40. Birthday Celebration
"Aksh, did you inform Satyam bhaiya and Rahul?"
Shivika asked Rakshit, who was carefully settling their sleeping daughter into the bassinet.
"Yes. I texted both of them in the night itself. And Satyam will be coming soon with Jhanvi to meet you both," he replied before sitting back beside Shivika on the bed and wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
"Aksh, give me your phone."
Rakshit nodded and handed her his phone, taking it out of his pocket.
"What are you doing?" he asked when he noticed her typing something.
Shivika immediately tilted the phone away from him so he couldn't see the screen.
"Don't look here," she mumbled.
Rakshit sighed but didn't argue. Instead, he rested his head against hers and gently played with her hair while she continued whatever she was doing.
Once she was done, Shivika handed the phone back to him. Rakshit placed it on the bedside table.
"Aksh, can you comb my hair? I am looking like a clown right now," Shivika said, running her fingers through her messy hair.
Rakshit looked at her with a soft smile.
"You are not looking like a clown. You are looking beautiful."
Shivika giggled.
"Aksh, I was just saying that because of my messy hair and clothes," she said teasingly.
Rakshit immediately grew serious at her words.
"Still, you shouldn't say that. You know, this look of yours-messy hair and all-is my favourite."
He gently cupped her face and caressed her cheek.
Shivika smiled.
Whenever she walked around their house with messy hair and comfortable clothes, she would often catch him staring at her-or, as he would put it, admiring her.
"Okay, Mr. Perfect, now please comb my hair," Shivika said.
Rakshit nodded and got up. He took her comb from the bag and carefully began combing her hair, making sure not to tug at any strands.
Once he was done, he gently covered her ears with the scarf again and helped her lie down comfortably.
As soon as she settled against the pillow, she looked at him.
"Sit beside me."
Rakshit smiled and sat down next to her, gently caressing her face.
"Ika, I was thinking about something," he said softly.
"What?" Shivika asked.
"I was thinking about buying a new home."
Shivika frowned slightly.
"Why? What happened?"
"Nothing happened," Rakshit assured her. "It's just that now we have our princess. The flat we're living in is small. I bought it because, back then, I was all alone. I only needed a place for myself."
He paused, his gaze shifting toward their sleeping daughter.
"But now I have a family. And I want you both to have all the comfort and luxury I can give you."
Shivika looked at him for a moment before smiling softly.
"Aksh, I don't find our home small. And as for comfort and luxury, I just want you with me. It doesn't matter what kind of place we live in. I'll be happy with whatever you decide for us."
She paused, then added with a mischievous smile,
"But the interior will be of my choice."
Rakshit's heart warmed at her words, and her last sentence made him chuckle.
"Of course. Everything will be according to your and our princess's wishes."
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
"Already thinking about her wishes?" Shivika teased.
Rakshit glanced toward their daughter sleeping peacefully in the bassinet.
Shivika's smile widened as she looked at him, her heart filling with warmth.
Their little family had only just begun, and Rakshit was already determined to give them a home filled with everything he had never known growing up-love, warmth, and a family that would always be there.
They were still in the hospital, but somehow, it didn't feel like they were in one.
It felt like they had created their own little world inside that room.
Every now and then, one of them would look toward their sleeping daughter and smile.
They were so lost in their conversations that they barely noticed the time passing.
Until a knock came at the door.
Rakshit immediately looked toward the door before getting up from the bed.
"Come, guys."
Satyam entered first, carrying a bag in his hand. He placed it aside before walking straight toward Rakshit and pulling him into a tight hug.
"Congratulations, bhaiya!" Satyam said excitedly.
"Thank you," Rakshit replied with a smile, breaking the hug.
Meanwhile, Jhanvi immediately moved toward Shivika.
"How are you feeling now?" she asked softly, sitting beside her.
"I'm fine, bhabhi. Much better now," Shivika assured her. "But you guys got late."
Jhanvi chuckled.
"Sorry. We got a little late."
Satyam immediately added, "As if you don't know why we got late."
Shivika tried to suppress her smile.
Rakshit frowned and looked between the three of them.
"How does she know why you guys got late?"
Shivika immediately bit her lower lip.
Satyam and Jhanvi exchanged a quick look before turning toward her.
"It's a surprise for him," Shivika mumbled.
Satyam chuckled, understanding the couple's little secret.
"Actually, she asked us to bring the cake on our way."
Rakshit looked at Shivika.
She smiled nervously at him.
"Cake?" he asked.
Shivika nodded.
"Yes. I thought we should celebrate properly."
Satyam grinned.
"Let us meet the baby first. Then we'll cut the cake."
