LOVE AND DHARMA

17. A DISTANT MOCKING MEMORY

"In a tale twisted by deceit and tragedy, Smriti, a psychotic young woman, fell deeply in love with Vijay, a powerful mafia boss. Their love story seemed idyllic, brimming with passion and devotion, reminiscent of Shakespeare’s Othello. Vijay, captivated by Smriti’s intensity and beauty, found solace in her embrace, and together they created a world where nothing else mattered.

Sabyasachi, Vijay’s cunning rival, discovered Vijay’s vulnerability—his love for Smriti—and saw an opportunity to exploit it. To set his plan in motion, Sabyasachi introduced a young and talented actress named Vaishali to the film industry, using his connections to elevate her status. When Vaishali refused to attend a dance performance at Sabyasachi’s behest, fearing his nefarious intentions, she reached out to Vijay for help. Unfortunately, Vijay, engrossed in his passionate moments with Smriti, missed her call.

Sabyasachi’s men tracked Vaishali down, stripping her of her dignity and clothes, filming her in her most vulnerable state. They posted the videos on social media, tarnishing her reputation before pushing her off a fourteen-story building. The news of Vaishali’s tragic end filled Vijay with regret and anger. His failure to protect her haunted him, and he vowed to never let Sabyasachi’s schemes harm anyone else he cared about.

Determined to shield Smriti from the darkness of his world, Vijay befriended her under a guise, keeping his true identity as a mafia boss hidden. Meanwhile, Sabyasachi continued his machinations, introducing a new pawn into the game: Kathreen Everdeen. Convinced by Sabyasachi’s lies, Smriti began to suspect Vijay of infidelity, her mind poisoned with thoughts of betrayal.

One day, Akash, a trusted friend of Vijay, warned him about a girl sent by Sabyasachi to Kurukshetra on a dangerous mission. Vijay, looked at a picture of Vaishali determined to stop Sabyasachi, set out to thwart his plans. Smriti saw Vijay looking at a picture for a long time. She checked Vijay's phone to find out the last picture in his phone was of Kathreen, misinterpreted the scene, convinced that her worst fears had come true.

Kathreen, sent by Sabyasachi to investigate a mysterious radiation in Kurukshetra, was intercepted by Vijay. Knowing Sabyasachi’s plan to desecrate the sacred Hindu grounds, Vijay was relentless. He stripped Kathreen to ensure she carried no hidden devices. Kathreen, in a fit of rage, retaliated by removing Vijay’s shirt. In the ensuing struggle, both were left exposed, Kathreen naked and Vijay shirtless.

From a distance, Sabyasachi and Smriti observed the scene. Sabyasachi’s manipulations bore fruit as Smriti’s heart shattered, believing Vijay had betrayed her. The next day, fueled by anger and pain, Smriti confronted Vijay, accusing him of disloyalty. Vijay, hurt by her lack of trust, broke up with her in a fit of rage, kicking her on the butt and closing the door on their relationship.

Heartbroken and consumed by fury, Smriti's mind unraveled further. In a fit of madness, she killed a beggar on her way home. That night, driven by vengeance and despair, she sought out Kathreen Everdeen and murdered her as well. The police apprehended her, and she was sent to an asylum.

As Smriti was dragged into the asylum, a guard kicked her butt, a painful reminder of Vijay’s final act towards her. The kick reignited her obsession, and she swore to herself that she would get Vijay back, no matter the cost."

Vrushali walked back to Vijay's mansion, her heart heavy with the turmoil of recent events. The grand entrance loomed before her, a stark contrast to the emotional chaos she felt inside. She took a deep breath and stepped in, her footsteps echoing through the hallways until she found Vijay and Smriti together in the living room.