Chapter 35 - Chapter 32

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Isha's POV

Delhi had never felt this chaotic before.

For the past three weeks, my life had been a whirlwind of meetings, bookings, and endless checklists. Between handling my firm's workload and engagement preparations, I barely had a moment to breathe.

The engagement was happening in just a few days, and while Shivansh's family had managed their side of the preparations in Jaipur, everything in Delhi was on me.

The venue, the decorations, the catering, the guest list, the outfits, the rings-everything.

And despite the exhaustion, despite the never-ending tasks, a part of me... enjoyed it.

Because this wasn't just any engagement.

This was my engagement. With him.

I wanted something elegant yet personal. Not a grand palace like in Jaipur, but something warm, inviting, and special.

After a lot of searching, I finally settled on a luxury banquet hall in one of Delhi's best hotels. It had a glass ceiling, which would make the evening lights glow beautifully, and an open terrace where guests could enjoy the winter breeze.

"Are you sure about this place?" Prisha asked, walking beside me as we inspected the venue.

I nodded. "It's perfect. It has both a traditional and modern touch."

And, secretly, I knew Shivansh would approve of it.

"Okay, Isha, before we begin, let's be clear," Prisha said, crossing her arms. "You are not allowed to pick a boring dress."

I rolled my eyes. "Define boring."

Ishika immediately responded, "Anything without sparkle."

I groaned. "I don't want to look like a chandelier!"

"Chandelier or not, you're getting something special," Prisha said, dragging me toward the racks of lehengas.

We spent hours going through endless options-traditional reds, soft pastels, intricate embroidery, and elegant silhouettes. My head was spinning, but my friends were on a mission.

"This one," Ishika finally declared, pulling out a light pink colored lehenga with red and gold embroidery.

I touched the fabric, my breath hitching. It was... perfect.

"Try it on," Prisha said, pushing me toward the changing room.

As I looked in the mirror, I felt a strange mix of emotions. Excitement. Nervousness. The reality of everything settled in.

This was real.

I stepped out, and my mother gasped.

"You look beautiful," she said softly, her eyes shining.

Prisha and Ishika gave approving nods.

"This is it," I whispered.

"Now," Prisha grinned, "let's pick out your family's outfits so they don't embarrass you."

Once the dresses were sorted, we moved on to gifts.

"I want something meaningful," I told Ishika as we browsed through options.

"For your in-laws?" she asked.

"For everyone. My parents, his parents, his brothers, everyone who's part of this."

Prisha smiled. "That's sweet, Isha. But, um, how much are we spending?"

I thought for a moment. "It doesn't have to be about money. Something thoughtful. Maybe handwritten letters for my parents, customized jewelry for my friends, and something traditional for his parents."

Ishika nodded. "I like it. Let's find something personal but elegant."

After a few hours, we had gifts sorted-customized perfumes, jewelry, silk sarees, and embroidered shawls for elders, and small keepsakes for brothers.

My heart felt full.

This was exactly how I wanted it. With my family and friends.

The jewelry store was dazzling, filled with sparkling diamonds, shimmering gold, and the soft hum of customers discussing their extravagant purchases. I took a deep breath as I stepped inside with my mother, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

"Are you sure you want to pick the ring yourself?" Mummy asked, scanning the store.

I nodded. "Yes."

She smiled. "It's a big decision. You'll be wearing this ring for the rest of your life."

I inhaled deeply. "I know."

We walked toward the engagement ring section, where rows of diamonds sparkled under the bright store lights. The jeweler greeted us warmly and presented a selection of rings. Some were grand, oversized, and extravagant, but my eyes were drawn to something more understated yet elegant.

A platinum ring with a single sapphire, surrounded by tiny diamonds.

The deep blue sapphire felt unique-bold, yet refined.

I ran my fingers over it, imagining it on my hand.

"This one," I said softly.

Mummy examined it closely. "It's beautiful. But are you sure? There are bigger ones, more elaborate designs-"

I shook my head. "I don't want something too flashy. This feels right."

