Anaya-His heartbeat

Chapter-25 tere naam ki mehendi

Shivarths pov

Mehendi day. I woke up with a feeling I wasn’t used to—excitement, maybe? Whatever it was, I couldn’t shake it off. My thoughts kept circling back to last night’s story post. It was the first time I’d posted anything personal, and there it was—a picture with her. My soon-to-be wife.

When I opened my socials, the flood of notifications was impossible to miss. Shivarth Oberoi is going to marry Anaya Sharma. Seeing it plastered everywhere was oddly satisfying, even if it meant dealing with the media circus.

But my mood took a nosedive when I read the next headline: Anaya Sharma remains unrecognizable—is she a gold digger? Rage simmered in me. Who the hell did they think they were to label her that way?

Without a second thought, I dialed Daksh, my PR manager, barely holding back my temper. “What’s with these articles, Daksh?” I demanded, my voice sharp. “Threaten those companies, pull down every article, every comment. I don’t care what you have to do, just handle it.” I couldn’t let this trash stay out there, not about her.

After hanging up, I took a few breaths to cool down and dressed in the pastel green kurta Samaira had picked. Normally, I’d complain about her meddling with my wardrobe, but this was actually... decent. Simple, not too flashy, and yet, somehow, it felt right.

Downstairs, I could hear Samaira’s voice echoing through the house. She was practically shouting in excitement, going on and on about her bhaiyya finally getting married. And then there was Ayaan, listing out all the things he planned to do with his new bhabhi. I shot him a glare, but all he did was laugh.As we were getting into the car, Ayaan smirked, noticing my expression. "What’s with the blush, bhai? Thinking about bhabhi already?" he teased, nudging my shoulder.

I shot him a glare. "Mind your own business, Ayaan."

He chuckled, undeterred. "Come on, admit it, you’re finally warming up to the idea. I mean, you even posted a picture! You, Shivarth Oberoi, Mr. 'No Personal Life on Social Media.' If that doesn’t scream ‘I’m head over heels,’ I don’t know what does."

I rolled my eyes. "I did it to avoid any rumors. The last thing we need is more nonsense in the media."

Ayaan laughed, clearly not buying it. "Sure, keep telling yourself that." He leaned back, crossing his arms with that smug smile he always wore when he thought he’d won. "You know, once she's officially our bhabhi, I’m gonna make a whole list of things we’ll do together. Shopping, movie marathons, game nights—she’ll be my new partner-in-crime. I might not even have time for you."

I raised an eyebrow. "You’re really that excited to steal her attention away, huh?"

"Absolutely," he grinned, completely serious. "And don’t worry, bhai, I’ll take care of her better than you."

"Watch it, Ayaan," I muttered, though a small part of me appreciated his enthusiasm. His excitement felt... right, like maybe, despite everything, we were on the verge of something that could actually be good.

But I still couldn’t let him have the last word. "Just remember," I smirked, "I'm still the one she’s marrying, "

With that, he winked and looked out the window, and I couldn't help but wonder if, somehow, this whole arranged marriage might turn out to be something more than I'd bargained for.

We finally left for the venue, and the minute we walked in, I noticed the decorations. Pastel green everywhere( will share the pictures in album ,)
The venue exuded elegance, with the stage serving as the main highlight. Draped in soft fabrics and adorned with lush floral arrangements, it radiated charm. At the center of the stage backdrop, an ornate monogram with the initials "A & S" stood out, symbolizing the union of Anaya and Shivarth. These initials, crafted with delicate gold and silver accents, were surrounded by blooms, making the stage feel both grand and intimate.
The hall matched this elegance, with ceiling drapes cascading down, warm golden lighting, and tables decorated with floral centerpieces. A petal-strewn pathway led guests from the entrance to the stage, creating a seamless, romantic ambiance throughout.
I had to smile, wondering if Samaira had thought of Anaya’s outfit too. Knowing her, she’d probably matched the whole setup to Anaya’s dress.

And just like that, I found myself blushing again, trying to shake off the thought of seeing her in that color.

Anaya's pov

As I walked down the stairs, the sight of the pastel green decor brought a sense of calm and joy. It was exactly how I wanted it to be—soft, serene, and beautiful. But my heart skipped a beat when I saw Shivarth. He was in a pastel green kurta, matching my lehenga. I felt an unexpected warmth seeing us in the same color, like it was meant to be. Samaira really knew what she was doing picking out his outfit. The thought made me smile for a moment and had my all doubts cleared I had about my outfit coz I chose it because there was no other option left
Mehendi ceremony started and  everyone started dancing
As I settled down to get my Mehendi, I tried to focus on the intricate designs forming on my hands, but my eyes kept drifting toward Shivarth. When everyone finally coaxed him into getting Mehendi, I saw him hesitate, only to finally agree after Ayaan whispered something to him. My heart raced as he held out his hand, and the artist delicately wrote "Anaya" in small, graceful letters. Seeing my name on his hand—a small yet significant mark on the famously reserved Shivarth Oberoi—made my cheeks burn with happiness.

To my surprise, I caught him stealing glances my way, his lips quirking in what almost looked like a smile. My heart did a little flip at the sight. It was subtle, but it felt like we were sharing an unspoken moment amidst the loud, colorful chaos of the ceremony. I realized I wanted to hold on to this feeling, savor it for as long as I could.

Hours later, my Mehendi still wasn’t dry, and Annie came over, balancing a plate of snacks and drinks. I tried to politely refuse, not wanting to smudge the still-wet designs on my hands. Annie smirked and said, “Oh, you might want to reconsider. Jiju sent this over, told me to feed you since you can’t do it yourself.” My heart fluttered as I processed her words, a blend of disbelief and warmth washing over me.
" Isko bheja khud nhi aa skta tha kaala billa kahin ka "
i mummbled and did a hair flip idk why but yes I did
" Kya kya  bolri hain haaaaannn" anaya said
" Kuch ni shut up   feed me"

Samaira then chimed in, her tone playful, “You know, he’s never done this for anyone before. Ever. Our Shivarth must be changing.” The idea made me feel giddy and a little nervous, like I’d stumbled into something that was becoming unexpectedly precious.

But it didn’t stop there. Hardik, always quick with a joke, threw a wink my way and said, “Aha! Feeding each other already? We’ll have to keep an eye on you two!”

Rohan and Sam, my forever troublemakers, pretended to edge closer to my Mehendi, threatening to ruin it while I glared at them, half-amused, half-irritated. But honestly, I couldn’t stop smiling.

Eventually, Shivarth and I sat side by side for photos. Just as we were getting settled, someone accidentally spilled juice on his kurta. His expression darkened, and I could feel his frustration about to bubble over. Before I could think, I murmured softly, “It’s fine. Let’s not ruin the moment; just let it be.” To my surprise, he met my eyes, his anger softening, and I felt something unspoken pass between us.

As if he’d been waiting for the right moment, Ayaan leaned over and whispered, just loud enough for everyone to hear, “Wow, bhabhi. You’ve got some magic here! Bhaiyya actually listened to you.” He chuckled, adding with a mischievous grin
, “Looks like Shivarth Oberoi might become joru ka ghulam sooner than we thought!”
My face flushed, and I tried to hide my smile, but the warmth I felt couldn’t be contained.

We took more photos, teased and laughed together, and as the ceremony came to an end, I realized that Shivarth had created a memory I’d hold close. For the first time in a long time, I felt truly, deeply happy.