40. Birthday Celebration #4
The doctor explained that Shivika might cry suddenly, feel irritated over something small, feel overwhelmed, or sometimes even wonder whether she was doing enough as a mother.
It didn't automatically mean something was wrong.
His expression immediately changed.
The doctor smiled gently.
"The baby will naturally need a lot of attention, but Shivika shouldn't feel as though she has been replaced. Keep loving her, talking to her, sitting with her and taking care of her. Those little things can make a huge difference."
Rakshit glanced toward Shivika.
She was quietly looking at him.
The doctor continued,
"Sometimes new mothers feel guilty for needing their husband even after having a baby. They think all the attention should go to the child. So make sure she knows she still has you."
Rakshit gave a small smile.
"Doctor, I love my daughter more than I can explain."
His gaze moved toward the bassinet.
"She is my whole world already."
Then he looked at Shivika.
"But Ika is my first priority. She was there before our daughter. She went through everything to bring her into this world. I won't let her feel alone just because we have a baby now."
The doctor smiled warmly.
"That's exactly what I wanted you to understand."
She then added that emotional difficulties couldn't always be prevented simply through love and support, and if Shivika developed persistent or severe symptoms, they should seek professional help rather than assuming she only needed to be loved more.
"Your support can make a big difference," she said, "but if something feels beyond what you can handle together, ask for help. There is nothing wrong with that."
Rakshit nodded seriously.
"I understand."
He glanced toward Shivika.
She was watching their daughter sleeping peacefully.
Before leaving, the doctor checked the baby once again.
"She is doing well. Keep feeding her regularly, keep her warm and watch her closely. If you notice anything unusual, call us."
After the doctor and nurse left, the room became quiet again.
Shivika looked toward Rakshit.
"What did the doctor tell you?"
Rakshit sat beside her and took her hand.
"About you."
She smiled.
"Only about me?"
"And the baby."
He looked toward their daughter.
"Apparently, both my girls need a lot of care."
Shivika smiled and rested her head against his shoulder.
Neither of them said much after that.
But Rakshit kept thinking about everything the doctor had said.
Rakshit looked at Shivika.
She was exhausted, still recovering, yet smiling as she watched their daughter sleep.
He tightened his hold on her hand.
She didn't need to ask him for help.
He was going to be there.
Not just for the beautiful moments everyone talked about.
But for all the difficult, uncomfortable and unspoken parts of becoming a mother too.
"I love you, mera baccha," Rakshit said, making her look at him.
A soft smile appeared on Shivika's lips.
"I love you too, Aksh," she whispered, wrapping her free hand around his waist.
"When am I going to get discharged?" Shivika asked after a moment.
"In the evening. I already talked about everything with the doctor. She just has to perform the last checkup on the baby and have a little talk with you personally. After that, we can leave."
"What does she want to talk to me about?" Shivika asked curiously.
"I don't know. Maybe about your health or the baby's health."
"She already talked about all that with you," Shivika complained.
Rakshit chuckled.
"She told me the things I need to take care of as your husband and as a father. She'll probably tell you about the things you need to keep in mind as a mother."
Shivika nodded, understanding.
"And probably as a wife too," Rakshit added casually.
She looked at him.
"Why would she tell me anything about being a wife?"
"Maybe she has some special instructions for you."
"Aksh!"
He laughed at her expression.
After a moment, Shivika's expression softened.
"I just want to go home."
"Hmm."
"I want to sleep in your arms. I want to hug you properly. Here I can't even move properly without hitting something."
Rakshit chuckled at her pout.
"Aww, my baby."
He leaned closer and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek.
Shivika immediately looked away, her cheeks turning pink.
Rakshit blinked.
There it was again.
That unexpected shyness.
Sometimes she would say things that left him speechless without even blinking, and sometimes the smallest kiss was enough to make her hide her face.
He shook his head with a smile.
"I still don't understand you."
Shivika looked at him innocently.
"What?"
"One minute you're confidently saying you want to sleep in my arms, and the next minute you're getting shy because I kissed your cheek."
She bit her lip, trying to hide her smile.
"I don't know."
Rakshit smiled and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
"Good. Don't ever change."
Shivika smiled and leaned closer to him, resting her head against his chest.
"I won't."
And Rakshit simply wrapped his arm around her, holding her carefully while their daughter slept peacefully beside them.