20. Midnight Cravings and His Past
Rakshit was in deep sleep, yet his mind was still conscious of Shivika.
Somewhere between dreams, his heart sensed something wrong.
Her warmth was missing.
His eyes fluttered open instantly.
He sat up on the bed, his gaze moving around the dim room but Shivika wasn't there. Panic crept in. He stood up immediately and went to the washroom.
Empty.
"Ika..." he called softly.
No response.
His heart thudded as he stepped into the living room. The lights were dim, almost sleepy. And then he saw her, sitting on the sofa, completely relaxed, busy on her phone.
Rakshit released a long breath he didn't even realize he was holding. He ran his hands over his face, wiping away the sweat that had formed on his forehead.
Slowly, carefully, he walked towards her.
"Ika..." he called again, gently this time, so she wouldn't get startled.
Shivika looked up at his voice.
"What are you doing?" Rakshit asked, still trying to calm his racing heart.
"I'm playing Ludo," Shivika replied casually, her eyes going back to the screen.
Rakshit stared at her for a few seconds, stunned, before letting out a helpless sigh.
"Madam, it's 3 a.m. Is this the time to play Ludo?" he said, folding his arms across his chest.
Shivika finally looked up at him and pouted.
(I was hungry, but you were sleeping so cutely that I didn't feel like waking you up.)
Rakshit felt something tighten painfully in his chest. Despite being hungry, despite craving food, she didn't wake him.
Is she even real?
He kneeled down in front of her, gently took the phone from her hands, switched it off, and placed it aside. Then he cupped her face softly.
(Baby, if you were hungry, you should've woken me up. What if I hadn't woken up till morning?)
Something broke inside Shivika. Her eyes brimmed with tears.
"I thought I'll make something," she whispered, her voice shaking.
"But jaise hi stove ke paas khadi hui... I felt so tired."
(But as soon as I stood near the stove...I felt so tired.)
She sniffed and sobbed softly.
"Aww, mera baccha..." Rakshit murmured, pulling her into a tight hug.
(Aww, my baby...)
He smiled through the ache in his heart and kissed her hair.
Pulling back, he wiped her tears gently.
"Tell me, what you want to eat?"
"I want something sour," she said immediately. "Something in which i can put lots if lemon juice."
"Okayyy," Rakshit nodded, thinking for a second. "Should I make fried rice?"
"Yes! Yes! Best. That only!" Shivika clapped excitedly like a little kid.
Rakshit chuckled, kissed her forehead, and stood up. Suddenly, he bent down and scooped her up in his arms.
"Aksh!" Shivika gasped.
He smiled at her.
"You're tired, right? So how can i let you walk. You sit here and admire me, just like you were doing during dinner when I was cooking."
He made her sit comfortably on the chair.
"Did you call the cook?" Shivika asked.
"Yes, madam. Rahul will send him in the morning," Rakshit replied while pouring rice into the pan.
"Okay," Shivika smiled.
The day flashed through her mind, how she had slept after lunch, exhausted from her breakdown, while Rakshit stayed beside her.
How she woke up to find him cooking dinner again. That's why she insisted on calling the cook, she didn't want him working nonstop.
She wanted him with her.
He deserved rest too.
Lost in her thoughts, she was brought back by his voice.
"Here you go," Rakshit said, placing the plate in front of her and bowing dramatically.
"Lemon fried rice, specially made for my dear wife by her handsome husband."
Shivika giggled, and Rakshit winked.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Oh, how can I forget that?" he said, sitting beside her and feeding her with his own hands.
She moved her face side to side happily, clearly loving the taste.
"Put a little more lemon juice," she said between bites.
Rakshit hummed, added more lemon, mixed it properly, and fed her again.
"Perfect," Shivika said, some rice slipping from the corner of her mouth as she spoke.
Rakshit smiled softly and cleaned her chin with his thumb.
"Eat slowly and don't speak while chewing," he said gently.
Rakshit sat beside her, feeding her slowly, patiently. And Shivika... she just kept looking at the man in front of her.
He never got irritated with her.
Never once complained about anything.
Never stopped her from doing what she wanted.
Never raised his voice at her.
Never showed off the favors he did for her.
Never once tried to force the rights he held as her husband.
Never once declined any of her wishes.
From morning till night, all she ever saw was him doing everything for her and their baby. He didn't even think about himself once.
Lost in her thoughts, Shivika kept staring.
And with every passing second, Rakshit's heartbeat started racing faster.
She wasn't blinking.
Not even once.
Unable to take it anymore, he gently placed his hand over her eyes and closed them.
