Waited For You

Chapter 42

{ The Present } :-

They were sprawled on the couch—Sanchi half lying across it, legs stretched over Atharv’s lap, while he absentmindedly traced circles on her ankle.
A very serious discussion was going on.
Extremely serious.

“How are we going to tell them?” Sanchi said, staring at the ceiling like it was a life-or-death problem.
Atharv exhaled. “We just… tell them.”
She turned her head slowly. “Just tell them?”
“Haan.”

She sat up slightly. “Atharv. We disappeared after that day, fixed our lives, planned our wedding… and didn’t tell our best friends.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “When you say it like that… it sounds bad.”
“It is bad.”
“Okay, but they love us.”
“They will kill us first. Then love us.”
“Fair.”

—

He thought for a second. “Cafe mein bula le?”
She immediately sat up fully. “Are you mad?”
“Why?”
“What if they break the glasses on our head?”
He blinked.
“…point.”
She crossed her arms, satisfied.
“Okay,” he said, adjusting. “Our apartment.”
She turned to him slowly. “It has many sharp objects.”
He frowned. “Like?”
“Knives.”
He went quiet.
“…right.”

They both sat in silence for a second.
Then—
“Park?” he tried again.
She shook her head. “Open space. They’ll chase us.”
“Valid.”
“Very valid.”

He leaned back, thinking harder now.
“What if we distract them first?”
She narrowed her eyes. “With what?”
“Food.”
She considered it. “…that could work.”
“See?”
“But what if they throw the food?”
He paused.
“…on our face.”
“Exactly.”

She groaned, dropping back dramatically. “We’re going to die.”
He looked down at her. “Maybe they will act normal."
She pointed at him. “You don’t understand. Nihanshi will cry and hit. Advik will judge silently and hit.”
He nodded slowly. “Double damage.”
“Triple. Emotional damage alag.”

He suddenly brightened. “What if we call them?”
She immediately shook her head. “Phone pe? They’ll hang up.”
“Video call?”
“They’ll screenshot our faces before killing us.”
“…that’s true.”

He leaned closer, lowering his voice like he was sharing a secret.
“What if… we run away?”
She stared at him.
“Together?” he added quickly.
She stared harder.
“…can you do it for your whole life?” she said flatly.
“No.”

Silence again.
Then suddenly—
She gasped. “What if we act sick?”
He looked intrigued. “Explain.”
“We call them over… say it’s urgent… emotional situation…”
“And then?”
“We tell them slowly.”
He nodded. “Good plan.”
Pause.
“Problem?” she asked.
“They’ll still kill us.”
She sighed. “Right.”

He looked at her for a long second… then shrugged.
“Okay, final plan.”
She sat up again. “What?”
“We accept our fate.”
She blinked. “That’s not a plan.”
“It is.”
“How?”
“We go, we tell, we get hit, we say sorry.”
She stared at him.
“…that actually sounds realistic.”
“Thank you.”

She leaned back again, groaning. “I’m scared.”
He smiled, pulling her slightly closer by her leg.
“I’m with you.”
She looked at him. “You’re the reason I’m in this situation.”
“You’re welcome.”
She hit him lightly. “Idiot.”
“Sorry.”
“Stop saying sorry so easily.”
“Habit.”

She sighed again… then after a second, started laughing.
He looked at her. “Kya hua?”
“We’re literally planning how to survive telling our best friends about our own relationship.”
He laughed too.
“Yeah… we’re doomed.”
“Completely.”