41. Welcome Home, Baby
Shivika was supposed to be discharged in the evening, but Rakshit had spoken to the doctor and requested a few more hours before they left.
He didn't want anyone to know.
When they had arrived at the hospital, it had been a night time. There weren't many people around, and since it was already a high-end hospital, there had been little chance of the media finding out about them or getting pictures.
But things were different now.
Now, they were leaving with their little princess.
Rakshit didn't want anyone to know about them yet. He didn't want strangers clicking their pictures or their lives becoming a topic for people to discuss.
It wasn't that he had any problem with the world knowing.
Someday, he wanted everyone to know that he wasn't alone anymore. That Rakshit Mahajan, who had spent most of his life alone, now had a family. He wanted to proudly tell the world that he had Shivika and their daughter.
But it wasn't the right time yet.
Shivika's past still hadn't received its closure.
No matter how far they moved ahead in life, some things needed to be left behind properly before they could truly move forward. And Rakshit knew that better than anyone.
These six months with Shivika had taught him one thing-she had already suffered enough. He wouldn't let her go through anything more if he could prevent it.
He was capable of protecting them.
And he would.
Till his last breath.
From the very beginning, it had never only been about Shivika.
Their baby had always been a part of every decision he made.
Every step he took, every choice he made, he had kept them in mind.
He had been careful because he wanted to protect them from the evil eyes of the world for as long as he could.
The world knew businessman Rakshit Mahajan.
But only Shivika knew her Aksh.
And for now, that was enough.
Rakshit carefully helped Shivika sit inside the car before handing their baby princess to her. Once she had adjusted herself comfortably with the baby, he gently closed the door and walked around to the driver's seat.
He was about to start the car when something suddenly clicked in his mind.
"One second."
Shivika looked at him, confused, as he opened the dashboard drawer and pulled out something.
A smile immediately appeared on her face when she realized what it was.
Rakshit stepped out of the car, walked behind it and removed the sticker he had put there months ago.
BUMP ON BOARD.
He replaced it with a new one.
BABY ON BOARD.
Shivika watched him through the rear-view mirror, her smile growing wider.
She looked down at their sleeping daughter.
"See, baby," she whispered, careful not to wake her, "how happy your papa is to get you."
There were moments when Shivika still couldn't believe that Rakshit was real.
Rakshit came back and settled into the driver's seat.
"So, cutie father," Shivika asked with a grin, "when will this sticker be replaced by another one?"
Rakshit smiled before starting the car.
Shivika looked at him, unsure whether she wanted to laugh or cry at his answer.
Instead, she reached over and pinched his cheek.
Rakshit hissed.
"Sorry," Shivika said, giggling without even a hint of regret.
He simply shook his head.
By now, he had understood that whenever she found him particularly cute, his cheeks were apparently hers to pinch.
"Should I play some songs?" Rakshit asked, glancing at her.
Shivika was looking down at their daughter.
"No, Aksh. What if she wakes up because of the noise?"
"Okay."
He continued driving quietly.
After a moment, he glanced at her again.
"You are comfortable, right? Should I adjust the seat?"
"I'm comfortable, Aksh." She looked at him for a moment before adding softly, "And you just stop thinking so much. I've noticed you haven't taken even a bit of rest in these two days."
Rakshit smiled but didn't say anything.
"Stop smiling. I'm scolding you and you're smiling." Her voice carried a faint complaint. "I told you in the morning to go have a coffee from the canteen, but you didn't even do that."
"Baccha, you know I didn't want to leave you alone."
"Then stop going to the washroom too. Why leave me for that?"
Rakshit looked at her for a second before returning his eyes to the road.
"Ika, that's a survival need." A teasing smile appeared on his face. "But I don't mind taking you with me to the washroom."
"Aksh!"
Shivika lightly hit his arm.
He chuckled while she immediately turned her face towards the window, pretending to be offended.
For a few seconds, there was silence.
Then Rakshit spoke again, his voice quieter this time.
"Ika... were you feeling irritated because I was constantly around?"
The question came from a place of genuine worry.
His heart clenched at the thought that perhaps he had been unknowingly overwhelming her.
Shivika immediately turned towards him.
"No, Aksh. I can never feel irritated by your presence." Her voice softened. "It's your presence that keeps me calm and sane. You're my comfort zone. How can your presence ever disturb me?"
