A Symphony Of Silence And Storm

Naked Shivay

The bewildered exchange between Annika and Shivay left Om and Rudra itching for answers. They left the living room, their curiosity piqued by Annika's parting words to Shivay. Entering Shivay's room, they found it empty except for a tell-tale sign of his fury – his phone lay in shattered pieces on the floor.

"Seriously, Bhaiya?" Rudra exclaimed, eyes wide. "Another broken phone?"

Om, ever the composed one, simply shook his head. This was a familiar scene. Shivay had a rather destructive habit – whenever anger got the best of him, his phone became the unfortunate target.  It had been a while since they'd witnessed this particular outburst, and Om couldn't fathom what had triggered it this time.

Just then, Shivay entered the room. His gaze darted straight to a specific shelf beside his table, where a new phone awaited. This wasn't unusual. The shelf, a testament to Shivay's volatile temper, housed a reserve of nearly 30 phones, ready to replace casualties of his anger. The drawer typically received a monthly restock, though some particularly frustrating months demanded a second visit.

Shivay expression remained stormy, and Om wisely decided to avoid poking the bear.  Rudra, however, oblivious to Om's silent warning, blurted out, "Bhaiya, when did you give Annika didi an advance for tomorrow's event? And guess what? We found out she's our permanent event manager now!"

Shivay remained silent, a tense aura radiating from him.  He wordlessly retrieved his SIM card from the broken phone and swapped it into a new one.  The shattered pieces were swept unceremoniously into the dustbin.  The air was thick with unspoken questions and simmering emotions.

Shivay sighed, the sound heavy with exasperation. "Rudra," he muttered, "not tonight. Let's just call it a night."  With that, Shivay retreated to his bed, clearly seeking refuge from the day's whirlwind of events. Om, ever the peacemaker, shot Rudra a silent look, urging him to drop the subject. Understanding dawning on him, Rudra simply nodded and the two brothers followed Shivay's lead, retiring to their respective rooms for the night.

The next day, the Oberoi mansion buzzed with pre-puja activity. Dadi had declared breakfast would be served only after the ceremony, amping up the morning bustle.

Annika, arriving early to oversee preparations, was a whirlwind of activity. She darted from corner to corner, barking instructions at the staff while keeping a watchful eye on their progress. One mistake, and she knew Kanika wouldn't hesitate to exploit it.

Speaking of Kanika, the news of Annika's permanent appointment as event manager did not sit well with her.She was acutely aware of her precarious position – almost everyone in the Oberoi household held a soft spot for Annika, except perhaps Shivay.

In fact, as soon as Annika had settled into her allotted room, Kanika barged in, determined to assert her dominance.

"Remember," Kanika announced, a haughty air clinging to her words, "I'm the future daughter-in-law of this family. Any mistake you make during this function will cost you your job."

Annika, unfazed, countered politely, "There's no need for such drastic measures, Miss. I take pride in my work and ensure meticulous planning. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a puja to prepare for."  With a dismissive smile, Annika ushered Kanika out, eager to resume her duties without further interruption.

An efficient whirlwind, Annika tackled most of the pre-puja tasks. However, one detail left her bewildered.  For this seemingly simple ceremony, color-coordinated outfits had been designed. "These rich folks and their peculiar ways of showing off," she muttered to herself.

With a sigh, she began delivering the outfits to each family member.  The last package, meant for Shivay, remained.  Initially, she considered handing it to Kanika, but the memory of Kanika's earlier threat deterred her.  Taking a deep breath and channeling newfound confidence, Annika walked towards Shivay's room and knocked five times. Hearing no response, she assumed he was using the washroom.

Assuming he was using the washroom, she cautiously entered, tiptoeing towards the bed and placing the clothes package on it. Just as she turned to leave, the door creaked open.

Annika froze. Shivay stood there, back towards her, clad only in a towel wrapped around his lower body. A startled shriek escaped her lips, and she squeezed her eyes shut.

Shivay, equally shocked, spun around, throwing his arms up to shield himself. "What the f—" he sputtered, eyes wide.  "What are you doing here?"

Annika, voice strained with embarrassment, mumbled, "I just brought your clothes for the puja."

Shivay's voice rose in anger. "How can you just barge into someone's room?"

"The door was open," she retorted, a touch of irritation creeping into her tone. "I even knocked five times and called your name, but there was no response. I thought—"

"You thought you could just waltz in?"  Shivay interrupted.

"I thought it would be quicker to leave the clothes and go." Keeping her eyes shut, she added sarcastically, "And how was I to know you weren't already getting dressed?"

"Stop it!" Shivay bellowed. "Don't even think about turning around!"

"Oh, please," Annika scoffed. "Like I'm interested in seeing you in a towel."

The tension in the room was thick. Shivay, flustered, mumbled, "Look, I forgot my clothes, and frankly, I'm not even interested in this puja. Just... stay there until I'm dressed. And don't you dare peek!"

In a flurry of movement, Shivay grabbed a fresh pair of clothes from his closet and threw them on. "Alright," he grumbled, "you can open your eyes now."

Annika cautiously peeked open her eyes, taking a deep breath before making a hasty retreat towards the door. Just then, Shivay's voice stopped her. "Take these clothes with you," he said, his tone flat. "I'm not going to the puja."

Annika halted, a frown replacing the relief washing over her. Turning back to face him, she spoke her mind. "Mr. Oberoi," she began, "I don't know the reason behind your absence, but have you considered Dadi? I saw how excited she was about this puja. All this isn't for her own happiness, but for yours. Seeing you participate would surely bring a smile to her face. Work can wait, but moments like these with your grandmother – they don't come back. The decision is yours, of course. I'll leave the clothes here in case you change your mind."

With that, Annika exited the room, leaving Shivay bewildered. Why was this stranger meddling in his family affairs? He couldn't help but suspect Dadi had sent her to reason with him. But before he could dwell on it further, Kanika barged in.

"Shivay, baby, don't worry about the puja," she chirped, twirling around to showcase her vibrant yellow dress. "I'll handle everything and keep Dadi happy. You just focus on your work. And honestly, how do I look?"

Shivay barely glanced at her before muttering a lukewarm "nice."

Kanika, oblivious to his indifference, preened at the compliment and skipped out of the room. Shivay, now caught between Annika's selfless concern and Kanika's self-absorbed priorities, felt a wave of indecision wash over him. Here was this stranger, Annika, advocating for his family's happiness, while Kanika, who was supposed to be his future family, was urging him to prioritize work over his grandmother's happiness.

This internal battle raged on as he made his way to the puja preparations. He saw Dadi conversing with his mother, but the usual sparkle in her eyes was absent. A pang of guilt shot through him as he noticed her downcast expression. An idea sparked in his mind, and he pivoted back towards his room.