Shadowed Desires

Chapter 10

Here's the proofread and edited version of your chapter with inline English translations for all Hindi dialogues, along with smoother narration and natural dialogue flow. I’ve also retained your emotional tone and key moments intact, and slightly polished the descriptions to elevate the reading experience. Your engagement reminder is kept but reworded a bit for better clarity.

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Same Day
10:00 PM

Kritika had just ended a call with Trisha. She was walking in the garden, trying to calm her restless mind, when she suddenly bumped into Aditya, who was busy talking on the phone.

His phone fell to the ground, and with a startled expression, he looked toward her.
Aditya stammered, “Bhabhi, aap iss time yahan pe?”
(Sister-in-law, you're here at this hour?)

Kritika replied, “Main toh call pe baat kar rahi thi... aur tum yahan kaise?”
(I was just talking on the phone… and what about you?)
Aditya hesitated, “Woh... main toh...”
(I was just…)

Before he could finish, a feminine voice echoed from his phone—which was now accidentally on speaker.
“Ab toh tumhare bhaiya ki bhi shaadi ho gayi hai... tum kab bataoge humare baare mein?”
(Now that even your brother is married, when will you tell them about us?)

Aditya quickly glanced at Kritika, picked up the phone, and disconnected the call in panic.
Kritika asked, “You're dating someone?”
He nodded. “Yes… I am. But I hope you won’t tell anyone.”
She raised a brow. “You don’t want to marry her? Or are you not serious?”
“I do want to marry her. But after all the drama we’ve had already, I’m scared how the family will react.”

Kritika offered a calm smile. “If she makes you happy, then why should anyone else's opinion matter?”
“You won’t get it,” Aditya sighed. “Atharv bhai ne toh aapki seedhi entry kara di ghar mein, seedha bahu banakar...”
(Atharv bhai gave you a direct entry into the house—as his wife…)
“Ab mujhe nahi pata gharwaale ka kya reaction hoga jab unhe pata chalega ke I’ve been dating a girl for six years.”
(Now I don’t know how the family will react when they find out I’ve been in a relationship for six years.)

Just then, Atharv and Palak, who had walked into the garden, overheard the conversation and froze in shock.
Palak’s jaw dropped. “Aap chhe saal se kisi ko date kar rahe ho?!”
(You’ve been dating someone for six years?)

Aditya slapped his forehead in embarrassment. Atharv gave him a deadpan look.
He muttered, “Ek toofaan kam tha iss ghar mein, usse doosra bhi lana hai.”
(As if one storm wasn’t enough in this house, here comes another one.)

Palak beamed. “Toh kya aap bhi shaadi karne wale ho, Aditya bhai?”
(So, are you also going to get married, Aditya bhai?)
“Not right now,” Aditya said. “Papa’s already in a foul mood these days. If I bring this up, I’ll have to start prepping for my own funeral.”

Atharv chuckled, “Don’t worry, he won’t kill you. You’re his own blood. He’ll just disown you, that’s all.”
Aditya huffed, “Khud toh ghar mein parliament basa liya hai... ab main girlfriend bhi na banao?”
(You’ve turned the house into a parliament, and I’m not even allowed a girlfriend?)
Atharv smirked, “Banao! Par uske liye stand lena seekh lo ab toh.”
(Go ahead! But at least learn to take a stand for her now.)

Kritika interrupted, “Are we even talking about the real issue here?”
Aditya blinked. “Is there another problem?”
Palak said, “Bhaiya, aap baat toh karke dekho Tauji se. Baaki mein help karti hoon.”
(Just talk to Uncle. I’ll help with the rest.)