Shadowed Desires

Chapter 32

Guys, if I am putting so much effort from my side, you can at least complete 80% of the target on time.

Vote target: 160

Comments target: 60

Next Day...
They were returning from a routine check-up when Kritika asked,
"Ye raasta to Shekhawat mansion side nahi jaata?"
("This road doesn't go towards the Shekhawat mansion?")

Atharv replied,
"Hum waha ja bhi nahi rahe."
("We're not going there.")

Soon, they entered the same building where Atharv had kept Aviraj hostage. When the door to the room clicked open, Kritika's eyes widened in shock. She looked at Atharv in disbelief.

Atharv smiled and said,
"Tumhe kya laga tha mein isse yu hi jaane deta? I wanted to bring you here a little later, but last night I realized you were hurting yourself because of the delay. So I had to bring you here."
("Did you think I would let him go so easily? I wanted to bring you here later, but after last night, I realized you were suffering because of the wait. So I brought you here now.")

Kritika hugged him tightly, tears glistening in her eyes, and said,
"Sorry."

Aviraj sneered,
"So finally Mr. and Mrs. Shekhawat has come together. I thought by now she’d still be half-dead on a hospital bed."

Atharv clenched his fists, controlling his anger. Meanwhile, Aviraj’s gaze lingered on Kritika, making her even more furious.

Without hesitation, she walked over and slapped him hard.
"I wish I had killed you that day. Not doing it was my biggest mistake."

Aviraj retorted,
"Girl, you made the biggest mistake by ditching me that night. I could have satisfied you better than your husband."

She was about to pick up an iron rod in the corner, but before she could, Atharv grabbed a wooden chair and smashed it over Aviraj’s head, injuring him badly. Aviraj screamed in pain.

Atharv said,
"I already told you, if you ever hurt my woman, you’d beg for death. But I won’t let you die."

He brought out a glass bottle of acid and asked Kritika to step back. She moved away as Atharv poured acid on Aviraj’s arms. His skin began to melt, and the fumes filled the room. Aviraj screamed in agony.

Atharv let out a dark chuckle,
"You touched my wife with these filthy hands. Let’s end these arms today."

The more Aviraj screamed, the more relief Atharv felt. Even Kritika was shocked by this side of him.

Aviraj, writhing in pain, managed to say,
"You might finish off your outside enemies, but what about the traitors inside your home? You’ll never find them like this."
(He eyed Kritika as Atharv sprinkled red chili powder on his wounds.)

Atharv left the room for a minute to get more tools for torture. Kritika asked Aviraj,
"Kya pata hai tumhe?"
("What do you know?")

Aviraj replied,
"Yahi ki tumne khud se Abhinav Shekhawat ke saath milkar khud ko vote purchasing ke scam mein fasane wali thi."
("That you and Abhinav Shekhawat were going to frame yourself in the vote purchasing scam.")

Kritika said,
"Scam tumne kiya tha."
("You were the one who did the scam.")

Aviraj laughed evilly,
"Oh really? Then why did you need those papers that could have gotten you out of the elections? What will your husband do when he finds out that both his wife and father betrayed him? He might forgive Abhinav Shekhawat, but you should worry about yourself."

Kritika asked,
"Tum chahte kya ho?"
("What do you want?")

Aviraj replied,
"Set me free and I promise I won’t tell anyone your secret. Make this deal with me and you won’t regret it. Otherwise, I’ll tell your husband about your mission to enter the Shekhawat mansion, how you used him, and how he lost his career while you could have saved him by telling him the truth. But you were greedy for those medical reports about your dead mother."