Waited For You

Chapter 18

-:The past:-

Next Day:-

Sanchi walks up the stone steps, her heart beating faster with each step-not from exertion, but anticipation. The morning light dances on her face, casting delicate shadows under her eyes, which scan the familiar temple courtyard. She pauses near the old banyan tree, the very spot where their paths had last crossed. Her fingers nervously twist the edge of her dupatta, her gaze drifting from the temple bells swaying gently in the breeze to the faint rays glinting off the temple spires.

Her heart whispers a silent question: Will he be here?

Suddenly, a familiar voice-smooth, laced with mischief, and carrying the warmth of the morning sun-breaks the fragile silence from behind her.

Atharv (casually, with a teasing tone):
"Searching for someone?"

Sanchi, startled yet not fully registering the voice, responds absentmindedly, her eyes still darting around.

Sanchi (distractedly):
"Yes... the handsome stran-"

She halts mid-sentence, her breath catching as realization dawns. Slowly, she pivots, her dupatta brushing against her arm with the motion. And there he is-Atharv,dressed in blue jeans and white shirt-standing with effortless charm, his arms crossed casually, leaning slightly against the temple's stone pillar. The soft morning light casts a golden halo around him, making his smirk even more infuriatingly captivating.

Atharv (raising an eyebrow, his grin widening):
"The handsome... stranger, was it? Hmm, seems like someone's been thinking about me."

Sanchi's cheeks flush a delicate pink, warmer than the morning sun. She quickly crosses her arms, attempting to mask her embarrassment with a faux glare.

Sanchi (clearing her throat, trying to sound composed):
"I-I was just... I didn't mean it like that."

Atharv steps forward, the sound of his footsteps soft against the marble floor. His playful grin refuses to fade.

Atharv (tilting his head slightly, voice dripping with mock curiosity):
"Oh? So you make it a habit to wander temples at dawn, accidentally looking for handsome strangers?"

Sanchi rolls her eyes, biting back a smile threatening to curve her lips. She tries her best to sound indifferent.

Sanchi (with mock seriousness):
"Actually, I was here to... pray."

Atharv leans in slightly, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret.

Atharv (smirking):
"Praying that the handsome stranger would show up again? Well, looks like your prayers were pretty effective."

Unable to suppress it any longer, Sanchi lets out a soft laugh, shaking her head. The tension melts away like morning mist under the rising sun. Their playful banter blends with the gentle sounds of morning prayers, and in that simple exchange, something warm and unspoken lingers in the fresh morning air.

Sanchi - "Let's take the blessings first Mr.Stranger and then you can continue to talk highly of yourself."
Atharv - "Sure sure Miss."
They first bowed their head infront of the supreme deity and were heading towards the nearby garden when they heard a loud Angel Di and Sanchi turned towards the source forcing Atharv too to turn.
A small boy with a basket of flowers came hurriedly towards them and hugged Sanchi which she reciprocated whole heartedly.
Sanchi - "Kaise ho chotu? Kal wali chot kaisi hai?"
The boy broke the hug and said pouting, "Di yaar Maine kitni baar samjhaya hai aapko ki main ab chota nahi hoon, bada ho gaya hoon. Anay naam hai mera Anay bolo Anay."
Sanchi - "Thik hai chotu. Abse Anay bolungi. Ab khush na chotu?"
Anay - "Di yaar acha choro jao maaf Kiya. Mera dil bada hai toh aisi choti - choti baaton ko dil pe nahi leta main. Ye dekho main kya laya" forwarding his basket.
Sanchi travelled her hand inside the basket for few seconds and then found some small mangoes. She squealed in happiness and hugged Anay again saying thank you so much mera baccha. Anay too grinned after listening this and was about to say something but heard a throat clearing voice and shifted his attention towards the voice and his eyes twinkled looking at the person infront of him.
Anay hugged his legs due to his own small height and said, "Thank you so much kind bhaiya for helping me yesterday." Atharv smiled in response and asked , "How are you?"
Anay - "I am more than fine."
Atharv ruffled his hairs and with a fake anger said, "Mangoes only for your di and not for me?"
Anay - "I am so sorry 😔, I promised to give her mangoes that's why I gave them to her. Can I bring for you tomorrow? Don't be angry please. I promise I will bring the sweetest ones for you."
Atharv laughed at his innocence, lifted him in his arms and said, "I am not at all angry from you. I was just teasing you."
Sanchi was looking at them and their sweet interaction with loving eyes.
Just then they heard someone calling Anay who appear to be his mother and Anay ran towards her with his basket leaving them alone.
Sanchi - "You know you are proper husband material" and then bit her tongue realising what she said.
Atharv too awkwardly blinked his eyes several times and said, "Is your school closed today?"
Sanchi - "O yes, summer vacations. Yours?"
Atharv - "Same."
Sanchi - "O ok. Let's go then."
Atharv directed his right arm asking Sanchi to move forward and said, "After you."