She nodded approvingly. "Then this is the one."

As the jeweler prepared the ring, I turned my attention to another display case-this time, searching for his ring.

I wanted something meaningful. Something that reflected him.

A simple platinum band wouldn't do.

After scanning through several options, my eyes landed on a sleek, platinum band with a deep black onyx stone set in the center. It wasn't traditional, but it felt powerful. Strong. Like him.

"This one," I said again, feeling a sense of certainty.

"You're picking something bold for him," Ma observed with a knowing smile.

I shrugged. "He picked something bold for me too."

With the rings chosen, we moved to the jewelry section, where the real challenge began.

Mummy, of course, was in full shopping mode.

"You need a statement necklace," she declared, already pointing at extravagant gold and diamond pieces. "Something that people will remember."

"Mummy," I groaned. "I don't want to look like I'm drowning in diamonds."

She sighed. "Fine. What are you thinking?"

I scanned the displays and found a delicate choker with emeralds and diamonds, paired with long matching earrings. The emeralds complemented my engagement outfit-a light pink-colored lehenga.

"This," I said, turning to Mummy.

She examined it for a long moment before smiling. "It's elegant. Timeless. Good choice."

As we finalized the purchase, I couldn't help but feel a wave of emotions.

This was real.

I was really getting engaged.

And this time, I wasn't just wearing a ring given to me-I was choosing one for him, too.

A promise.

A beginning.

That night, as I lay in bed, staring at the engagement ring resting on my bedside table, an unsettling thought gripped me.

Did he ever think about me the way I thought about him?

I had spent weeks convincing myself that this was just an arrangement. That what I felt for Shivansh was a simple reaction to the situation-nothing more.

But deep down, I knew better.

Because if it were just an arrangement, why did my heart race every time I thought of him? Why did his presence make me feel safe and restless at the same time?

And why-despite everything-was I hoping for something more?

I squeezed my eyes shut, frustrated. This was dangerous. Wanting more meant setting myself up for disappointment.

Shivansh wasn't the kind of man who gave his heart away easily. He was duty-bound, logical, and impossible to read.

So why was I falling?

And worse... what if I was falling alone?

This part was... a nightmare.

Shivansh's family had a long list of people who had to be invited-royalty, business associates, political figures.

On my side, it was much simpler-family, close friends, and a few colleagues.

But managing everything? Stressful.

Avi bhai had called me once, laughing. "Isha, tell me honestly-are you regretting this engagement yet?"

I rolled my eyes. "Not the engagement. Just the planning."

He chuckled. "Well, don't worry. Just wait until the wedding. That will be ten times worse."

I groaned. "Not helping, Avi bhai."

The past few weeks had been overwhelming. Between running my firm and organizing the engagement, I barely had time to breathe. Everything had to be perfect.

The venue had been booked, the decorations were planned, and the gifts for Shivansh's family were selected. Despite my exhaustion, I was determined to handle everything well.

Prisha and ishika had been a great help, but even she had noticed how stressed I was.

"You should take a break, Isha," she had said just this morning. "You've barely slept!"

I sighed. "It's just a few more days. After the engagement, things will calm down."

She gave me a knowing look. "And have you heard from him?"

I paused. Shivansh and I hadn't spoken much since everything was finalized. Was that normal? Did he even care? I shook my head. It doesn't matter. This is just an arranged engagement, nothing else.The past few weeks had been overwhelming. Between running my firm and organizing the engagement, I barely had time to breathe. Everything had to be perfect.

But if I was being completely honest with myself, the chaos of the engagement preparations wasn't the only thing occupying my mind.

Shivansh.

No matter how much I tried to push the thoughts away, he lingered.

At first, it had been easy to tell myself that I felt nothing-our marriage was arranged, and we were just playing our roles. But something had changed after the Roka.

I remembered the way he had held my hand that day, steady and firm, as if silently reassuring me. The way his fingers had brushed against mine when he placed the ring. The way we had danced together that night, his arms wrapped around me, his grip protective yet gentle. And when he had lifted me off the ground, just for a moment, I had felt weightless-as if, in that second, I could trust him completely.

