TS - The Shiv Trilogy (updated)

Hello all! Thank you to all the readers of "And Then There Were Five"...your feedback is invaluable 😊

I have attempted a three-shot on one of my favourite characters in the show! Hope you enjoy, criticisms welcome as always 😃


Part 1 - The Curse

Finally, a long awaited calm had settled over the Toshniwal house, lulling its inhabitants to a deep slumber. Well, atleast all except one.

A small figure crept out of bed and tiptoed to the looming Shiva statue in the backyard. Nervously checking to ensure that the door leading to Umashankar's room was closed, the figure flopped onto the floor, right in front of the watchful eyes of Shiva.

Soon, soft sobs disturbed the peace of the winter night.

"Why did you send such dreams to me Shivji? Everyone is so happy...the entire family was smiling so much. After so long, I thought our home was back to normal, with everyone being happy and together! So why am I scared now?" little Shiv's doe-like eyes welled up.

"You know how much I love weddings right...every time we are invited to one, I go crazy practising my dance moves and thinking of all the delicacies... Masisa always gets me a new suit and staying awake to pack gifts is so fun! But in our house..." Shiv's face fell.

"I didn't get to see Dhadosa marrying Kanak Babhisa. And when I finally saw Bhabisa as a bride, she was crying so much! And they kept fighting all the time... At times, I was sure that they will never fight again but every time, they kept going away from each other." Shiv grew agitated.

"And what happened with Saras jiji...I didn't get to see her wedding also. She did come here as a bride too...also crying. So many arguments happened on that day and Dhadosa's rage frightens me even today. It seemed like I would never see her again!" Shiv recounted how Saras left the house, broken.

"And today...Palomi didi became a bride. I tried hard to be happy for her and promised you that I will try to give her as much love as I give Kanak Bhabisa right? I was keeping my promise...I practised my dance, packed the gifts...got ready so early! But what happened? The same thing. She wept so much and left our house." Shiv continued in a low voice.

"Weddings are supposed to be fun. People chat,dance, have fun, eat, laugh..." Shiv stopped as a sudden realisation dawned upon him.

"Could it be that their family was cursed?"

He shot a panicked glance at the serene face of Shiva, as if demanding an answer.

"Shivji! I have vowed to be your devotee and I try my best to do everything right, just like how Masisa and Dhadosa tell me. I know I make mistakes, but I always try. Have..have you cursed our family?" Shiv asked earnestly.

"Shivji please send me a sign, like how you send Dhadosa signs. If...if you have cursed our family...will you please revoke it? For my sake?" Shiv pleaded now.

"You know I want everyone to be happy right...Masisa, Dhadosa, Bhabisa, Saras jiji, Suman jiji, Payal ma.." Shiv stilled.

"Oh no! Payal ma had become a bride today. She had already suffered so much because of Aditya Dhadosa. When he wasn't here, Payal ma used to cry thinking of him. And after he came,she cried because of him." Memories of Payal ma screaming for help in the kitchen came to Shiv.

"I tried to protect her...but, but he was such a bad man! Payal ma has already been through so much,will she have to suffer all over again?" he looked questioningly at Shiva.

"Will she also have to fight with her husband and come back here like how Kanak Bhabisa left home? Will her husband take care of her? He seemed to be a good man but..."

"Oh my God! He is a policeman. Aditya Dhadosa was a bad man and the police caught him. But what if this police man turns out to be a bad man? Do policemen arrest other policemen?"

A deep set frown adorned Shiv's small face as he contemplated all the possible problems his Payal ma could fall in.

"Shivji why have you placed so much difficulty in my duty?" a perplexed Shiv looked up at the serene eyes once again.

The night remained quiet...with only the sounds of the water fountain accompanying Shiv.

(Up next: Part 2 - The Confession)

Shiv's sadness & his view about everything portrayed well dear,

Part 2 - The Confession

Shivji did send a sign - not to the little Shiv in front of him, though.

