Shadowed Desires

Chapter 23

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Next day...

Kritika was driving towards the office for some election-related work while Atharv had already left for his office. He was supposed to return later with their upcoming guests.

After last night’s argument, there had been no conversation between them. He came back quite late. Deep down, her heart wanted him to stay close, but she found no reason to ask him. She knew she couldn’t expect him to love her when she was the one constantly wounding his heart.

On the other hand, Atharv immersed himself in work. Besides the family business, he solely owned a few other companies. He tried his best to stay focused, but Kritika’s harsh words echoed in his mind, tearing him apart.

Atharv’s POV:

“I think the wish I had in my heart will always remain incomplete. I walked away from the family I was raised in, and the one person I hoped to build a new world with… she isn’t even sure if what she feels is love or confusion. For the first time in life, I wanted to share my emotional turmoil with someone — but I can’t. Being the eldest sibling, I was raised to keep everything bottled up. But with her, it was different. At first, I thought my mother’s idea of giving this marriage a chance might fail. But slowly, I started falling harder for her. And last night... she shattered everything.”

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Time skips...

Kritika returned home, completely drained. She collapsed on the living room couch, exhausted.

Rohan walked up to her and asked, “Ma’am, aaj dinner mein kya banana hai? Aur Atharv sir ne bataya tha guests bhi aa rahe hai. Aap ussi hisaab se chefs ko instructions de dijiye.”
("Ma’am, what should be made for dinner today? Atharv sir mentioned guests are coming too. Please give the chefs instructions accordingly.")

Kritika, lost in thought, replied, “Aap maa ya Aarushi maasi se pooch lijiye. Main already bahut thak chuki hoon.”
("Please ask Mom or Aarushi maasi. I’m already very tired.")
Rohan responded, “Par yaha to aap hi ho ma’am.”
("But you’re the only one here, ma’am.")

Realizing this, she slapped her palm against her forehead and said, “Wait a minute, I’ll be there. Until then, please arrange some snacks for me here.”

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Time skips...

All preparations were complete. Atharv returned with their guests.

“This is my wife, Kritika Shekhawat,” Atharv introduced.
Kritika smiled, “Nice to meet both of you.”

“And they are my friend Aarav Singhania and his wife, Aarohi Singhania,” Atharv added.

Aarohi gave Kritika a bright smile. With introductions done, they moved to the dining table.

Aarav teased, “Atharv, I’m really upset with you. You didn’t even invite me to your wedding.”
Atharv responded, “It was a simple and intimate ceremony.”

Aarohi asked playfully, “By the way, was it a love marriage or arranged?”
Kritika smiled awkwardly, “The one I found out about just an hour before it happened.”

Aarohi leaned forward curiously, “Is this a replaced-bride trope?”
Atharv choked on his food. Kritika quickly handed him water and replied, “Nothing like that. No one was replaced. It’s just… a long story.”

To steer the conversation elsewhere, Kritika asked, “So, how did you two meet?”

Aarohi looked at Aarav with love in her eyes, “Ek andheri raat thi, taare bhare aasman ke neeche, ye ek naye umeed ki tarah meri zindagi mein aaye.”
("It was a dark night under a sky full of stars when he entered my life as a new ray of hope.")