Shadowed Desires

Chapter-8

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Scene Continues...

Kritika froze for a moment. That sudden request from him had shaken her to her core. All her internal turmoil evaporated within seconds after hearing his words.

Atharv said, “It’s alright. Take your time. For now, I’m leaving.”
Kritika asked in a soft voice, “Won’t your family question why you're not in your own room?”

Atharv replied calmly, “Today they won’t.”
Kritika let out a dry chuckle. “Why would they? The truth about this relationship is already out in front of them. Of course, everything is going to change now.”

Atharv responded,
"Dusre kya sochte hain usse humein tab tak farak nahi padna chahiye jab tak hum khud apne rishte ka sach na jaanein."
(We shouldn’t care what others think until we ourselves know the truth of our relationship.)
"Pehle hum pata kar lein ki is shaadi mein kitna jhoot hai aur kitni sach."
(First, we should figure out how much of this marriage is built on lies and how much on truth.)

Saying this, he left. Kritika remained seated, consumed by a fresh wave of tension. She had never even imagined this scenario—what if her husband genuinely wanted to give their marriage a chance? Now she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. No matter what she chose, the path ahead would still be painful.

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Meanwhile...

Atharv sat on a bench under the night sky, gazing at the stars. A gentle tap on his back startled him. He turned to see his aunt, Aarushi.

Atharv said, “Maasi, aap yahan is waqt?”
(Aunt, you’re here at this time?)

Aarushi replied, “Bas neend nahi aa rahi thi, toh socha neeche aa jaaun.”
(I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d come downstairs.)
Atharv said, “Mujhe bhi.” (Me neither.)

Atharv asked hesitantly, “Aap kabhi mile the unse?”
(Did you ever meet her?)

Aarushi looked confused. “Kis se?” (Whom?)

Atharv paused, then said, “Kritika ki mummy se.” (Kritika’s mother.)

Aarushi replied,
“Jitni inspiring lady woh thi, unhe jaanne ke liye milne ki zarurat hi nahi thi.”
(She was such an inspiring woman that you didn’t need to meet her to know her.)

Atharv asked, “Matlab?” (What do you mean?)

Aarushi explained,
“Woh khud ek politician thi. Us waqt independent thi jab is ghar ki auratein chaar deewaron ke beech simat kar rehti thi. Unhe bhi apne sapno ke liye ladna pasand tha, jaise Kritika ko hai.”
(She was a politician—an independent woman at a time when the women in this house lived behind walls. She loved fighting for her dreams, just like Kritika does.)

Atharv asked, “Phir?” (Then?)

Aarushi continued,
“Phir unhone shaadi kar li. Apne parents ke against jaake Dev Chauhan se shaadi ki. Dheere-dheere unhone politics chhod di.”
(Then she got married—against her parents' will—to Dev Chauhan. Slowly, she distanced herself from politics.)

Atharv asked, “Did her husband force her?”

Aarushi replied, “We don’t know. But knowing her kind of personality, I doubt she would’ve given up her career under pressure. Everything seemed fine—until one day…”