T H E S I L E N T W A T E R S

B U R N I N G W A L L S
A G O N I S I N G M E M O R I E S

"He can help you." He heard a female voice speak. It was oddly familiar, like he had heard the voice several times before.

"N-no." The voice was followed by a painful grunt. Was it his own? He didn't know.

Shivaay's fingers clutched around the sheets as he tried to wave off the memory.

"You. Will. Listen. To. Us." He felt the blinding pain in his scalp, his hands coming up to free his hair but the grip around it only tightened and cried out in pain.

"You know the truth, don't you?"

His movements stopped and he looked up tiredly, his eyes drooping.

"W-wha-what?" He asked trying to even out his breathing, the pain in his chest was increasing. It was as if he could see the person but his mind didn't register how they looked like.

"You were going to tell her the truth, weren't you?"

Shivaay's movements halted. He let out a small whimper. He could feel himself gaining consciousness.

"How will you tell her now?" The voice was malicious. "You are here. At our mercy. While they are enjoying their last days."

Shivaay found himself staring at the person in front of him.

"The truth will come out." He spoke through gritted teeth, letting out a pained gasp as a man pressed on his already injured ankle.

"And you think they will believe you?" She asked.

"They will." He found himself speaking, his confidence unwavering.

"She will be gone." The woman spoke. "You can't save her." She chuckled.

"Yo-you can't do anything. I will not let it happen." He gritted out.

"Look at yourself and repeat those words. You are at someone else's mercy. How will you save her?"

"Why are you doing this?" Was it him, and he looked around. He was tied.

The pain in his chest increased. He couldn't breathe. The collar of his kurta was suffocating him. His hands reached out and pulled at it.

"Sign them. The Oberois need to learn their lesson the hard way." She cackled.

"No. I will never." He spoke, shaking his head.

"Abhi bhi jaan baki hai?" She looked at him curiously.

He wasn't prepared for what was going to happen.

He woke up with a scream, his hands were around his neck and he felt a constant tug on his arms. His eyes opened and he saw red.

A sudden wave of nausea hit him and he turned to the side of the bed. The bowl was placed in front of him but he tried to hold back. But he couldn't.

"What is it?" He was looking around frantically unsure of what he was looking for.

"Shivaay?" He felt a hand rubbing his back and cried out backing away.

Priyanka immediately retreated back, the last thing she wanted was to push him over the edge. He had enough for tonight.

Shivaay frowned as the voice rang in his head. He couldn't decipher what was reality and what was not. They were forging together.

Truth? He remembered his dreams or memories. What truth? He tried to focus on the words that he remembered because of the memory.

Focus! Think Shivaay! Damnit! His eyes snapped open and he looked around. He felt fingers on the side of his face and he looked at her.

Who is she?

"Bhaiya?" It was a soft whisper and he found himself calming at that. Bhaiya? Priyanka. It was Prinku.

He looked above her shoulder. It was her. She was standing at the door with fear etched across her features.

"Shivaay———" he ignored the calls of his name as he walked over to her. Stumbling on the way.

"Wh-what t-t-t-r-ru-u-th?" He asked as he looked at her.

Annika's eyes went round. He looked frantic, as if he was searching for something.

"What?" She let out a whisper.

"S-s-sh-e——t-the——t-t-ru-t-th" he tried to speak, staggering forward. She caught him but they both stumbled because of his weight.

"I--I-I h-had d-d-do-ne s-som-me-thi-n-ng——" he spoke to himself.

"T-tha-t is-s w-why t-they——m-my f-family, OmRu didn't believe me!" He said backing away.

Annika took a step forward towards him but he backed away. Fear had taken over her seeing his condition.

"I think he remembered something from the past, and it had aggravated his condition." Aradhya spoke as she prepared the dose of the injection.

Remember? From past? She barely registered the words that the doctor spoke as she approached his side slowly.

"Shivaay?" He heard her ask.

"S-she——b-bel——t-t-ru-u-th-h" he spoke between the coughs.

"I——" he choked. Something was tugging at his throat. He leaned forward and tried to cough that out. But nothing came up. His fingers scratched at his scarred skin until Annika gently pulled his hands away.

Priyanka rubbed his back and held him steady as Aradhya injected him. They lead him to bed, Priyanka drawing circles on the back of his hand to calm him down.

He was staring at the ceiling blankly, tears flowing silently.

It took a few moments for the medicine to kick in and his eyes fluttered close and his breathing evened out.

Annika stared at his motionless form, she had barely registered when she woke up by the screams——what scared her was the panic she had seen in Priyanka's eyes as she rushed towards the door calling out his name.

The way Aradhya was calm despite all this——did it happen regularly? Her hands brushed away the dampened hair that stuck to his forehead.

"Didn't you give him medicine?" Priyanka asked, her tone turning slightly accusing.

Aradhya's eyes narrowed, "Mr. Oberoi is not a child. He doesn't need to be told that he needs to take him medicines on time."

