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

E N G U L F I N G F L A M E S

The flames had turned into raging ones by the time Om exited the mansion. The smoke was already towering above the area, "Is anybody hurt?" He asked.

He noticed the scared faces of the members, "R-rudy....bhaiya..." Gauri started, her eyes darting towards the fires and Om knew what happened. He swore and was about to move back when Tej grabbed his hands.

"The firetrucks are arriving, don't go there." Om snatched his hands away with a scathing glare. Is this man for real? He wants him to leave his brother——his son out there in flames and wait for them?

"You don't need to tell me what to do, I am not going to wait here—" he spoke as he stepped backwards before turning and walking back into the mansion covering his face.

"Rudra!" He called. But he doubted that Rudra could hear it above the sound of the crackling flames.

<>

They heard the tires screech as the car halted and their eyes widened when Shivaay stepped out of the car.

He looked at the mansion and his heart dropped at the sight. No, this can't be——his childhood was spent in this home. They can't do this to him.

"Billu..." He stepped back involuntarily at the sound of the nickname——it wasn't an endearment, but a noose. To trap him into the unending whirls of expectations.

His eyes darted——he could read the fear across their faces———do not act as savior--he kept reminding himself when he noticed something strange——where are they?

"Where are OmRu?" He asked, the panic audible in his tone.

Gauri looked at him with a tearful gaze, "Bade bhaiya...." And he knew what had happened. His gaze turned towards the mansion and he looked back once again to confirm. She nodded.

"I will bring them back." He promised, she nodded tearfully.

Fuck.

Sorry, Priyanka. But I can't ignore this. He thought as he moved into action——his eyes turned to the elders who were just standing there——what else he had expected.

"Khanna, call help if I don't come in ten minutes." He informed the man, who turned to look at him in disbelief, Shivaay grabbed a blazer that was lying in the car, and wore it over the thin material of the kurta that he was wearing and walked inside the burning building.

Blazing flames.

He stepped back, "You can't leave now. This fire will end with both of us." Shivaay groaned as his hand was twisted at an odd angle.

He groaned and steadied his steps. Why did it feel like he had experienced it before——

He coughed out as a response to the smoke influx in his lungs. I need to make it quick. He thought as he moved forward.

"Om! Ru!" He called as he walked towards the main hall. He looked around, red was all that he could see.

"Only one of us is going to step out of this warehouse." He heard the grunt of the man who was holding him in a chokehold and cried out.

He turned slightly to the sight.

Veer!?

It was Veer.

He hissed when his hands were placed on something hot. And he broke out his thoughts.

He was here to look out for Om and Rudra.

"Om!"

"Rudra!"

He called once again, but he stumbled when another memory filtered in.

The sudden flare engulfed them. He immediately turned away which saved his face from scarring.

He heard his own screams mixing with Veer's.

"Shivaay sir!" He vaguely remembered his name being called. Hands immediately tried to stop the burnt.

He remembered the sizzling pain that had covered his entire chest. The smell of burnt flesh reached his nose.

Shivaay's hands went around his neck, towards his scar.

Om. Rudra.

"Om!"

"Rudra!" He called once again.

Om looked up at the sound of his name and his eyes widened. Shivaay? He looked at Rudra, he pulled him away from flames and walked over to where the sound came from.

Shivaay collapsed on the ground, Om's eyes widened when he saw flare——

"Shivaay look out——"

Shivaay ducked immediately and turned towards him, breaking away from his trance. He stood up shakily, walking over to them and nearly collapsed.

He was shocked when Om's hands wrapped around him and he could hear the words, "I was so scared..." For a second he was vaguely reminded of the time when Om used to get nightmares from bade papa's and badi maa's fights.

"Everything's gonna be alright, shhh.....sab thik ho jayega.....I am here...." He spoke as if acting on the muscle memory.

Om sunk his face deeper into his neck——Shivaay was here——he can breathe peacefully now. His reflexes acted out on their own as he hugged him tightly——he was relieved when he wasn't pushed away.

And Shivaay's words....they were elixir to his ears. Everything's going to be alright. And he didn't doubt that.

How can this man walk into the flames after all the things he and Rudra have said to him——done to him——

He looked at Rudra who was lying on the ground.

"Rudy.....open your eyes..... c'mon." Shivaay spoke as he tried to wake him up, his eyes turning to look behind him. The way was covered. They needed to go out the other way.

"Rudra...." He patted his cheeks, his movements turning harsh when there was no response.

"Om....we need to take him. I think he has inhaled too much smoke." Shivaay assessed. Om nodded as he placed Rudra's one arm around his shoulder, while Shivaay mimicked it with the other.

They both stood up with a grunt supporting Rudra's weight.

"The main entrance?" Shivaay asked and Om nodded.

They moved slowly and walked over to the main entrance of the Mansion.

<>

"Let me go, why hasn't they come back yet?" Gauri was inconsolable, but this time it was Roop who was comforting her.

Gauri stopped for a moment, she looked down at the hands that were holding her back, dried wax? She could smell the faint kerosene on her hand.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Khanna spoke up.

"And that's it——"

"We are here." Om spoke panting as he and Shivaay placed Rudra on the bench that was placed in the backyard.

Gauri immediately rushed over to them. And before anyone could say anything, Shivaay was enveloped in a tight hug.

