Intensely Twisted Fate

Chapter : 27

Third Person POV

After dinner, the atmosphere was heavy with anticipation as everyone gathered in the living room. Shravan and Lara sat on one couch, Shravan’s parents on another, and Ramesh and Preeti occupied two chairs opposite them. Dipti sat forward and cleared her throat, her hands trembling slightly as they rested on her lap.

"So, there's something I need to share with all of you," Dipti began, her voice thick with emotion. "There are two reasons I’m telling this now. First, because you both," she glanced at Shravan and Lara, "are starting a new relationship. And second, because... my health has deteriorated. My reports have worsened, and I'm in the final stage. I have a checkup tomorrow, but before that, I need to lighten this burden."

Shravan's stomach twisted, a cold sweat forming on his forehead. Lara's hand was intertwined with his, squeezing gently, her presence keeping him grounded. But it didn’t stop the dread spreading in his chest.

Dipti took a shaky breath. "This story goes back to when we were in high school. Your mom, Suman," she nodded at Lara, "your biological mother, Smita," she looked at Shravan, "and I... we were the best of friends. Suman was already in love with Ramesh, and we all knew it. When we entered junior college, our trio was still tight-knit, and I met Kartik. He was five years older than us, a senior in college—charismatic, handsome, the golden boy. I was infatuated, and I told Suman and Smita about my feelings, though I sensed Smita was a bit... envious. I didn’t think much of it at the time."

Shravan’s jaw tightened as she continued, his knuckles white from how hard he was gripping the couch.

"One day, I got the courage to ask Kartik out. He agreed to a date, but with the condition that he’d choose the place. I didn’t think it was a big deal back then," Dipti sighed, regret evident in her voice. "He took me to a bar, and I walked in just in time to see him kissing another girl from our college. It broke me. It was my first crush, my first real heartbreak. I was devastated. During that time, I didn’t notice the distance growing between Smita and us. We assumed it was family-related because she often had issues with her sibling."

She paused, her eyes downcast, and Lara felt her throat tighten. She glanced at Shravan, his expression hardening as he absorbed every word. His mom's pain stirred something deep within him—a mix of anger and empathy.

"As college ended, we lost contact with Smita," Dipti continued. "Suman and I remained close, but Smita... she vanished from our lives. It wasn’t until years later that we reconnected. She had joined a prestigious company, and that’s when we found out... she had fallen into drug addiction. And the person who got her hooked was Kartik. He was a dealer back in college, though we didn’t know then how deep his involvement ran."

Shravan’s heart thudded against his chest, a wave of nausea hitting him. "Wait," he interrupted, his voice low and strained. "You’re saying... my biological mother was a drug addict? And Kartik was a drug dealer?"

Dipti nodded slowly. "Yes, Shravan. Kartik was the one who turned her into an addict. He used her, and when he was done, he discarded her like trash. She was a pawn to him, nothing more than a... a tool for his pleasures and addictions."

A harsh breath escaped Shravan, his fists clenching tighter. Lara's fingers interlaced with his, squeezing firmly, but his mind was spinning, fighting to comprehend the enormity of it all.

"When Suman became pregnant with you, Laranya," Dipti said, addressing Lara now, "we discovered that Smita was also expecting. She was three months along and had quit drugs. But the damage was already done, both to her body and her spirit. Kartik found out about her pregnancy and demanded she abort the child. But she refused—she wanted you, Shravan. He tried to hurt her, to force a miscarriage, but she escaped and sought refuge with Suman and Ramesh, knowing he was a police officer and Kartik wouldn’t dare come near her then."