Shivika FF- When the Lights Go Out [Chapter 11 updt 07/19 - page 17] - Page 10

Shaking his head to rid himself of the stupor that Annika had left him in with her latest stunt, Shivaay tried to re-focus on the shareholder report in his hands. The numbers swam in front of his eyes and with a groan of defeat he flung them away, slumped backwards on the couch and closed his eyes. Instantly her picture appeared in front of his eyes and Shivaay snapped his eyes open. Was it not enough that she was always in front of him during the daytime that now he had taken to seeing her even when his eyes were closed? Was he not allowed a single moment of peace from the thoughts and dreams of Annika?

Head bent and hands on either side of his face Shivaay tried to force his brain to function on the topic of how to lure Daksh out in the open. It had been 2 days since the news of his jail break had reached him and he was getting tired of waiting for the sword to fall. He needed closure to the Daksh chapter in his life so he could focus on Annika and the other problems that were plaguing his family such as who had circulated his wedding clip to the media and what to do about Tia?

Om watched as Shivaay appeared in deep thought. He had been purposefully avoiding having conversations with Shivaay since the big revelation because frankly he was not sure he would be able to stop himself from screaming or raging at Shivaay. Everything Shivaay had done was counter to the morals and values that had been his sole comfort and guiding light during his turbulent childhood years. He had thought that Shivaay had understood and shared those same morals and values. Thus he had been completely unprepared and blindsided by the sheer cruelty and ruthlessness with which he had dealt with Annika. He understood that Shivaay had been insanely jealous of Daksh and had acted out on his misconceptions but what he still couldn't understand was, why he had forced Annika to marry him inspite of the low opinion of her character? Shivaay could have easily postponed the wedding if he chose to by simply saying Tia was kidnapped or missing or found another more willing girl who would agree to the sham wedding. Why had he chased down Annika after she had run away and then taken the extreme measure of threatening her brother? It made no sense to him.

"Why Annika? the question bounced off the walls of the room. Shivaay did not pretend to not understand the question. He knew Om would cut to the chase and ask the most difficult question first when he actually got around to talking to him. In one way he was glad that Om had atleast talked now. The silences between them had become so charged and painful that the others had started noticing it to. Just the other day a worried Prinku had come to him and broken down to lament about how she had not been able to see a single Obro moment between her brothers since the reception.

Preparing himself for the confrontation that was about to happen, Shivaay looked at Om.

"Because she got under my skin. I punished her because she made me feel things I never felt before and want to do things I never wanted to do before. She made me care about her and then one fine day she accepted Daksh's proposal. I never totally believed everything Daksh said about the one night stand she had with him, but I did use what he said as shield so that she would not be able to destroy what was left of Shivaay Singh Oberoi. I convinced myself that I hated her and it was just to save the family image that I would marry her for one day and divorce her the next day. She resisted and the demon in me roared. I had to make her mine and then desert her the next day so she would feel the pain I felt. Then I found out Tia had been kidnapped and everything went south. Everything that Daksh said I used as an excuse to throw Annika out of my life so that I could become Shivaay Singh Oberoi again.

Om had never seen Shivaay speak so much or bare his soul to this extent. Drained by the overflow of emotions Shivaay bowed his head and waited for the verdict.

Shivaay head jerked up, "No... No... its not love... its just an infatuation... I care about her that's all... I don't love her because I don't know her... where she comes from, who her parents are...nothing... As soon as Annika becomes alright, she and I are going to go our different ways... I can't marry Tia anymore but I definitely cannot remain married to Annika...

The shattering of glass was all the warning he got. He realized with horror that the door to his room had been left open and a shell shocked Gauri had heard it all. Glass pieces littered the floor near her feet but she remained unmindful as she stalked forward, rage contorting her features.

"Mr Oberoi... before Shivaay could open his mouth to explain himself, Gauri raised her hand in a stop sign.

"I don't know who you think you are... but for me you are the most arrogant, inhumane and obnoxious man to walk this earth... You dare question my Jiji's lineage... Then let me tell you... Jiji is the eldest daughter of Harshvardhan Trivedi, the Harshvardhan Trivedi of Trivedi jewelers... We are ten times the size of Oberoi industries in gross profit and our combined assets can buy Oberoi industries many times over.

Shock held Shivaay immobile, he had heard of the Trivedis before. Harshvardhan Trivedi and his wife had been killed in a hit and run accident years before and their daughters had been presumed dead in the same accident. The culprit had never been found. The family was famous and had been in business for much longer than the Oberois. In some circles they were considered royalty, the richest of the rich.

"Our uncle runs the business now but our father made sure that Jiji and I are equal shareholders and so Jiji doesn't need you or your name. She was shaking from the anger coursing through her and clenched her hands in an effort to stop herself from strangling the man in front of her.

