:|: I Don't Know - An OS :|:

Clutching my cure, I'm trying to lock the door; I'm trying to catch my breath again.

'You're lying!'
'You stole the money from her!'
'You're expelled from the school!'
'God knows how long you will make us regret that you are our son!'

Sanskaar's hands strummed furiously at the guitar, as these voices played over and over in his head. The bitterness, the hatred in him loomed again. Estranged from his family, expelled at school for a theft he never committed, he had seen a lot, and had it all inside him, anger, frustration, all of it.

His phone rang, which he answered with shaking hands.

"Hello?"
"Sanskaar!" it was his PR manager, Juhi. "Melodies has agreed to sign you on!"
"WHAT!"
"Yes, they have! I am coming to the office in 10 minutes, be there! "

He barely registered what she said as he sank into his couch. The biggest music label in the country had agreed to sign him on as the lead vocalist in their latest album. The joy, the relief that flooded through him was overwhelming.

He called the familiar number again. Four rings later he was rewarded with a shaky 'hello'. He didn't dare breathe. His mother would know it was him. His mother would definitely recognize him even if he inhaled.

"Anyone on the line?" she said, a little loudly. He started out of his thoughts, but didn't respond. She hung up, but he could hear her say must have been a wrong number'.

He might have left his house when his own parents didn't believe that he didn't steal, but his love for his parents didn't wane. Every time something of this magnitude happened, he always called home, if only to hear his parents' voices.

I'll never fight again, and this is how it ends.

He made his way to the recording studio, three weeks later, of Melodies'.

"Welcome, Sunny," said the Director, Yuvraj. "It is an honour to have you record for us."
"The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Rathod. I am indeed privileged to work with you," said Sanskaar, shaking Yuvraj's hand.
"The album is sure to be a superhit, with your voice, and Shrikant Saxena's music, and Jai's lyrics!"

Sanskaar's euphoria at the recording lasted a week, before he received the bad news.

"Sunny, Yuvraj here," said a voice, down the telephone line. "The investors have pulled their investments, we are bankrupt. The album is now shelved."

Silence. A shattering silence. It was as if Sanskaar's world had come crashing down on him. This was not possible. How could it be? The album getting shelved meant he would NEVER be able to make it big. Maybe his father had been right, he was jinxed.

I don't want to be the one, the battles always choose.

The next day's newspaper carried the article of Melodies' bankruptcy. The news channels were going berserk. Holed up in his house, Sanskaar heard none, read none. He had given up on it. On everything.

I don't know what's worth fighting for or why I have to scream.

This idea has been playing in my head since July, when I heard of Chester Bennington's suicide. He was my favourite and continues, to date, to remain my favourite singer. This OS is kinda loosely based on his childhood (not the stealing part), but the abuse he faced, and the ending is open. This will not have a follow-up, and is a standalone.

The idea and story is purely my own. I got inspired by fanfiction.net's song-inspired drabbles.