33. Preparations
"Aunty, everything related to her saree, jewellery, and all is done. I have finalised the decorations too. They will come at night and finish everything before morning so that it stays a surprise for her," Rakshit said excitedly to Rashmi aunty.
Both of them were busy packing return gifts for the guests.
"Beta, you are genuinely handling everything so well. Now I'll just make a list of the things we need for the puja and ceremony. You order them and then we are done with almost everything," Rashmi aunty said warmly.
"Yes, aunty," Rakshit replied, keeping the last basket beside the others.
Rashmi aunty went to bring a pen and paper while Rakshit looked around the house for a moment.
He still couldn't believe that something so special was about to happen within these walls.
Everything was for his world - his Ika and their baby.
He wanted every little thing to be perfect for them.
"Aunty, thank you so much. I honestly didn't know anything about all this. Without your help, it would have been impossible," Rakshit said with a grateful smile.
Rashmi aunty smiled at him fondly before sitting down to make the list.
"Aunty, you make the list till then. I'll check on Ika. She hasn't called me in the past one hour," Rakshit said while standing up.
Rashmi aunty laughed softly.
"Yeah, go."
She shook her head with a smile as Rakshit quickly walked towards the room.
Shivika had strictly been told not to come outside because she wasn't letting anyone work peacefully.
She kept following them around, asking if she could help with something.
And when she was finally forced to sit inside the room and rest, she started calling Rakshit every ten minutes for one thing or another.
Rakshit slowly opened the door, but the moment his eyes fell on her sleeping figure, he stopped himself from making any noise and quietly stepped inside before gently closing the door behind him.
His lips curved into a soft smile.
Shivika was sleeping peacefully on the bed with a book loosely held in her hand and her mouth slightly open.
Rakshit immediately took out his phone and clicked a picture of her before carefully slipping the phone back into his pocket.
He slowly walked closer, gently taking the book from her hand so she wouldn't wake up. Keeping it aside, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead, making her sigh lightly in her sleep.
"Got tired after throwing tantrums since morning?" he whispered softly while caressing her cheek.
With every passing day, she herself was becoming like a little child. Every day he noticed something new in her behaviour, something that made him love her even more.
Rakshit sat beside her for some time, silently admiring her. He had been busy since morning because tomorrow was such a big day for them, and he barely got time to stay with her.
After a while, he carefully stood up, covered her properly with the blanket, and adjusted the AC temperature before quietly walking out of the room.
"Rakshit beta, I've kept the list on the dining table. Order all these things, and if I remember anything else, I'll tell you. And should I talk to the priest, or will you?" Rashmi aunty asked as he sat down on one of the dining chairs.
"Aunty, I don't really know what to say or ask, so you only talk to him. Just make sure everything should be the best," Rakshit said sincerely.
"Okay," Rashmi aunty replied with a smile.
Rakshit started ordering the things while Rashmi aunty continued with the other preparations.
"Rakshit," Rashmi aunty called.
"Yes, aunty?" Rakshit looked up from his phone.
"Beta, I haven't called many women. It's just a few people I know are kind-hearted and would genuinely bless her. And I know you must have invited only your close people too. But I just wanted to say... if anyone says anything about your marriage, the baby, or anything else,
please don't let it affect Shivika," Rashmi aunty said worriedly.
Rakshit immediately put his phone aside and looked at her.
"Aunty, first of all, I trust you. I know you must have invited only good people. And even if something happens, don't worry. I'll handle it."
Rashmi aunty nodded, feeling slightly relieved.
"It's just that people sometimes don't think before speaking. They don't realize how much their words can affect someone."
"I know," Rakshit said quietly. "But no one is going to ruin tomorrow for her. Not when she's been this excited after so long."
"Akshh!"
Just then, they heard Shivika shouting from their room.
"There you go," Rashmi aunty said with a chuckle.
Rakshit smiled and got up from his chair before making his way towards their room.
But the smile on Rakshit's face vanished the moment his eyes fell on her pained expression.
"Ika, what happened?" he asked, immediately rushing towards her.
"Aksh... I want to go to the washroom, but it's paining," Shivika said, her face twisting with discomfort.
Rakshit took a deep breath and nodded.
"Okay, okay. Let me help you. Get up slowly."
Holding her carefully, he helped her stand and guided her towards the washroom.