Then there was our dinner date. The way he had watched me when he thought I wasn't looking. The way he had listened-truly listened-to everything I said.

And the way he had taken care of me. The subtle concern in his eyes when I was exhausted. The way he made sure I was comfortable before he left that night.

I shook my head, trying to dismiss the emotions swirling in my chest. No, this isn't...

But I couldn't lie to myself anymore.

I was falling for him.

And that terrified me.

Because I didn't know if he felt the same way.

Because Shivansh wasn't the kind of man to wear his emotions on his sleeve.

And because I had never expected to fall for a man I was supposed to marry out of duty, not love.

Later that night, I was reviewing the final guest list at the venue when I felt someone watching me.

Turning around, I nearly gasped.

Shivansh.

He stood there in his usual commanding presence, dressed sharply as always, his expression unreadable.

"You're working late," he said.

I blinked, still processing the fact that he was actually here. "What... what are you doing here? Are not you message me a hour ago? "

He took a step closer. "It's been 6 hours to that message. Thought I'd check on how things are going."

For some reason, his words sent a warmth through me. He came to check on the engagement?

I crossed my arms. "Everything is under control. You didn't need to worry."

His gaze locked onto mine. "I wasn't worried."

There was something in the way he said it that made my breath hitch.

For a moment, we just stood there, silence stretching between us, the tension undeniable.

"You should get some rest," he finally said, his voice quieter.

"Yeh," I replied.

"And come we will check the guest list together." He said. And i nodded.

After some time, "Shivansh, do we really need this many people?" I groaned, staring at the long list of names in my hands.

He leaned back in his chair, completely unbothered. "It's a royal engagement, Isha. What did you expect?"

"I expected... fewer than a thousand," I muttered.

Across from me, Prisha snorted. "Isha, face it. You're marrying into Jaipur's royal family. Of course, the entire world is invited."

I rubbed my temples. "But I don't even know all these people! Expect some."

Shivansh finally looked up, amused. "You'll get used to it."

Easy for him to say. He grew up in this world. I, on the other hand, was still adjusting to the idea that my engagement would have media coverage.

"We're keeping the wedding intimate. That's non-negotiable," I insisted.

To my surprise, Shivansh nodded. "Fine. We'll limit the wedding to close family and friends. But the engagement? There's no cutting that list."

I sighed in defeat. "Fine. But if I get overwhelmed and run away, don't say I didn't warn you."

Prisha laughed. "I'll be there to catch you." Who just came to check on me.

Shivansh smirked. "So will I."

I looked at him, surprised. His voice was light, but something in his eyes told me that he meant it.

And just like that, I forgot about the guest list altogether.

After reviewing the endless names, I leaned back on the couch, sighing.

Shivansh was still looking at the list, his brow furrowed. "We should finalize this tomorrow."

"Yeah," I muttered, rubbing my temples.

A moment of silence stretched between us before he spoke again. "You're exhausted."

I scoffed. "That's an understatement."

To my surprise, he stood up and walked toward me. Before I could react, he reached out and gently pulled my hands away from my temples, replacing them with his own fingers as he massaged the tension from my forehead.

I froze.

His touch was warm, steady, deliberate. It sent a strange shiver down my spine.

"Shivansh, you don't have to-"

"Just relax, Isha."

I swallowed hard.

The way he said my name... it felt different. Not distant, not formal. Just... close.

I didn't realize I had closed my eyes until his hands left my skin. When I opened them, he was watching me.

For the first time, I thought I saw something in his gaze-something softer, something unreadable.

And then, just as quickly, it was gone.

"Get some sleep till then I am going to take food then I will drop you to your house. " he said, standing up.

I nodded, still unable to speak.

And as he left, I sat there, my heartbeat refusing to slow down.

My head rested on the sofa, the glow of my laptop screen flickering in front of me. The numbers on the screen blurred together, and my eyelids felt impossibly heavy. I told myself I'd only close them for a second-just a second to clear my head. But before I knew it, the world slipped into darkness.

