Anaya-His heartbeat

CHAPTER 36

hey guysss 

days are hard I am not able to write or think but I do need to keep giving updates so unsure about this chapter but posting anyhow 

enjoy

SHIVARTH

---It was early morning when dadi called me to her room . Her voice was gentle yet filled with that familiar strength as she reminded me about visiting the Kuldevi temple—a ritual every newly married couple in our family was expected to uphold. It felt different this time, knowing I wouldn't be going alone. I quietly agreed, grateful that she thought to remind me.After the call, I made my way to Anaya's room. I knocked, half-wondering if she'd be awake. As the door opened, my thoughts completely drifted away.There she was, standing in a beautiful pink saree, the color soft and delicate, almost as if the morning light had decided to rest on her. Her hair was pinned back gently, a few loose strands framing her face, and she had this serene, warm glow that I hadn't noticed before.For a moment, I just stood there, caught off guard by how effortlessly beautiful she looked."Are you ready to go?" I finally managed, keeping my voice as steady as possible. She looked at me with a hint of amusement in her eyes."You're actually at a loss for words, Shivarth?" she teased lightly. "I should definitely wear pink more often."I laughed, surprised by her confidence. "Alright, maybe you should," I replied with a soft smile. "You... you look really nice, Anaya."Her expression softened, and she tilted her head, giving me a gentle smile. "Well, thank you," she said, clearly pleased. "A compliment from Mr. Shivarth Oberoi—should I take this as a special occasion?"I shook my head, chuckling. "I guess you could say that," I replied, glancing at her with a warm smile of my own. "You deserve it."She raised an eyebrow, but her eyes held nothing but warmth. "Anyway, where are we going, all dressed up?""To the Kuldevi temple," I explained. "It's an important family tradition, especially for newlyweds. Dadi insisted that we go together for a blessing."She nodded, her face brightening. "I'd really like that," she said quietly. "It sounds special... and I think we could use all the blessings we can get." Her eyes held a glimmer of sincerity that made something inside me soften.As we made our way to the car, I opened the door for her, noticing her give me a quick, grateful smile. Her excitement was contagious—she hummed a little tune as we drove, her joy filling the air. A few minutes later, she glanced at me with a playful look. "So, Mr. Oberoi, do you always hand out compliments, or am I just the lucky one today?"I chuckled, feeling unexpectedly relaxed. "Let's just say you're... special, and leave it at that."She raised an eyebrow. "Oh, 'special' now, am I?" she teased, leaning slightly towards me.I couldn't help but smile, shaking my head. "You're not going to let that go, are you?" I asked, though my tone was soft. "Fine. You are. Very special."She laughed, her eyes bright. "Alright, I'll take that," she replied, settling back into her seat. There was a joy in her laughter that made the morning feel warmer, lighter. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed just feeling... at ease.As we neared the temple, she looked over at me, her eyes sincere. "Thank you for telling me about this, Shivarth. I didn't expect to be part of something so close to your family's heart."I nodded, feeling a quiet sense of comfort I wasn't used to. "I'm glad you're here with me," I replied simply, parking the car. "It means a lot to have you beside me.". I've always thought tradition was more for others than for me—more for those who felt connected to it. But there was something about today, the way she had looked at me when we'd been told to go, that stirred a quiet sense of curiosity.. She'd point out the scenery every now and then, little things I'd never have noticed if I'd been alone. "Look at that tree—it's like it's welcoming us, isn't it?" she'd said with a small smile. I remember nodding, a little thrown by how she seemed to find beauty in everything around her. She made it hard to keep my guard up.The temple itself was beautiful, surrounded by hills and an endless spread of green, like something out of a memory I couldn't quite grasp. The atmosphere felt... heavy, but in a good way. The soft sound of bells in the background, the fragrant air filled with incense, and the quiet reverence all around created a sense of peace I hadn't felt in a long time.Anaya seemed completely at ease here, like she belonged. I watched her slip off her sandals before climbing the steps, and without thinking, I leaned down, picked them up, and tucked them under my arm. She looked at me, surprised, her eyebrows raising just a bit. "You don't have to carry them, Shivarth," she said, her tone light but her eyes softening."Just making sure you don't get distracted thinking about them." I shrugged, brushing it off, but a small smile tugged at her lips, and my heart did an unexpected flip.Inside, we knelt side by