Anaya-His heartbeat

CHAPTER 46

okay so happiest new year guys  💕 december was hard for me  very hard i tried to hold me and i did but was not able to write still new year new day new hope🙌 gonna upload atleast 4 chapters a week  and my genuine readers thanks for the motivaton dear ## shambhavi ## she was the one reminding me everyday to write 

 I sat by the window, watching the golden hues of the sunset fade into the cool blues of the evening sky. My mind kept wandering back to the argument between Shivarth and his father earlier. The way he defended me, the fire in his voice, and the unwavering conviction in his words—it all played on a loop in my head. I should've felt hurt seeing their strained relationship laid bare, but instead, I felt a strange sense of happiness.

He had stood up for me. He had chosen me. And that... that meant more than I could ever put into words.

But as the hours passed, another emotion began creeping in, tugging at me. A deep ache of longing. I missed home. The noise of my brothers arguing playfully, the warmth of my dad's awkward attempts to make conversation, even the little moments I shared with my mom. I hadn't been there in days, and suddenly, it felt unbearable.

I needed to go back, even if just for a little while. The thought settled in my chest, and before I could overthink it, I decided to tell Shivarth. I found him in his study, leaning over a stack of documents, his face serious but calm. As I stepped in, he looked up, and his expression softened instantly. It was a small change, but one that always made me feel seen.

"Shivarth," I started, hesitant at first. He set his papers aside and focused on me entirely, his brows lifting slightly in curiosity.

"I... I was thinking I'd like to go home for a while," I said quickly, as if the words would vanish if I didn't get them out fast enough.

His expression shifted instantly, concern flickering in his eyes. "Is it because of earlier? What my father said?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with worry. He stood, stepping closer, his gaze scanning my face for answers I wasn't sure how to give.

"No," I said firmly, shaking my head. "It's not that. It's not about what happened." I bit my lip, trying to explain the ache I felt. "I just... I miss home. I miss my family. I haven't seen them in days, and I feel like I need to be there for a while."

He studied me for a moment, his jaw tightening as if debating whether to believe me. Finally, he sighed, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice softer now. "I don't want you to feel like you need to leave because of anything I didn't handle."

I stepped closer, placing my hand gently on his arm. "I'm sure, Shivarth. What you did today... it meant a lot to me. I'm not leaving because of that. I just... need to see them. But I'll come back. I promise."

His eyes lingered on me for a moment longer before he gave a small nod. "Alright," he said finally. "If that's what you need, I'll make sure you get there safely."

Relief washed over me, and I smiled, the heaviness in my chest lifting just a little. As he turned to make arrangements, I realized once again how much he cared, even if he didn't always know how to show it.

The car rolled to a stop outside my family home, and the familiar sight made my heart swell. The warm lights spilling out from the windows, the faint sound of laughter from inside—it was everything I'd missed and more.

But as much as I wanted to jump out of the car and run inside, I found myself lingering. Shivarth sat beside me, his grip on the steering wheel tightening as his gaze fixed on the road ahead.

"Thanks for dropping me," I said softly, trying to keep my voice light.

He turned to look at me, his dark eyes brimming with emotions he wasn't voicing. "Are you sure you'll be okay here?" he asked, his voice steady but carrying a trace of hesitation.