19. Facing Her Past
Shivika stirred, her eyes half closed. Slowly, she opened them and found Rakshit staring at her.
"Good morning," he wished softly, smiling as he pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Shivika smiled and closed her eyes again. She wasn't in the mood to speak. All she wanted was to drift back to sleep.
"Wake up, Ika. It's already 9:15 a.m.," Rakshit said gently, caressing her hair.
She opened her eyes once more and slowly sat up. Rakshit moved back slightly, supporting her so she could sit comfortably. Shivika remained still, half asleep, her senses slowly catching up.
Then she looked around.
This wasn't their home.
Her eyes immediately snapped to him. "Aksh--"
Rakshit chuckled at her shocked expression. He knew anyone would react the same way after waking up in an unfamiliar place.
"You slept late last night," he explained calmly. "And I didn't want to wake you. You might have felt nausea or dizziness during the travel."
"But I didn't even realise anything," Shivika said, surprised.
"That's because I was extremely careful not to wake you," he replied, holding her hand. "I didn't want you to go through any sickness."
Shivika smiled.
This man was surely something she had never imagined in her life.
"I can hear birds chirping so clearly, Aksh," she said softly. "It feels like we're somewhere in the forest."
"We aren't in a forest," Rakshit replied, "but yes, there's a lot of greenery around. Even peacocks live here."
"Really?" Shivika asked, her eyes widening.
He nodded.
"I want to look around. Let's go," she said eagerly, trying to stand.
But Rakshit stopped her, making her frown. He cupped her face gently, his concern evident.
"Ika, first tell me. Are you feeling fine? No morning sickness? No nausea?"
"Yes, Aksh," she reassured him.
"I'm completely fine today. No dizziness, no weakness, nothing."
Only then did he relax.
"Okay. Freshen up first," he said. "I'll prepare breakfast. Call me immediately if you feel uneasy even for a second. After breakfast, I'll give you a house tour."
He kissed her head once again and helped her stand.
"Aksh… my clothes," Shivika said before heading to the washroom.
"I've already kept them in the cupboard," he replied, starting to arrange the bed.
The washroom was smaller than the one in their house, yet it was beautiful in its own way. After bathing, Shivika wore a simple, comfortable white dress with tiny cherry prints.
When she stepped out, the room was flooded with sunlight. Rakshit had pulled the curtains aside, letting nature in. Greenery stretched as far as her eyes could see.
She stood in front of the mirror and noticed her pregnancy glow, soft yet radiant. Her baby bump was clearly visible now. A smile curved on her lips as she caressed it lovingly.
She combed her hair slowly after doing her skin care, then pinned them with a flower clip before walking out of the room, knowing Rakshit must be cooking something for her.
The living room felt warm and peaceful. No noise of vehicles, no chaos, just silence and calm. Positive vibes wrapped around her like a comforting embrace.
Her eyes fell on a cozy corner near the window.
I'll sit there with Aksh once before we leave, she thought, already imagining herself cuddled up with him.
The open kitchen came into view, and there he was.
Rakshit stood near the counter, completely focused, wearing a simple T-shirt and comfortable lowers. An apron was tied around his waist, slightly crooked, as if he had hurriedly put it on.
His hair was messy, strands falling on his forehead, making him look effortlessly attractive.
Strong yet gentle. Calm yet powerful.
She smiled without making a sound, just standing there and admiring him.
She never said it out loud, but she had always found him handsome. The first time she had ever seen him was in a newspaper, long before they met. Even then, she had noticed him.
Not just his sharp features or his well-built frame, but the quiet confidence in his eyes. The kind of beauty that wasn't loud, the kind that stayed with you. His presence carried warmth, safety, and strength all at once.
Watching him now, cooking for her with such care, Shivika realised one thing clearly.
He wasn't just handsome.
"Why are you standing there? Come sit," Rakshit said without even turning back.
Shivika smiled as she moved closer and sat on the stool placed near the counter.
"How did you know I was here without even looking?" she asked teasingly.
Rakshit chuckled softly.
Her cheeks flushed instantly at his answer. She smiled, then stood up again with a small pout.
Sensing her movement, Rakshit turned around and found her standing, looking around uncomfortably. He lowered the flame and walked up to her.
"What happened?" he asked, holding her shoulder gently.
"It's not comfortable to sit," Shivika said, pointing at the stool.
"Oh shit, I'm sorry. I should have known," Rakshit said immediately and hurried inside.
