HEALING HIM [ ✓ ]

13.

When Shivaay's eyes opened, he realised he was still in the shower. The water was still running down. His body was trembling from the cold, and the colour had already drained from his face and hair.

He stood up with the support of the wall, his hands slipping slightly. He turned off the shower and walked towards the door.

The bedroom was dark and cold. His steps were unsteady, probably numb from the shower. The cold air coming contact with his skin. He flinched as the wet freezing clothes stuck to his skin. He was still in the same suit that he had changed into before going to the farewell.

He sat in the corner of the darkened room curled up in a fetal position.

"I didn't want all this to happen. Never." He whispered into the thin air. Desperate to make his words heard. "I didn't do it." He said shaking his head. He rocked back and forth trying to seek some comfort the darkness of the room and the voices in head, the voices screaming accusations were pulling him back into the dark clouds of his mind.

The persistent knocking on his door shook him out of his thoughts.

"Leave me alone!" He cried out. The knocking stopped but the doorknob was turning. The door opened and his grandmother and brothers entered the room. He hid his face from the view.

Rudra and Om looked scared. They had never seen their brother like this. But Rudra was naive and once he was scared the only thing he needed was his brother's hug.

"Bhaiya?" Shivaay froze at the small voice. He raised his head to see Rudra's quivering face as he made his way towards him. "No Rudra-don't come here please. Don't." Rudra didn't listen. He needed him. "Bhaiya, I'm scared." And Shivaay weakened. He can't ignore that. But he has to. He didn't want them to be hurt. And if they stayed with him they would be.

"Shivaay, change into the warm clothes." The voice was strict and firm. He nodded. His grandmother coaxed his brothers out of the room but they didn't move from their spot. "Bhaiya needs hugs. He's sad." Rudra pouted. Shivaay smiled at his innocence. I need punishment.

"Om, Rudra. Listen to dadi, I'll join you soon." He tried, his voice sounded foreign to his own ears. The fake tone stung him. The kids nodded and walked out after their grandmother. He changed into the clothes grandmother had placed on the bed.

He stayed in his bed sitting on his bed, not having the courage to face his grandmother. "Shivaay." He sighed and turned to face his grandmother. She closed the door behind herself.

"What's going on?" He didn't answer.

She hummed, "You know. In the grief of losing both my sons and daughter-in-laws, I never realised I'm losing my grandson too." He shook his head. "It's not that, dadi."

"What's going on Shivaay, you've been hiding something." She tried but he had mastered the talent of hiding his feelings, something that never worked with her. Annika always saw right through him, what he was feeling and what he was expressing.

He froze.

"D-dadi, I didn't mean to." He started but she quietened him. "Billu, I'm not doubting you. I need to talk to the principal first. I know my grandson cannot do anything wrong." She said patting his head, he laid his head on her lap and cried. Tears sprung into her eyes seeing him so hopeless, he acted like a shield infront of others but she knew the truth.

"Take me away. I can't handle it anymore. Please take me away." Her heart broke seeing him begging in front of her. How much pain he was hiding inside of him?

"I will." She promised him.

She called the servants and asked them to pack the things around the house. If he wishes to leave, they will.