it to Shivika.
She accepted it immediately.
Still pouting.
"You are handsome, not fat."
She complained cutely before taking a sip.
Rakshit's lips twitched.
A smile appeared on his face.
"I know."
Then his eyes slowly shifted towards Rahul.
"And later, we'll discuss who is fat and who isn't."
Rahul immediately started looking everywhere except Rakshit.
The entire group burst out laughing while Shivika happily continued drinking her water.
"Now will you do what you are here for?" Rakshit asked, looking at Rahul.
"Yes, yes. So the plan is-"