Shadowed Desires

Chapter 24

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Next Morning...

Kritika had just finished her morning yoga session when Aarav joined her. Later, she rolled up the yoga mat and placed it aside, joining him for a short morning walk.

Kritika finally spoke, “I am sorry you had to witness all that drama as a guest in our house.”
Aarav replied, “Every couple fights — there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. What matters isn’t how complicated those fights are, but how long you take to resolve them.”

Kritika said, “Some things may look simple from the outside, but in reality, they're so tangled that people prefer to run away instead of facing them.”
Aarav raised his eyebrow and asked, “Was it a forced marriage?”

Kritika replied, “No, I gave my consent. It just happened suddenly, and our marriage has been complicated from the beginning.”
Aarav asked, “But he loves you, right?”

Kritika said, “That's the biggest problem. He’s beginning to realize how much he could lose by loving me.”
Aarav asked curiously, “But how can falling in love be a loss to someone?”

Kritika answered, “It's better not to fall in love when you know that, no matter what, you can't end up together.”
Aarav replied, “I’ve experienced both sides — the regret of not loving someone back when you didn’t want to lose them, and the pain of leaving someone you loved deeply for their own well-being.”

Kritika asked, “What hurt you more — being left behind or leaving someone with a heavy heart?”
A faded smile appeared on Aarav’s face as he said, “Both situations made me wish for death. I even tried to commit suicide when I was left behind, but God had other plans — I survived.”

Aarav continued, “Even though I had my reasons for leaving Aarohi without a word, I hated myself when I saw someone fighting for their last breath and I couldn’t save them. Worst part? I ended up ruining the life of someone who loved me more than anything.”

Kritika asked, “Was she your first love?”
Aarav replied, “No, but I was her first love. I’ve lived in the dark with guilt ever since.”
Kritika continued, “Until your wife came into your life.”
Aarav nodded silently.

Kritika said, “Our families are rivals, and my entire family hates him.”
Aarav interrupted, “And you? Do you also hate him?”
Silence filled the air.

Kritika took a moment and said, “I don’t hate him.”
Aarav asked, “Then does that mean you still have a soft corner for him?”
Kritika shrugged and said, “I don’t know.”

Aarav said, “Kritika, tell me one thing — what exactly are you running from?”
Kritika took a deep breath. “From the fear that if I leave taking his hatred with me, I might still survive. But if I leave after accepting his love, he will be completely shattered.”

Aarav said, “But isn't it too late to walk away? He's in love with you. He’ll go insane if you leave him.”
Kritika said, “I’ve been trying to finish my work and leave quietly from his life, but instead, everything backfired. Now, even he had to leave his family because of me.”