Shadowed Desires

Chapter 39

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Flashback starts...
The trigger was pointed right at her heart. His fingers were trembling while her eyes brimmed with tears. Atharv said,
"Kyu kar rahi ho Kritika, tumhe pata to hai nuksaan tumhe pahuchta hai aur dhadkan meri tham jaati hai."
("Why are you doing this, Kritika? You know if you get hurt, my heartbeat stops too.")

Kritika broke into sobs and said,
"Still I deliberately left you alone when you didn't even have any mistakes. Sorry Atharv, I never knew you would get into those deadly addictions otherwise I would never let my plan go this way."
("Phir bhi maine jaan-boojh kar tumhe akela chhod diya jab tumhari koi galti bhi nahi thi. Sorry Atharv, mujhe kabhi nahi pata tha ki tum itni khatarnak aadaton mein pad jaoge, warna main apna plan kabhi aise nahi hone deti.")

Atharv spoke in disbelief and said,
"Plan?"
("Plan?")
Kritika said,
"Atharv I can explain."
Atharv replied,
"Kya kya explain karogi Kritika, thak gaya hu mein tumhari galtiyaan sambhalte huye, please Kritika mujhe itna bhi test na karo ki is baar mera sabr tut jaye."
("What all will you explain, Kritika? I am tired of handling your mistakes. Please don't test me so much that this time my patience breaks.")

Kritika said,
"Atharv mujhe ek chance de do, mein sab bata dungi tumhe, please ek baar."
("Atharv, give me one chance, I'll tell you everything, please just once.")
Atharv almost yelled while speaking and said,
"Kitne chance du Kritika tumhe, kya mujh mein dil nahi jo bar bar dukh jata hai jab tum mujhse baatein chupati ho, mujhe hi dhokha de kar mujhse maafi maangne ki himmat kaha se aa jati hai tum mein bar bar?"
("How many chances should I give you, Kritika? Don't I have a heart that gets hurt every time you hide things from me? How do you get the courage to betray me and then ask for forgiveness again and again?")

Kritika said,
"Do one thing, stab me thousand times with the knife placed there and in the last say sorry. Will you find me alive?"
("Ek kaam karo, mujhe wahan rakhe chaku se hazaar baar chot pahunchao aur ant mein sorry bol do. Kya tab bhi main zinda rahungi?")
Kritika was silent now. Atharv replied,
"You need to understand Kritika that I won't be the same person if you intentionally hurt me again and again. I love you by my heart but I can't let you ruin me knowing the truth. How can I stay with you when I know within a month you will pull out a new drama."

He headed towards the washroom and locked it from inside, splashing cold water on his face until the last tear vanished.

She kept knocking on the door while he remained silent. She knew this time she had shattered something that could not be mended easily. But she was adamant not to leave him alone, knowing she was the reason for his devastated state.

He could hear her pleading to open the door, but he was too emotionally exhausted to indulge in any conversation. They sat on opposite sides of the same door, their backs against it. Both could feel each other's presence clearly.

Kritika spoke,
"I was five years old when mumma left. But you know what, from the very first day, I knew it wasn't a suicide. I knew she was killed and her killer was no one but my own father."
("Main paanch saal ki thi jab mumma chali gayi thi. Lekin tumhe pata hai, pehle din se hi mujhe pata tha ki wo suicide nahi thi. Mujhe pata tha unhe maara gaya tha aur unka qaatil koi aur nahi, mera apna pita tha.")

Atharv gasped for air at the revelation. For a moment, he wanted to hug her tightly, but the next, he knew there was more distance between them than just the door. This time, the damage was beyond repair.

He just kept listening while she took a deep breath to steady herself. This night, she didn't want to hide anything from him, not to win him back, but to confess all her mistakes and let fate decide her destiny.