"Blink," he said softly, chuckling.
(Your eyes will start hurting. I'm right here, you can look at me later too.)
He stood up with the empty plate in his hand.
Shivika, still with her eyes closed, grinned shyly and hid her face in her hands.
Rakshit felt his own ears heat up as he walked away, remembering the way she had been staring at him.
She was looking at me like she would attack me the next second and just eat me-
Shut up, he scolded himself in his mind, shaking his head with a small smile.
"So now what?" he asked, coming back to her after washing the plate.
"Take me to bed," Shivika said, yawning.
"I'm feeling sleepy."
Rakshit lifted her in his arms again. She rested her head on his shoulder, her eyes still heavy with sleep and comfort.
Carefully, he made her sit on the bed.
"Ika... I want to talk about something before you sleep," Rakshit said, sitting in front of her.
Shivika hummed softly. She knew if he was stopping her from sleeping, it had to be important.
"Ika... who am I to you?" Rakshit asked, gently holding her hand.
"Huh?" Shivika looked confused. "What are you saying?"
"It's a simple question," he said, looking straight into her eyes.
"Who am I to you?"
"My husband," she replied instantly, still unsure what he meant.
"You really consider me that?" he asked quietly.
"What are you even asking, Rakshit?" Shivika said, frowning a little.
"Of course you are my husband. And not just my husband, you're the father of our baby."
"Then why didn't you wake me up when you were hungry?" Rakshit asked gently.
"Aksh..." Shivika pulled her hand back from his hold and cupped his face lovingly.
"It's not like that at all."
She smiled softly, making him listen.
Her thumb brushed his cheek.
Rakshit's eyes softened, but he still opened his mouth to speak.
"But still--"
"Okay, fine," Shivika cut him off, smiling mischievously.
"Now see how I'll irritate you and won't let you live in peace."
She placed her hand on her baby bump and caressed it.
"Right, baby?"
Rakshit chuckled.
"Baby is also saying yes," Shivika added proudly.
He laughed again and pulled her into a tight hug.
"Aksh..." Shivika murmured against his chest.
"You know, I miss how I used to hug you before this baby bump. Now even while hugging... we're this far."
Rakshit didn't say anything. He just kissed the top of her head softly, his answer hidden in that gesture.
Then he gently helped her lie down, tucking her in with all the care his heart knew how to give.
Rakshit moved to the other side of the bed and gently pulled her against his chest. His arm wrapped around her protectively as his fingers slowly stroked her hair, lulling her back into sleep.
Within moments, his own eyes grew heavy, and he slept too holding her close.
Rakshit woke up at his usual time. He got ready for the day with practiced ease, careful not to disturb her. Once done, instead of leaving the room, he returned to the bed and slipped back under the duvet, settling beside Shivika again.
Ever since the day he had seen her struggle with morning sickness, he had made a silent promise to himself-to be beside her every morning when she woke up.
No matter what.
Now, he simply lay there, admiring the woman sleeping next to him.
The soft rise and fall of her chest, the calm on her face, it all felt unreal, precious.
Shivika stirred slightly in her sleep.
Rakshit immediately lifted his hand and gently brushed the strands of hair away from her face.
"Good morning," Shivika murmured, her eyes still closed.
"Good morning," Rakshit replied softly.
"You slept late last night," he added gently. "Sleep a little more."
Shivika hummed in response and snuggled deeper into the bed.
When she finally woke up, it was already 9:30 a.m.
Today, she didn't feel any morning sickness again. The doctor had told him- some days she would feel completely fine, other days she would feel utterly drained. Remembering that, Rakshit felt relieved.
As Shivika got up and went about her morning routine, the doorbell rang. Rakshit went to open the door.
The cook stood there.
"Good morning, uncle," Rakshit greeted warmly, stepping aside to let him in.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice."
"No worries, beta," the man smiled kindly. "You've done so much for me. This is a very small thing I can do for you."
Rakshit nodded gratefully.
He wasn't just any cook-he was the head chef of the five-star restaurant owned by Rakshit.
In fact, he was the very first chef Rakshit had hired when he started his restaurant.
"So, what should I make for breakfast?" Uncle asked.
"Let Shivika come," Rakshit replied. "She'll tell you."
He asked him to sit and joined him on the sofa.
"Rakshit," the man said after a moment, his voice warm with affection,
"I'm really happy for you. You finally have someone to call your own. I hope you get all the happiness you deserve."
Rakshit nodded, a soft smile passing over his lips-one that came straight from heart.