Waited For You

Chapter 49

{ The Present } :-

The newlywed suite was finally quiet.
For the first time that entire day-
quiet.
No chanting.
No laughter echoing from corridors.
No one calling their names.
No one asking for pictures.
No rituals.
No teasing.
Just silence.
And Sanchi.
She sat at the edge of the beautifully decorated bed, fingers intertwined tightly in her lap.
The room glowed softly under warm yellow lights.
Fresh flowers were spread across the bed and side tables, their fragrance mixing with the faint scent of her own bridal perfume.
Her veil had been removed.
Some jewellery too.
But she was still very much a bride.
His bride.
And that thought alone made her heart race all over again.

The wedding-
had been beautiful.
More beautiful than she had ever imagined.
Everything had happened exactly the way they had wanted.
In the temple of Shiv ji and Parvati mata.
Under divine blessings.
With their families.
With love surrounding them from every direction.
And yet-
both of them had been nervous.
She knew it.
She had seen it in his hands.
The slight tremble while tying the mangalsutra.
The way he had taken one deep breath before applying sindoor.
The way his eyes had filled the moment she walked toward him.
And then-
he had cried.
Actually cried.
Not loudly.
Just silently.
Tears slipping out as he looked at her.
Dressed as his bride.
And Sanchi-
who had promised herself she would not cry-
had failed instantly.
Because she too had never really believed this moment would happen.
Not after everything.

And now-
they were married.
She looked at her own hands.
The mehendi.
The chooda.
The ring.
And smiled softly.
Married.
Then-
the door opened softly.
Her heartbeat stumbled.
And he stepped in.
Atharv.
Her husband.
God.
That sounded impossibly beautiful.
Her husband.
He was still in his wedding attire too.
Slightly disheveled now.
His safa gone.
A few strands falling over his forehead.
His stole hanging looser.
And somehow-
he looked even more handsome now than he had in the mandap.
Which should have been illegal.
Sanchi's stomach fluttered instantly.

Atharv quietly shut the door behind him.
Locked it.
Then stayed there.
Leaning against the doorframe.
Arms crossed.
Just looking at her.
And Sanchi-
did the same.
Maybe he was taking her in.
Like she was taking him in.
No guests. No distractions.
No rituals between them.
Just them.
Finally.
She smiled first.
A small one.
He smiled back.
Softer.
Warmer.
And suddenly Sanchi had to look down because her heart was beating far too loudly.
She had once imagined marrying this man when she was seventeen.
A silly teenage girl dreaming impossible things.
And now-
those impossible things sat breathing in front of her.
Her husband.
She was married.
Actually married.
To Atharv.

Time stretched strangely after that.
Maybe seconds.
Maybe minutes.
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them needed to.
Until finally-
Atharv pushed himself off the door and walked toward her.
Slowly.
Like he didn't want to disturb the sanctity of this moment.
He sat beside her.
Close enough for their shoulders to brush.
Sanchi turned toward him.
And before either of them could speak-
she leaned in and kissed him.
Softly.
Serenely.
No urgency.
No teasing.
Just a kiss that said-
we made it.
Atharv closed his eyes instantly.
His hand finding hers.

When she pulled back-
their foreheads touched.
A familiar gesture.
Their favourite one.
Their safest one.
Usually-
they always had words.
Too many.
Stories.
Memories.
Teasing.
Arguments.
Dreams.
But tonight-
words felt almost unnecessary.
Because this-
this knowledge-
that they were married-
needed to be felt first.
Needed to settle into their bones.
Into their hearts.
Into their breathing.

Atharv whispered first.
Very softly.
"Hi, Mrs. Rathore."
Sanchi smiled against his forehead.
Then he added, voice quieter now, more awed-
"Actually... Mrs. Atharv Rathore."
That made her laugh softly through her tears.
"It sounds good."
Atharv looked at her like he still could not believe it.
"It sounds perfect."
Then his fingers rose gently-
touching the sindoor in her hairline.
Still looking almost disbelieving.
"You are my wife."
His voice broke slightly on that last word.
And suddenly-
Sanchi's eyes filled again.
"Yes."
Atharv laughed softly through his own emotion.
"I cannot believe this."