Chapter 4: The Past & The Poisoned Present
"Ek waqt tha jab log mujhe ignore karte the... aaj wohi log mere liye mar rahe hain."
Scene 1: Waking Up With Karan – The Ultimate Betrayal Revisited
Subah ki pehli kirne ne bedroom ko golden light se bhar diya. Karan ki baahein mere waist se chipki hui thi, uska saans mere neck pe mehsoos ho raha tha. Main slowly uthi, apne bare skin pe uski nazaroon ka ehsaas kiya.
Kitna ironic hai... ek saal pehle yeh aadmi meri biwi ke saath sota tha, aaj mujhse chipka hua hai.
Maine slowly bed se nikalne ki koshish ki, lekin Karan ne apni grip tighten kar li.
"Jaana nahi," he murmured, pulling me back.
"Meeting hai meri," I whispered, turning to face him.
"Cancel karo."
"Nahin... aapke papa ke saath hai."
Uska expression dark hua. "Tumhari wajah se unhone mujhe project se hata diya."
Maine apna haath uske cheek pe rakha. "Agar aap chahein... main unko convince kar sakti hoon."
"Kaise?"
Maine apne lips uske ear tak le jaake whispered, "Jis tarah maine aapko convince kiya."
Uska haath mere thigh pe slide hua. "Tum zeher ho."
"Aur aapko zeher pasand hai," I replied, before slipping away.
Scene 2: Flashback – The Day Everything Shattered
One Year Ago
Maine kabhi socha bhi nahi tha ki apne hi ghar mein ...
Office se early chhutti lekar ghar aaya tha, surprise dene ka plan tha Renu ko. Uske liye gifts liye the, champagne.
Lekin jab maine bedroom ka door khola...
Karan. My boss.
Renu. My wife.
Bed. Our bed.
"Aditya?!" Renu screamed, covering herself.
Karan just smirked. "Oops."
Mera dimaag freeze ho gaya. "Yeh... kya hai?"
"Exactly wahi jo tum dekh rahe ho," Karan said, lazily getting up.
Renu ne kuch bolne ki koshish ki, lekin maine door slam karke bhag liya.
Aur phir... sab khatam ho gaya.
Scene 3: Visiting the Old Flat – The Ghosts of the Past
Maine apna purana flat visit kiya—jaha ek waqt mein Aditya aur Renu saath rehte the.
Guard ne mujhe dekha, aur uski aankhein mere curves pe atak gayi. "Kaun dhoond rahe hain, madam?"
"Bas... dekhna tha," I replied, walking past him.
Lift mein, ek buddhe uncle ne mujhe up-down dekha, adjusting his glasses. "Nayi tenant ho kya?"
"Nahin... purani yaadein."
Flat ka door khula. Sab kuch waisa hi tha—furniture, walls, bas ek kami thi... meri zindagi ki.
Maine couch pe baith kar apna phone nikala. Ek photo li—apne heels couch pe rakh kar, skirt thodi si upar karke.
Caption: "Miss this place?"
Recipient: Karan.
Reply within seconds: "Tumhare saath? Always."
Scene 4: Meeting Deepika – Planting the Seed of Doubt
Cafe mein, Deepika nervous lag rahi thi. "Aapne kaha Aditya ka message hai?"
"Haan... woh mar chuka hai," I said softly, handing her a box.
"Kya?!" Uski aankhein bhar aayi.
"Accident hua tha... lekin usse pehle, yeh diya tha tumhare liye."
Box mein tha ek necklace—Aditya aur Deepika ki college ki photo embedded in it.
"Woh... woh kabhi nahi bola," she whispered.
"Shayad tumse kehna chahta tha," I sighed. "Lekin Renu..."
Deepika’s face hardened. "Usne sab barbad kar diya."
"Haan... aur ab Karan ke saath khush hai."
"Karan?!"
"Hmm... shaayad woh use bhi chod de, agar koi better option mile," I said, sipping my coffee.
Deepika’s eyes narrowed. "Tum... Karan ke saath ho?"
"Business aur pleasure dono," I smirked.
Scene 5: The Poison Spreads – Renu’s Insecurity
Mall mein, Renu ne mujhe rok liya.
"Tum Deepika se mili thi?" she hissed.
"Tum se matlab?."
"Aur Karan ke saath tumhara kya chal raha hai?"
"Aapke husband ke saath? Bas... professional relationship," I lied, adjusting my shades.
"Professional? Tumhare photos mere phone pe aaye hain!"
"Oh woh?" I chuckled. "Aapko pata hai, Karan ne kaha tha... aapki shaadi bas ek formality hai."
Renu ka chehra laal ho gaya. "Tumhari himmat kaise hui?"
"Himmat nahi... fact hai," I said, walking away.
Epilogue: The Trap is Set
Ghar laut kar, maine apne phone pe notifications dekhe.
Karan: "Tumhare bina raat kaise kaatu?"
Rajveer: "Tumhari wajah se main apni shaadi todd raha hoon... tumhare liye."
Renu: "Tumhari aukaat dikha doongi!"
Maine apna wine glass uthaya, toast kiya.
"Cheers, Aditya... ab maze shuru honge."