She reached for his hand resting on the steering wheel.
"Don't think like that, okay?"
Rakshit held her hand and brought it towards his lips, placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles.
"I'm just worried because you're neglecting your health because of me and the baby," Shivika said softly. "And I feel bad that I can't even take care of you."
Her voice became emotional.
Rakshit glanced at her.
"I understood, Ika. I'll take care of myself." His thumb gently brushed over her hand. "But please don't feel like that. Your presence around me is enough. You don't need to do anything else."
His words were meant to reassure her, but Shivika slowly pulled her hand away.
She wiped the tear that escaped her eye and turned towards the window.
She didn't say anything.
Rakshit noticed.
He glanced at her before looking back at the road.
"Ika..." he asked gently, placing his hand on her thigh, "what's going on in your mind?"
"There are so many things, Aksh. I-"
Her voice broke.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
Rakshit immediately grew worried and began looking for a safe place to pull the car over.
"Aksh, we would talk at home." Shivika stopped him before he could slow down.
Her voice was firm enough to make it clear that she had already made up her mind. "Don't stop the car."
"Okay."
He continued driving.
"But please don't cry."
Rakshit wiped her tears with one hand while carefully managing the steering wheel with the other.
Shivika hummed softly, not saying anything more.
After gently caressing her cheek, Rakshit withdrew his hand and focused on the road.
But his mind stayed with the words she had left unfinished.
Rakshit rang the doorbell of their house.
Rashmi aunty was already inside, waiting for them. Rakshit had informed her earlier about everything and told her the approximate time they would be home.
The moment the door opened-
"Welcome!"
Several voices shouted together.
Both Rakshit and Shivika froze in surprise.
They had expected to see Rashmi aunty.
They hadn't expected to see Satyam, Jhanvi, and Rahul standing there too.
"Oh my God." Shivika blinked, looking around the house in disbelief.
The living room they had left looking completely normal was now transformed.
Pink balloons were scattered across the room, some tied together in little bunches and others floating near the ceiling. Soft pink and white ribbons hung along the walls, while small fairy lights added a warm glow to the room.
There were tiny baby-themed decorations placed around the room, along with flowers and little cards welcoming their princess home.
Even the smallest details had clearly been thought through.
There was a little arrangement near the centre table with a tiny pair of baby socks, a small stuffed toy and a handwritten card that read:
Shivika's eyes softened.
She looked around slowly, taking everything in.
It wasn't simply decoration.
It was their way of telling her that this little girl had been awaited, loved and celebrated even before she had taken her first step inside the house.
Rakshit was equally stunned.
He looked from the decorations to Rashmi aunty, then towards Satyam, Jhanvi and Rahul.
He hadn't even gotten a hint about this.
"How are you three here? What is all this?" he asked, still trying to process the surprise.
"Talk later. First let me welcome little princess," Rashmi aunty interrupted, already holding an Aarti plate in her hands.
She stepped closer to them, her eyes immediately falling on the baby sleeping peacefully in Shivika's arms.
(She was born on the day of Ashtami, she is truly the form of a goddess.)
Her voice softened as she looked at the tiny face.
Shivika smiled.
Rakshit blinked, still unaware of half the things related to god, but one thing he knew for certain.
For him, his wife and daughter were no less than goddesses.
Rashmi aunty performed the Aarti and blessed their little princess before looking towards Jhanvi.
"Jhanvi."
Jhanvi immediately understood what she meant and nodded before disappearing inside.
Satyam and Rahul exchanged a knowing glance while Rakshit and Shivika looked at each other in confusion.
A few moments later, Jhanvi returned carrying a plate filled with purplish water.
Shivika understood immediately.
Her eyes became teary at the thoughtfulness behind the gesture.
"What is this?" Rakshit finally broke the silence, looking at the plate.
"It's Kumkum water. As you know, girls are treated as goddesses, so their feet are dipped in this and their footprints are taken on a piece of cloth to preserve the moment forever and show respect towards the daughter of the family," Shivika explained.
Her voice became softer towards the end.
The tradition had brought back memories she hadn't wanted to remember.
Memories that felt like salt being rubbed into an old wound.
Rakshit noticed the change in her expression immediately.