"I'll be standing right here with my back towards you. Call me when you're done, okay?" Rakshit said gently, cupping her face.
Shivika simply nodded.
Rakshit turned around while she did her business.
A few minutes later-
"Aksh."
Hearing her voice, Rakshit turned around and immediately held out his hand for her.
"Aksh, let me wash my hands first," Shivika said, pulling her hand back.
"It's fine, Ika," he replied softly.
He carefully guided her to the washbasin and washed her hands himself.
A small smile appeared on Shivika's face.
Once they were back in the room, Rakshit helped her sit comfortably on the bed before taking a seat beside her.
"Is it hurting now?" he asked gently, caressing her bump.
"No," Shivika replied, resting her head on his chest.
Rakshit pressed a kiss to her head before wrapping an arm around her.
"Why are you so quiet?" he asked after a moment.
"Not feeling like talking," Shivika murmured.
"Okay."
Rakshit didn't ask anything further. He simply continued caressing her bump while holding her close, letting her rest against him in comfortable silence.
Her fingers slowly found his hand and intertwined with it.
"Aksh?"
"Hm?"
"Will tomorrow be nice?"
Rakshit looked down at her.
The nervousness in her voice wasn't hard to miss.
He gently squeezed her hand.
"It will be."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Shivika stayed quiet for a moment before nodding.
Satisfied with his answer, she snuggled even closer to him.
Within a few minutes, Rakshit felt her body relaxing against his.
He looked down and smiled.
"Sleeping again?"
A sleepy hum was his only response.
Rakshit carefully adjusted the pillow behind her head and pulled the blanket over her legs.
Then he leaned back against the headboard, one arm around her and the other resting protectively over her bump, staying exactly where she wanted him to be.
The doorbell rang after some time.
Rakshit carefully moved away from Shivika, making sure she was sleeping comfortably. After adjusting the blanket around her, he quietly walked out of the room and headed towards the living room.
He found Devyani standing there with a large bag beside her.
"Good evening, sir," Devyani greeted with a smile.
"Good evening. I hope everything is ready as I told you," Rakshit said as he took a seat.
"Yes, sir. You can check everything once," Devyani replied.
She opened the large bag and started taking things out one by one.
First came the saree.
Then the jewellery boxes containing a necklace set, earrings, bangles, maang tikka, rings, anklets, and hair accessories. Along with them were matching sandals, bindi packets, and the rest of the shringar items.
Rakshit picked up the saree first and carefully checked the fabric.
"The cloth is soft, but this handwork won't irritate her skin, right?" he asked, running his fingers over the embroidery.
"It won't cause any rashes?"
Devyani smiled.
Somewhere she had expected such questions.
"No, sir. I assure you, she won't feel even the slightest irritation from the fabric. The embroidery has been finished very smoothly as well."
Rakshit nodded, finally satisfied.
"Aunty, can you please check all the jewellery and tell me if something is missing?" he asked.
Rashmi aunty nodded and started examining everything.
"Have you covered the back side of the jewellery with soft lining?" Rakshit asked Devyani.
"Yes, sir. Everything has been lined as instructed. Only the anklets don't have it because it wouldn't look good. And don't worry, they are already very smooth and lightweight, so they won't cause her any discomfort."
Devyani handed him the anklet box.
Rakshit opened it and checked them himself, feeling their weight and texture before finally handing them back.
"And the earrings? They aren't heavy, right?" he asked, noticing the necklace set in Rashmi aunty's hands.
"No, sir. I followed every instruction you gave me on the call."
Rashmi aunty silently watched the conversation.
In all her years, she had never seen a man pay attention to such tiny details.
Most husbands didn't even know what jewellery their wives wore, while Rakshit was checking whether the embroidery might irritate Shivika's skin.
After some more checking and discussion, Devyani finally took her leave.
Once she was gone, Rashmi aunty brought out a large silver thaal and began arranging all the shringar items neatly inside it.
(Silver thaal = silver plate bigger than normal plates)
The saree was placed in the centre, followed by the jewellery, bangles, bindi, sindoor box, anklets, and the remaining accessories.
"Aunty, why are you putting everything in this plate?" Rakshit asked curiously.
Rashmi aunty smiled.
"Beta, during God Bharai, the mother-to-be traditionally wears the clothes and shringar gifted by her in-laws."
The smile on her face softened.