Waited For You

Chapter 44

{ The Present } :-

The moment lingered softly between them—
Half-smiles, warm lights, unfinished food, and that quiet feeling of this is enough.
Then—
Sanchi suddenly reached for her phone.
Atharv watched her, curious.
“What now?” he asked.
She didn’t answer.
Just tapped a few times—
And a soft song began to play.
Low.
Melodic.
The kind that filled the space without overpowering it.

He leaned back slightly, amused. “Oh…”
She stood up.
Walked around the table.
Stopped right in front of him.
And then—
Very gracefully—
She extended her hand towards him.
“May I have a dance,” she said, a playful glint in her eyes, “with this handsome gentleman?”
For a second—
He just looked at her.
Then a slow, wide grin spread across his face.
“Would be my pleasure.”
He stood up, taking her hand.

She stepped closer.
He placed one hand on her waist above her saree pallu.
Her hand rested lightly on his shoulder.
Their fingers intertwined.
And just like that—
They started moving.
Slow.
Unhurried.
Not perfect.
Not practiced.
Just… natural.

She rested her head lightly against his chest after a moment.
He adjusted his hold around her, pulling her just a little closer.
Neither said anything.
Didn’t need to.

The fairy lights glowed softly around them.
The candles flickered.
The music played quietly.
And they just… swayed.

After a few seconds, he murmured, “You planned all this?”
She nodded against him. “Hmm.”
“For me?”
She looked up at him this time. “For us.”
He smiled.
That soft one.
The one she loved.

“Good plan,” he said.
She laughed quietly. “I know.”

They continued like that—
Small steps.
Occasional missteps.
Her laughing when he stepped wrong.
Him pretending it was intentional.

At one point, she looked up at him again.
“Happy?”
He didn’t even hesitate.
“Very.”
She smiled—
And rested her head back against him.

The music softened, their steps slowing until they almost stopped—
Still close.
Still holding each other.
For a second, neither moved.
Then Sanchi suddenly pulled back a little, eyes sparkling.
“Wait.”
Before he could ask—
She grabbed her phone.
“Pictures,” she said.
“Of course,” Atharv muttered.
She dragged him near the fairy lights first.
“Stand properly.”
“I am standing properly.”
“Smile.”
“I am smiling.”
“Smile wider then.”
“Any more and my lips will be stretched permanently.”
She rolled her eyes and moved closer, slipping her hand into his.
Click.
Another one.
Then one where she leaned slightly into him.
One where he looked at her instead of the camera.
One blurry because she laughed midway.
One where he tried to be serious and failed.

At one point—
She stood a little ahead, adjusting her saree pallu, the red flowing softly—
He just watched.
Forgot there was a camera.
“Back view capture kar liya?” she asked.
“Huh?” he replied.
"Back view capture karne bola gaya tha tumhe," she said.
"Back view ..yes back view, aage dekho," he replied.
She smiled.
That soft, shy one.
Click.

After a few more—
The photo session ended with lots of her photos and his as well because she couldn't allow him to get away in that BLACK SUIT.

Then suddenly—
She held his hand again, tugging him gently.
“Chalo.”
“Where?” he asked.
She pointed towards the corner.
“Inside the tent.”
He followed her gaze.
“And?”
She looked at him, that same soft mischief in her eyes.
“We are spending our night here.”
He smiled.
“Of course we are.”
Then lightly stopped her.
“You go,” he said. “I’ll just keep the utensils inside first and join you.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
And carefully gathered her saree, stepping into the tent.

When Atharv returned—
The balcony felt quieter.
He walked towards the tent, pushing the sheer curtain aside—
And paused.
Sanchi was already inside.
Sitting comfortably among the cushions, adjusting her saree neatly around her, the red fabric glowing softly under the fairy lights.
She looked up at him.
Smiled.
And shifted slightly—
Making space.
A silent invitation.

He tossed his suit jacket somewhere and stepped in.
Sat down close to her.
Very close.

For a moment, they adjusted—
Cushions shifting, her saree settling, his arm finding space without disturbing her drape.
And then—
They fit into each other like always.

Both half sitting, half lying supported by cushions from back, her snuggled into him, tracing a circular pattern just above his heart for some time and then she leaning in.

She pressed a soft, gentle kiss on his shirt, just above his heart. His left hand which was around her shoulder tightened visibly.

She made an eye contact with him, then glanced towards his lips, both knowing very well about the thoughts going inside eachother's mind.
She leaned in, her lips almost touching his when he said, "Are you sure?"

She made a brief contact with his eyes then smashed her soft lips onto his softer ones as if answering his question, her left hand went over his chest for support and his went around her waist but over her saree pallu which acted as the boundary between his hand and her bare skin.

She pulled back and he asked, "Why did you stop?"
"I think your heartbeat has gotten very high, I can feel it under my palm. It is not normal", she replied.
"It's absolutely normal, now come back and finish what you started", he murmured.
She raised her eyebrows muttering, "Are you ordering me?"
"I am begging you butterfly, please finish what you started".
"So much manners, can't even claim my lips even when you are so desperate", she teased.
He made his cutest face possible and said, "Please butterfly."
And this time she gave what he asked for, claiming his lips gently and then he took over, dominating in every aspect.
They pulled back after they were a little satisfied  and connected their foreheads.
"Mr Atharv Rathore, will you marry me and give me the honour to be your wife, someone you share your every sadness and happiness with?"

Atharv opened his eyes and found an open ring box in her hand.
"How did I miss this?" , he asked referring to the ring box.
"It was under the cushions, I took it out right now", came her reply with a grin.
"So, were you planning to smitten me with the kiss and coax me into accepting the proposal?"
"Don't joke around or I will pass this box to someone else..." but before she could complete her sentence he shouted 'YES, YES I WILL MARRY YOU!'
She asked, "Why are you shouting then?"
Atharv stared at her dumbfounded with an expression of Are you serious?
And replied, "You were just saying you will give the box to someone else."
She giggled saying, "I said box, I don't think I said anything about the ring."
Atharv stared at her face for some seconds and then glanced upwards as if asking the god how does she come up with these things.

Sanchi giggled harder and Atharv couldn't help but smile in response.

She raised her hand indicating him to place his right hand forward, he did and she slipped the ring onto his longest finger. He raised his eyebrows asking why not in the ring finger and she replies, "This means promise to get married."
He nods in understanding and amusement.

“Nice plan,” he said after a moment.
“Told you,” she whispered, raising her fingers to massage his scalp and he moaned in response, making her smile.

He held her a little closer.
She leaned into him a little more.
And inside that small tent—
After laughter, pictures, teasing, and a long day—
They finally just… stayed.
Together.
Exactly where they wanted to be.
With cushions, soft lights, and each other—
And the world outside felt very, very far away.