Shattered

4| She is no more

Content Warning: This text contains sensitive topics of abuse and self-harm.

Shiva was driving recklessly, his eyes filled with tears causing his vision to blur. He stopped his car by the river and got out. It was her favorite spot, a place she used to visit often before they were married. Memories flooded his mind and he closed his eyes, feeling the pain in his heart. After a while, he sadly smiled and left.

He called his personal assistant Naman, who answered after a few rings.

"Hello sir," Naman said.

"Naman, listen carefully. Trisha is alive and here in India," Shiva said.

"What? Sir, how is that possible? We saw with our own eyes that she was hit by the car and died in front of us. Raavi was driving the car, didn't she kill Trisha?"

"Do not dare utter those words again," Shiva's heart ached as he spoke, remembering how he had accused Raavi of killing his sister. He had treated her harshly, believing she was a murderer, but in reality, she was innocent. It pained him to think about it now.

"It was all a set-up. They framed Raavi for their own gain," he revealed to Naman, who was stunned. All this time, he had thought that Raavi had killed his best friend, Trisha, for her own benefit. He now understood what Raavi must have gone through after marrying Shiva. However, he had stayed silent because he despised her and wished for her to suffer.

"Who did this, sir?" Naman asked hesitantly.

"Trisha and Raavi's brother, Akshay," Shiva replied grimly. "Listen carefully, Naman. I want you to spy on Akshay and gather as much information as possible. I need to know why they did this to Raavi. But be careful, don't let them catch on that we know about their lies."

Naman nodded in understanding before replying with a simple "Okay, sir." He knew this task would not be easy or pleasant, but he also knew it was necessary for the truth to come out and for justice to be served.

As Shiva watched Naman leave, he couldn't help but feel guilty for his treatment of Raavi. He vowed to make things right and bring justice for her and his late sister.

After ending the phone call, Shiva drove towards his luxurious mansion and arrived there in no time. He swiftly made his way to his bedroom, closed the door, and collapsed on the floor, unable to hold back his tears. As he lay there, the sight of the belt he used to beat her with brought immense pain to his heart.

"I am a pervert... How could I have done such a thing? How? I was madly in love with Raavi before all of this happened, but that one night changed everything. I killed my love for her and turned it into hatred," he murmured to himself.

"Raavi, I miss you so much. Please come back to me. Punish me for my stupidity. I'll endure any pain you inflict upon me, but please just get up once for me, my love. I know I have no right to say this after what I did, but my heart will always belong to you." Shiva's words were filled with regret and longing as he thought of the woman he had hurt so deeply.

A scream erupted from Raavi's lips as Shiva's hand made contact with her cheek in a resounding slap. She stumbled and fell to the ground, the impact leaving her dazed and disoriented.

"You monster!" Shiva's eyes blazed with anger as he towered over her. "You wanted to hurt me, just like you hurt my sister, didn't you?"

Raavi looked up at him with a pained expression, shaking her head frantically in denial. Tears streamed down her face, but Shiva was too consumed by his rage to notice the agony in her eyes.

He stormed towards the cupboard, and Raavi's heart dropped as she knew what was coming next. Trembling with fear, she backed away as Shiva retrieved a leather belt from inside.

"Shiva, please don't do this," Raavi pleaded through sobs. "It hurts so much. Please, have mercy."

But Shiva was blinded by his fury and ignored her pleas. He raised the belt high above his head, ready to strike...

"My sister also experienced immense pain when you struck her with your car... She was suffering, yet you showed no compassion or concern. So why should I waste any care on a despicable person like you?" Shiva's words were like daggers, piercing through the innocent soul of Raavi.

"I did not take Trisha's life... I am not a murderer... Please, believe me," Raavi pleaded with a trembling voice.

"You are a murderer," Shiva accused, his anger and resentment growing as he grabbed a belt and began hitting Raavi relentlessly. She screamed in agony, but it fell on deaf ears. He continued until he felt satisfied and then callously left the room. Raavi lay there, lifeless.

Shiva closed his eyes, but the memories kept haunting him. His heart shattered into countless pieces as he regretted his actions and thought of ending his own life. He had hurt her deeply, both physically and emotionally. He didn't deserve to live; he had killed an innocent soul within himself. His inner voice taunted him, rendering him vulnerable to his own guilt and remorse.

He rose to his feet, reaching for the leather belt that lay on the bed. His eyes were bloodshot and his face contorted with pain, but he believed he deserved even more agony. He struck himself with all his might, relentlessly punishing himself. With each hit, he whispered words of apology to Raavi, his love.

"Forgive me, Raavi. I am so sorry."

His shirt tore apart, but he didn't stop. Tears streamed down his face, not from the physical pain but from the thought of Raavi. His own suffering was insignificant compared to her pain. Blood seeped from his back as he collapsed to the ground, yet his hand continued to strike himself.

He couldn't bear the guilt and regret that consumed him. He had hurt her so deeply and now all he could do was inflict pain upon himself as a form of atonement. Every strike was a cry for forgiveness and a reminder of his love for her.

As he lay there on the floor, battered and broken, he knew that no amount of self-punishment could ever make up for what he had done. But he couldn't stop himself from trying, hoping that one day she would forgive him and they could be together again.

But until then, he would continue to hit himself with every ounce of regret in his heart, murmuring her name in a desperate plea for forgiveness until exhaustion overtook him and he drifted into a restless slumber filled with dreams of Raavi's forgiving smile.

Shiva's phone began to ring, but he didn't pay any attention to it. After a while, it rang again and finally he decided to answer it. The caller's name was Varun and a small glimmer of hope rose within Shiva as he thought Varun might let him speak with Raavi, even if it was just for once.

Picking up the phone, Shiva asked eagerly, "Hey Varun, how's Raavi? Is she okay? Did she wake up? Please tell me..."

His voice was almost trembling with emotion as he waited for Varun's response.

But instead of good news, Varun's words shattered Shiva's heart into a million pieces.

"You should be happy. She is no more," Varun replied coldly.

Shiva felt like he had been thrown into a pit of darkness as he shouted into the phone.

"Are you insane? What are you saying? Nothing could have happened to her. You're lying to me. Please tell me the truth."

Varun shouted back, his anger evident in his voice.

"This is the truth, you *******! She's dead! Raavi is gone forever. And it's all because of you!"

The phone slipped from Shiva's hand as his world came crashing down around him. He couldn't believe what he had just heard - that Raavi was no longer alive and that he was responsible for her death. Tears streamed down his face as he realized that he would never get another chance to see her or apologize for what he had done.

In that moment, Shiva felt like his entire world had come to an end. All because of one mistake that cost him the love of his life.

"I can't believe this is happening... She's actually going to leave him like that?"

It's impossible for this to happen. She cannot simply abandon him in such a manner.