36. Its Time
Finally, tomorrow was Shivika's due date.
Saying she was doing fine would have been a lie.
Every passing hour was becoming harder for her. Her body was exhausted, her back ached constantly, her legs felt heavy, and even the smallest task drained all her energy. Yet, she never complained much.
But if Shivika was suffering physically, Rakshit wasn't suffering any less.
Every soft "ahh" that escaped her lips felt like someone was squeezing his heart. He wished more than anything that he could take away all her pain, but all he could do was stay beside her through every moment.
Since morning, Shivika had been needing to use the washroom very frequently.
Each time, Rakshit silently stood beside her, supporting her as she slowly walked. He never showed even the slightest irritation. Not once.
"Aksh... I want to pee again," Shivika whispered tiredly, her voice weak from exhaustion.
Rakshit immediately stood up and held her carefully.
"Come," he said softly.
Supporting most of her weight, he slowly walked her to the washroom.
As always, the moment she reached the toilet, Rakshit turned around, giving her complete privacy. Despite Shivika telling him countless times that she was comfortable around him, he never crossed her boundaries. Until she herself asked him to help, he always respected her privacy.
Shivika bit her lower lip as she urinated.
Even that had started hurting now.
Her eyes shut tightly as a painful wince escaped her lips.
"Ika... is it hurting too much?" Rakshit asked, his back still facing her. "Should we go to the hospital?"
It was probably the twentieth time he had asked the same question since morning.
Shivika didn't answer.
A few moments later, she softly spoke,
"Aksh... turn."
Rakshit turned around only after hearing her permission.
Without saying anything, he helped her wash her hands before slowly bringing her back to the bedroom.
Making her sit comfortably against the headboard, he tucked a pillow behind her back.
"How are you feeling now?" he asked, gently brushing the loose strands of hair away from her face.
"My lower back... and my legs are hurting," Shivika replied with a tired sigh.
Rakshit's gaze immediately dropped to her feet.
His heart sank.
They were still swollen.
He had already massaged them twice today, yet the swelling hadn't reduced.
"Ika... your feet are still swollen." His voice carried worry. "Let me massage them again."
Shivika only hummed in response, too tired to even speak.
Resting her head against the headboard, she closed her eyes while Rakshit carefully lifted her feet into his lap.
His hands gently massaged her swollen feet, applying just enough pressure to ease her discomfort.
But his eyes never left her face.
The pale complexion...
The dark circles beneath her eyes...
The constant tiredness...
Every little change reminded him of how much she was sacrificing to bring their baby into this world.
"Aksh..." Shivika called softly after a while.
"Hm?"
"I am feeling sleepy."
Rakshit smiled faintly.
"Sleep."
He carefully adjusted the pillows, helped her lie down comfortably, covered her with a light blanket, and lovingly kissed her forehead.
Within minutes, Shivika drifted into a peaceful sleep.
Rakshit quietly stepped out of the bedroom, making sure not to disturb her.
Sitting alone in the living room, he picked up a nail cutter and began trimming his nails.
He had already cut them just a week ago.
They had barely grown.
Still...
He trimmed them again.
Because one thought kept running through his mind.
What if my nails accidentally scratch our baby when I hold him or her for the first time?
Even the smallest possibility was enough for him to be extra careful.
After all, he had already started protecting the little life he hadn't even held in his arms yet.
After trimming his nails, Rakshit picked up his laptop and started replying to the pending emails from work.
One by one, he finished them all.
When he finally looked at the clock, it was already 7:00 p.m.
His eyes immediately shifted towards the bedroom.
Shivika was still sleeping peacefully.
Closing the laptop quietly, he walked to the room and sat beside her on the bed.
He didn't touch her.
Not even gently.
He knew that if she felt his touch, she would wake up instantly.
And for the first time in many nights, she was sleeping without constantly turning because of the discomfort.
He wanted her to rest for as long as possible, even if it meant she wouldn't be able to sleep properly later at night.
Right now, her body needed this sleep more than anything.
So, he simply sat there, silently admiring her peaceful face.
His eyes never left her.
His heart silently prayed that tomorrow would go smoothly... that both his wife and their baby would remain safe.
Everything else could wait.
He had already kept the hospital bag in the car earlier that morning.
If they had to rush to the hospital at any moment, he didn't want to waste even a second searching for anything.
He wanted his entire focus to be on only one person-
His Ika.
Just then, Rakshit's phone started ringing from the living room.