He returned within seconds with a proper chair, much more comfortable than the stool. Placing it near the counter, he moved the stool aside and carefully helped her sit.
"Comfortable?" he asked, crouching slightly to meet her eyes.
"Yes," she nodded quickly, then smiled and rubbed her baby bump. "And we're hungry. Please make us eat fast."
Rakshit chuckled.
"At your service, madam," he said playfully and turned back to the stove.
He began arranging everything on the counter with careful attention. He wiped the surface once, then placed each item neatly, as if order itself mattered to him.
Shivika watched him silently.
He kept the hot breakfast on one side, making sure it wasn't too close to the edge. The fruits were already washed and cut, arranged neatly on a small plate.
He even kept a glass of warm milk a little away, making sure the steam wouldn't bother her.
Then he brought a spoon, another napkin, and a small bowl separately, lining them up perfectly.
Shivika's eyes widened in shock.
This wasn't rushed. This wasn't random.
This was planned.
She could see it clearly now. More breakfast, more than what he usually made, lighter food, healthier choices.
Everything was there for a reason.
For her. For the baby.
She leaned back slightly in the chair, watching him move around with quiet efficiency, her heart swelling with emotions she couldn't fully name.
"Aksh…" she called softly.
He hummed in response, still focused.
"Why this much?" she asked, looking at the counter filled with food.
"Because you need to maintain a proper diet now," Rakshit said softly, then added, "I don't want you to feel any kind of weakness, so you'll eat healthy things."
Rakshit pulled a plate out from the cabinet and lifted the lid.
Before he could even say anything, Shivika gasped.
"What happened?" Rakshit asked immediately. He kept the plate on the counter and rushed to her side.
"I don't want to eat oats," she said, not even completing her sentence before tears started rolling down her cheeks.
(Then baby, why are you crying over this?)
Rakshit said softly, wiping her tears with his thumb.
"You'll make me eat it," Shivika complained between sobs. "And I won't even realise."
Rakshit froze.
He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again, completely clueless about how to handle this sudden emotional breakdown.
"Okay, okay," he said quickly, giving up without a fight.
"I won't make you eat this. Just tell me what you want to eat. I'll make that."
He pulled her gently into his chest, hugging her tightly and stroking her back in slow, soothing motions.
"Pakka?" Shivika asked, looking up at him, blinking rapidly with watery eyes.
(Promise?)
"Pakka," Rakshit replied, pecking her nose.
(Promise.)
He couldn't resist. She looked too cute like this.
"Now tell me, what do you want to eat?" he asked, loosening his hold.
"Right now I'll eat these fruits and drink milk," Shivika said, suddenly grinning. "But for lunch, you'll make paneer butter masala and naan."
Rakshit sighed helplessly.
"I'll make that for lunch. But you can tell me what you want right now, I'll make it quickly."
"No, Aksh," she said, already picking up the plate of fruits. "I'll eat this. You sit and have your breakfast."
Rakshit knew it instantly. She didn't want him to work more.
Without saying anything, he walked around the counter, picked up an apple, an orange, and a knife, and quietly added more fruits to her plate.
Shivika stared at him in shock.
"Akshhh," she whined.
"No," he said firmly. "You have to eat this much. Or I'll feed you oats."
She glared at him.
"Okay, I'm eating," she muttered grumpily and started eating.
Rakshit sat beside her with his plate of oats, leaned closer, and kissed her cheek before casually starting his breakfast, as if nothing had happened.
Shivika tried hard to control her smile, but in the end, her lips curved up anyway.
Rakshit noticed.
He didn't say a word.
He just kept eating, his eyes unconsciously drifting to her again and again.
The way the white dress hugged her softly, the flower clip in her hair, the gentle curve of her baby bump, and the small pout that still lingered on her lips.
She looked… adorable.
And for a moment, all Rakshit could think was how lucky he was to call this woman his wife.
After breakfast, Rakshit took her outside to show her around, holding her hand. He opened the door, and the moment Shivika looked ahead, all she could see was endless greenery and a beautiful sky.
Everything was calm and peaceful, just the way he had told her.
"Aksh, it's so beautiful," Shivika said as they slowly started walking around.
Rakshit wasn't really looking at the view. He was looking at her expressions.
"Do you want to shift here permanently?" he asked, already ready for anything if it made her happy, even if it meant travelling hours every day for his office.
Shivika chuckled.