39. The New Member #3
My daughter.
Paulo chuckled as he allowed Rakshit to lead him towards the bassinet.
"Yeah, I want to meet the princess who is apparently going to rule everyone's hearts."
"Definitely," Rakshit said proudly.
Paulo stopped in front of the bassinet.
"Heaven..."
The word escaped him in a whisper.
He looked down at the tiny baby sleeping peacefully.
"She's so reddish-white," he murmured, smiling. "Just like a little rabbit."
He carefully touched her tiny fingers without even attempting to hold them.
Rakshit smiled warmly.
"But she's much cuter than a rabbit."
"Of course," Paulo agreed immediately, still completely fascinated by the baby.
"Even cuter than me?"
Shivika's teasing voice came from behind them.
Rakshit turned towards her.
"Of course not."
He grinned.
Paulo immediately looked at him.
"Can I?"
"Of course."
Rakshit stepped closer.
"First, keep your hands like this."
He carefully guided Paulo's arms into the correct position before gently lifting his daughter from the bassinet.
He slowly placed her into Paulo's arms, keeping one hand underneath her while also supporting Paulo's hands until he was comfortable holding her.
Paulo looked down at the tiny bundle in his arms.
"Oh my God..."
His face lit up.
"She's so light. It feels like I'm holding a feather."
Rakshit and Shivika both chuckled at his expression.
But the movement disturbed the baby.
Her tiny face scrunched up.
Paulo's smile immediately disappeared.
"Why is she making that face?"
Rakshit looked at his daughter and immediately understood.
"She's getting ready to cry."
"What?"
Before Paulo could process it, the baby's lips trembled.
And then-
"Waaah!"
The room filled with her cry.
Paulo's eyes widened.
"Oh, hell!"
He looked completely panicked.
"Please take her! Please, make her stop!"
Rakshit froze for a second.
He had seen Paulo handle difficult business deals without even blinking.
He had seen him remain calm in situations where most people would panic.
But this?
His daughter crying had completely shattered his composure.
Rakshit quickly stepped forward.
"Hey, hey. Calm down."
He gently took his daughter back into his arms.
"She's fine."
Paulo stared at him helplessly.
"She doesn't look fine!"
Rakshit chuckled.
"She just woke up."
He gently rocked his daughter in his arms.
"That's all."
Shivika who was sitting on the bed, trying hard not to laugh at the sight of the usually composed Paulo looking completely terrified of a newborn.
Rakshit glanced at him with an amused smile.
"You actually got scared of my tiny, innocent daughter?" Rakshit teased, looking at Paulo.
"So what?" Paulo defended himself immediately.
"I'm not an experienced person when it comes to handling babies. And she's not even a child yet-she's a baby. A tiny baby!"
He looked at the little girl in Rakshit's arms.
"And she turns completely red whenever she cries!"
Shivika chuckled at his explanation.
By now, their daughter had calmed down and was quietly looking up at her father.
Paulo stepped closer to get another look at her.
Then his eyes widened.
"Wait..."
He looked at her tiny face.
"She has the same eyes as you!"
Rakshit smiled proudly.
"Of course she does."
Paulo leaned a little closer, fascinated by the tiny blue eyes.
But in doing so, his face came directly in front of hers, completely blocking Rakshit from her view.
The baby's lips immediately began to tremble.
"Oh no..."
Before anyone could react-
"Waaah!"
She started crying again.
Paulo immediately stepped back.
And almost as quickly as she had started, the crying stopped.
Rakshit looked at his daughter and couldn't help but chuckle.
He pressed a soft kiss against her tiny forehead.
"I think she doesn't like me," Paulo said, looking genuinely offended.
Shivika laughed softly.
"She's too small to dislike someone already."
"But she literally started crying when she saw my face!"
"No," Shivika corrected, smiling. "She didn't cry because she saw your face."
Paulo looked at her, confused.
"She cried because she couldn't see her father's face."
Both Rakshit and Paulo stared at her.
"Seriously?" Paulo asked, genuinely shocked.
"According to me, yes."
Shivika grinned.
"You should try it again."
Paulo looked at Rakshit.
"Really?"
Rakshit shrugged, amused.
"Go ahead."
Paulo carefully placed one hand in front of Rakshit's face, turning his face slightly away from the baby.
For a few seconds, nothing happened.
The baby simply stared ahead.
Paulo smiled triumphantly.
"See? Nothing-"
"Waaah!"
The baby started crying again.