I didn't know how long I had been asleep when a deep, familiar voice pulled me back.

"Isha."

I blinked slowly, disoriented. My office was dimly lit now, and the scent of something warm and rich filled the air. I turned slightly, and there he was-Shivansh-standing near my desk, holding a takeout bag in one hand and a coffee cup in the other.

"Wake up, eat this." he said, placing the bag on my desk. His sharp gaze flickered over me before settling on the unreadable expression he always wore. "When was the last time you ate?"

I straightened, rubbing my temples. "I... don't remember," I admitted honestly.

Shivansh let out a frustrated sigh before pulling up a chair beside me. "You do realize humans need food to function, right?"

I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop the small smile that tugged at my lips. "Oh, so now you're giving biology lessons?"

"Eat first. I'll give a whole lecture later," he deadpanned, opening the containers. The aroma of warm dal, rice, and sabzi filled the space, making my stomach grumble in protest.

I reached for the spoon, but my fingers trembled slightly from exhaustion. Shivansh noticed. His sharp eyes never missed anything.

Without a word, he took my plate, scooped some rice, and held it out toward me. "Here."

I stared at him. "You're seriously not feeding me, right?"

"Either you eat yourself, or I do it for you," he said, his tone firm, but something in his expression softened.

I sighed, taking the spoon from him, and began eating. The warmth of the food spread through me, easing the fatigue just a little. Shivansh sat beside me, eating his own food in silence. It was strangely... peaceful.

After a few bites, I stole a glance at him. He was focused on his plate, but the way he had shown up, brought food, and made sure I ate-he didn't have to do that. Yet, he did.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

He paused for a fraction of a second before looking at me. "Get used to it," he muttered, taking another bite.

Something about those words made my stomach flip. And for the first time that day, I felt a little less exhausted.

And suddenly, I wasn't sure if the exhaustion weighing down on me was from overwork... or from the way he made my heart race every time he got too close.

The office was silent except for the quiet clinking of spoons against our plates, but the air between us felt charged, thick with something unspoken. I forced myself to focus on eating, but my fingers were still trembling slightly, the weight of the entire day pressing down on me.

Shivansh must have noticed because he suddenly reached out, his fingers wrapping around my wrist. "You need to stop pushing yourself like this." His voice was low, edged with something that sounded almost like frustration-but there was concern beneath it, too.

I tried to pull my hand back, but he didn't let go. Instead, his thumb brushed lightly against my skin, tracing slow circles, as if he was testing just how much energy I had left. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver down my spine.

"I'm fine," I murmured, though my voice betrayed me with its quiet strain.

"You're not." His grip tightened for a brief second before he finally let go, exhaling sharply. "You look like you haven't slept in days."

I shrugged, attempting to play it off, but my body was already betraying me. My eyelids felt heavy again, my shoulders slumping involuntarily.

Shivansh leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as he studied me. "What else is left for today?"

"Nothing," I lied.

His gaze narrowed. "Isha."

I let out a slow breath, setting my spoon down. "I just have to double-check the engagement guest which I already did with you and other things is already done." I admitted. "It wasn't the long day."

Shivansh was quiet for a long moment, and then, without warning, he reached across the desk and shut my laptop. "You're done for the night."

"Shivansh-"

"I'm not arguing about this," he said, standing up. "You've done enough. More than enough."

He grabbed the empty plates and set them aside, then turned back to me, his expression unreadable. "Come on. I'll drop you home."

I blinked. "I can go myself-"

"Not happening," he cut me off smoothly. "You're exhausted. I don't trust you to stay awake on the way home, let alone drive."

I wanted to argue, but he had already grabbed my bag from the side table and extended a hand toward me.

For a second, I just stared at it. At him.

The man who frustrated me, confused me, challenged me in every way possible. And yet, he was the only one who ever noticed when I was pushing myself too far.

