Page 100 of Protect my Heart
“What?” I blink at him, unsure if I heard right.
He walks toward us, fixing his sherwani like this is the most normal thing in the world. “You’ve always annoyed me like Aditi.”
Aditi gasps beside him. “Bhai! I’m not annoying!”
Everyone laughs—including the panditji. Rudraksh bhaiya gives her a quick look and then kneels beside me. His voice drops, just enough for me to hear.
“You’re my little sister, Anika. Maybe not by blood. But you’re ours. And I’ll give you away only because I know the idiot sitting beside you deserves you.”
My lips tremble. Shivani bhabhi sniffles and wipes her tears. “He’s not always this nice, but I am so proud you are trying Rudra," she says, and we all chuckle through the tears while Bhaiya narrows his eyes playfully at her.
As Rudraksh bhaiya places my hand in Aarav’s, his grip is steady and solid. “You better take care of her,” he says firmly.
Aarav meets his eyes. “I swear I’ll love her the way she deserves and protect her like my life depends on it—because it does.”
My breath catches. We move into the rest of the rituals—pheras, mangal sutra, sindoor—every moment thick with meaning. With history. With us. I feel the warmth of the fire and the weight of the vows. Aarav’s fingers brush against mine during the saptapadi, and I squeeze back—harder than I mean to. He just smiles. Like he knows.
And just like that, I’m married. Again. But for real this time.
When we rise from the mandap, the elders line up. We touch everyone’s feet—Maa, Badi Maa, Mumma, and Dada ji.Aarav keeps me close the whole time, his hand steady at the small of my back.
As we finish taking blessings, I glance at Aarav.
He leans in just slightly and whispers in my ear, “So, Mrs. Aarav Malhotra... ready for forever?”
I smile, heart swelling. “I’ve been ready since the moment I saved you from that closet.” I smirk. He laughs, soft and private. And I know this laugh will echo for the rest of my life.
I’m home. And I’m his. Finally. Thank you, God, for giving me everything I ever needed.
CHAPTER 59
AARAV
First night after the wedding.
You’d think I’d be calm. That I’d be lying on the bed, grinning like an idiot, maybe waiting with a rose in my mouth like those cringe serial grooms on TV.
But no. I’m pacing the room like a lunatic, straightening already-straight bedsheets and adjusting candles that I didn’t even put there. I light one, blow it out, and light it again. What the hell is wrong with me?
This isn't our first time. We've shared so many nights before this. Nights with too much emotion, too little space, and skin on skin until the lines between anger and love blurred. We’ve fought and made up and undressed each other without words.
But tonight... tonight is ours.
No drama. No fear. No one is waiting for us to break apart. No temporary.
Just Anika and me.
And I haven’t seen her in three hours. Three. She was pulled away by Shivani bhabhi and Aditi right after the pheras,and apparently, brides get hidden away like precious treasure until the dramatic entry.
It's been hell.
I lean against the window, running a hand through my hair. She’s probably still downstairs, being smothered with rituals. Or maybe she’s just enjoying making me wait.
Wouldn’t be surprising. She loves messing with me.
I turn around… and freeze. I hear the faintest sound coming from inside the walk-in closet, and it’s slightly open. At first I think it's nothing—maybe wind. But then it creaks again. Softly. I move towards it, heart suddenly thudding in anticipation. And then I open the door. She’s standing inside, half hidden in the shadows, lit only by the soft glow from the hallway lamp. Only in black lingerie. And for a second, I forget how to breathe.
She’s not shy. Not exactly. But she’s not smug either. She just is—standing there with that quiet confidence only she can carry. Her eyes find mine, and suddenly, the rest of the world feels blurry.