Rakshit immediately turned his face back towards her.
Within seconds, her cries softened into little whimpers.
Everyone in the room burst into laughter.
Paulo stared at the baby in disbelief.
"You've got to be kidding me."
Shivika shook her head, smiling.
"Well, she clearly has good taste."
"Aksh!"
He laughed.
Paulo looked between the three of them and shook his head with an amused smile.
Rakshit looked down at his daughter.
Paulo glanced at his watch and sighed.
"I should get going. I have a meeting to attend."
Rakshit nodded.
"Already?"
"Unfortunately." Paulo smiled before looking back at the baby in Rakshit's arms. "But don't worry, I'm not leaving India anytime soon."
He looked at Rakshit.
"I'll discuss the project with you later. Take your time. We can discuss it whenever you're free."
Rakshit nodded.
"Perfect."
He then looked towards Shivika.
"It was really nice meeting you, Shivika. And of course..."
His eyes shifted towards the tiny girl in Rakshit's arms.
"...meeting this little princess."
Shivika smiled politely.
"It was really nice meeting you too, Paulo sir."
Paulo immediately shook his head with a laugh.
"Paulo sir?"
He waved his hand dismissively.
"Please, drop the formality. Just call me Paulo."
Shivika smiled.
"Okay, Paulo."
"Much better."
He glanced at the baby again.
Shivika hesitated for a moment before adding,
"And whenever you get some time, you should come home for dinner. We'd love to have you."
Paulo's face immediately lit up.
"Dinner? Absolutely!"
His quick response made Shivika chuckle.
"Who would miss a chance to meet this little princess again?"
He gently touched the baby's tiny fingers.
"I'm definitely coming."
Rakshit laughed.
"Looks like you've already become her fan."
"Of course I have."
Paulo looked at the baby one last time before turning towards Rakshit.
"Take care of both of them."
"I will."
"And don't forget to call me when you're free."
"I won't."
Paulo extended his hand, but Rakshit pulled him into a quick sidehug instead.
"Take care, man."
"You too."
Paulo stepped back and waved towards Shivika.
"Bye, Shivika."
"Bye, Paulo. See you at dinner."
He gave the baby one last look.
"Bye, little princess."
With one final smile, Paulo walked out of the room.
Rakshit watched him leave before turning back towards his wife and daughter.
Shivika smiled.
"I think he really likes her."
Rakshit looked down at their daughter, who was peacefully resting in his arms.
"Who wouldn't?"
Rakshit walked towards Shivika and carefully handed their daughter to her.
"Here."
He helped Shivika sit properly against the pillows before settling down beside her himself. Once he was comfortable, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her gently closer.
Both of them looked down at their little girl.
She was wide awake now, her tiny blue eyes moving between them, yet surprisingly, she wasn't crying.
Shivika gently caressed her little forehead.
"I feel like she is going to be a calm baby, just like you."
Rakshit looked at his daughter and then at Shivika with a grin.
"But I think she is just waiting for the right time to show her chaos..."
He paused deliberately.
"Just like you."
Shivika burst into laughter.
"Aksh!"
"What?" he asked innocently.
She shook her head, still smiling.
"Now only time will tell."
She leaned down and gently kissed their daughter's cheek.
Rakshit watched them for a moment before his expression slowly changed.
"Ika..."
She hummed.
"Why did you stop smiling when you saw Paulo's face?"
Shivika's smile faded.
She knew that question was coming.
She looked at Rakshit for a moment before lowering her gaze towards their daughter.
"I had seen his pictures before."
Rakshit frowned slightly.
"Where?"
"In Kritaarth's room. Over a video call."
Her fingers continued to gently caress their daughter's tiny hand.
"He told me many times that Paulo was his inspiration. He wanted to work under him in his company."
She paused.
"I had forgotten his name, but when I saw him today... I remembered. He was the same man from those pictures."
Her voice grew quieter.
"And when I got pregnant, Kritaarth told me to abort because he didn't want to get married or have a child until he got a job at Paulo's company and started working under him."
A tear slipped down her cheek.
Rakshit immediately pulled her closer against his chest.
He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
Shivika rested her head against him, still looking at their daughter.
Rakshit remained silent for a moment.
Then he looked at their little girl.
"Destiny has its own way of playing its games."
He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against his daughter's cheek.
Then he turned towards Shivika and kissed her cheek as well, wiping away her tear with his thumb.
"Maybe everything that happened was just leading us here."
Shivika looked at him.
Rakshit smiled faintly.