Waited For You

Chapter 35

{ The Present } :-

Atharv slowly lowered the phone from his ear, his expression still slightly dazed.

Sanchi immediately leaned forward, anxiety creeping back in. “What happened?”

Atharv blinked, then ran a hand through his hair, almost as if processing it himself.
“Bhaiya… bhabhi aa rahe hai,” he said.

Sanchi froze. “Kya?”

“Unn logon ki uncle-aunty se baat hui thi,” he continued, still trying to keep his tone normal, “toh… they’re coming to meet them and you.”

For a second—
She just stared at him.
Then panic hit.

“Par—” she stood up abruptly, looking around as if the walls suddenly closed in, “papa mumma toh ghar pe nahi hai! Wo log toh ek-do din baad aayenge apne friend ke ghar se … they’re not even here!”

“I know,” Atharv nodded quickly, standing up too.

“Then why are they coming right now?!” her voice rose, breath uneven. “Yeh kya timing hai, Atharv? Main—main iss state mein—”

“They didn’t know that uncle aunty are not here right now,” he said gently, stepping closer. “Unhe abhi pata chala… jab wo almost yahan pahunch gaye the.”
Sanchi started pacing.

“What do I do? What do I say? Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha—”
Her hands trembled.
Her breathing got faster.
Everything was happening too fast.
Too much.

Atharv watched her for a moment… then moved forward and gently held her shoulders.
“Sanchi.”
She didn’t stop.
“Sanchi.”
Still pacing.
“Sanchi.”
This time his voice was firmer.
She stilled.

He tilted his head slightly, trying to catch her eyes.
“They’re not jailers,” he said softly.
Her gaze flickered to him.
“Calm down.”
Her breath hitched.

“They’re just… people who care about me, my family,” he continued, his tone grounding, steady. “And now… they want to meet you.”

Sanchi swallowed hard.
Her panic didn’t disappear.
But it slowed.
Just a little.

“What if…” her voice dropped, fragile again, “what if something goes wrong?”
Atharv almost let out a disbelieving breath.
Instead, he gently cupped her face, making sure she looked at him.
“Nothing will go wrong.”
“How do you know?”
A small, tired smile appeared on his lips.
“Because,” he said quietly, “I do.”

And for the first time since he walked in…
Her breathing steadied.
Just a little.

Atharv quickly dialled Advik’s number, his thumb tapping impatiently against the phone as it rang.

Advik picked up almost instantly. “Haan bol—”

“Tum aur Nihanshi wapas aa jao,” Atharv cut in, his tone urgent but controlled. “Bhaiya aur bhabhi aa rahe hain.”
There was a pause.

Then, “What? Abhi?”
“Haan. I’ll explain later. Bas jaldi aao.”
“Theek hai,” Advik replied without another question, understanding in his voice. The call ended.

A few minutes later, the door opened again.
Nihanshi walked in first, scanning the room instinctively.
“Sanchi?”
No answer.
She moved further inside and found her in the kitchen.

Sanchi stood near the counter, already busy—taking out plates, arranging things, her movements quick but slightly unsteady.

Nihanshi frowned. “What are you doing?”
Sanchi didn’t stop. “Bhaiya bhabhi aa rahe hai… toh unke liye snacks arrange kar rahi hoon.”
Nihanshi stepped closer, her voice soft but firm. “Tumhe yeh sab karne ki zarurat nahi hai… especially after what Atharv did to you.”