T H E   S I L E N T   W A T E R S
B R O K E N   Y E T   U N D E F E A T E D

Shivaay's hand reached out in the blank. He frowned when he could only see his hands. Was he dreaming?

His stomach dropped when he felt himself falling. And he woke up with a gasp. Strange.

He looked at clock. Eleven hours. Eleven hours till they depart to Mumbai. And he dreaded the feeling. He got off from the bed. He wore the slippers and walked outside. He sighed as the cool air felt nice on his heated skin. He looked at skies above, it was cloudy. It would take another hour or so for the sunrise. It has become his routine now which he wanted to get rid of, his eyes would open at the crack of dawn. And he would be unable to go back to sleep and in the end he would just stare at the rising sun.

It was alluring. It was the beauty of the new beginnings after the dark nights.

And the shine reminded him of something.

He used to see his whole universe in her eyes. And in that universe, she was his sun.

But today instead of the sun, dark clouds greeted him. And at the very end, at the horizon, there was a glowing hue, clouds were hiding the shine of the sun.

His hands clenched on the iron railings. He stood outside enjoying the peace. The last moments of peace before the chaos return in their lives. The clouds rumbled and the rain began.

He walked inside to freshen up. He didn't have any nightmares yet his sleep wasn't fulfilled. He yawned into his open palm. His sister and the lady doc have decided to sleep in it seems.

He pulled up a chair when a just-out-of-bed Priyanka and poised Aradhya entered the dining area. He held back a chuckle at the contradiction.

"You are dressed for the day? Are you going somewhere?" Priyanka asked. Shivaay nodded.

"Where?" She asked. But Shivaay didn't answer. He pursed his lips and signed with his hands.

His hand gestures weren't as graceful because of the shaking but Priyanka understood it well.

She frowned, "Arjun will be with you right?" Knowing that he will be annoyed if she pressed the topic any longer. He nodded. Aradhya glanced between the cousins confused.

<>

"I didn't expect this all to happen, Shivaay." Neeraj frowned, he couldn't believe what all happened to his friend last few years, he had come alive after grazing the death. Shivaay chuckled to himself silently.

"Why are you returning to Mumbai now? And wait a second, why didn't you take any legal help, cops. They could have helped you?"

Shivaay raised his eyebrows. Neeraj looked down at his phone. And a message popped up, he looked at Shivaay who gestured him to read it.

'Do you know sign language?'

Neeraj nodded. He has learnt that in his training. And Shivaay began, his hands forming the words that he couldn't speak. Neeraj nodded and gestured that he was following. "Shivaay, calm down. Slowly." Neeraj had to interrupt him when his movements got too franctic.

"So you want me to investigate who it was?" Shivaay rolled his eyes exasperated. Seriously? If not, then why would he come here at all?

Neeraj winced. "Ah, sorry about that. So, all we have is the hospital that you were admitted in?" Neeraj said as he analysed the address.

Shivaay nodded grimly. "The task you are trusting me with is next to impossible Shivaay. It has been six years. Don't you think it's enough time for the culprits to hide their traces and pick up the loose strings."

Shivaay sighed. He knew that, but did not have any choice. He knew he was exposing him vulnerable just the moment he would step into the city. It's best if he is prepared beforehand.

"I will try my best, Shivaay. They have wronged my friend. I won't spare them." Shivaay chuckled at that. Neeraj was one of his college acquaintances.

While Shivaay preferred the formal term, Neeraj called him his dear friend. He didn't know whether he could trust him or not? But what he has to lose in his hands now? Nothing.

"But why are you going to Mumbai? You didn't answer. Even if you are please be aware of your surroundings. And do not hesitate to inform me if you find anything out of place." Shivaay nodded before he bid his farewell to his friend.

"I will begin my investigation at the earliest." And Shivaay nodded, bidding his friend goodbye.

He just hoped that Priyanka hadn't contacted Arjun in the meanwhile. But that is exactly what had happened.