He felt tears on the junction of his neck and his eyes widened slightly. Om was crying? "I'm sorry... Shivaay...." He stiffened when he heard the words. But this time he couldn't return the hug.

His arms stayed by his side motionless. His work was done here. He wasn't needed anymore, he thought as he turned around to look at the paramedics that had gone over to check Rudra.

"W-what?" He heard a surprised gasp. He turned around to see Priyanka and Aradhya were looking at the scene in horror.

"What happened?" She asked as her eyes darted to three of her brothers. She was torn, yes she didn't want to forgive them, but she would never wish such a cruel fate to them.

Om parted from his hug. Shivaay could just place a comforting hand on his shoulder before he pulled away. "Are you okay?" Priyanka asked tentatively as she went over to Shivaay's side, but the words were meant for Om.

He nodded. "I'm sorry Prinku——" he started. It's funny, how near death experiences force one to realise all the things they have done wrong in the past.

Priyanka just shook her head, "I'm just——just glad that you are....safe." she spoke at last her eyes turning to Rudra who was gaining consciousness, slowly.

She turned to look at Shivaay who was staring at the burning mansion, her hands tightened around his arm.

History could have repeated itself. He had gone back to the fires that had tormented him all these years. But what if he hadn't? She turned to look at Om and Rudra, they were her brothers as well.

Shivaay brought her in a hug, "I'm okay" he answered her silent question. Om looked at them with a longing smile. "Bhaiya..." He heard a dry rasp and all eyes turned to Rudra who removed the mask from his face and stumbled over to them.

"Please..." He spoke and Shivaay closed his eyes. He was never strong when it came to his brothers, but——things have changed.

"Please...." He said again, and Priyanka parted slightly.

Shivaay closed his eyes as Rudra hugged him tightly whimpering. He opened his eyes to see Om and Priyanka shuffling around and he chuckled wrily and beckoned them over.

Just this once. Just this once they let go of all the things that happened in the past to relish the warmth of the hug they had yearned years for.

<>

They stayed until the fire died down. Priyanka and Shivaay stood by their cars as they watched the police and fire brigade doing their work.

"We have found kerosene traces, not just in one place, but various all around the mansion." Gauri stiffened at the words as she remembered when Roop came to hold her.

She turned to look at her, she was looking around hugging herself and her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Shivaay's eyes narrowed at that and he approached them. "What do you mean?" He asked.

"There was no malfunction in the wires, which was our initial thought that it could have started because of the short circuit but after we found the traces of kerosene. We don't believe so, we are still trying to figure out what caused the fire but for now——you need to find an alternative."

The Oberois looked up at this. "The mansion is in ruins. We cannot allow you to stay here. It is not safe." The man spoke. They looked at each other in disbelief.

Initially, Shivaay did feel bad but he can't do anything. It was not in his hands. He had already done what he could, he turned around to look, Om and Rudra were sitting on the bench exhausted. And Gauri who was standing with Priyanka around his car. They were the only people that he felt remorse for.

He remembered how the family was standing there when Om and Rudra were inside the building——they hadn't changed even a bit. They still dumped their responsibilities on the younger ones———throwing them head first into the situation to save their heads.

"This could have been a conspiracy." Commissioner Kadam spoke as he looked at them.

"It could be." Shivaay spoke up causing everyone to look at him. "A well planned conspiracy." He spoke turning to look at them one by one.

The commissioner nodded. "Do you suspect anyone?"

Shivaay held back for a moment before he turned to the man, "Commisioner Kadam, shouldn't you take everyone, who was present in Mansion, at the moment when fire started." He turned to look at his family.

"For all we know, it could be anyone." He spoke, his voice controlled.

The Commissioner nodded before walking away to fulfill the last bits of the investigation, leaving only him and his family in the backyard.

"The Mansion, is in the name of Mr. Tej Singh Oberoi, the insurance money is a generous sum, assured only after an accident——" he paused to look at the mansion before he turned back to look at them.

He had waited till everyone left, he was not the one to plate the dirt his family played within, outside for the world to scrutinize.

Tej's eyes narrowed and Roop's lips parted in shock, nobody expected Shivaay to raise his finger against his own family.

"Billu, what are you saying?" Kalyani spoke up. "Do you think Tej would do something like this? To his family?"

He turned to the woman he once respected, "My name is Shivaay." He spoke before his gaze hardened, and he turned to look at the man, his lips curved up in a sneer.

"And why shouldn't I question him? After all it has happened before, it could happen now as well." He remembered when Tej had signed the property papers that lead to the auction.

"When, he can sign the mansion away——how is this any new for him?" He asked tilting his head curiously.

He didn't trust the man. Not even a bit. He had sunk low and he knew he could go lower for his own will.

"He is your bade papa——"

"He is Tej Singh Oberoi, the man who had shook hands with the man who was planning to harm Annika! The man who was trying to kill me!" He turned to look at the man.

He turned to look at his grandmother, "I hadn't forgotten anything. They aren't forgiven." He spoke slowly, waiting for the words to sink in.

"He is nothing to me." He repeated the words that Tej had spoken to him several times in the past.

"You all mean nothing to me."

His eyes turned to his brothers who were staring at the ground, "I had done what was my duty, there is nothing I can do more." He spoke as he walked towards his car.

Ahh, so...?? I thought I would end the book by chapter 50, but apparently it could stretch a bit. Not saying anything for sure. But I hope I won't disappoint you. :)