Annika disagreed with that statement vaguely.

"—besides he should have slept throughout the night———the exhaustion." Aradhya sighed as she took a seat the corner of the bed.

"Does it——" Annika hesitated as Aradhya turned to look at her. "Does it happen often?" She asked.

Aradhya nodded. "Whenever he remembers—"

"—Aradhya!" Priyanka snapped stopping herself from revealing anything further.

Aradhya's eyes widened. That wasn't supposed to be revealed———

"He doesn't remember what happened?" Annika asked confusion lacing her voice.

Priyanka sighed, "We shouldn't be talking about this——if you wish, you could clear out with him in the morning or later." She spoke as she pulled the blanket upto his chest and turned down the temperature of the air conditioner so he doesn't get overheated.

"May I stay here for a few moments?" Annika spoke.

Priyanka looked at her sceptically before she nodded.

"I will be back after a few hours to check on him." Aradhya spoke as she looked at her clock.

Annika looked at his sleeping form.

"I——I-I h-had d-d-do-ne s-som-me-thi-n-ng——" he spoke to himself.

"T-tha-t is-s w-why t-they--m-my f-family, OmRu didn't believe me!" He said backing away.

He didn't remember anything, anything at all. What happened, how it happened. Nothing.

He eyes turned towards his scar and her eyes widened, it did spread deeper, she could see it through the torn collar of his kurta.

Though it got fainter as it spread.

It looked like a——

It looked like a burn mark, she thought.

What happened in all these years? She thought in disbelief.

<>

Saumya looked walked through the corridors. Her nose wrinkling at the smell. Kerosene?

What is going on? She looked around but she was pulled back by a hand. She entered the room to see cans of kerosene being kept in the storeroom.

"Ah, I have been waiting for you." Roop spoke as she caressed her ponytail.

Saumya stared at her mouth agape.

"Is this what you wanted to do?" She asked the woman who was dressed in plain whites.

Roop smiled.

"Tomorrow. History will repeat itself. The shares will be sold. The mansion will burn. The Oberois would pay for what they have done to me and my son." She spoke.

"The only remorse that I have is that my dear nephew isn't here to witness the fall. He would have loved to see his revenge being taken." She cackled.

Saumya stared at her in shock, "This is insanity." She spoke as the darkened orbs turned towards her.

<>

Shivaay blinked.

He groaned, his voice had turned hoarse.

The uncomfortable feeling in his throat didn't ebb away. He sighed.

He got off the bed, and made his way towards the washroom. He winced as he coughed out the blood.

He sighed in relief as he rinsed his mouth and his face. He frowned when his eyes fell on his kurta and the scratches on his neck. Was he dreaming again?

He went back to his room, the door was slightly left ajar. Yes, he was. Because he had noticed Priyanka and Aradhya tend to leave the door open if they came inside the room.

Wait a second——

Nightmare——

Fuck.

She was here.

He groaned.

He sat on the bed rubbing his forehead, as he tried to get his thoughts straight.

"Shivaay sir?" He looked up to see Khanna shuffling at the doorway.

"Y-yes Khanna." He spoke. Now that he had used his voice, there's no point to stop now. It didn't hurt as much as before, he had to start somewhere.

"Are you coming down from breakfast?" Khanna asked as he looked at him.

Shivaay nodded.

"Y-yes, l-let me have quick sh-shower." He muttered to himself as he went towards his wardrobe to bring out a fresh set of clothes.

Once, dressed for the day in simple light colored shirt and dark toned trousers. He went downstairs for the breakfast.

His eyes lightened up slightly to see Annika sitting at the breakfast table. He took a seat beside her.

She looked up briefly and passed him a hesitant smile.

He frowned when Priyanka didn't look up from her plate and continued eating, he turned to look at Aradhya who shook her head already done with their antics.

"W-what happened?" He closed his eyes momentarily to steady his voice.

"Your speech is getting clearer." Aradhya remarked with a smile. Shivaay nodded.

He frowned when she passed him the familiar glass containing the straw colored liquid.

He groaned.

"Don't tell me—"

"Drink it." She said without wasting any minute.

"Do I have to?" He asked as he eyed the glass dubiously. Annika watched in amusement as he made faces at the drink.

"You should drink it." She spoke and he turned to look at her with arched eyebrows.

He sighed, when Priyanka too turned to him with a pointed look.

Khanna immediately looked away when Shivaay turned to him for help.

"—this is for you. Trust me, this isn't as bad as the earlier one..." Aradhya spoke.

He sighed as he picked up the glass and took a sip——he didn't swallow——he choked and spat the juice out.

"...this is worse." Aradhya completed her sentence.

"Shivaay!" Annika winced as she passed him a few napkins from the table.

"C-co-could have s-said earlier." He glared at her.

Just asking, If I were to write a fic on balh2, just centring around Ram, would you read it?