He excitedly moved toward the bassinet, with Jhanvi following him.
The moment Satyam reached the bassinet, his entire expression softened.
He carefully bent down, resting his hands on the edge of the bassinet as he looked at the tiny bundle sleeping peacefully inside.
"She's so tiny," he whispered, almost as if speaking any louder would disturb her.
Jhanvi came beside him and smiled warmly.
"She really is."
Satyam carefully extended one finger toward the baby's tiny hand. Her little fingers curled instinctively around it.
His eyes widened.
"Bhaiya... she held my finger."
Jhanvi laughed softly.
"She knows you're her uncle already."
Satyam's face immediately lit up.
"Hello, little princess," he whispered, gently moving his finger so she wouldn't wake up. "I'm your Satyam chachu or Mamu. Whateveryou wants to call."
Jhanvi smiled at his excitement before leaning closer.
"Don't get too excited. You'll wake her up."
"I can't help it," Satyam whispered back. "She's so cute."
Jhanvi gently touched the baby's tiny cheek with the back of her finger.
The baby stirred slightly, making both of them freeze.
"Shh..." Jhanvi whispered instinctively.
But instead of crying, the little one simply moved her lips and settled again.
Both of them smiled.
Behind them, Rakshit watched the scene with a quiet smile.
He then quietly moved toward Shivika.
"Why cake, Ika?" he asked softly, making sure only she could hear.
Shivika looked at him innocently.
"You know why."
"You didn't tell them it's my birthday?"
She shook her head.
"No. You know Bhaiya and Rahul have known you for so long, and still you never told them. I wasn't sure if I should tell them without asking you."
She paused.
"So I only asked Bhaiya to bring a cake. I thought... maybe today you should let people celebrate you."
Rakshit stared at her for a moment.
His expression softened.
He gently rested his forehead against hers and, seeing Satyam and Jhanvi busy with the baby, pressed a soft kiss to her cheek.
"Thank you, baccha. But there was no need for the cake. I'm big enough now. Cutting a cake on my birthday doesn't really matter anymore."
Shivika immediately frowned.
"Aksh, there isn't an age for cutting a cake."
Rakshit raised an eyebrow.
She continued, "I'm always excited about my birthdays. And if it were my birthday, wouldn't you let me cut a cake?"
"Of course I would, Ika."
"Then why shouldn't you?"
Rakshit stared at her for a second before realizing what she was trying to say.
A chuckle escaped his lips.
"Okay. I understood."
He smiled.
"Happy birthday to me."
Shivika's face instantly brightened.
"Happy birthday to you."
She leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on his forehead.
Before Rakshit could say anything, Satyam's voice came from behind them.
"Wait... it's your birthday today?"
Rakshit and Shivika turned around.
Satyam was staring at Rakshit with wide eyes.
Rakshit slowly nodded.
Satyam's face immediately lit up.
"Oh my God! I didn't know!"
He rushed toward Rakshit and hugged him tightly.
"Happy birthday, bhaiya! Finally, I got to know your birthday!"
Rakshit laughed softly and hugged him back.
"Thank you."
Jhanvi smiled as she approached them.
"Happy birthday, bhaiya."
"Thank you, Jhanvi."
Satyam looked between Rakshit and the baby before grinning.
"So it's a double celebration! Baby and father have the same birthday. How amazing is that?"
Everyone laughed.
Jhanvi carefully picked up the baby from the bassinet.
The little girl stirred in her arms, her tiny fingers curling against Jhanvi's clothes.
"Aww..." Jhanvi whispered.
She instinctively adjusted the baby's head against the crook of her arm, supporting her neck carefully.
"She's so soft."
Satyam immediately came closer again.
"Let me see her."
"You just saw her," Jhanvi reminded him, laughing.
"But now she's awake."
The baby's eyes slowly opened.
Jhanvi's smile widened.
"Look at her."
Satyam leaned closer.
And then he froze.
"She has blue eyes..."
Jhanvi looked closely at the baby and then at Rakshit.
"They're just like yours, bhaiya."
Rakshit smiled.
"She's my little princess."
The baby's eyes moved around the room, wide awake now, as if trying to understand all the new voices surrounding her.
Satyam gently offered his finger again.
"Hello again, princess."
The baby's tiny hand wrapped around his finger.
Satyam's smile became impossibly wider.
"I knew it. I'm her favourite chachu."
"Don't decide that so quickly," Jhanvi teased.
Just then, another knock came at the door.
Rahul entered carrying a beautiful flower bouquet.
Rakshit looked toward him and smiled.
"Welcome."
"Congratulations, Big B!" Rahul said brightly, walking toward him and pulling him into a hug.