Shadowed Desires

Chapter 35

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The intruder was no one else but her own husband. Atharv was looking at her in disbelief as his world crumbled down within a second—and it really was.

The damage is done and the healing balm is lost.
Now it’s the victim who has to deal with it.

Atharv said, "Amazed right? That sleeping pill won't work?"
("Hairan ho gayi? Woh sleeping pill kaam nahi karega.")

Kritika spoke in a shaky voice, "How you know I gave you sleeping pills."
("Tumhe kaise pata chala maine tumhe sleeping pills di thi?")

Atharv replied, "I already knew it. You were the one doing it. I had hired a detective to find the person who was engaged in all this and he showed me the proof two days back. I was just waiting to catch you red-handed. One moment I wanted you to confront right at that moment. But then I knew it, you were never gonna admit it."
("Mujhe pehle se hi pata tha. Tum hi sab kar rahi thi. Maine ek detective hire kiya tha jo mujhe do din pehle saboot dikha chuka tha. Main bas tumhe rangey haath pakadna chahta tha. Ek pal ke liye socha sab kuch wahi keh doon, par mujhe pata tha tum kabhi maanogi nahi.")

Kritika said in a low voice, "Mein ye nahi karna chahti thi Atharv par...."
("I didn't want to do this, Atharv, but...")

Atharv said, "Tum yahi chahti thi Kritika, yahi sach hai, warna tum kabhi nahi kehti yaha waapis aane ke liye."
("You wanted this, Kritika, that's the truth, otherwise you would never have insisted on coming back here.")

His every single word was throwing daggers at her. But with a crumpled peace of heart, she had to stay still. Because it's her healer who is tormenting her with his words.

He held her hand and dragged her out of the room and said, "Ek baar keh do ye sab jhoot hai, main puri duniya se lad lunga tumhare liye. Par tumhare iss dhoke ko sach maan ke nahi reh sakta main tumhare saath."
("Just say once that all this is a lie, and I’ll fight the whole world for you. But I can’t live with you accepting this betrayal as truth.")

She took a deep breath and said, "Jo tumne dekha wahi sach tha Atharv. Tumhe dhokha diya jaa raha tha aur tumhe dhokha dene wala aur koi nahi main hi thi."
("What you saw was the truth, Atharv. You were being betrayed, and the one betraying you was none other than me.")

The next moment, she witnessed a death in his eyes. The death of the love his heart carried for her. All she saw was hollow emptiness, which swallowed all hope for their future happiness.

He said, "Mujhe laga tha ki tumne bachpan mein jo jhela tha, us sab ne tumhe aisa rude banaya hoga, par shayad ek acchi life aur family mein tum khush reh sakti ho. Maine apni family tak ko nazar andaaz kar diya taki tumhe khush rakh saku aur tumne kya kiya? Saalo pehle tumhari mom ne tumhare dad ko dhokha diya tha, par maine us baat ko kabhi humare beech nahi aane diya kyunki main sach mein pyaar karta tha tumse. Par tumne aaj na saabit kar hi diya ki apna khoon to asar dikhata hi hai. Galti meri hai jo maine tumse shaadi ki."
("I thought what you suffered in childhood made you this rude, but maybe you could be happy in a good life and family. I even ignored my family for your happiness, and what did you do? Years ago, your mother betrayed your father, but I never let that come between us because I truly loved you. But today you proved that blood always shows its effect. The mistake was mine, marrying you.")

Kritika was silent, just listening to him. He said, "Kritika Chauhan, waise to tum kisi se nahi haarti, to aaj kyu chup ho? Bologi nahi apni safai mein kuch?"
("Kritika Chauhan, you never lose to anyone, so why are you silent today? Won’t you say anything in your defense?")