38. Baby Is Here! #4
"If you're both comfortable with that, there's absolutely no problem."
Rakshit froze.
"...Ji."
His ears instantly turned red.
Then his cheeks.
He awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, suddenly finding the floor extremely interesting.
He didn't dare lift his eyes.
For a man who could negotiate multi-crore deals without blinking...
This moment had rendered him completely speechless.
Shivika couldn't help smiling despite her exhaustion.
The same man who had stood beside her throughout labour without leaving her side...
Was now too shy to even look up.
The doctor noticed his embarrassment and chuckled softly.
"Relax, Papa," she said kindly. "This is simply another part of welcoming your little one into the world."
Rakshit gave the smallest nod, still staring determinedly at the floor while Shivika watched him with a smile that held more love than words ever could.
Their little princess had fallen asleep peacefully after her first feed.
The room was quiet once again.
After the doctor and nurse left, Shivika turned her head towards Rakshit.
"Aksh."
He immediately walked over and pulled the stool closer to her bed.
Sitting beside her, he gently took her hand into his.
"So, how are you feeling, new Papa?" Shivika asked teasingly.
"I am the happiest person in the world right now," Rakshit replied with the brightest smile she had ever seen.
A soft laugh escaped Shivika.
His smile alone was enough to tell her how true those words were.
Rakshit's free hand came up to cup her cheek.
"You are fine, right?" he asked, gently caressing her cheek.
"Yes, nothing to worry about. Now you should stop worrying about me and start worrying about the nights your princess won't let us sleep," Shivika teased.
Both of them chuckled.
"We'll handle everything, but right now I just need to know that you're okay," Rakshit said before leaning closer to place a lingering kiss on her forehead.
"Ika."
"Hmm?"
"She has blue eyes."
Shivika's eyes widened.
"Really?"
Rakshit nodded, unable to hide the pride in his voice.
"Deep blue."
A smile instantly spread across Shivika's face.
"I couldn't even see her eyes. She was crying the whole time... then she fell asleep while feeding."
She looked towards the tiny bassinet before smiling to herself.
"So... God finally heard my wish."
Rakshit looked at her in amusement.
"You wished for our baby to have blue eyes?"
"Of course. I've always loved your eyes, so I wanted our baby to have them too. A different shade would've been fine... but blue was mandatory."
Rakshit laughed softly, shaking his head.
Somewhere, both of them knew eye colour was simply genetics.
Whatever the reason behind it was...
It didn't matter.
They were simply happy.
After a brief silence, Rakshit looked at her again.
"You know... you said something while the doctor was stitching."
Shivika smiled immediately.
"I know... and I meant every word."
Rakshit stared at her for a few seconds.
His eyes softened.
Without saying anything, he leaned forward until his forehead rested against hers.
Neither of them spoke.
Neither of them needed to.
After a long moment...
Rakshit slowly lifted his head.
For a second, he had completely forgotten.
Then he remembered.
12.05
His birthday.
28th October
The day that had always passed like any other day.
The day no one had ever celebrated.
His eyes instinctively travelled towards the tiny bassinet where their daughter slept peacefully.
Then back to Shivika.
A smile unlike any other appeared on his face.
"This is my favourite date now."
He brought her hand to his lips and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles.
"Thank you for giving me the best birthday I could ever ask for."
Shivika's eyes glistened.
Rakshit smiled faintly.
His words made Shivika's heart ache.
She had known he never celebrated birthdays.
But hearing that no one had ever wished him... not even once...
Brought tears to her eyes.
She smiled through them.
"Come hug me. Finally... no bump between us."
Rakshit chuckled.
Carefully making sure not to put any weight on her, he leaned over her, supporting himself with his arms as he wrapped her in the gentlest embrace.
Shivika's arms slipped around his neck.
She closed her eyes.
For months, her pregnant belly had always come between them whenever she tried to hug him.
Today...
Nothing separated them anymore.
Only the warmth of each other's embrace.
Only the steady beating of two hearts that had finally found their home in one another.
Neither of them knew what tomorrow had in store.
Parenthood wouldn't be easy.
There would be sleepless nights, endless responsibilities, first smiles, first words, and countless moments where they would learn alongside their little princess instead of ahead of her.
Life wasn't suddenly perfect.
Some questions still remained unanswered.
Some wounds still waited to heal.
Some chapters of their past were yet to find their ending.
But perhaps...
Not every battle needed to be won before happiness could find its way.