Shadowed Desires

Chapter 37

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Next morning...
Kritika had just woken up from her sleep. Memories of last night kept flashing in her mind again and again. She decided to take a meditation break to calm herself.

After taking a shower, she headed towards the dining table. She initially used to avoid it, but now she was habitual to it as it was before her marriage.

The breakfast was served. Dev said,
"Kritika aaj na ek meeting hai usse na mere jagha tum handle kar lena, mujhe out of station jana padega shaam ko."
("Kritika, there is a meeting today. You handle it in my place; I have to go out of station in the evening.")

Shikha interrupted and said,
"To aap isko kyu keh rahe ho attend karne ko?"
("Then why are you asking her to attend it?")
Dev said,
"Shikha ye politics ke matter tum na pado abhi."
("Shikha, don’t get involved in political matters right now.")
Shikha replied,
"Pata nahi kya jaadu kar diya hai is ladki ne jab se aayi hai."
("I don’t know what magic this girl has done since she came.")
Kritika spoke in a nonchalant manner,
"Jo aapne kiya tha."
("What you did.")

Before anyone could say anything else, they heard the loud sound of dhols. All the family members stood up from the table and moved towards the hall.

A few people were arriving through the gateway while playing dhols. Everyone was amused by this. Dev asked,
"Aap logo ko humne to nahi bulaya yaha."
("We didn’t call you all here, did we?")

Atharv walked in from the entrance while taking off his black goggles and said,
"Inhe maine bulaya hai."
("I have called them.")
Dev spoke in an angry tone,
"Tumhari himmat kaise huyi yaha aane ki, security kaha gayi?"
("How dare you come here? Where is the security?")

Atharv said,
"Just keep calm sasur ji, aap to naraaz ho gaye. Ab aapka eklauta damaad nahi aaega aapse milne to kaun aaega. Hai na?"
("Just keep calm, father-in-law, you got angry. Now if your only son-in-law doesn’t come to meet you, then who will? Right?")
Kritika spoke in a cold tone,
"Tamasha karna band karo yaha par ab tum."
("Stop creating a scene here now.")

Atharv replied,
"Baby, tum se na baad mein baat karta hu. Pehle sasural walo ko to attend kar lu mein."
("Baby, I’ll talk to you later. First, let me attend to my in-laws.")
Kritika passed a glare to him. Atharv said,
"Okay, okay wife first."

He took out a bundle of papers, signed them, and passed them to her. It was divorce papers on which he had put his signature for approval from his side.

Kritika's heart sank deeper and her fingers trembled while holding the divorce papers. Atharv spoke,
"Azaadi Mubarak ho, Ex Mrs. Shekhawat."
("Congratulations on your freedom, Ex Mrs. Shekhawat.")

He instructed the people with him to play the dhols again. He took out a bundle of notes from his pocket and, after rotating it over her head, threw them in the air, letting them scatter on the ground.

Kritika felt grief and pain settle deep into her bones. Atharv said,
"Ab raho sukoon se, move on karna tha na mujhse to kar lo ab move on."
("Now live in peace, you wanted to move on from me, so do it now, move on.")

Dev said,
"Tum se shaadi karke bhi wo kabhi khush nahi rahi hai. Tumse behtar ladka laa sakta hu mein do din mein iske liye."
("Even after marrying you, she was never happy. I can find a better boy for her in two days.")
Atharv looked at Kritika and said,
"Jaaiye le aaiye, izazat hai meri taraf se, ab chahe aap apni beti ki sagaai karao ya shaadi mujhe fark nahi padna."
("Go ahead, I give my permission. Now whether you get your daughter engaged or married, I don’t care.")
Saying this, he walked away.