side, the priest chanting softly as he began the pooja for us. I was aware of every little movement Anaya made—the way her hands folded in perfect reverence, her eyes closing gently, her lips moving in silent prayer. I hadn't thought I'd find myself caring about this ritual, but something about her dedication, her focus, made me want to participate too. I found myself closing my own eyes, inhaling deeply, letting myself be part of this, even if just for a moment. The weight of her presence beside me was strangely grounding.When the pooja ended, we bowed our heads together, and as I raised mine, I felt her gaze on me. There was a soft, almost shy smile on her face. It was rare to see her so still, so quietly thoughtful, and it struck me how different she could be from the lively, headstrong woman I'd come to know.The priest handed us the offerings, and I extended my hand for her to take first, feeling an unexpected warmth in the simplicity of the gesture. After a small bow to the deity, we stood up, ready to leave the temple, but the sky had taken on a sudden ominous gray, and the first drops of rain started to fall.I nudged her toward the steps. "Let's get back before this downpour turns into a flood."But she looked up, her eyes wide with excitement as the raindrops splashed on her face, and before I could say anything more, she grinned. "It's just rain, Shivarth!""Just rain? You'll be soaked in a minute!" I said, trying to keep my voice firm. But she'd already twirled out into the open courtyard, her laugh echoing as she let the rain pour down on her."Live a little!" she called out, waving me over as she stretched her arms up to the sky, her whole face lit with joy. There was something infectious about her laughter, something freeing in the way she closed her eyes and let herself enjoy every drop. I stood there, watching her like a fool, as she lifted her head to the sky, her saree getting soaked, her hair darkening with the rain.Finally, with a sigh, I stepped into the rain. "You're going to catch a cold, you know," I muttered, but the words were empty. Because she was right here, looking at me with a smile that made everything else fade away. I let myself go, if only for a moment, laughing with her as the rain drenched us.She slipped slightly on the wet stone steps, and my instincts kicked in. I caught her waist just as she stumbled, steadying her, feeling the warmth of her skin under my hands despite the cold rain. For a moment, neither of us moved. She looked up at me, eyes wide, her cheeks flushed, and I felt something break inside me—a wall I'd kept up too long. She didn't pull away, and I didn't let go. I could feel the rain dripping down both of us, but all I could focus on was her, standing there with that beautiful, open look in her eyes.When she finally pulled back, we both laughed awkwardly, but the moment lingered in the air between us, unspoken and undeniable. I released her, though my hand lingered for just a second longer than necessary.Back at the car, we were both drenched, laughing and wiping the rain from our faces as we settled into our seats. I placed her heels carefully on the floor of the passenger seat, earning another small smile from her as she slipped in.As I started the car, she turned to me, eyes still sparkling. "Since we're already wet, why don't we grab a quick dinner somewhere? There's this little café nearby, and they make the best parathas and chai," she suggested, her voice filled with excitement.A small part of me wanted to say no, but something about the day made it impossible to refuse her. We pulled up to a modest roadside café, and she looked at me with such childlike glee as she ordered a round of hot parathas and masala chai. The warmth of the café felt comforting against the chill from the rain, and I found myself watching her every movement, memorizing the way she talked, the way her laughter seemed to fill every corner of the place.Dinner was simple but surprisingly perfect. She chatted about everything—the temple, the rain, the pooja—as if all these small things were as beautiful as a work of art. I couldn't understand it, but somehow, being with her made the ordinary seem extraordinary.After dinner, she reached across the table to swipe a bit of sauce from my plate, laughing at my surprised expression. I just shook my head, smiling at her ease and wondering when I'd last felt so free around anyone. As we finished up, I looked at her, feeling a strange urge to say something, to express what this day had meant."Thank you... for today," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. It was as if thanking her for something so simple shouldn't feel so meaningful, but it did.She looked at me, surprised, and gave me a soft smile. "Anytime, Shivarth."The drive back was quiet, but it was a comfortable silence. It felt as though we'd spoken enough without words, and in that quiet, a warmth settled in my chest. As we neared home, I stole a glance at her, feeling something that went beyond mere admiration.