Shadowed Desires

Chapter 33

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Next Day...
Kritika entered the Chauhan residence. As usual, she was welcomed by the bitter taunts of her stepmother and grandmother. Paying them no heed, she headed straight to Dev’s room.

Dev looked at her and said,
“So finally you’re fine.”

Kritika replied,
“You must have felt so bad about it.”

Dev shrugged,
“Why should I?”

Kritika said,
“If you haven’t regretted it, you should now, Mr. Chauhan. You stole the entire vote bank in the name of sympathy using my name, and you think I’ll let you rule in peace?”

Dev said,
“I don’t have the power to wake you from a coma. Our party got the majority and someone needed to represent us. It’s your own fault for poking your nose into others’ business.”

Kritika replied,
“I never expected wisdom from you anyway. But I actually came to tell you something else.”

Dev asked, curious,
“What?”

Kritika said,
“If you don’t declare me CM within a week, I’ll write the end of your party myself, Mr. Chauhan.”

Dev looked at her in disbelief.
“What the hell are you saying, Kritika? You’re going to ruin the party your mother started?”

Kritika replied,
“She left years ago, and you took it from me too. So why should I save it? For whom— you and your son? Never, Mr. Chauhan. If you snatch something from me, no one will ever get to see what I lost, because I’ll destroy it.”

She turned to leave and said,
“Give me your decision within a week, because from the 8th day, I’ll write your destruction with my own hands.”

With that, she left the room.

Time Skips... 6:00 pm
Kritika had just returned to her room from the Chauhan residence. She was tying her hair in a bun when Atharv silently entered and hugged her from behind.

For a moment, she was startled, but she quickly recognized his touch and calmed down. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and said,
“I missed you.”

She turned to face him, placed a soft kiss on his cheek, and replied,
“Missed you too.”

He was about to lean in for a kiss, but she noticed footsteps approaching and realized the door wasn’t locked. His eyes were closed, lost in the moment, but she hurriedly pushed him back. He stumbled and ended up on the floor.

Atharv groaned in pain, holding his back,
“My back! Do you want to be a widow before our first anniversary?”

Aarushi entered,
“Kritika, I—”

She stopped, seeing Atharv on the floor.
“Atharv, how did you end up on the floor?”

Atharv tried to explain,
“Maasi, I just—”

Kritika interrupted,
“He just slipped, Maasi.”

Aarushi said,
“Okay, but at least get up now.”

Atharv got up and sat on the bed, still wincing. Aarushi continued,
“Kritika, I came to tell you that Riddhima di is calling you. Atharv, do you want me to send some balm for your back?”

Atharv replied,
“No, Maasi, I’m fine.”

Aarushi left. Kritika asked,
“Are you hurt badly?”