42. Babys Name Revealed #4
"Tell Mumma I'm your favourite."
Akshvi moved her tiny hands and made another little sound.
Rakshit immediately looked at Shivika.
"See?"
Shivika couldn't stop herself from laughing.
"You're impossible."
Rakshit carefully lifted their daughter from the crib and held her close to his chest.
"Come here, princess."
Akshvi's tiny fingers curled around the fabric of his shirt.
He looked down at her with so much tenderness that Shivika's heart squeezed.
"Akshvi," he whispered, "you know Papa waited a long time to meet you."
Shivika's smile softened.
Rakshit gently kissed her forehead.
"And now you're here."
He looked towards Shivika.
"With your mumma."
Shivika walked closer and rested her head against his shoulder.
"And your mumma waited a long time too," she whispered.
Rakshit looked at her.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither said anything.
Their daughter made another tiny sound between them, breaking the silence.
Both of them looked down at her.
Rakshit smiled.
"She really knows how to interrupt our romantic moments."
Shivika laughed.
"Exactly. She got it from you."
"Aksh!"
He laughed again, and Shivika couldn't help smiling at the sound.
She reached out and gently touched Akshvi's cheek.
"She's so tiny."
"I know."
"Do you think she'll remember this?"
Rakshit shook his head with a smile.
"No."
"Then why are you talking to her like she understands everything?"
"Because I want her to."
Shivika looked at him.
Rakshit lowered his gaze towards their daughter.
"Even if she doesn't remember these moments, I will."
His voice softened.
Shivika smiled through her tears.
"You're already planning what you'll tell her when she's grown up?"
"Of course."
He looked at Shivika with a teasing smile.
"And I'll tell her how her mumma used to be extremely stubborn."
Shivika lightly smacked his arm.
"Aksh!"
He laughed.
"See? Still stubborn."
She shook her head, but her smile remained.
Their little family stood together beside the crib, surrounded by the quiet warmth of their home.
It was evening by the time the house had settled into a peaceful quiet.
Akshvi was sleeping inside, while Shivika sat in the balcony, letting the cool evening breeze brush against her face.
Rakshit came and sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. He took a slow sip of his coffee, enjoying the silence with her.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then Rakshit broke the silence.
"Ika... what were those things you were talking about in the car that made you cry?"
Shivika turned towards him.
"Can't you just let it pass?"
Rakshit placed his now-empty cup on the side and pulled her a little closer.
"Not when it's about you or us."
Shivika lowered her eyes.
"You know... the whole time we've been together, I was pregnant. And you were always busy taking care of me while I was lost in my moods, my health, the pregnancy..."
She paused.
"I didn't really get the chance to give you the love and care you deserve."
Rakshit simply looked at her, waiting for her to finish.
When she stopped, he tilted his head.
"That's it?"
Shivika nodded.
Rakshit sighed dramatically.
"Baccha, who told you that you didn't take care of me or give me the love I deserve?"
Shivika frowned.
Rakshit gently cupped her face.
"Do you remember when I fell sick?"
She nodded.
"You were the one who took care of me. You didn't leave my side until I was completely fine. You made sure I was eating properly."
A smile appeared on his face.
"And whenever I was feeding you, if I managed to feed you two bites continuously, you would start whining at me."
Shivika laughed.
"You wouldn't eat unless I reminded you."
"Exactly."
He tapped her nose.
"There were only a few days during this entire phase when I actually went to the office. And even then, you would message me and ask whether I'd eaten or not."
Shivika's smile softened.
"And remember that one day when you felt guilty about sending me to the office?"
She looked at him.
"You barely slept the night before, yet you still came to surprise me."
Rakshit gave her a mock-offended look.
"And now you're sitting here telling me you didn't take care of me or pamper me?"
Shivika lightly hit his chest.
"Okay, okay!"
Rakshit laughed.
"If you want, I can keep telling you."
"No!"
"Because I have a long list."
She shook her head, smiling.
"You probably don't remember half the things you did for me, but I remember every single one."
His voice softened.
"Every little thing."
Shivika looked at him for a moment before cupping his face.
"Okay. I understand."
She leaned forward and kissed the tip of his nose.
"I won't say it again."
Rakshit smiled.
"But I'll just love you and take care of you even more."
"I have no problem with that."
He leaned closer.
"You pamper me..."
He pointed towards himself.
"I pamper you."
Then, in an exaggerated baby voice, he added,
"Deal?"
Shivika burst into giggles.
"Deal."
Rakshit smiled and pulled her against his chest.
The evening breeze continued to flow around them, while inside, their little daughter slept peacefully.
And for the first time, Shivika understood something she had forgotten in the middle of everything-