With a quiet sigh, I placed my hand in his. His fingers curled around mine firmly but gently, grounding me in a way I hadn't even realized I needed.

Maybe I was too tired to fight him tonight. Or maybe... I just didn't want to.

After dinner, Shivansh insisted on dropping me home. The car ride was mostly quiet, save for the soft hum of the radio. My eyelids felt heavy, and before I knew it, I was leaning against the window, slipping into a haze of exhaustion.

"We're here," his deep voice pulled me back.

I blinked, realizing I must have dozed off. Shivansh was watching me, one hand still resting on the steering wheel while the other drummed lightly against the gear shift.

"You should rest," he said, his voice softer than before.

I gave a small nod. "Goodnight, Shivansh."

His lips quirked up ever so slightly. "Goodnight, Isha."

I was halfway through my morning juice when my phone buzzed. Shivansh.

"Show me the hall you booked for our engagement."

I stared at the text for a moment before sighing. A part of me wanted to tell him to go check it himself, but I knew that wouldn't work. So, instead, I simply typed, Okay.

The hall was grand yet elegant, exactly what I had envisioned. The chandeliers cast a golden glow across the polished floors, and the expansive space felt both regal and intimate. I walked ahead, pointing out details to Shivansh as he followed silently.

"Everything is almost set," I said, rubbing my temples. "The decorations will be finalized by tomorrow."

Shivansh didn't respond immediately. I turned, expecting him to be looking around the hall, but instead, his gaze was fixed on me.

"You look exhausted," he murmured.

I forced a small laugh. "You said that yesterday too."

"Because it's true," he countered, stepping closer. The warmth of his presence sent a strange shiver down my spine. "When was the last time you slept properly?"

I hesitated. His jaw tensed.

"Thought so," he muttered.

And suddenly, I wasn't sure if the exhaustion weighing down on me was from overwork... or from the way he made my heart race every time he got too close.

The engagement hall stretched before us, grand and perfect in every way. But all I could focus on was how heavy my body felt, how my legs ached with each step. I hadn't wanted to come-I had already approved everything, finalized every detail. But when Shivansh asked to see it, I couldn't say no.

I shifted my weight, rubbing my temple as I turned to him. "So... this is it," I murmured, barely finding the energy to gesture around. "The place where our engagement is going to happen."

Shivansh didn't respond immediately. He wasn't looking at the venue. He was looking at me.

His brows furrowed, his sharp gaze scanning my face. "Isha-"

"I know, I look terrible," I cut him off, forcing a weak smile. "Spare me the speech. I'm fine."

He exhaled through his nose, clearly not convinced.

I took a step forward, meaning to walk him through the seating arrangement, but before I could even lift my arm to point, a sudden wave of dizziness hit me. My balance wavered.

The next thing I knew, strong arms had caught me.

"That's it," Shivansh muttered, more to himself than to me.

Before I could protest, he scooped me up effortlessly.

"Shivansh!" My hands instinctively clutched his shoulders, my tired mind barely processing what had just happened. "What the hell are you doing? Put me down!"

"Not a chance," he said, his voice laced with authority.

I shifted, trying to push away, but it was useless-his grip was firm, his warmth seeping into my skin, steady and unyielding. I was too exhausted to fight him properly.

"You can't just carry me like this," I muttered, trying to sound indignant, but it came out more like a breathless whisper.

He glanced down at me, his expression unreadable. "Watch me."

My face burned, and I turned my head away, refusing to meet his gaze. I could hear his steady heartbeat beneath my ear, feel the way he adjusted his hold on me like I weighed nothing.

"You push yourself too much," he said after a moment, his tone softer now. "You handle everything alone, never asking for help."

I swallowed hard, not knowing how to respond. Because he wasn't wrong.

For the first time in days, I let myself relax. Just a little.

As he carried me toward the exit, I let my eyes flutter shut for a brief second, allowing myself to revel in the quiet strength of his arms.

Maybe... just this once, I didn't have to do everything on my own.

And maybe-just maybe-I didn't mind being carried by him at all.

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