"I was prepared to give you the benefit of doubt especially after Omkaraji told me that you loved her but what I just heard is more than enough. You don't deserve her, you don't deserve love because all you do is spit on it and throw it out like its trash because you think everyone is beneath you. I am leaving with my Jiji right now and I will make sure no one is able to reach her or hurt her anymore, not that Daksh nor you. Shankarji gave you a golden opportunity to make things right and you have just defiled his gift. He will never forgive you and I will never forgive you for this... She stalked out completely unaware of the bloody footprints on the white marble floor made by her bleeding feet because of glass pieces piercing her through her slippers.

A deafening silence fell in the room before Omkara spoke, "Everytime I think that you have finally figured out what is important in your life Shivaay, you prove me wrong. You prove that you cannot look beyond your blind prejudices and assumptions about people. Annika has done so much for us, you and yet you cannot look beyond her sham background. I have told you so many times that a person's worth is not determined by where they are born but by their actions, but you refused to listen. I am truly ashamed you are my brother.

Om walked out after saying his piece leaving a frozen Shivaay who had not heard a single word after Gauri had stated she was leaving with Annika. His mind screamed no but his body refused to move. And so he stood in frozen stillness while tears gathered and then fell from his eyes in rivulets.

Daksh had taken great pains to disguise himself and he was not about to let it go waste. Adjusting the rim of the cap that came with the uniform of the security guard to hide his face he walked into the farmhouse and ran smack dab into a tall woman dressed in the uniform of house staff. She looked at him suspiciously and asked, "Who are you and how did you get inside?

He purposely lowered his voice an octave and said "I am Shekar the new security guard. Khannaji asked me to check a camera that seems to be malfunctioning.

"Okay then I will follow you to the camera.

"Okay mam. Sweating now and hoping the dark make up he wore would not wash out he started up the stairs with the woman following behind.

Wohooo!!!! The shout stopped him short and he watched with wide eyes as Annika barreled out of a room with some kind of water gun in her hand and raced towards where he was standing. This was his chance. He swung around and struck the woman behind him on the top of her head. Unbalanced by the sudden attack she tumbled down the stairs and landed in a heap at the bottom and did not move. As he swung around back to Annika he saw her eyes widen and she made a vain attempt to stop her headlong rush into him. Using her own momentum he grabbed her hand in a hard clamp and swung her in a half circle so that her back collided against his chest and with right palm he shut her mouth so that she wouldn't scream. Then using his other hand he exerted pressure at the nape of her neck until she lost conscious. Hauling her fireman style across his shoulder he rapidly descended the stairs and sprinted across to the main door.

"Jiji!!!! a shout echoed behind but he did not pause. Bundling her into his loan car parked at entrance he tore down the main approach road and crashed through the wooden main gates of the farmhouse and disappeared in a cloud of dust.

When Annika blinked her eyes open, it was to find herself in some kind of warehouse. Empty cartons were piled up to the ceiling on either sides of her. She had been tightly bound and gagged to a chair and she struggled vainly to free herself. Terrified by the darkness and because she was bound she started whimpering.

Out of the shadows, a dark figure moved closer and a sibilant voice whispered close to her ear "Hello darling, remember me? Something about the malevolent voice and the shadow struck Annika like a thunderbolt. An avalanche of memories came rushing through and she gasped as she relived the horror of being stalked, harassed and getting shot. Tears ran down her cheeks and she sobbed through the gag.

"Now, now don't be so coy... of course you remember me... your fiance Daksh, remember Annika? I have a little present for you... a cackle of laughter followed an expansive hand flourish that pointed to a 10 ft glass case standing in the middle of the room. Blinking to make sure she was seeing right Annika tried to talk but the gag made her word come out muffled.

"You want to know what this is for? Well... you and I are going to play a little game Annika dearest. The game is called "When will Shivaay get here. The rules are simple, I put you in the glass case and we will turn on a little water. You can cry and shout as much as you want. I am going to sit here and count the time till Shivaay gets here. If he gets here before the tank becomes full then he can try to get you out if not then sorry you lose the game.

Evil laughter followed his announcement and talons of fear grabbed Annika by the throat. She choked and tried to plead but it fell on deaf ears. He dragged her over to the tank, opened the door on the top and pushed her in with the help of a pulley after removing her gag and bounds. Annika banged the glass and pleaded desperately. "Please let me go Daksh, please... I haven't done anything... I have a little brother to look after... please let me go to him...

Daksh casually walked back to the chair she had been bound on and with horror stricken eyes she watched him fish out a remote from his pocket and press a button. Water started pouring in through a tube in the ground and as she felt it wet the hem of her gown and slowly rush up her ankles she prayed to a God she had never trusted before.

