Waited For You

Chapter 4

The puja got over and till now Atharv too joined for the puja. After completion the priest asked the would be couple to seek blessings from all the gods for the happy start for their new life. Nihanshi and Advik did the same as they were asked to do. Afterwards the priest asked everyone present in the room to seek blessings. One after the another everyone came and did the same as they were asked to do by the priest.

Unknowingly both Sanchi and Atharv seeked blessings from the god at the same time and they didn't know that as there eyes were closed until the sound of shankh (auspicious shell🐚) was heard and the priest said that it is very auspicious to hear the sound of shankh and bell while praying, TO Sanchi and Atharv
" Whatever you both wished for will surely come true, may God bless you both".

Both Sanchi and Atharv turned to look at each other and were stunned to find each other. At that point of time Nihanshi and Advik came and introduced their bestfriend to their fiance's bestfriend.

Atharv's POV :

As I opened my eyes after priest's words and tilted my head to see the girl. I got captivated with the same pair of brown orbs with whom I collided few moments before. I was busy staring at her when Advik introduced me as his bestfriend but I came out of my staring session when Nihanshi said that the girl is her bestfriend SANCHI.

She was the same girl whose voice I heard in the phone call means I felt that feeling for just one girl . Thank God or else I would have tagged myself as a mad idiot. I don't know why I was on cloud nine after meeting her. Her aura was pure and relaxing and very familiar. Have I met her before?
Although she did not said much just a quick Hi but that word arose something inside me, something deep.

She seemed little uncomfortable after Advik gave my complete introduction as ATHARV PRASAD, CEO of Tech & World. She departed to her room saying she is having headache to Nihanshi. And I could not help myself from looking at her disappearing figure. She surely has something. I traced the bracelet present in my left wrist to calm myself and my unknown emotions. I feel guilty for this emotion of mine, it feels as if I am cheating on HER to the one whom this bracelet and I belongs to. I closed my eyes to recall HER but couldn't remember and imagine her complete face just few traces of our moments together came into my mind.

Author's POV :

Sanchi walked away, the echo of their brief conversation still lingering in her mind. Relief washed over her — Atharv hadn’t recognized her. Not even a flicker of familiarity had crossed his face. The past she had dreaded confronting remained buried, safe from his gaze. She could breathe, at least for now.

But beneath that relief, there was something else. A strange, hollow disappointment.

She had changed, of course — years had softened her sharp edges, refined her presence. The girl who had once held naive dreams and reckless courage was long gone. Yet, a part of her had wondered — would he see through it? Would he notice something? A glint in her eyes, a trace of the past in her voice? But no. To him, she was just Sanchi, the commercial pilot he had been formally introduced to. Nothing more.

She scolded herself for the foolish thought. After all, wasn’t this what she wanted? A clean slate, free from the burden of their history. Then why did her chest feel so tight?

Maybe it was the way he smiled — polite, distant. Or the absence of recognition in his eyes. Eyes that once held so much warmth. It was ridiculous, really. She had prepared herself for the worst — for the shock, the confrontation, the questions. But she hadn't prepared for indifference.

“Good,” she whispered under her breath, trying to convince herself. “This is good.”

Still, as she made her way towards her room, she couldn’t shake off the gnawing thought. Did she really want to be forgotten so easily? Her fastened heartbeats revealed another story.