Inside the room, Uma stirred in his sleep. A familiar strangeness arose in his gut as he tried to keep his eyes closed and ignore it. Moments later, accepting his failure, he shifted his position to face Kanak as his eyes fluttered open.

He adored her sleeping form, rising and falling with her steady breath. As he scanned her face, still bearing the trace of her bright smile, his eyes came to rest on her mangalsutra. A smile crept to his face now, as he recalled him making her wear it. The pendant shone against the dark night and at once, Uma could put a finger of the source of his discomfort.

"Shiv? Was Shiv all right?" he thought.

"Of course he would be...he will be sleeping soundly with Payal and here I am..."

Uma stopped mid-way.

"Payal is with Ved. So...Shiv is alone? No...why would he be...he is a brave boy, but I am sure Suman would never leave him to sleep alone like that..." Uma tried to reason with himself.

But there was no doubt about where this was going. Sleep was going to elude him till he saw a safely sleeping Shiv with his own eyes.

Determined, Uma moved as quietly as he could to get the hurricane lamp near the back door. That is when he heard the sobbing noise.

Curious, he approached the back door and held it slightly ajar, only to be taken aback by the sight before him.

He stood rooted to the ground as he heard Shiv's tearful monologue.

"Was this the example I have been setting for my brother? That marriage is full of sorrows and troubles?" Uma was crushed.

"How could he have ignored the effects of all that had happened on Shiv? He was an intelligent and sensitive child...but still, only a child. So many deep topics had been so frivolously discussed in his presence...at times, marriage and at others, divorce." Uma's guilt increased as he introspected.

"No! Shiv does not deserve this...he brings so much joy to this home, I can't let him down like this. I have to set this right" decided Uma and stepped out to stand behind Shiv.

As Shiv finished questioning God and sat dejected, lost in his thoughts...he heard Uma

"Ahemm.." Uma cleared his throat.

Shiv immediately turned back.

"Dhadosa..."

As Shiv attempted to stand up, Shiv motioned him to sit and joined him on the floor.

"What happened Shiv? Are you not feeling sleepy?" Uma asked with a smile, trying to be as normal as possible.

"I...I..."

Uma spoke again "I know...you ate too much didn't you?"

"No Dhadosa! Nothing like that...I even stopped after my third bowl of Kheer" Shiv answered in a hurry.

Uma laughed a bit. "Really? Then I think you didn't eat enough...did your tummy rumble and wake you up?"

Shiv now frantically nodded his head. "No Dhadosa...this is nothing to do with food at all!"

"Then? Is something troubling you?" Uma prodded gently.

"I...actually...it's just..." Shiv stuttered, thinking whether he should reveal his confusion to his Dhadosa.

"Are you worried for your Payal ma?" Uma asked directly.

Shiv's eyes shot up to meet his. "No, I mean...yes...I was just thinking...I mean I am not sure if..."

"If she will be happy?" Uma completed his sentence.

"Yes" Shiv replied in a low voice, feeling relieved that Dhadosa figured it out and yet apprehensive about his reaction.

"Shiv, you know I am a doctor right? Whenever you assist me in the clinic, have you noticed something about the patients who come to us?"

"Mm?" Shiv was now utterly confused...what had this got to do with his concern?

"Think...when do we get the most patients?"

Shiv's inner nerd could not resist an opportunity to answer his Dhadosa's quizzes.

"Hmm...when...when it is right after the festive or wedding season...when people have had too much to eat"

Uma laughed heartily. "Okay and also?"

"Aah yes...also when the seasons change. I also always catch a cold then."

Satisfied with his answer, Uma nodded in approval and put his hands around Shiv's shoulders.

"Marriage is exactly like that Shiv. Sometimes, when circumstances change, just like when seasons change, trouble crops up. Trouble like your cold! So, husband and wife have to figure out which medicine to take to get rid of their cold."

"Medicine?" Shiv inquired, bewildered.

"Yes. Now take your cold. Sometimes, all you need is a warm glass of Haldi Doodh (turmeric milk). But if the cold is severe, you have to drink bitter Khaada (herbal concoction)."

