"I heard that you like splashing water on your wife?" Roop questioned Shivaay. "Correct me if I am wrong..."

Shivaay tried to wriggle out from the ropes that were used to tie his hands and legs. When he woke up, he found himself in restraints. Honestly, he was tired. Life had never been too kind to him but this was another kind of harassment. He didn't want to feel so weak. He didn't want to be so helpless. He didn't want to be at someone else's mercy. 

All he wanted to do was go home and sleep. Was it too much to ask for?

At the same time, he strangely felt a little hopeful. He didn't completely understand the feeling but he was feeling like this was going to be the last of his troubles. Perhaps he was going to finally die. Or maybe not. He laughed despite the situation.

"Badi hasi aa rahi hai tujhe?" Roop questioned. 

"Haan..." chuckled Shivaay. "You guys had to poison me to get me here. So much for power." 

"Aha!" Veer laughed. "Classic Oberoi mind games. The apple does not fall far from the tree. In this case, bastard." 

"There is a bastard tree too?" Shivaay raised a brow. "I had no idea."  

When Veer and Roop didn't answer, Shivaay talked. More with himself. Perhaps he had really lost it. 

"Or do you want to say that there was a tree and my parents climbed on it like bastards and then threw me, also a bastard, down it. Ugh...managerial economics is easier to understand. But you wouldn't know. I don't think you ever went to college. Did you?" 

"You fucking piece of shit!" Veer punched Shivaay's stomach. 

For a few seconds, Shivaay did see stars in front of his eyes. But he didn't mind it much. Was it a bad thing to get immune to pain? He didn't know. 

Shivaay laughed. "Yaar, decide. Am I a bastard or a piece of shit? I can't think straight as it is. Don't confuse me anymore..."

"Why you..." Veer raised his hand to punch Shivaay again but Roop stopped him. 

"No Veer. We already have a setup for him. Don't waste your energy." 

"You could have come to me directly Veer!" Shivaay mumbled, his last bits of energy draining out of him. "I would have made sure that you got the respect and the place in our home."   

"And who are you? Father Teresa?" Veer snarled. 

"No..." Shivaay slurred like he was intoxicated. He then laughed. "But I am Shri Shri 108 Kanji...aankhon wala baggad billa Maharaj..." 

Veer got irritated by Shivaay's talk and kicked him. "Enough. Shut up." 

This time, the kick hurt Shivaay. Pain shot up in his leg and he grunted like a wounded soldier. "What do you want from me?" 

"Oh nothing much," Roop smiled. "We just want to give you a bath. Is that a crime now?" 

"No..." Shivaay struggled to break free from the restraints.

"What no?" Roop giggled. "You should know by now that we always do what we want." 

"Please..." Shivaay pleaded. He tried to make a deal with them like the businessman he was. And after all, life was more important than ego. "Let me go and I will make sure that all your demands are fulfilled."   

Giving his head a little shake, Veer moved towards Shivaay. He impatiently grabbed a fistful of Shivaay's hair and said, "Listen, I do not have time for your bullshit."  

Then he turned towards Roop. "And Mom, can we do this dialogue play later? Time for some action." 

Roop smirked. "I would have smacked you hard right now but since I just got to know about a few companies being transferred to me, I am going to let this pass. Go ahead. Play with your brother." 

Veer also smirked. "Pick a number from 1 to 10, Mom." 

Roop thought for a moment. "Hmm, 15." 

"Good!" he laughed. Then he covered Shivaay's face with a cloth and proceeded to pour water over the cloth at a steady pace. 

*********************

"I really do not understand this decision," one of the Board members said. "Our business runs because of your, Shakti's and Shivaay's collective brand value. Why do you want to sign off the reigns to your sister?" 

"Exactly!" another man piped up. "This is bullshit. Roop Oberoi isn't a brand. Neither is she qualified enough to headline Oberoi Industry. All our companies will suffer." 

Tej gulped. "I am sorry but I don't have anything else to say. This is what we have decided." 

The room fell into silence not knowing what had come upon the family all of a sudden. Shivaay was missing, Shakti had stopped coming to the office and now Tej was giving away his everything to his sister. Not just that, he had even put out a notice about his illegitimate nephew to come back home. It all felt like a bad Hindi movie. Only, it wasn't. 

"If that is the case," the first man said. "Then I will have to give my resignation. I no longer wish to be a part of this madhouse." 

Several other voices said the same. Tej knew that he was probably staring at the end of their illustrious run.  

*********************

"I have deployed all my officers to that location," Bhavya informed Annika. "Don't worry. Best case scenario, Bhaiya will be with us by tonight. Worst case, tomorrow." 

