Waited For You

Chapter 32

{ The Past }

The hotel room was unusually quiet that evening.

The same room that had been filled with laughter, teasing, and endless conversations over the past few days now felt… different.

It was the last day of Atharv’s stay.

Sanchi sat cross-legged on the bed, surrounded by shopping bags as she carefully sorted things.

“This one is for Avyansh bhaiya,” she said, placing a neatly packed box inside the suitcase.

“And this…” she picked up another bag with a small smile, “is for Avu.”
Atharv, who was folding his clothes, looked at her.

“You remember everything.”

Sanchi shrugged lightly.
“Obviously.”

She continued packing while Atharv just… watched her for a moment.

Then he said softly,
“They’re going to love this.”

Sanchi smiled faintly but didn’t look up.

After a few minutes, when most of the packing was done, Sanchi reached for a small box she kept aside.

“Wait,” she said.

Atharv looked at her curiously.
“What’s that?”

Sanchi handed him the box.
“For you.”

Atharv raised an eyebrow.
“For me?”

“Open it.”

He opened the box slowly.
And froze.

Inside was a complete set of cute Pokémon figurines—tiny, colorful, perfectly arranged.

For a second, Atharv didn’t react.

Then he looked up at her, genuinely shocked.

“How did you even find these?”

Sanchi tried to act casual.

“I guess I bought more than 80 Kinder Joys to complete your set.”

Atharv blinked.
“What?”

“I’ve been collecting them since the last time you left,” she added softly.

For a moment, Atharv had no words.
He just stared at her.

Then without thinking, he pulled her into a tight hug.

Sanchi hugged him back instantly.
But unlike before—
She held on a little tighter.
A little longer.

Atharv smiled into the hug at first.
But when he tried to pull back slightly—
She didn’t let go.

He frowned softly.
“What happened, Butterfly?”

Sanchi shook her head against his shoulder.
“No…”

Atharv gently tried again.
“Hey… tell me.”

There was a pause.

Then Sanchi spoke softly, her voice slightly muffled.
“Mumma always gets very emotional… every time Papa leaves for his posting.”
Atharv stilled.

She tightened her grip around him slightly.
“And every time he leaves… the house feels a little empty for a while.”

There was a small silence.

Then she added quietly,
“I think… I understand that feeling now.
I feel so sad.....and like.....crying because of you leaving.”

Atharv didn’t say anything for a moment.