His eyes instantly flew towards the sleeping Shivika.
Without wasting a second, he hurried out of the bedroom, carefully closing the door behind him so the ringtone wouldn't disturb her sleep.
Reaching the living room, he quickly silenced the call before looking at the screen.
Rahul Calling.
He answered it while walking towards the balcony.
"Hello," Rakshit spoke softly.
"Hello... sir."
The trembling female voice from the other end made him pause.
His sharp mind recognized the voice immediately.
"Ishani?" he whispered.
"Y-Yes, sir."
It was the same Ishani Mehta.
Rahul's girlfriend.
But before that...
Shivika's childhood best friend.
Rakshit closed his eyes for a brief moment.
This was exactly what he hadn't wanted to happen.
Not today.
Not one day before Shivika's delivery.
"Yes, Ishani. What happened?" he asked calmly.
"Sir... I know about Shivika."
Rakshit remained silent.
"Rahul didn't tell me anything," Ishani hurriedly explained. "I came here to surprise him. I was looking through the photos in his phone... and I saw pictures of you and Shivika... and also the pictures of Shivika with Rahul and Satyam bhaiya."
Her voice cracked.
"Sir... I want to meet my best friend. You can't stop me from meeting her."
Months.
It had been months since she had heard Shivika's voice or even seen her.
Rakshit sighed softly.
"Ishani, I'm not stopping you from meeting Shivika."
"Then why can't I meet her?" she asked desperately.
"It's just... you don't know her condition right now. And I don't want to put her or our baby at risk even by a tiny chance."
There was silence.
"What condition?"
Rakshit glanced towards the bedroom before answering.
"Her due date is tomorrow. And throughout this pregnancy, she's faced more complications than anyone should. Right now, even a little emotional stress can make the situation worse."
After saying that, he quietly walked back to the bedroom and slightly opened the door.
Shivika was still sleeping peacefully.
Only then did he return to the balcony.
"But sir..." Ishani whispered, confused. "Meeting me will make her happy. She's been away from everyone for so long. Seeing me would only make her smile. How will that stress her?"
Rakshit leaned against the railing and closed his eyes.
"Ishani... try to understand. Meeting you won't just remind her of the happy memories. It will also bring back every painful memory of what happened months ago..."
"...the memories because of which she lost her family... her friends... and her entire world."
His voice had become heavy.
"If she wanted, she could've contacted any one of you."
"She could've called."
"She could've messaged."
"But she didn't."
"There are reasons behind that decision. And those reasons are hers to tell."
He paused before continuing gently.
"I won't tell you her story because it belongs to Shivika. But I promise you one thing. The day I feel she's emotionally ready..."
Tears rolled down Ishani's cheeks.
"I know you won't break your promise," she whispered.
Beside her, Rahul silently nodded, assuring her that Rakshit always kept his word.
Rakshit smiled faintly.
"Don't worry."
"She's safe."
"She's happy."
"...but yes..."
"She misses all of you."
"Every single day."
As those words left his mouth, a lone tear escaped his own eyes.
He had seen it countless times.
The way she smiled while remembering them...
Only for that smile to disappear a second later.
No matter how much love he gave her...
Some emptiness could only be filled by family and childhood friends.
"I understood one thing after seeing those pictures," Ishani said with a watery smile.
"What?"
"You love her... a lot."
Rakshit's ears immediately turned red.
A shy smile appeared on his face.
Ishani couldn't help but chuckle through her tears.
"I'll stay here with Rahul for now."
"I'm not going back to Delhi until I meet my best friend..."
"...and my cute little niece or nephew."
Rakshit finally laughed softly.
"Deal. And one more thing..."
"You don't have to call me 'sir' anymore. I'm not just Rahul's boss now."
Ishani grinned.
"So... should I call you Jijaji from now on?"
(Jijaji= Brother in-law)
Rakshit's entire face turned crimson.
He cleared his throat awkwardly.
"You can call me whatever you want..."
"...now give the phone to Rahul before you embarrass me even more."
Ishani laughed wholeheartedly before handing the phone to Rahul.
"Yes, Big B," Rahul spoke nervously.
Rakshit's expression immediately turned serious.
"She doesn't know anything about... that man, right?"
Rahul instantly understood whom he meant.
"No, sir. And she won't. It's Shivika's story to tell. I learned that lesson last time."
Rahul had already walked a little away from Ishani to ensure she couldn't hear the conversation.