Shattered (Book #1 In Heart Series)✔️

Chapter 46: The tragical journey ends here

The Singhania family was left reeling after watching the video. Priya's sobs echoed through the room, her heart breaking for Kritika. Aditya, completely shattered, collapsed onto the couch, his eyes filling with tears.

"This is the proof that my baby sister is innocent. This is the actual truth," Karthik declared, his voice heavy with emotion as he looked around the room. He approached Priya, who was still crying.

"Bhabhi, you were the only one who stood by Kritika. Thank you," Karthik said, taking her hands gently.

"Karthik, she's like my own sister. She always treated me as family, so how could I betray her like everyone else did?" Priya replied, her voice trembling with emotion.

"Yes, Bhabhi, you're right. Now it's time to punish the real culprit." With those words, Karthik turned and marched toward Mithali. Without warning, he slapped her across the face. Aditya, still in a daze, stared blankly at the floor.

"Now tell us why you did this," Karthik demanded, grabbing Mithali by the hair and forcing her to look at him.

"What are you saying? I-I didn't do anything," Mithali stuttered nervously.

"Oh really? If you didn't do anything, then what does this video mean?" Karthik retorted as Raj played the incriminating video.

The video showed Mithali stepping out of the car after Kritika had driven away. It was clear that Mithali was the one responsible for everything that happened to Samaira, not Kritika. (as described in chapter 44).

Dev and Janaki were horrified to see their daughter's true colors. As the video ended, a resounding slap echoed through the room. It was Abhimanyu who had struck Mithali.

"Why did you do this?" Abhimanyu demanded, but Mithali remained silent.

"I asked, why did you do this?" he shouted, his anger rising.

"Because I wanted my Aditya back," Mithali yelled, her eyes blazing with fury. Aditya stood up, stunned.

"What do you mean?" he asked, bewildered.

"Yes, I loved you, Aditya. A long time ago, and I still love you. And for you, for our love, I did all this," Mithali confessed, looking at him with desperation.

"That means you knew about Aditya's and Samaira's relationship all along, didn't you?" Karthik asked.

"Yes, I knew," Mithali admitted.

"How?" Karthik pressed.

"I was also doing my internship in London. That's where I met Samaira and Kritika. Kritika didn't know anything about me. Samaira was my rival. We were in the same class. She was always first in everything: studies, beauty, and winning Aditya's heart. It infuriated me. That's why I planned all this," Mithali hissed, without a hint of remorse. Aditya clenched his fists in anger.

"Then what about that video? Why did you edit Kritika into it? What did she ever do to you?" Karthik demanded harshly.

"What did she do? She married my Aditya, and that was her biggest mistake," Mithali spat out. Aditya looked at her, horrified.

"How dare she? Aditya is mine. How could she marry him? Every time I saw them together, I was furious. I knew he was falling in love with her. So, to stop it, I edited the video and showed it to Aditya and his family. They believed it and the lies I told about her character. They planned revenge against that innocent girl, and I enjoyed every bit of it," Mithali laughed maniacally. Everyone was stunned by her confession.

Aditya was suffocated by the truth. His eyes turned red with rage, and he marched towards Mithali.

"How could you do this to me?" he shouted, slapping her hard. Mithali stumbled but managed to stay on her feet.

"I'll do anything to keep you, Aditya," Mithali said, clutching his collar.

"Now everything is clear, right? Let's get engaged. Come," she said, trying to drag him away, but Aditya freed himself from her grasp.

"The time is running out, Aditya. Come," Mithali insisted, trying to grab his hand again, but he slapped her away.

"You're sick, Mithali. You destroyed my life, and you think I'll marry you?" Aditya shouted.

"Aditya, I won't do anything like this again. Please don't leave me," Mithali begged, clutching at his legs.

Just then, police officers entered the mansion. Karthik gave a curt nod, and they took Mithali away, despite her shouting and yelling.

Dev and Janaki apologized for their daughter's actions and left the mansion, their heads bowed in shame.

"Finally, everything is over. My sister got justice. And now, I'm taking her away from all of you. She needs a new life, and as her brother, I will give her that," Karthik said with a satisfied smile. Aditya looked at him with teary eyes.

"Karthik," Aditya stammered.

"Stop, Mr. Singhania. I know what you're going to say, but I won't let that happen. I made a mistake by forcing my sister to accept you, to try and change you. And in return, she suffered," Karthik spat out. Aditya closed his eyes and bowed his head in shame.

"But I'm happy about one thing: you both are finally divorced. Now she can live peacefully without your presence," Karthik said, his voice filled with disdain. Aditya remained silent.

"Dad, let's go. Our duty here is finished," Karthik said, and he left with Raj.

Aditya crouched on the couch, his hands covering his face. Tears streamed down his cheeks, but he didn't bother to wipe them away. His mind replayed every moment: Kritika's cries, her pleas, their shared moments, and her devastated condition when she realized he had betrayed her. Everything played like a haunting movie.

"I told you all that Kritika was innocent, but you didn't believe me. Instead, you punished that innocent soul," Priya yelled at the Singhanias, who stood in silence, feeling ashamed.

"Priya, please calm down. You are pregnant," Abhimanyu said, trying to soothe her by rubbing her shoulders. Priya swatted his hand away and looked at him with bloodshot eyes.

"Don't touch me. I never thought you could behave like a beast. I'm afraid you'll do the same to me and our child," Priya said, moving away from Abhimanyu and clutching her abdomen. Abhimanyu looked at her, shocked and dismayed.

"Priya," he called out helplessly.

In the commotion, Aditya rushed to his room, making everyone else worried.Aditya entered his room and started searching frantically.

"Where is it? It must be here," he muttered, throwing everything around in his search.

Suddenly, his eyes caught something, and he froze. With trembling hands, he picked it up.

Two pink lines.

"Th-that means she... she's really pregnant," he mumbled, collapsing onto the bed, clutching the test kit tightly.

"Do-Don't do this."

"I-I am pre-pregnant."

He remembered her words and cried uncontrollably, clutching the pregnancy test kit against his chest.

The Singhanias entered and saw Aditya sitting lifelessly on the bed, his face streaked with tears.

"Aditya, what happened?" Abhimanyu asked, shaking his shoulders. But Aditya remained silent.

"Adi, beta, look at me. Please don't behave like this," Swetha pleaded, crying as she saw her son's devastated state.

"Aditya!" Abhimanyu shouted, bringing him back to reality.

Aditya wiped his tears and stood up abruptly.

"I-I need to see her. I-I need to go," he mumbled impulsively and started to leave, but halted when Abhimanyu grabbed his arm.

"Aditya, where are you going?"

"To get my child's mother back," he yelled and rushed out, leaving the Singhanias dumbstruck.

"She... she was pregnant. What did we do to her?" Swetha cried, clutching her chest.

Abhimanyu hurried outside to see Aditya. He saw him approaching the stairs.

"Aditya, stop. Adi..." Abhimanyu's voice trailed off as he watched in horror as his brother fell down the stairs. The others rushed outside upon hearing the commotion and looked in Abhimanyu's direction.

"ADITYAAA!" Swetha screamed, seeing her son lying lifelessly in a pool of blood.