Waited For You

Chapter 46

{ The Present } :-

Dinner that night turned into something warm, chaotic and unexpectedly emotional.
The resort dining area overlooked the mountains, glass windows reflecting golden lights while cold winds brushed softly outside. The staff had lit a small bonfire in the open sitting area nearby and the entire atmosphere felt unrealistically beautiful.
For once—
Nobody seemed busy.
No rushing.
No rituals.
No planning chaos.
Just family.
One huge, mismatched, loud family.

The elders occupied the bigger circular couches first while the younger generation naturally scattered around them.
Swati ji was discussing temple timings seriously with Mrs. Singhania while Mrs. Arora listened beside them with patience.
“No one will wake up on time,” Mrs. Arora declared knowingly.
“We will,” Nihanshi protested instantly.
Mrs. Singhania looked at her daughter over her glasses.
“You take one hour to decide earrings.”
“That is called perfection.”
“That is called delay.”
Everyone laughed softly.
Nearby, Sourabh and Mr. Singhania were already discussing travel routes and weather conditions like responsible fathers while Siddharth pretended to listen seriously despite clearly being distracted by desserts.

Atharv noticed immediately.
“You have stared at gulab jamun for five minutes.”
Siddharth looked offended.
“I am emotionally connecting with it and making sure that all the gulab jamuns are of same size.”
“Go marry it then.”
“Don’t tempt me.”
Avu snorted loudly from the other side.
“Mr Philanthropist finally found true love.”
Siddharth pointed at her instantly.
“Bride thief, mind your business.”
Avyansh looked between them in confusion.
“Why do you both sound divorced already?”
That made the entire table burst out laughing while both Siddharth and Avu started speaking together defensively.
“We are not—”
“She started—”
“HE started—”

“Guys,” Vaidehi interrupted calmly while sipping soup, “eat quietly or I will lock you both in your rooms.”
Immediate silence.
Atharv leaned toward Advik slowly.
“Bhabhi is scarier than all mothers combined.”
Advik nodded seriously.
“She gave me one look because I made Nihanshi cry during wedding shopping.”
Nihanshi gasped immediately.
“You told people that story?”
“You cried for forty minutes because the lehenga shade looked different under yellow lighting.”
“It was emotionally stressful!”

Atharv bent forward laughing while Vaidehi looked deeply disappointed in all of them collectively.
“I genuinely worry for this generation.”
“We are thriving,” Avu replied proudly.
“No,” Mrs. Singhania corrected calmly, “you all are surviving dramatically.”
That made even the elders laugh.
Nihanshi finally rested her head lightly against Advik’s shoulder while he looked at her with automatic softness.
Atharv watched them for a second before smiling faintly.

Years ago, they had all been different people.
Lonelier people.
Now somehow all of them sat together under one roof like this.
Safe.
Complete.
His gaze unconsciously shifted toward Sanchi sitting across from him beside Swati ji.
She was listening to Mrs. Arora say something, smiling softly while tucking her hair behind her ear.
And suddenly—
Home.
That word echoed inside him unexpectedly.
Because that was what this felt like.
Not just marriage.
Not just rituals.
Home.

Meanwhile Avyansh had somehow started narrating embarrassing childhood stories.
“Sanchi, do you know Atharv once cried because Avu told him he was adopted?”
Sanchi’s eyes widened immediately before she looked toward Atharv trying not to laugh.
“You cried?”
“I was six!”
“He packed clothes in a school bag,” Avu added helpfully.
“I was preparing emotionally.”
“You took my favourite Barbie too,” she accused.
“Because I was not sure if you will miss me or not and I wanted you to regret my absence.”
Sanchi finally laughed properly, head dropping slightly as the sound escaped her.
And Atharv genuinely forgot the rest of the world for one second.
Because there it was again.
That laugh.
His favourite thing.