Shiv made a face at the thought of the Khaada his Dhadosa feeds him.

"When you drank Khaada for the first time, remember how you refused to talk to me for the whole day?" Uma asked.

Shiv giggled.

"Just like that, sometimes couples have to take time to find the medicine that works for them. Sometimes it is easy and they stay together and solve it. Sometimes, it is very difficult and they start to blame each other."

"Then what happens?" Shiv questioned.

"They figure out that the cold doesn't stay forever...and that it affects both of them equally. So they work together and find the medicine that suits them." Uma explained and looked at Shiv as he pondered over what was said.

"So Payal ma just needs time in her new house to find her medicine?"

Smiling, Uma nodded. "Yes."

Shiv was frowning now, and before Uma could ask, voiced his fear.

"But what if that policeman is bad? Who can stop policemen?"

Uma stifled his laugh at the innocent question and Shiv's fierce tone.

"Ved is a good man. But even if he does misbehave, I am sure you know who will protect Payal ma."

Shiv followed Uma's gaze. He looked down, at his pendant.

"Shivji?" he exclaimed, slapping his forehead. "How did I forget? Of course he will protect Payal ma...I need to give one of these to her before she leaves"

Shiv excitedly got up and started to run towards his room. Suddenly turning back, he rushed into Uma's arms and gave him a bear hug, slightly disturbing Uma's balance.

"Thank you Dhadosa! You're the best! I will grow up to become exactly like you, you see." he said as he placed a sloppy kiss on Uma's cheek and dashed inside the house.

(Up next: Part 3 - The Compromise)

Originally posted by: Kanum1

Shiv's sadness & his view about everything portrayed well dear,

Little cute shiv is everyones favorite, thanks for giving a part with shiv,

Your way of writing is superb shmy,

If possible give one part with saraswathi characteriztion or scenes,she is my favorite role in TSMSP such a

pure innocent soul...

Woww,next part is confession (whose?give me a hint😊)

Originally posted by: shmy27

Hello 😊 Thank you for reading! Will try to come up with something on Saras for sure 😃 hope you liked the next part as well 😛

Originally posted by: shmy27

Part 2 - The Confession

Shivji did send a sign - not to the little Shiv in front of him, though.

Inside the room, Uma stirred in his sleep. A familiar strangeness arose in his gut as he tried to keep his eyes closed and ignore it. Moments later, accepting his failure, he shifted his position to face Kanak as his eyes fluttered open.

He adored her sleeping form, rising and falling with her steady breath. As he scanned her face, still bearing the trace of her bright smile, his eyes came to rest on her mangalsutra. A smile crept to his face now, as he recalled him making her wear it. The pendant shone against the dark night and at once, Uma could put a finger of the source of his discomfort.

"Shiv? Was Shiv all right?" he thought.

"Of course he would be...he will be sleeping soundly with Payal and here I am..."

Uma stopped mid-way.

"Payal is with Ved. So...Shiv is alone? No...why would he be...he is a brave boy, but I am sure Suman would never leave him to sleep alone like that..." Uma tried to reason with himself.

But there was no doubt about where this was going. Sleep was going to elude him till he saw a safely sleeping Shiv with his own eyes.

Determined, Uma moved as quietly as he could to get the hurricane lamp near the back door. That is when he heard the sobbing noise.

Curious, he approached the back door and held it slightly ajar, only to be taken aback by the sight before him.

He stood rooted to the ground as he heard Shiv's tearful monologue.

"Was this the example I have been setting for my brother? That marriage is full of sorrows and troubles?" Uma was crushed.

"How could he have ignored the effects of all that had happened on Shiv? He was an intelligent and sensitive child...but still, only a child. So many deep topics had been so frivolously discussed in his presence...at times, marriage and at others, divorce." Uma's guilt increased as he introspected.

"No! Shiv does not deserve this...he brings so much joy to this home, I can't let him down like this. I have to set this right" decided Uma and stepped out to stand behind Shiv.

