Shadowed Desires

Chapter-4

Next day........
8:00 pm

There was chaos in the Shekhawat villa for the commencement of a grand function which was a reception for Atharv and Kritika. The entire villa was decorated beautifully with flowers and lights.

The place was occupied with several famous personalities including different politicians and business tycoons. Along with the media from different news channels there were thousands of guests there for the reception of the children of two famous personalities of the city.

Atharv was talking to his sibling Aditya who is the youngest yet most successful lawyer in the city. When Riddhima approached both of them.

Riddhima said, " Go to your room and take Kritika along with you. I want her to be introduced by you. This is going to be your first public appearance together. You know that really well ".

Atharv spoke in an irritated tone, " Why this drama ? ". Riddhima replied, " Nor you are an ordinary person nor she is even before getting married she carried a surname which was enough to make her stand different in a crowd of people and now both of you are married to each other then it should be responsibility of both of you to take care of reputation of this family. You had taken vows willingly to stay by her side and always now fulfill them ".

Following his mother's order, Atharv drifted towards the room where Kritika was getting ready. He reached there and asked from outside the room, " How much time will you take even now ? ".

Kritika replied from the other side, " Just a minute ". Atharv was looking at his watch when the door of the room swung open while revealing Kritika draped in a red sequin saree which was perfectly adoring her curves with a sleeveless blouse.

Then he quickly averted his gaze towards Kritika and the moment his eyes landed on her. His heart skipped a beat.
The moment their eyes met a different spark ignited in the environment.

While breaking the eyes contact and adjusting the pleats of her saree, Kritika said, " We should leave now ". This brought the Atharv back to reality and they made their way downstairs.

As they descended the stairs and reached the stage side everyone's gaze was upon them. With the shimmer flashes of cameras their faces were covered with a luminous glow.

The power couple were standing there with glory. With smiles over faces they were the perfect couple for the outside world although the reality was a little strange.

The real world is all about faking perfection with suppressed emotions in the heart. In the era of fake it till you make it, everyone is still struggling finding their realities.

They were surrounded by groups of journalists with questions lined up for the new couple in the town. Names and fame are neither easy to earn nor to maintain.

One of the male journalists spoke to them, " My question is for Kritika Chauhan sorry Mrs. Kritika Shekhawat ".
Kritika gestured for him to continue.

He spoke, " So as all of us know about those pictures of both of you which went viral two days back. So the reports say that this marriage is nothing but a way to hide your mistakes ".

Atharv interrupted in between and spoke, " The lady you are talking to is my wife and I will not tolerate anyone doing assassination of her character. We don't like anyone raising questions on the character of any female belonging to this family ".

Kritika held his hand asking him to calm down. He turned silent for a moment. Kritika replied, " It's alright it's your job to ask questions but you should look after your choice of words. The thing you are naming a mistake we call it love."