Anaya-His heartbeat

CHAPTER-26

Shivarth pov

As the car rolled toward home, silence settled heavily between us. My mind was still tangled in the decision I’d made to not give this marriage a real shot. It felt too sudden, too forced. I didn’t know her, and I didn’t want to build something on someone else’s expectations.

But the moment we arrived, I was greeted by an unexpected sight. Samaira, Ayaan, and a crowd of relatives were out there, waiting with firecrackers, lamps, and smiles that lit up the night. I couldn’t help but feel some relief in that moment. No matter how cold or distant I kept myself, at least she’d have Samaira and Ayaan. Maybe, in this new life, they’d be the comfort I wouldn’t be able to provide.

After the welcome, Samaira guided her to my room, and something about that stirred an uneasy feeling in me. I’d never shared that space, never let anyone into it. And now here she was, standing in my room—her presence felt foreign, a disruption to the place I always kept to myself.

I entered the room to see her sitting on my bed engrossed in her phoneAs she finished looking around the room, her playful smile faded, and she turned to face me, crossing her arms. I raised an eyebrow, wondering what was coming next.

“So,” she began, her tone serious, “I think it’s only fair to set some ground rules.”

I folded my arms, leaning back slightly. “Oh? Ground rules?”

“Yes,” she replied firmly. “First rule—you’ll be sleeping on the couch.”

I blinked, taken aback by her bluntness. “Excuse me?” I asked, caught somewhere between disbelief and amusement.

“You heard me,” she said, her eyes unwavering. “We don’t know each other, and I don’t plan on playing house until I’m ready.” Her voice had a steeliness to it that surprised me.

I let out a low chuckle, more out of disbelief than humor. “You’re ordering me out of my own bed?”

She tilted her chin up defiantly. “Yes, I am. And if you’re half as smart as you think you are, you’ll take the couch without a fight.”

A part of me wanted to argue, but there was something oddly intriguing about her assertiveness. She was dead serious, and for some reason, I found myself almost… respecting it. Testing her limit, I gave her a smirk.

“Fine,” I said, shrugging. “But don’t complain if I end up taking all the blankets.”

She rolled her eyes, but I could see the hint of a smile breaking through her stern expression. “Deal,” she replied, her tone softening just a bit.

I sighed, grabbing a pillow and the spare blanket from the cupboard, and made my way to the couch. As I settled in, I couldn’t help but glance at her one last time. This woman was turning my life upside down, but at that moment, it felt like the kind of chaos I might be willing to endure.
But battling my thoughts I decided to clear up things
I I stood up, the frustration bubbling over as I called her name, “Anaya.” She looked at me, unfazed, and that only irritated me more.

“Of course,” I began, crossing my arms tightly, “girls like you? Jumping into something for the luxury, the show, but never actually committed.” I expected her to falter, maybe show some shock or even tears—something to prove me right.