Waited For You

Chapter 41

{ The Present } :-

Their relationship wasn’t built on big dramatic moments—it lived in the smallest, most random things that somehow meant everything.

Like how…
Sanchi would be doing something seriously, fully focused, and Atharv would just come from behind, rest his chin on her shoulder and say, “Kya kar rahi ho, butterfly?”
And without even turning, she’d reply, “Plan kar rahi hoon ki tumhe irritate kaise karu?”
He’d smile against her shoulder, not moving away.
“Thoda sa hug kar raha hoon bas.”
“Thoda sa? You’re literally not letting me move.”
“Main help kar raha hoon emotionally.”
She’d try to act annoyed… but slow down her work anyway, letting him stay.

—

Or how he had this habit of tasting everything before it was ready.
“Sanchi, salt check kar raha hoon,” he’d say, stealing a spoonful.
“Tumne already 4 baar check kar liya hai!”
“Consistency dekh raha hoon.”
“Out. Get out of my kitchen.”
“This is our kitchen.”
“Not when you behave like this.”
“Sorry.”
She’d point towards the door.
He wouldn’t move.
She’d try to stay serious… fail… and end up laughing.

—

Or when he baked—
It became her event.
She’d sit nearby, knees pulled to her chest or legs dangling like a toddler, watching him like he was doing something magical.
“Atharv…”
“Haan?”
“I love you more when you bake.”
He’d pause mid-step. “Oh wow. Conditional love.”
“Very.”
“Noted.”

Atharv had his own habits.
He stole moments.
Like when she’d be doing literally anything—reading, cooking, tying her hair—
He’d just pull her into a hug out of nowhere.
“Atharv!”
“What?”
“I’m doing something!”
“So? Main bhi kar raha hoon.”
“Kya?”
“Hug.”
She’d struggle for two seconds… then melt.
“Leave me.”
“Two more seconds.”
“Tumne 5 bolke start kiya tha.”
“Time moves faster when I hug you so I need extra time.”
“Shut up.”
But she never really pushed him away.
—
And kisses?
He made it his mission to make up for the lost time.
Sometimes random, sometimes planned.
Forehead, temple, nose, chin, sometimes her cheek when she least expected it.

Once, she was scolding him—
“You never keep things in place, Atharv—”
He leaned in and kissed her forehead mid-sentence.
She froze.
“…what was that?”
“Distraction technique.”
She tried to stay serious.
Failed.
“Don’t do that again.”
“Okay.”
He did it again.
“ATHARV.”
“Sorry.”

-----------------------------------------------------

Mornings had started to look the same for them—
Not boring… just beautifully repetitive.
They had fallen asleep the way they usually did now—mid-conversation.

Last night was one of those slow nights where nothing urgent existed.
No calls. No plans. No noise.
Just them.
The lights were dim, a soft yellow glow filling the room. Sanchi was curled up against Atharv, half lying on him, her head resting comfortably on his chest while his arm stayed wrapped around her like it belonged there.
Her fingers absentmindedly played with the buttons of his shirt.
And for once—she was the one talking non-stop.
“You know,” she started, “after you left… life was weird.”
He looked down at her, slightly raising an eyebrow. “Weird how?”
She tilted her head up just enough to look at him. “Like… I had so many stories and no one to tell them to properly.”

Then she told him some of her embarrassing and funny past moments.
Somewhere between laughter and “wait I have one more story”—
They had both drifted off.

Now, sunlight slipped softly through the curtains.
Sanchi stirred first.
Still curled into him.
She blinked slowly, adjusting to the light.
And then she felt it—
He was already awake.