Page 37 of Protect my Heart
"You should stay here tonight, beta," Aunty suggests, her voice warm and inviting. In the background, I hear Anika gasp, and I can almost feel her making faces at her mother.
Aunty furrows her brows in confusion. "What are you saying?" she exclaims as she turns around to face Anika. I chuckle under my breath, and Anika sighs dramatically, clearly not pleased.
When we came back, I had only planned on meeting Aunty and leaving. But judging by the exhausted look on my face and the pounding in my head, Aunty insists I stay the night. It’s hard to argue when she’s being so persistent, and truth be told, I do feel like I could use the rest.
Anika jogs over to where we’re sitting, her hands on her hips as she looks down at me with an amused smirk. "Don't you have to bring Bhabhi some Chole Bhature? She was craving it, right?" she teases.
I smirk back at her, leaning into the moment. "My driver can do that," I reply nonchalantly, shrugging. "I won't mind staying... if you don't mind, of course." I glance at Aunty, my tone deliberately playful.
"Why would I have any issues? It would be great to have you here, Aarav," Aunty says, patting my knee before getting up with the help of her walking stick. Anika glares at me but takes her mother’s hand, helping her into the bedroom. Before Aunty disappears, she turns with a mischievous glint in her eye. "By the way, Aarav, why don't you ask Anika for a massage? She's very good at it."
Anika’s face immediately turns red with anger, her eyes narrowing dangerously as she glares at both of us. I can’t help but smirk in response, enjoying the sight of her frustration.
"Yeah, that's a great idea," I tease, leaning back in my chair. "I've been feeling a little tense lately. Think you can help me out, my wife?"
Aunty laughs softly as she leaves the room, and Anika’s expression twists into one of pure annoyance. She crosses her arms tightly over her chest, trying to hold her composure.
"You are so irritating," she mutters through gritted teeth, her eyes practically shooting daggers at me.
I just smirk, knowing I’m getting under her skin. "Is that a no to the massage then, Miss Toofan?" I ask, my tone dripping with mock sweetness.
Anika huffs loudly, scowling at me. "Do you really think I’m going to give you a massage just because you ask nicely?" She shoots back.
I shrug, my grin widening. "Well, you did make a deal with me, Anika. You keep forgetting that you're supposed to do whatever I say. No complaints allowed, my dear wife." I stand and move toward her, closing the distance until our chests almost touch. I notice her breath catch as I lean in just a little."Got something to say?" I taunt, enjoying the way she visibly flinches, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of red.
Her mouth opens, but before she can speak, I press my finger gently to her lips. Her warm breath grazes against my skin. For a moment, I wonder what it would be like to taste her lips, but I quickly stand up, walking toward her room, leaving her speechless. I whistle softly with triumph as she stands there comprehending what just happened.
When Aunty first mentioned the letters, I didn’t know how I’d face Anika, but now, knowing it’s mostly my fault, I realize how much I failed her. I should never have let her go without a fight. But I’ll make it right. She’s my wife now, and I won’t let her slip away again, even if she doesn’t like it. At least, that’s what I tell myself. But deep down, I know that if I ever saw a tear in her eyes, I’d let her go without hesitation. I love her too much, and if that means letting her go to save her, then I would.
I step into the room, glancing around at the scattered art supplies. I begin picking things up, trying to organize the mess. Anika enters, watching me with a mix of anger and confusion as I clean. She crosses her arms and leans against the doorframe, eyeing me carefully. "There's no need for you to do anything," she orders, her tone firm as she swipes the brush I was holding out of my hand. "Just sit down, get a massage, and sleep."
I nod, amused by her sudden authoritative attitude. I sit down on the floor while she takes a seat on the bed. "Work your magic, Anika," I say, flashing her a teasing wink.
Anika rolls her eyes, clearly irritated, but she starts massaging my head anyway. Her grip is firm and professional, but every so often, she pulls my hair slightly, probably just to irritate me. I can tell it’s intentional, but I don’t react. Nothingshe does can really bother me anymore—not since I’ve realized how much I’ve messed up.
"I only agreed to give you a massage because Mumma asked me to, not because I want to," she reminds me with a huff, the annoyance still evident in her voice.
"Uh-huh. You're doing a great job," I reply casually, then turn to face her. "Smile, Anika."
She narrows her eyes at me, but a small, reluctant smile tugs at the corners of her lips, and I can’t help but chuckle. "Are you sure you are not enjoying this even a little bit?" I raise an eyebrow, but she ignores me.
"Okay, that's enough. I’m done," she says, standing up to leave. But before she can walk away, I pull her hand gently, causing the oil to spill onto her shirt. She gasps and tumbles forward, landing in my lap. The oil from her shirt stains my pants, and for a moment, I’m both amused and painfully aware of the closeness between us.
"Careful there, Anika," I mutter, my voice low, as I glance down at her. Her cheeks flush with a deep red, and she pulls back, attempting to stand, but I grip her wrists, pulling her back down.
She tries to scramble away, but I’m too quick. She falls to the floor, eyes wide with surprise, and I can’t help but smile at the sight of her confusion. She scrambles to her feet and rushes out of the room, leaving me lying there, my body aching from the tension of the moment.
The ache of our distance blooms in my heart as I get up and climb into the bed. After what feels like hours, I hear her feet pad lightly on the wooden floor. I keep my eyes closed, pretending to be asleep, but I can feel her presence in the room.The bed dips slightly as she climbs in next to me, and I feel her settle beside me. I open my eyes, and she jumps, gasping in shock.
"Oh my god, you scared me!" she exclaims, her hand flying to her chest in alarm. I smile, amused by her reaction as I hold her hand. I study her for a moment, seeing her in the dim light of the room. She looks so peaceful when she's not scowling at me, and I can't help but think how beautiful she is—more than I could ever put into words.
She moves to pull her hand away from mine, but I intertwine our fingers, not letting her go. "Don't fight it," I say gently, almost in a whisper. "Let’s sleep, Anika."
She opens her mouth, likely to protest, but I close my eyes, I can feel her sigh, and I smile to myself. She doesn’t say anything, and soon, I hear her breath steady as she relaxes. I gently stroke her hand with my thumb, comfortingly. She might not realize it yet, but she’s mine, and I’ll make sure she knows it. I lie there, feeling the steady rise and fall of her chest as she sleeps. I close my eyes with a smile, knowing I’ve got one hell of a beautiful wife.
CHAPTER 22
ANIKA