Annika didn't show her true emotions to Bhavya. Swallowing the bitter taste of bile back, she gulped. And god, she was sweating like mad under the clothes. She just nodded and asked, "When are you going?" 

"In a bit..." Bhavya replied. "I need to go undercover. I am pretty sure that Veer is keeping an eye on us." 

"That's my worry too. This is why even Bade Papa is continuing with everything..." said Annika. Her stomach cramped and she breathed hard. "What if he does something irreversible to Shivaay? What if...you know? I am so scared...I just want him back with us. And more than that, I just want him safe." 

Bhavya felt silent. She was dreading it. She was aware of Veer's capabilities. It would be a miracle if Shivaay came alive out of the whole ordeal. But they had to try until the very end. 

"Bhabhi..." Bhavya pressed her arm. "Take some rest." 

"Actually," Annika pleaded. "I want to come with you. Please. Don't say no." 

"But Bhabhi, how? What if Veer gets alert and does something to Bhaiya?" argued Bhavya. "I have experience. I know how to hide myself. You guys don't. Which is why I refused Rudra too." 

"Bhavya," Annika argued. "I have to be there. I cannot not come. Please don't say no. I promise, I won't spoil anything. Treat me like your officer." 

Bhavya smiled. "Bhabhi, but you aren't my officer. It's risky..." 

"Please Bhavya. I want to do this for Shivaay...everything in me is saying that I have to be there...please...think of a way na." 

Bhavya thought about it for a while and then something clicked in her brain. As the cogs churned in her brain, she nodded. "Okay. Get dressed. We will go." 

"Thank you..." said Annika gratefully and picked up the laundry basket. With that, she walked out from the blind corner and went on to do the needful. 

*********************

When Shivaay was around twelve, he had gone on a school trip. On the trip, in a very unfortunate incident, one of his closest friends had accidentally fallen in the river. Without thinking much, Shivaay had jumped right in. He was a champion swimmer. He thought that he would easily save him. But they both had been sucked in by the river's current. Thankfully it was the river's current itself that had thrown them out towards the bank too. But the few seconds for which they were under the water, were hell. 

Shivaay felt just like that. His heart was hammering like crazy. He tried to move his hands and legs but they were tied. He felt like he was a dead weight and was sinking to the depths of the sea. He yelled. But the action caused him to swallow more water and he choked. His brain, his body, everything went into panic mode. He couldn't breathe. He more desperately tried to move. It didn't work.  

Then just as it had started, the water stopped. The cloth was removed from his face and he was made to sit up. 

Water gushed out of his mouth and he coughed hard. His chest and throat felt like they were on fire. His body cried out in pain as he emptied his gut out. Since when did water become so potent? With Annika, it always felt refreshing. This was different. His body gave up and he fell down on the floor, in the watery mess he had just created. This was no better than his first experience of drowning. And without meaning to, he found himself pleading.  

"Stop..." he croaked. "I can't breathe." 

"Cute!" Veer smiled. "Do you know this? When I was in the orphanage, they used to throw me in the well if I ever made a mistake. Do you think I knew how to swim? I felt the same." 

Another coughing fit hit Shivaay. But Veer didn't care. He picked Shivaay up like a child. Placing him on the plank, he tied the restraints again.    

"I remained in the water for full nights at times, clutching the wall until someone rescued me. And look at you. You are dying in 15 seconds. Tsk! Bad performance." 

"But what do I have to do with your bad experiences?" Shivaay managed to speak. He had to make his point too. 

"Maa baap ke paapon ki sazaa bacho ko hi milti hai, Beta. Satyug see yehi chala aa raha hai. Do you know why? When they see their offspring in trouble, that is the greatest sorrow..." Roop said and placed another dry cloth on Shivaay's face. "And well, you also have to know what troubles did Veer go through when the Raja beta was growing up in the lap of luxury. We have to level the scores, isn't it?" 

"St..."

Shivaay's words were cut short when Veer poured the water on the cloth again. And the ordeal began again. 

*********************

"It's enough for today." 

Veer announced as he walked out to the living room of Tej's apartment. Tej wanted to ask what but he dared not say anything. He kept his eyes on Roop and said, "I have given the press release to everyone. Veer can announce his association with you and us anytime he wants." 

"Jaldi kya hai Uncle?" Veer sat down beside him. "You guys have waited for so long. Let's make this look organic. Shall we?" 

"True!" Roop chirped. "Okay fine now tell me. How many times did Shivaay shower?" 

