Shadowed Desires

Chapter 7

Next Day…

Riddhima, Aarushi, Aditya, and Palak had gathered in Palak’s room. Aditya was narrating their outing from the previous day.

He said, "Bhabhi ne kya bataya hai bhaiya ko car racing mein. Hum dono to khud dekhte reh gaye."
("Sister-in-law really showed Bhaiya who’s boss during the car race. The two of us just stood there watching in shock.")

Riddhima smacked Aditya on the head. He rubbed it and said, "Kya hai mumma, aapne hi kaha to ki dono ko kaise bhi bahar lekar jao."
("What, Mom? You’re the one who told me to somehow take them out.")

Riddhima replied, "Unn dono ko isliye bhejna tha tumhare saath taki wo ek saath time spend karke ek dusre ko samajh sake, tumne waha bhi competition kara diya."
("I sent them with you so they could spend time together and understand each other, and you made it into a competition too!")

Palak interrupted, “Arey Maasi, aap meri baat suniye. Aditya bhai to faaltu ki hi baat batate hain.”
("Oh please, Maasi, listen to me. Aditya bhai only says useless things.")

Riddhima said, “Beta, tum hi kuch acha bata do. Iss nalayak ne to mood kharab kar diya.”
("Dear, you say something good now. This useless boy just spoiled my mood.")

Aditya gave an annoyed look and moved to the other side of the bed where Aarushi was sitting.

Palak started explaining, “Wo na race se ek baat achi huyi. Jab na bhabhi jeet gayi na, to unhone sabse pehle bhaiya ko hi hug kiya. Shayad unke beech mein sach mein feelings hai aur koi natak nahi kar rahe normal couple hone ka.”
("One good thing did happen during the race. When bhabhi won, the first person she hugged was Bhaiya. Maybe they really have feelings for each other and aren’t just pretending to be a normal couple.")

Aditya added, "I think you didn’t notice Atharv bhai’s reaction. The way he froze after that. That’s not normal. Being her husband, this should be super normal for him. It clearly proved that those photos were completely fake, and they’re pretending to be a married couple just so no one questions their relationship. But the truth is buried in their privacy.”

Palak replied with frustration, “Apne andar ka lawyer na court mein rehne dijiye, bas yaha apna vakeelpan na dikhaiye kripya karke.”
("Please keep your inner lawyer in court and don’t bring your legal arguments here.")

Aditya responded, "I think you’re forgetting that both of them are elder siblings—and dominance runs in their veins. Till now, her father and our dad haven’t come to a peaceful page, and you think their children, who have double the ego and anger, will set everything aside and live a happily married life? That possibility can’t even be predicted."

Aditya walked off after his explanation. Palak left as well. Aarushi turned to Riddhima and said, “Aap iski baaton pe dhyan na do, didi. Atharv mein dimag Abhinav jiju jaisa hai, par dil ek dum aapke jaisa hai.”
("Don’t pay attention to what he said, didi. Atharv has a brain like Abhinav jiju, but his heart is just like yours.")

"Wo galat sehta nahi, par sahi logon ko kabhi suffer bhi nahi karne deta. Aur aapko yaad nahi, aapko bhi to kitna time laga tha Abhinav jiju ke dil mein apni jagah banane mein. Par ek baar jab unhe realise ho gaya, to aaj koi misunderstanding aapke beech nahi aa saki."
("He doesn’t tolerate wrong, but never lets the right ones suffer. Don’t you remember how long it took you to earn Abhinav jiju’s love? But once he realized it, no misunderstanding could ever come between you.")

Riddhima replied, "Atharv apne papa jaisa zaroor hai, par Kritika meri jaisi nahi hai. Uska nature alag hai, aur main ye chahti bhi nahi ki wo meri jaisi bane."
("Atharv is like his father, but Kritika isn’t like me. Her nature is different, and I don’t even want her to become like me.")