43. Raksha Bandhan
The next morning, Shivika woke up with a completely different energy.
For the first time in days, she felt genuinely rested. She had managed to sleep properly and get a full night's rest, all because of her overly caring husband, who had refused to let her stay awake throughout the night.
Even when Akshvi cried, Rakshit only woke Shivika once-when the baby's milk bottle was empty and she needed to feed her.
Other than that, whenever Shivika had offered to take Akshvi so that he could sleep, Rakshit had simply shut her down with the most romantic sentence a new mother could hear.
"You sleep. I have got this."
The thought alone brought a smile to her face.
She had never seen a husband do this much for his wife and newborn. At some point, everyone got tired. Even Rakshit must be exhausted, yet he never complained. He simply took care of everything without letting her feel guilty about resting.
But today, Shivika had already made up her mind.
During the day, she could easily handle Akshvi. Rakshit needed to sleep.
And she knew exactly what she was going to do.
She was going to convince him.
Or, considering how stubborn he was when it came to her rest and their daughter, she might just have to order him.
After getting ready, Shivika tied her hair into a simple ponytail. She stepped out of the closet and immediately looked toward the crib.
Akshvi was sleeping peacefully.
Shivika's lips curved into a smile as she walked toward her daughter. Leaning over the crib, she gently kissed her forehead and caressed her tiny head.
"My baby..." she whispered lovingly.
After admiring her daughter for a few more seconds, she headed toward the living room.
She found Rakshit standing near the kitchen counter, making coffee for himself.
"Good morning, Aksh," Shivika greeted as she walked toward him and wrapped her arms around him from behind.
Rakshit smiled.
He gently took her hand from his chest, turned it over, and pressed a soft kiss against her knuckles.
"Morning," he murmured.
Before Shivika could say anything else, he turned around and pulled her into his arms.
"Should I make tea for you?" he asked, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Shivika's smile disappeared for a second.
Then she smiled again.
"I have quitted tea. I would never drink tea from now onwards."
Rakshit froze.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"Ika, are you serious? Why would you even decide that? You know you need tea whenever you have a headache."
He suddenly looked worried.
"Is it because I told you about my trauma with tea? Yes, of course, that's the reason. I shouldn't have told you. Ika-"
He continued speaking without even giving her a chance to answer.
Shivika stared at him for a few seconds before finally placing her palm over his mouth.
"Aksh, stop blabbering. At least hear me out."
Rakshit immediately fell silent.
Satisfied, Shivika removed her hand and cupped his face with both palms while his hands rested gently around her waist.
"Aksh, I can't go into your past and change what happened to you," she began softly. "But I want to support you in the present."
Rakshit frowned slightly.
"Tea was something I used to like very much," Shivika continued, "but now I don't. And I don't want to drink it anymore."
"Ika..." Rakshit sighed. "But tea wasn't at fault. It's just that I'm not comfortable enough to drink it."
His voice softened.
"Even thinking about taking a sip makes me remember that burn. I can still feel it on my skin. It hurts more now than it did back then."
He looked into her eyes.
"But that doesn't mean you have to quit drinking it."
Shivika shook her head.
"No, Aksh. I just can't."
She caressed his cheek.
"I can't enjoy drinking it after hearing what you told me. You said that you can still feel that burn from your past just by thinking about drinking tea."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"And I'm feeling that burn just by hearing you say it."
Rakshit smiled painfully.
He couldn't believe it.
This woman, whom he had met only a few months ago, could somehow feel the pain he had carried for years.
"You have never stopped me from doing anything," Shivika whispered. "So this time too, just let me do it."
She gently caressed his cheek.
Rakshit stared at her for a moment before finally nodding.
"I wouldn't stop you."
He pulled her a little closer by her waist.
"But you have to promise me something."
"What?"
"Whenever, in the future, you crave tea, you will drink it without arguing with me."
Shivika smiled.
"I promise."
Satisfied, Rakshit smiled back.
For a few seconds, they simply stood there, wrapped in each other's arms.
Then Shivika looked at his lips before slowly meeting his eyes.
"Can I kiss you?" she whispered.
Rakshit's expression immediately changed.
For a moment, he genuinely wondered if he had heard her correctly.
"Can you repeat what you just said?"
His hold around her waist tightened.
Shivika tried not to smile.
"I asked, can I kiss you?"
Rakshit's breath hitched.
Then a small smile appeared on his lips.
"Yes."
He leaned closer to her, closing the distance himself.
But before Shivika could even place her lips on his-
A loud cry echoed from the bedroom.
