Anaya-His heartbeat

CHAPTER-32

SHIVARTH POV

I couldn't shake the anger burning inside me as I left the living room, my blood still boiling from Taiji's vicious words. The look on Anaya's face when she was standing there, humiliated in front of everyone—it haunted me. I could feel every ounce of her pain and embarrassment, and I was furious that she had to endure it. If it had been a man standing there saying those things to my wife, I'd have smashed his face without a second thought. But this was Taiji, and as much as I hated it, I had to handle this differently.After I made sure Anaya was settled, I went straight to Dadi's room, hoping to find some sort of explanation or justification. How could anyone in our family think it was okay to speak to her like that? When I entered, Dadi looked up at me with a gentle smile, as if she'd been expecting this conversation. But I couldn't calm down. My anger poured out the moment I opened my mouth."How could Taiji say those things to Anaya? How could she make her feel so... so worthless?" I demanded, barely managing to keep my voice steady. "I won't tolerate anyone disrespecting her. Not in this house, not anywhere."Dadi listened quietly, her gaze steady as she patted the space beside her, motioning for me to sit. Reluctantly, I did, though the tension in me still simmered, my fists clenched in my lap."Shivarth," she said softly, her voice calm, "I understand why you're angry. I was furious with her too. Believe me, I spoke to Taiji right after what happened."Her words did little to ease my frustration. "That's not enough, Dadi," I said, unable to hide the edge in my tone. "Anaya deserves more than a few quiet words behind closed doors. She deserves respect from everyone, especially from our family. Taiji crossed a line, and she has no right to treat Anaya that way."Dadi looked at me thoughtfully, her gaze softening as she reached out to squeeze my hand. "I know, beta. And I'm proud of the way you stood up for her. That's exactly the kind of husband I always hoped you'd be. When I saw you standing there, defending Anaya in front of everyone... it showed me that you're ready to protect her, that you're ready to lead this family with strength and integrity."Her words hit me harder than I expected. I felt the anger simmering down, replaced by a strange sense of pride—and a fierce protectiveness that hadn't fully settled until that moment. This was my family, my responsibility, and Anaya was a part of it now. But I still couldn't shake the frustration. "Dadi, Anaya deserves better than to be judged based on rumors or money," I said, my voice softening, though the weight of my words remained. "She's done nothing but try to fit in here, and this... it's not fair to her."Dadi nodded, understanding flashing in her eyes. "Shivarth, you're right. And I'll make sure this never happens again. But I hope you know that how you stood by her today—those actions speak louder than any words. Anaya needs to feel safe, especially in our family, and you've already shown her that you'll stand beside her through anything."As her words sank in, the anger in me finally started to fade, leaving only the weight of responsibility. I knew I'd have to face moments like these again, but one thing was certain: I wouldn't let anyone hurt Anaya, not while I was here to protect her.I pushed open the door to our room, still stewing a bit from the encounter with Taiji, but the sight in front of me managed to knock that frustration right out of my mind. There they were—Ayaan, Samaira, and Anaya—all sprawled across my bed, laughing and talking as if they owned the place. My bed, taken over by these three troublemakers, without a single care for the fact that this was *my* room.I crossed my arms, leaning against the doorframe, and raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so my room is now a public hangout spot?" I asked, trying to sound annoyed, but the corner of my mouth betrayed me with a twitch.Ayaan looked up, all smug. "Your room? We thought it was up for grabs."Samaira chimed in with a laugh, "Yeah, we're just making it feel more... lively."Before I could toss a witty comeback, Anaya suddenly jumped up, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Instead of complaining, why don't you take us to the farm?" she said, almost daring me. "Ayaan and Samaira were telling me all about it, and I want to see it myself!"I narrowed my eyes, crossing my arms even tighter. "Oh, really? So now you're going to boss me around?"She tilted her chin up defiantly, crossing her own arms in that unmistakable way. "Someone has to keep you in line, Shivarth," she replied with a little smirk, refusing to back down. Here she was, barely reaching my shoulder, this fierce little firecracker, looking at me like she could make me do anything with that stubborn glint in her eyes.I couldn't help but chuckle, shaking my head. "It's a sight, really," I said, looking her up and down. "This 5'3" minion trying to rule over a 6'1" guy like she owns the place."Her eyes sparkled with that familiar fire, and instead of backing off, she stepped closer, giving me that same, unyielding look. "Just because you're tall doesn't mean you get to be in charge all the time," she shot back.Ayaan and Samaira started snickering behind her, clearly enjoying the show, but I kept my gaze on her, unable to hide my amusement. This woman... somehow she'd already become such a natural part of my life that even her defiance felt oddly comforting. And as much as I wanted to act unfazed, I could feel that protective, softening part of me take over.I leaned down just a bit, bringing my face closer to hers, a playful smirk on my lips. "Oh really, *Mrs. Oberoi*?" I said, voice low and teasing. "You think you can order me around just because you're cute and stubborn?"Anaya didn't flinch, instead crossing her arms even tighter and giving me a challenging look. "Cute and stubborn? Don't forget, Mr. Oberoi, I can be pretty persuasive too. Especially when I know what I want.""Oh, I've noticed," I murmured, raising an eyebrow. "So, what is it you want right now, *boss*?"She raised her chin, pretending to ponder. "Well," she said