26. Customised Gifts #3
Rakshit immediately rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly feeling shy under her gaze while she continued looking at him like that.
If this is how she looks at me… then I am ready to wear kurta pajama every day, he thought secretly.
He cleared his throat.
That finally made Shivika blink and realise what she was doing.
"I thought you would look nice in traditional." Shivika said softly.
Rakshit frowned immediately.
"Should I change? It’s not looking good?" he asked, looking down at himself and checking the kurta nervously.
Shivika shook her head quickly.
"No… I mean… you look nice."
Rakshit waited.
She hesitated.
"But I don't have words to define how handsome you are looking." she finally admitted.
For a second Rakshit just stared at her.
Now it was his turn to be speechless.
Shivika slowly stood up from the sofa, but before she could fully rise, Rakshit was already beside her, instinctively helping her stand.
Once she stood properly, she looked down shyly.
"Should I tell you a secret?" Shivika asked softly.
Rakshit's curiosity immediately sparked, but he only hummed in response.
"When I was around twelve years old…" she began slowly, her fingers absentmindedly playing with the edge of her dupatta, "…I made a wish to a shooting star."
Rakshit's expression softened while listening to her.
His heart skipped a beat.
Shivika slowly lifted her eyes to look at him.
Rakshit stood there, unsure how he was supposed to react to that.
"I saw a hero in one movie who had blue eyes," she continued, a shy smile forming on her lips. "So I also wanted a hero with blue eyes… just like that heroine had."
Then she gently lifted her hands and held his face.
"And see… I got my hero."
For a moment Rakshit just stood there, completely stunned by her words.
"I… I don't know what to say," he admitted honestly.
Then suddenly he placed a hand on his stomach.
"But something strange is happening."
Shivika blinked.
"What?"
Rakshit frowned slightly, looking down at himself as if trying to figure it out.
"My stomach feels… ticklish."
He pressed his palm lightly against it, genuinely puzzled.
"I don't know why… but it feels weird."
Shivika couldn't stop the smile that slowly spread across her face.
A soft blush crept up her cheeks.
Seeing her like that, Rakshit became even more confused.
"I didn't even say anything…" he said, narrowing his eyes slightly in curiosity.
Shivika looked away, trying to hide her smile, but the blush on her face only deepened.
"Then why are you blushing?" he asked, genuinely curious now.
Shivika bit her lip slightly.
Her cheeks were warm and her eyes shone with a shy sparkle.
"Because…" she murmured softly.
Rakshit leaned a little closer.
"Because what?"
She slowly looked up at him again, her eyes filled with soft mischief.
(Sorry guyss forgive your author if in earlier chapter if I have written about him feeling butterflies. This is the first time he is feeling like that.)
Rakshit stared at her for two seconds.
And then realisation dawned.
His ears immediately turned bright red.
"Shivika!"
She burst into laughter while he just stood there, embarrassed, smiling, and completely helpless in front of her.
As they settled inside the car, Shivika was still laughing, her soft giggles filling the quiet space.
Every few seconds she would try to calm herself… but the moment the scene replayed in her mind again, Rakshit standing there with a hand on his stomach, completely confused, another burst of laughter escaped her.
Rakshit glanced at her from the driver's seat.
A helpless smile tugged at his lips seeing her like this.
"Okay, now enough," he finally said, trying to sound serious while starting the car.
"I have only read about it before. I didn't know this is how it actually feels," he added, glancing at her again while focusing on the road.
"I genuinely got confused."
Shivika covered her mouth but it didn't help.
Another small laugh escaped her.
"It's okay, Aksh," she said between giggles. "There will be more moments when you get butterflies."
Rakshit raised an eyebrow.
"And that time you can understand what it feels like." Shivika added, and immediately started laughing again.
Rakshit slowly turned his head to look at her.
"Unbelievable," he muttered.
Then slowly Shivika's laughter faded.
She took a deep breath, placing one hand gently over her stomach.
Rakshit immediately noticed the change in her expression.
Without saying anything, he picked up the water bottle and passed it to her.
"Should I stop at the side?" he asked softly, his voice filled with quiet concern.
Shivika shook her head.
"No… I am fine," she said, taking a small sip of water.
For a moment she stayed silent, then looked at him again.
"I am sorry," she said slowly.
Rakshit glanced at her, slightly surprised.
"If you got hurt. I was not laughing at you… it was just the situation and the way you said that… it made me laugh." she explained gently.
Rakshit listened to her and then smiled, giving her a soft glance before looking back at the road.
"Your happiness can never hurt me."
Shivika looked at him quietly.
"And you don't have to explain so much," he continued softly.
His words carried a warmth that made Shivika's heart soften.
Then he reached for her hand.
Gently he intertwined their fingers and placed their joined hands on his leg while continuing to drive with the other.
She tightened her hold on his fingers slightly.
"I am excited to meet Jhanvi bhabhi and all the kids." Shivika said softly.
Rakshit passed her a small smile while driving.
"Satyam told you about the venue?" he asked.
Shivika nodded.
"Yes. He told me."
Rakshit smiled slightly hearing that.
"It's amazing… how much things have changed," Shivika said quietly, her voice carrying a soft warmth.
"From the first time we went there… to now."
Her mind automatically drifted back to those memories.
The first time they had gone there everything between them had been so uncertain, so unfamiliar. They were just two people tied together by circumstances, trying to understand each other's presence in their lives.
And now…
Now she was sitting beside him in his car, wearing a chain he had designed for her, rings on their fingers, their hands naturally intertwined like they belonged there.
Shivika smiled to herself at the thought.
Rakshit noticed the softness on her face.
Without saying anything, he gently lifted her hand and pressed a light kiss on her knuckles.
Shivika blinked, slightly startled by the unexpected gesture.
But then her smile deepened.
Sometimes…
Emotions don't need words.