Both of them froze.
Shivika let out a frustrated sigh.
Rakshit, for the first time, wasn't particularly happy about his daughter calling for them.
He dropped his head onto Shivika's shoulder.
"I can't even tell her to stay quiet for some more time," Shivika complained.
Rakshit struggled to hold back his chuckle.
"Better luck next time," he whispered.
He quickly broke the hug and rushed toward the bedroom before Shivika could punch him.
"What better luck next time?" Shivika shouted after him. "Just stay with your daughter! Don't come near me!"
Rakshit disappeared into the bedroom, laughing softly.
Shivika huffed and crossed her arms.
"Baby, we get only a few moments like this. For God's sake, let your mother get some love too."
She complained toward the bedroom as if her newborn could actually understand her.
A few moments later, Rakshit came back with Akshvi in his arms.
The baby was quiet now, her tiny face resting peacefully against her father's chest.
Shivika rolled her eyes at the sight of them.
"Of course."
Rakshit simply smiled.
Shivika sat comfortably on the couch while Rakshit joined her with Akshvi still in his arms.
"Aksh, Rashmi aunty didn't come?" Shivika asked.
"No. She'll be a little late." Rakshit replied.
"Okay," Shivika whispered as she leaned her head against Rakshit's shoulder, her eyes fixed on their daughter.
Akshvi was awake now, her tiny eyes wandering around the room as she moved them from one side to another.
For a few moments, they simply watched her.
Then Shivika turned toward Rakshit.
"Aksh, you should go and sleep. You haven't slept properly last night."
Rakshit immediately shook his head.
"No, Ika. I'm not at all sleepy."
As if on cue, a huge yawn escaped him.
Rakshit froze.
He slowly covered his mouth and gave her a nervous smile.
Shivika glared at him.
"Aksh..."
"I swear I'm not sleepy," he defended himself.
"Please," Shivika said, using the weapon she had been preparing all morning. "Don't put me in guilt and just go to sleep."
Rakshit frowned.
"Ika, there is nothing for you to feel guilty about."
"No, Aksh. Just go and rest. I'm not listening to you this time."
She crossed her arms.
"Just sit here if you want to make me feel guilty for not letting you rest."
Rakshit sighed.
He knew that tone.
There was no winning against her when she had decided something.
"Okay, I'm going, madam."
He carefully picked up Akshvi and placed her in Shivika's lap.
"There. Take her."
Shivika smiled triumphantly.
Rakshit leaned closer to their daughter and whispered dramatically, pretending that Shivika couldn't hear him.
"Bye, baby. Papa is going to sleep because if I don't, my big baccha won't listen to me next time."
Shivika rolled her eyes.
"Very funny."
Rakshit chuckled.
Before he could leave, Shivika caught him by the neck and gently turned his face toward her.
She pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.
"Go rest."
Rakshit's smile softened.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead in return.
"Okay."
With one last glance at his wife and daughter, he finally walked toward the bedroom.
Shivika watched him leave before looking down at Akshvi.
Her smile immediately faded.
The baby was making an adorable little pout.
"Ohh..." Shivika whispered, bringing her face closer. "What happened, baby? Why are you making a face like that?"
Akshvi stubbornly turned her face to the other side.
Shivika blinked.
"Aww... baby, are you angry because Mumma kissed your Papa?"
Akshvi's tiny lips trembled.
Shivika's eyes widened.
"Oh, no, no, no."
She gently rubbed her daughter's cheek.
"Shhh... Mumma wouldn't tease you."
The little whimper continued.
Shivika immediately understood what was wrong.
"Wait..."
She looked at her daughter for a moment.
"You're hungry, aren't you?"
Akshvi's little face scrunched up again.
Shivika smiled knowingly.
She carefully adjusted her gown and opened the button, settling Akshvi comfortably in her arms.
"Come here, my hungry baby."
As soon as she began feeding her, Akshvi calmed down.
Shivika smiled down at her, gently stroking her tiny head.
She leaned back comfortably against the couch, looking at her daughter with love in her eyes.
The doorbell rang, breaking the peaceful silence of the room.
Shivika carefully stood up from the sofa, making sure not to disturb Akshvi, who had already fallen asleep after feeding. She gently placed her on the sofa, making her comfortable before walking towards the door.
She opened it and found Rashmi aunty standing there with a few grocery bags in her hands.
"Good morning, beta," Rashmi aunty greeted with a warm smile as she stepped inside and kept the grocery bags on the table.