Shattered Trust ~ A ShivLini FF

Shivprasad held Shalini’s hand as they walked along the quiet lakeside. The evening sun made the water shimmer.

Shivprasad: You know, days like this feel stolen from heaven.

Shalini: Then don’t return them. Let’s just stay here a little longer.

She leaned her head on his shoulder. His arm wrapped around her. She closed her eyes for a second, and that’s when Shivprasad’s body tensed.

Shivprasad: Shalini, don’t move.

She opened her eyes to see a man in dark clothes raising a gun. Shivprasad pushed her behind him and lunged at the goon. Two more appeared. Shalini screamed as fists flew, as Shivprasad fought to keep them away from her.

Shalini: Leave him! Please, leave my husband!

One goon fell back, and his gun skidded across the ground. Shalini’s trembling hand reached for it. She had never touched a gun in her life. It felt cold and heavy. She pointed it at the men with both hands shaking.

Shalini: I will shoot. I swear I will shoot. Let him go.

Her eyes shut tight. Her finger squeezed. The sound exploded in her ears. When she opened her eyes, two goons were on the ground, and Shivprasad was falling too. Blood spread on his shirt.

Shalini: No, no, no… Shiv!

She dropped the gun. She didn’t understand. How did she hit him? She couldn’t even aim.

Then a sharp pain burst at the back of her head, and everything went dark. Sheetal stood behind her, a smirk curling on her lips. She lifted the real weapon, kissed its barrel, and looked down at Shalini’s unconscious form.

Sheetal: You never fired a single bullet, sweetheart. I did.

A short distance away, inside a small restaurant, Chintu and Piyu were tired from running around. Piyu rested her chin on the table.

Piyu: Mom and Dad said they’d be back after seeing the sunset. It’s almost dark, Chintu. What if something happened?

Chintu: Nothing happens to Papa. He’s strong.

Piyu didn’t feel comforted. She went to the manager and asked him to check. No one had seen them return.

When Shalini’s eyes finally opened, the sky was darker and Shivprasad was gone. She crawled on the grass, calling his name. Her hands were stained. Chintu and Piyu came running from the path.

Piyu: Mummy! What happened? Where’s Papa?

Shalini: I… I shot the gun. I don’t know how. I’ve never even held one. It went off and he… he fell. And then someone hit me from behind. Piyu, I can’t find him.

She broke down. Piyu held her tight while Chintu stood frozen.

Shalini’s phone rang. Deepali’s name flashed. Shalini picked up, her voice cracking.

Deepali: Shalini, when are you all coming? Dinner is almost ready. I invited Boomika too.

Shalini: Dee… something terrible happened. Someone attacked us. The gun… I fired it by mistake. Shiv is missing.

Deepali: What? Calm down. You didn’t do it on purpose. He’ll come back. He always does. Don’t panic.

Boomika took the phone, voice steady.

Boomika: Shalini, listen to me. You are not alone. Just breathe. We are with you.

But before Shalini could answer, a police jeep pulled up. An inspector stepped out, and a tourist pointed straight at her.

Tourist: That’s the woman. I saw her with the gun. She killed that man.

Shalini’s heart stopped. The words felt like a second bullet.

This ShivLini FF Episode 1 tears open a perfect day with the cruelest twist, leaving Shalini in the ruins of a moment she can’t explain.

Precap: The police arrest Shalini as Sheetal whispers that everything is fair in love and war. The inspector demands to know why she killed her husband over a love triangle and who the third person is.

Episode 2 coming soon! Stay tuned 🤍