When Gauri burst through the door to say that someone had kidnapped Annika, Shivaay had initially not responded. He had stood frozen in the same position that she had left him in. Her cry did not seem to reach him at all. Desperate now, Gauri had shook him with all her might and that seemed to bring him out of whatever trance he was in. Propelling himself as if he had wings he shouted for Khanna at the top of his voice. An out of breath Khanna appeared at the top of the stairs while a grim faced Om and Rudra helped ACP Bhavya get up from where she had landed at the bottom of the stairs. Thankfully she had only been knocked out and had no major injuries. Ice blue eyes snapped up at Khanna and he immediately handed over the phone with the security footage. Face immobile but eyes burning with rage Shivaay watched Annika get kidnapped but the identity of the kidnapper was not clear. The hat was hiding his face but he could bet all his fortune that it was Daksh. The height and build were exactly the same. "How the hell did this happen... Is my security team and the best of the Mumbai police force so incompetent that they can't even identify a criminal in our midst he shouted.

"There is no time to place blame Mr Oberoi, if anything happens to my sister I will not spare any one of you, Gauri threatened her voice rising with every syllable.

About to retort, Shivaay was stopped short by the ringing of his phone. He was preparing to pick it up and hurl it over banister when a name flashed on the screen and he picked the call up and put it on speaker. Daksh's voice echoed through the hallway, "Shivaay my man... How are you? Having fun yet?

"Daksh your fight is with me... leave Annika out of this

"So lover boy wants to protect his wife huh... okay I will give you one chance... Prove you love Annika... I will send you the address of a place... Come there... Alone... No police, no brothers, no guards... and we can discuss and settle it like men... what say Shivaay?

"I will be there, just don't hurt Annika because even if you hurt one little hair on her head then beware... I will make you rue the day you were born. The call cut off and Shivaay nodded at his brothers and Khanna before sprinting for his car.

The brothers and Khanna along with the ACP and some policemen headed for their cars leaving Gauri behind who Prinku was trying to console.

Driving like a maniac, Shivaay reached a warehouse that was isolated and run down. Rushing in through the door he was met with the sight of a desperate Annika banging on the doors of a glass cage submerged in waist high water. "Anika!!! he shouted.

She jerked around to face him and as their eyes met and held across the room he swore he saw a glimmer of hope before it was extinguished and she seemed to wilt before his eyes. Rushing towards to the tank he was stopped by the voice of Daksh calling out to him "I wouldn't do that if I were you Shivaay. You see we are playing a little game. The closer you go to her, I will turn the force on the water more.

Shivaay lost it, he kicked Daksh in the chest and started hammering him with blows. The water was now on level with Annika's chest and she desperately tried to stay afloat as she watched the fight between Daksh and Shivaay. Shivaay was winning but time was running out on her. The door burst open again and Om, Rudra and Khanna rushed in followed by the police. The force of the water suddenly increased and within seconds Annika's head was submerged under the water.

Daksh cackled as he was being hit by Shivaay, "Time has run out... Annika is dead...

The cloud of anger dissipated from Shivaay's eyes and he turned around horrified to find his brothers, Khanna and the police desperately trying to break the glass cage which held Annika who was now fully submerged. Shouting her name he sprinted to the tank and tried to use his fists to break the glass. It wouldn't budge. The ACP had already put Daksh in handcuffs and was pressing him to tell how to turn off the water but he just sat there grinning with blood running down his face. Spying a metal rod lying near one of the cartons Shivaay picked it up and used it to smash the glass and a lifeless Annika fell out along with all the water.

For the second time in a month, Shivaay had to sit by Annika holding her hand as the ambulance sped through to the nearest hospital. Her pulse was low, her blood pressure was falling and a lot of water had gotten into her lungs. He kept chanting her name as the doors of the ambulance were opened and she was hurried into the ICU. Again he was left to stew over his failings as he waited outside the ICU. Om and Rudra had gotten Gauri from home and they all prayed and waited in silence for the doctor. A man in his late 40s with a doctor coat stepped out and walked up to Shivaay.

"Mr Oberoi, she had barely begun to gain her strength back from heart surgery and now this incident has put additional pressure on her heart. That's why her pulse and BP are low. Right now we have put her in induced coma so that her body can heal but I am more worried about her mental state. We need to wait, there is nothing more we can do.

Patting his shoulder he left and Shivaay slumped against the wall overcome with pain and exhaustion.

Your story was missed a lot. I hope your exams went well.

Coming to the update, it was so fantastic. A lot happened through it's course. It makes me wonder if you are planning to wrap this up soon.

Shivay and his preconceived notions name bloodline and lineage is going to bring catastrophes in both their lives. The man has to sit doed and contemplate once. If he has been able to accept that he was obsessed, I think the realization that he is in love won't be too away. I though have mixed feelings about Anika turning out to be more blue blooded then him.ets see how that pans out

Seems like Anika got her memory back.

Let's see what is in store.

you are so gone

even if anika will recover gauri wont let her sister with you

and nor will anika come back after your cruel actions

om is right you always concentrate on wrong things in life.

SSO and his Nkk...its going to cause him trouble a big time... I really hope Annika is safe