“Shattered in Silence”
A dull ache pulsed in Shivani's head as her senses slowly returned. Darkness clung to her vision, her eyelids heavy with confusion. She stirred—but her hands refused to move freely. Thick ropes bit into her skin, and a suffocating black cloth blinded her. Her breath hitched, panic blooming in her chest.
Thump… thump… thump…
Footsteps. They echoed across the room like the heartbeat of fear itself.
Shivani froze. Her body trembled as she strained to listen, each step drawing closer. A bead of sweat rolled down her temple.
"Who... who's there?" she called out in a trembling voice.
A cold, chilling laugh responded. It wasn't just a sound—it was a presence. Dark. Twisted. Intimate in its cruelty.
She felt him before she saw him. The bed dipped slightly beside her. A hand brushed her cheek—she flinched, her soul recoiling from the touch.
The laugh deepened.
"W-Who are you?" she managed to stutter, her voice barely more than a whisper.
The laughter stopped abruptly. The silence was louder now. Then came a bang—his hand slamming down hard against the bed.
"You don't recognize me?" he snarled. "Let me remind you—I'm the one you destroyed. The one whose life you turned into a wasteland! You cursed my happiness with your very presence!"
Shivani gasped, shaking her head. "I-I never…"
But her voice was cut off as he grabbed her jaw, his grip like steel. His voice dripped venom, "Yes, you did! You ruined everything!"
Tears streamed from beneath her blindfold. Her heart pounded like a caged bird's. Fear paralyzed her, but within that storm, she heard something shift.
His breath faltered.
As her tears touched his skin, his hand—once full of rage—began to tremble. A long, broken silence filled the room. And then, his lips gently touched the bruised spot on her face—as though trying to undo the pain he had just inflicted.
What is this strange irony? he thought. The one who suffers because of us… their pain feels heavier than our own vengeance.
But Shivani couldn't understand any of it. Why was this happening? What crime had she committed to deserve such torment?
The man stood abruptly and left without a word. The silence he left behind was more terrifying than his anger. Shivani's body, drained of every ounce of strength, collapsed once again into unconsciousness.
Time passed.
An hour later, she stirred again. Her hands were now free. She reached up, pulled off the blindfold, and blinked against the dim light of the room. Everything was unfamiliar—cold walls, heavy silence.
Her eyes scanned the room and stopped at two things on the table: her phone… and a bundle of money.
Her clothes lay on the floor—wrinkled and damp. Her body ached, but it was nothing compared to the storm inside her. With effort, she pulled herself up using the edge of the bed. Each step felt like dragging a mountain.
She picked up her clothes with shaking hands, dressed slowly, and finally grabbed the phone and money.
Stumbling toward the door, she stepped out into a world that looked the same—but felt entirely different.
The sunlight outside was harsh, almost mocking. Her soul, meanwhile, felt darker than ever. She walked, aimless, down the street until she spotted an auto rickshaw.
Raising her trembling hand, she called out, "Auto… please…"
The driver halted, concern immediately etched across his face. "Yes, beta? Where do you want to go?"
Beta. The word shattered her defenses. It reminded her of Abhay ji—his warm voice, his protection, his faith in her.
Her voice cracked. "Uncle… please take me to City Hospital."
The driver nodded gently. "Of course, child. Come, sit. I'll take you."
She climbed in, tears silently rolling down her cheeks. Her body trembled, her hands clutching the bundle of pain she couldn't yet name.
Half an hour later, the auto stopped at the hospital gates. Shivani sat still for a moment, staring out.
She was no longer the same.
She carried a storm.
---
Who do you think that man was? Why does he blame Shivani?
Can Shivani gather the strength to tell someone the truth—or will this pain bury her voice forever?