Shivika FF- When the Lights Go Out [Chapter 11 updt 07/19 - page 17]

Annika:

She looked at the two small suitcases she had packed with Sahil's and her belongings. They were battered and shabby but she hoped it would hold up for the journey ahead. Leaving in the dead of the night without informing anyone smacked of cowardice and Annika was anything but a coward. However she had figured that if she wanted to retain even small degree of self respect she needed to walk way before what was left of her pride and independence was decimated. And the old Annika still lived and breathed in the broken shell that she was today, it was that Annika that squeezed Sahil's small hand firmly clasped in hers and said, " Sahil, don't worry everything will be fine. Your Annika didi will make everything fine

The small boy looked up, trust shining in his brown eyes and a small lopsided smile broke out. "I know Didi, we are a khidkitod team. And just like that the light in his eyes dimmed and the smile disappeared to be replaced by fear. "But Didi what if he comes looking for us? How will we hide from SSO? I don't want him to take you away from me. I don't want him to force you like he did for the wedding. Big fat tears pooled in his eyes and sobs shook his small frame as he put a voice to his deepest fear. Annika brought herself down to his eye level and folded his body into a fierce embrace. Her own eyes were smarting but she refused to let the tears fall. She had to be strong for her brother. She needed to make sure someone else would never use her brother to bring her down. He was her biggest strength and her biggest weakness and anyone who dared to do what Shivaay Singh Oberoi had done would face the consequences.

Sahil looked at his Didi's eyes as she disengaged from the embrace. There was a fire in them that he had never seen before. He had always admired her eyes because they were the windows to her soul. They changed from a warm brown to black depending on her mood but the sparkle would always be there. Today when she had come back from the reception at the Oberoi mansion he had learned what her eyes looked liked when they lost the sparkle. It was something he never wanted to see again. It was like looking at the eyes of a dead fish, lifeless opaque and devoid of any emotion. Those eyes had scared him because even at his age he realized something was drastically wrong and he didn't know how to fix it. She had not responded to his questions or even noticed that he had asked them. The TV had been blaring in full volume and as he had turned to switch it off, a news segment had started which showed SSO smiling at the cameras with Tia's hand nestled firmly in the crook of his elbow. The commentator was giving the details of the wedding of the year and images from the grand reception were being shown with detailed descriptions of what the new bride wore and how handsome and in love the newly weds looked. Sahil didn't know what had prompted him to turn when he did but he saw from the corner of his eyes the small wooden chair he had been sitting on earlier whizz past, hit the TV screen and send it careening to the ground where it lay in pieces, irretrievably broken. Annika didi had thrown the chair at the TV and Sahil could only gape at the transformation that had taken place. Her eyes were fiery and she was the heaving with the force of her anger. Instantly he realized that SSO was the only one who could have wrought both the deep despair and the raging anger that his sister had displayed in a matter of minutes.

The momentary rage seemed to have taken all her energy and Annika had slumped down on their battered couch and started to sob. Rushing to his Didi he held her as much as he could as the heart wrenching sobs shook her frame. Slowly in pieces he heard the horrible truth. SSO had done his worst and brought his proud and wonderful Didi on her knees using him as a weapon. His heart quailed at the thought that he had come this close to losing his Didi. "Annika Didi, will he come back and take me away so that he can force you to do something else he wants? Little Sahil's question jolted Annika out of her misery and pain. A new fear settled in, the monster could use Sahil again and she would have no defenses. She was alone and destitute. Her experience with Shivaay Singh Oberoi had taught her money could buy anything even one day brides and loyalty from people who should have known better than to use a child.

Wiping her tears she made her decision. No more would she cry, she was going to pay Shivaay Singh Oberoi back for every insult, the pain and every tear she had shed. But first she needed to secure Sahil and make sure he could not be reached by Shivaay Singh Oberoi or any of his minions.

Annika gave a startled gasp as Chanda's cold hands touched her hands and brought her out of the memories from the night. Her friend was looking at her strangely but she did not want to unburden herself to her friend and leave her vulnerable to the machinations of SSO. The lesser she knew the better. She handed Chanda two envelopes and gave her instructions on who to post them to. Then grabbing Sahil's hand and hauling her suitcases she walked out into the black night without looking back.

Precap for next chapter: - " Shivaay Singh Oberoi is married to Ms Annika and not Ms Tia Kapoor as reported earlier screamed the reporter.

The envelope tore without warning and the black beads of a broken mangalsutra scattered on the floor.

Index:

Chapter 1 - posted above

Chapter 2 - Page 2

Chapter 3 - Page 4

Chapter 4 - Page 6

Chapter 5 - Page 7

Chapter 6 - Page 10

Chapter 7 - Page 11

Chapter 8 - Page 12

Chapter 9 - Page 13

Chapter 10 - Page 15

Author's Note - Page 15

Chapter 11 - Page 17