"Three..." Veer shrugged. "Bloody weakling does not have the strength to take it anymore." 

"Well," Roop smiled. "You must admit that even surviving all this requires a lot of strength. Badi shakt jaan hai. Marta hi nahi. Mujhe toh laga tha ke zeher se hi maar jayega." 

Tej discreetly wiped his brow. He couldn't go in without their permission and only heavens knew what they were doing with Shivaay. But how right was Roop. Shivaay's strength was phenomenal. If someone else was in his life, they would have succumbed. 

Tej changed the topic and slid the files on the table.  

"These are the papers, of my mining companies and the construction projects that Shivaay was headlining. You might want to take a look at them Veer."

"Thanks!" Veer took the files from him and started to read them. Tej spoke up, "Okay. If you don't agree with any of the clause, call me. I will take your leave now." 

"Won't you stay for dinner bhaisaheb?" Roop wiggled her brows. 

"No," Tej shook his head. "I have plans." 

*********************

Rudra and Om stared at Tej's face as his car rolled out of the apartment premises. As promised, he honked thrice. They knew it was their cue. Tej had completed the first bit of what they had planned. They all were sure that Veer and Roop would be now busy looking at the official papers.  

"What now?" Rudra asked Bhavya. 

"We wait for a while," Bhavya told them and put the car in gear. Even though their car had black tinted glass, it was not advisable to keep the car parked in one place for long. "When the apartment staff shift changes at 8 PM, our people will go in." 

"That's good to hear..." sighed Annika. She was nervous. After the videos and pictures she had received, she had no idea what to expect. Her palms had already started to sweat along with her eyeballs. She kept praying for mercy. 

"Have faith Bhabhi..." Rudra wrapped his arms around her body. "have faith."  

Om joined them. "Yes. Goodness takes time but always wins in the end. Everything will be well. I promise you that Shivaay will be alright." 

"Haan," Rudra nodded. "Maine toh cake bhi order kar liya hai. Aaj Bhaiya ke muh pe hi marunga." 

Annika laughed. Om rebuked him. "Oh shut up Rudra." 

"No really..." he managed a small smile. "We are going to have a good party today."  

If he was being honest, he was scared too. Veer was dangerous. He was worried about Shivaay. But he was also worried about everyone else too. He lightly touched the gun in his sock that had become his constant companion over the period of the last month. God willing, he would get to use the gun today. 

*********************

"Hello, where are you?" asked Bhavya. 

"I am now standing near the reception. Veer has not left yet..." answered Bhavya's colleague. 

In order to let Veer believe that everything was normal, Bhavya had kept a few key staff members the same. Everything was set. Now the only hurdle was actually walking in the building without alerting Veer. 

And for that, Bhavya had the perfect plan. Coincidentally, Tej and she had a common reporter friend. She had used that gentleman to convey her plan to Tej. She looked at her watch. Tej was going to return any moment now. 

As expected, his car came back to the building. 

Tej got down the car and headed towards the apartment. When he stood in front of the main door of the apartment, he called the reporter. It was their cue. As soon as Veer opened the door, Tej spoke into the phone, "Okay, I will you later." 

"What is it?" Veer screeched at Tej. "Why have you come back here?" 

Tej rubbed his temple. "I want to talk with you and Roop. It's rather important. It's about a few of our key properties."

"Let him in Veer!" Roop said from inside. 

With a growl, Veer obliged. Angrily, he turned around on his heels and stormed inside. Roop smiled at Tej. "Close the door please." 

That was exactly what they had planned. Tej nodded and closed the door but sneakily dropped his pen near the door frame so the door didn't close but if one looked at it from far away, it gave the illusion of it being closed. 

As he sat in front of the mother and son, he took a deep breath. He had to act bloody well this time around. 

"What is it?" Veer asked impatiently. "Say it." 

"As you know, Jhanvi has made Shivaay the managing director of Oberoi Realty. Now, the thing is that we need his signatures on his resignation papers. And they have to be officiated. We cannot use digital signatures or stamps..." Tej spoke in his best professional voice. 

"What?" Veer frowned. "That bullshit." 

"You can talk with the lawyer..." Tej forwarded him the mobile. 

"Sure as hell I will," Veer snatched the phone from Tej and started to talk with the lawyer. 

Tej nervously kept his firmly on the carpet because he knew what was going to happen next. As he had hoped, there was a loud bang. When Tej looked sideways, he saw that the police had broken into the apartment.      

*********************

New day, new update. Gentle reminder, this isn't a Shivika story. Hope you guys have a fantastic day. Tata! :D