slowly, "right now, I want you to take us to the farm. But first..." She narrowed her eyes and flashed a playful grin. "You could start by getting your so-called 'guests' some snacks and drinks. After all, this is supposed to be *our* room now."Samaira and Ayaan erupted into laughter, making themselves extra comfortable on the bed, clearly loving the banter. I rolled my eyes, but the grin I'd been holding back finally broke through.I leaned even closer to Anaya, dropping my voice to a whisper that only she could hear. "You know, if you keep giving me orders, I might just have to start charging for my time, Mrs. Oberoi," I teased, brushing a stray strand of her hair behind her ear.She smirked, unfazed. "And what exactly would that cost be, Mr. Oberoi?""Hmm," I pretended to think, keeping my gaze on her. "Let's see... maybe a nice dinner, prepared by my very bossy, very cute wife? , after I've 'followed orders.'"Her cheeks turned the slightest shade of pink, but she held her ground, eyes bright with challenge. "Alright, deal," she said, flashing a grin. "But only if you make it worth my time, *boss*."I chuckled, unable to help myself. "You're something else, you know that?""And you love it," she shot back with a wink, nudging me toward the door. "Now, get us those snacks. You wouldn't want to disappoint your *boss*, right?"As I walked out, I glanced back, shaking my head in disbelief and amusement. Who would have thought this 5'3" spitfire could wrap me around her finger so effortlessly?The drive to the farm was refreshing. The music, Samaira's endless clicking for Instagram stories, and the laughter filling the car felt surprisingly... right. I wasn't usually the type to pose, but remembering Anaya's little teasing comments about social media, I couldn't resist hamming it up for a few shots. Watching her laugh at my antics felt strange, but it wasn't an unwelcome feeling—just new. As we arrived, I began guiding her around the farm, showing her the crops, explaining the different plants, and the work that went into each season. Anaya listened intently, her eyes wide with curiosity and wonder. It was her first time on a farm, and seeing her so fascinated stirred something in me—almost a sense of pride for sharing a piece of my world with her.We were walking along a narrow path when, out of nowhere, I saw her foot twist on a rock. She stumbled The moment I saw Anaya's foot slip and her body tilt forward, everything seemed to slow down. She stumbled on a loose rock, and I reached out instinctively, but it was too late. She fell, landing with a small cry as she clutched her ankle. My heart stopped for a moment, a surge of worry so intense that it caught me off guard.Seeing her on the ground, trying to bite back tears, something inside me twisted painfully. She was usually so strong, so sure of herself. But now, her expression was filled with pain, and her usual spark was dimmed. I dropped down beside her without thinking, my hands moving automatically to steady her as I asked, "Anaya, are you okay?" My voice sounded more desperate than I'd intended, but I didn't care.She didn't answer right away, just winced and closed her eyes, her face contorted in pain. My gaze fell to her hand, where I noticed a small scrape starting to bleed. Seeing even the slightest mark on her skin made something flare up inside me—an overwhelming urge to protect her, to keep her safe, even from a tiny scrape. I quickly pulled out my handkerchief, wrapping it around her hand with as much care as I could manage. "It's alright, you're okay," I murmured, trying to reassure her, but I wasn't even sure if I was saying it for her or for myself. Her silence and the way she bit her lip to stop from crying were enough to make my chest ache.For a moment, I couldn't shake the image of her falling, the way her small frame crumpled against the rough ground. I replayed it over and over, my mind screaming that I should have caught her in time. That one moment of helplessness clawed at me, filling me with frustration and guilt.When she finally managed a weak smile and tried to joke, "That was quite the tumble," I couldn't even laugh. All I could think about was the pain she must be in, even if she was trying to brush it off. I let out a frustrated sigh, gently but firmly chiding, "You should've told me if the path was difficult for you. You didn't need to push yourself."Her response was instant, a bit of that fire back in her eyes. "It was just a rock, Shivarth. I'm not a damsel in distress."But the moment she tried to stand, a sharp wince crossed her face, and my heart sank all over again. Before she could even argue, I moved without a second thought. I slipped one arm around her back and the other beneath her legs, lifting her up easily. "Shivarth!" she gasped, trying to wriggle out of my hold. "Put me down, I can walk!""Not a chance," I replied firmly, pulling her closer against my chest. "I brought you to the farm because you wanted to see it, but now that you're hurt, you're not walking anywhere. No arguments, Mrs. Oberoi."She quieted, her cheeks flushed as her hands settled around my shoulders. Her face was close to mine, her warm breath soft against my skin, and I couldn't help but notice the faint scent of her perfume. I tightened my hold on her, trying to focus on getting her back to the car, but her proximity made that a challenge. She was so close, her head tucked near my shoulder, her small hands resting gently on the back of my neck.As I walked, I caught myself glancing down at her, the worry in my chest gradually easing into something else—something warmer, something that made my lips twitch into a smile. She looked up at me, almost as if surprised by how serious I was about protecting her, and in that moment, I knew I'd do anything to keep her safe.Once we reached the car, I gently settled her inside, making sure she was comfortable. But as I closed the door and stood outside for a moment, I felt the lingering warmth of where her hands had rested on my neck. She was turning my world upside down, little by little, and I wasn't sure what to make of it—but I knew one thing: I didn't want to go back to the way things were before.