As Shiv finished questioning God and sat dejected, lost in his thoughts...he heard Uma

"Ahemm.." Uma cleared his throat.

Shiv immediately turned back.

"Dhadosa..."

As Shiv attempted to stand up, Shiv motioned him to sit and joined him on the floor.

"What happened Shiv? Are you not feeling sleepy?" Uma asked with a smile, trying to be as normal as possible.

"I...I..."

Uma spoke again "I know...you ate too much didn't you?"

"No Dhadosa! Nothing like that...I even stopped after my third bowl of Kheer" Shiv answered in a hurry.

Uma laughed a bit. "Really? Then I think you didn't eat enough...did your tummy rumble and wake you up?"

Shiv now frantically nodded his head. "No Dhadosa...this is nothing to do with food at all!"

"Then? Is something troubling you?" Uma prodded gently.

"I...actually...it's just..." Shiv stuttered, thinking whether he should reveal his confusion to his Dhadosa.

"Are you worried for your Payal ma?" Uma asked directly.

Shiv's eyes shot up to meet his. "No, I mean...yes...I was just thinking...I mean I am not sure if..."

"If she will be happy?" Uma completed his sentence.

"Yes" Shiv replied in a low voice, feeling relieved that Dhadosa figured it out and yet apprehensive about his reaction.

"Shiv, you know I am a doctor right? Whenever you assist me in the clinic, have you noticed something about the patients who come to us?"

"Mm?" Shiv was now utterly confused...what had this got to do with his concern?

"Think...when do we get the most patients?"

Shiv's inner nerd could not resist an opportunity to answer his Dhadosa's quizzes.

"Hmm...when...when it is right after the festive or wedding season...when people have had too much to eat"

Uma laughed heartily. "Okay and also?"

"Aah yes...also when the seasons change. I also always catch a cold then."

Satisfied with his answer, Uma nodded in approval and put his hands around Shiv's shoulders.

"Marriage is exactly like that Shiv. Sometimes, when circumstances change, just like when seasons change, trouble crops up. Trouble like your cold! So, husband and wife have to figure out which medicine to take to get rid of their cold."

"Medicine?" Shiv inquired, bewildered.

"Yes. Now take your cold. Sometimes, all you need is a warm glass of Haldi Doodh (turmeric milk). But if the cold is severe, you have to drink bitter Khaada (herbal concoction)."

Shiv made a face at the thought of the Khaada his Dhadosa feeds him.

"When you drank Khaada for the first time, remember how you refused to talk to me for the whole day?" Uma asked.

Shiv giggled.

"Just like that, sometimes couples have to take time to find the medicine that works for them. Sometimes it is easy and they stay together and solve it. Sometimes, it is very difficult and they start to blame each other."

"Then what happens?" Shiv questioned.

"They figure out that the cold doesn't stay forever...and that it affects both of them equally. So they work together and find the medicine that suits them." Uma explained and looked at Shiv as he pondered over what was said.

"So Payal ma just needs time in her new house to find her medicine?"

Smiling, Uma nodded. "Yes."

Shiv was frowning now, and before Uma could ask, voiced his fear.

"But what if that policeman is bad? Who can stop policemen?"

Uma stifled his laugh at the innocent question and Shiv's fierce tone.

"Ved is a good man. But even if he does misbehave, I am sure you know who will protect Payal ma."

Shiv followed Uma's gaze. He looked down, at his pendant.

"Shivji?" he exclaimed, slapping his forehead. "How did I forget? Of course he will protect Payal ma...I need to give one of these to her before she leaves"

Shiv excitedly got up and started to run towards his room. Suddenly turning back, he rushed into Uma's arms and gave him a bear hug, slightly disturbing Uma's balance.

"Thank you Dhadosa! You're the best! I will grow up to become exactly like you, you see." he said as he placed a sloppy kiss on Uma's cheek and dashed inside the house.

(Up next: Part 3 - The Compromise)