"Where were you?" Priyanka tapped her right foot on the wooden flooring impatiently. Arjun was here and he informed that Shivaay didn't come to the office. She had been worried sick ever since wondering where he could have gone.

Should I tell her about Neeraj? He contemplated. He shook his head, it's better if the least people knew about that. Besides, she is already tensed nowadays, he can handle this one alone.

Shivaay grimaced. I am fine. Nothing happened. He signed with his hands. Aradhya focused on his hand movements. The fingers were trembling. The shaking has returned, he's anxious.

"Priyanka, Arjun. Leave it. He's safe and sound, we have other matters to deal with." She interrupted. Priyanka frowned but relented nevertheless.

Shivaay sighed in relief as he leaned back on the sofa. He clenched and unclenched his fingers a few times. They were hurting because of the forced movements. He looked at Aradhya, gesturing for the painkillers but she simply shook her head.

"You need to bear the pain. Those are used when it gets unbearable." There she goes. He rolled his eyes before she went inside her room.

A few hours......he sighed to himself. A few hours and they would be back in the city, the very same place he had spent his most beautiful memories as well as most painful ones.

<>

He stepped in the house that Aditya had prepared and gotten cleaned up for them. Shivaay didn't know what he was feeling when he stepped off on the helipad. He was back. He expected himself to be overwhelmed but instead he felt no emotion at all. It was blank. Empty.

Priyanka was looking quite disturbed. And tired. She caught his eyes and he gestured towards the bedroom, telling her to go and rest but she shook her head. It's fine, she mouthed back at him.

"How are you?" Aditya asked Shivaay giving him a hug. He returned the hug briefly.

"We have a surprise for you." Shivaay arched his eyebrows at use of the word 'we'. He looked over Aditya's shoulder and his eyes brightened.

"Chachu!" An excited squeal as the little one jumped into his arms. "I have missed you." The girl said hugging Shivaay tightly.

Shivaay chuckled holding up the girl in his arms. She was just like his daughter. Ditya, Aditya's daughter. And his niece.

"Did you bring my chocolates?" She asked as she gave him a toothy grin. Aditya cleared his throat warningly. Shivaay just glared back at him playfully. He pointed at the suitcase and he watched as the girl raced to get her beloved chocolates, the adults chuckling at her antics.

Radhika, Aditya's wife enveloped her in a hug. "You look lovely." Shivaay grinned as he winked at his sister. See I told you. Priyanka rolled her eyes at that.

"Are you sure about this, Shivaay?" Aditya asked worriedly.

Shivaay didn't say anything, but nodded his head after a while. Why does everyone keep asking him that? If he wasn't he wouldn't have come here.

He looked at his phone to see that Neeraj was on his way to Goa. And he sighed.

Priyanka was watching all this carefully. Her brother was hiding something from her which was very strange. But she knew better than to push his limits if he has done something there should be a good reason behind this.

"So, will you be joining back from tomorrow onwards?" Aditya asked as he pocketed his hands.

Of course, why wouldn't he? Aditya nodded and left them so they could rest, Ditya came to hug Shivaay's leg before she went with her parents, waving at him until she was out of the gates of the manor. He shook his head fondly. She was a ray of sunshine.

"You are okay right?" He held back a sigh. This question was asked for the nth time. Yes, he was. He was just back in Mumbai. It is not the end of the world. He shrugged and went inside to check his rooms.

Once inside, he paced around the room. He covered his mouth with his hands and sat down on the bed. He was anxious, scared, worried but he couldn't show them that not when he had tried so hard to keep up the mask, ever since he stepped into the city.

His home. Which he has grown up in and also the one he was thrown out of.

His childhood. The stolen one, the hidden one. The one he desired. It was all here.

His life. It all began here. Everything.

Now this is where it all will end.

And now this time he will be turning the cycle. One last time.

Thank you for reading <3