Anaya-His heartbeat

CHAPTER_7 NUMB

Anaya's pov

I woke up that morning to sunlight streaming through the curtains, casting a soft warmth over my room. Everything felt calm, like it was going to be a good day. I stretched, breathing in the quiet, appreciating the stillness before the day truly began. It was one of those rare mornings where nothing felt rushed. I had the luxury of letting my mind wander, of enjoying the peace.

I slipped out of bed and dressed leisurely, humming to myself as I went downstairs for breakfast. The house felt the same as always—comfortable, familiar, a place I knew every corner of. I could hear the sounds of the house waking up, soft footsteps in the hall, the distant murmur of voices. It was all part of the routine I loved.

It wasn’t long before one of the house staff knocked gently on my door. “Your father is asking for you, Miss Anaya. He’s in his office.”

I nodded, slightly curious but not worried. It wasn’t uncommon for him to call me in the mornings to discuss things. I made my way to his office, the familiar path easing my mind. Whatever he wanted to talk about, it couldn’t be too serious.

When I walked in, he was sitting at his desk, his face slightly drawn but composed. “Anaya, come in,” he said, gesturing to the chair across from him. I sat down, my heart feeling light. This was our usual space—where we talked about life, the business, the future.

“How’s everything going with your studies?” he started, his tone casual. We exchanged a few pleasantries, talking about my work, my plans. It felt just like any other conversation we’d had a thousand times before. But then, as his eyes settled on mine, something shifted.

“There’s something important we need to discuss,” he said, his voice growing more serious. “It’s about the business.”

I frowned slightly, sensing the weight behind his words. “What’s wrong?”

“The business is struggling. We’ve hit a major loss,” he said, folding his hands together on the desk. “And there’s a way to fix it, but it’s going to require something from you.”

My stomach tightened. “What do you mean?”

He exhaled, avoiding my gaze for a moment. “Anaya, we’ve had discussions... and we’ve decided that the best way to secure the future of the company is through a marriage. You’ll need to marry the son of our business partner.”

It took a second for the words to register. I stared at him, waiting for him to explain, to tell me this wasn’t what it sounded like. But he didn’t.

“What?” I whispered, my throat tightening. “You want me to marry someone for the business?”

He met my eyes, but there was no softness in his expression. “This is the only way to save us, Anaya. The partnership will secure the funds we need to recover.”

I stood up, shaking my head. “No, Papa. No. I’m not some pawn you can use in a deal. This is my life! You can’t just decide something like this for me!”

“This isn’t just about you,” he said, his voice growing firm. “It’s about all of us. You have a responsibility to this family.”

“A responsibility?” I echoed, my voice trembling with disbelief. “Since when does that mean sacrificing everything I’ve worked for? My life, my future—you’re asking me to throw it all away for a business deal!”

He stood up then, his eyes hard. “You think this is easy for me? This is what’s best for you, for the family. Without the business, we’ll lose everything. Don’t you understand that?”

I shook my head, my heart pounding in my chest. “No. No, I won’t do it. I won’t be forced into a marriage just because the business is failing. I’m not an object, Papa!”

His expression darkened. “Anaya, you need to understand. Without this, you won’t have anything. Your studies, your plans—they won’t matter if the business collapses. You’ll be nothing without it.”

Those words hit me like a punch to the gut. “Nothing?” My voice was barely a whisper now, my mind racing. “Is that what you think of me? That I’m only worth something because of the business?”

He didn’t answer, and that silence spoke louder than anything else he could have said.

I felt the tears prick at the edges of my eyes, but I blinked them back. My throat tightened painfully as I looked at him—this man I had admired, trusted, loved. The bond we had, the faith I’d placed in him, was unraveling before my eyes.

“I thought... I thought you believed in me,” I whispered. “I thought you knew I was more than this.”

“Anaya, you’re not seeing the bigger picture,” he said, his voice softer now, but the damage was already done.

“I don’t need to see the bigger picture,” I replied, my voice hollow. “I just needed you to see me.”

I turned and left the room, unable to look at him anymore. Each step felt heavier than the last as I made my way back to my room. The warmth of the morning was gone, replaced by a cold emptiness that settled into my chest.

I sat on my bed, staring blankly at the wall, my mind swirling with everything he had said. The tears didn’t come anymore. There was no space left for pain. Just numbness.

"Kisse shikayat krun jo insaan mujhe sabse zyada mohabbat krta thaa  meri mrzi k bina khana nhi ban ne deta tha aaj vhi insaan meri marzi k bina mujhe kisi ke pallu se bandhna chah ra h"
*****
Having a busy schedule btw  these days  hope you like it
With love..💖