Waited For You

Chapter 28

{The Past}

Sanchi reached the lake just as the evening sky was turning shades of orange and purple. The place was quiet, just like she remembered.

This was the exact spot she had once shown Atharv — a slightly hidden corner of the lakeside where a few smooth stones formed natural seats and where they could sit comfortably and dip their legs into the cool water. It was peaceful, private, and away from the usual crowd.

The soft sound of water gently touching the shore filled the silence.
Sanchi looked around.
“Atharv?” she called softly.
No answer.
She walked a little further toward the stones, glancing around for any sign of him.
“Where is this guy…” she murmured under her breath.
Suddenly—
Two hands covered her eyes from behind.
She gasped slightly but immediately recognized the touch.

“Atharv,” she said, half annoyed, half amused. “What are you doing?”
Behind her, Atharv’s voice came in a playful whisper.
“It’s a surprise.”
Sanchi rolled her eyes even though he couldn’t see it.
“So walk,” he said softly, guiding her by the shoulders. “Just follow my instructions.”
Sanchi sighed dramatically.
“You are very dramatic, you know that?”
“Walk,” he repeated.
She obeyed, taking careful steps while he guided her forward.
“Now stop.”
She stopped.

A moment passed.

Then slowly, Atharv removed his hands.
“Open.”
Sanchi opened her eyes.
And froze.

The lakeside corner was decorated with warm fairy lights, softly glowing around the stones and the nearby tree branches. A few lanterns rested on the ground, casting gentle reflections over the water.
It wasn’t grand or extravagant.
But it was incredibly cute and thoughtful.
The lights reflected in the lake like tiny stars.
For a moment, Sanchi simply stood there, stunned.
Atharv took a small breath and stepped in front of her.

“Butterfly,” he began softly.
Sanchi’s gaze shifted to him.
“After my parents’ death… and after finding out that they left the three of us just to keep us safe… I thought I would never be able to give my feelings to anyone.”
His voice carried a quiet vulnerability.
“I felt so broken… so hurt… and so angry at myself that if given a chance, I would have happily traded my life just to remove that guilt and that feeling.”
Sanchi’s expression softened.
“But then…” Atharv continued, his lips curving slightly, “…you came into my life.”
He looked at her with warmth.

“With your sass, your strange technicalities, and your endless mythological stories.”
Sanchi looked down shyly.
“You stayed,” he continued. “Even after knowing everything. You stayed even when I said I needed time to process things between us… and my feelings towards you.”
His voice softened further.
“You developed feelings for me but you never rushed me. You never forced anything just because I wasn’t ready.”
He took a small step closer.

“But now… I am.”
A gentle smile appeared on his face.
“I never knew I needed someone like you until you came into my life.”
He chuckled softly.
“Talking to you is the best part of my day… and I want some rights over this amazing person.”
Before Sanchi could react, Atharv suddenly went down on one knee.
Her eyes widened.
From his pocket, he carefully took out a small clay horse, decorated with colorful paint and tiny patterns — just like the one from her favorite movie Ramaiya Vastavaiya.
Holding it up toward her, he smiled nervously.

“So Miss Sanchi Sinha…”
“Will you be my girlfriend and give me the honour of being your boyfriend?”
For a moment, Sanchi simply stared at him.
Completely stunned.
Her brain seemed to stop working.
Slowly, she reached forward and took the clay horse from his hands.