Chapter 4 #2
"Okay, mamma," Siya said, kissed her mother's cheeks, and walked to bed.
She climbed the bed with difficulty, and Richa followed her.
Richa tried to read a story or make her sleep, but it became impossible.
Though Siya was used to being around Richa, she needed her mother to sleep.
Richa looked helplessly at Akansha. She asked Richa to wrap one of her dupattas and then take Siya in her arms and pat her back slowly.
Richa repeated the same, and slowly the little girl fell asleep.
"Your daughter needs your fragrance. She sniffed the dupatta like a cute puppy before falling asleep," Richa said, settling beside Akansha after securing Siya with pillows around.
"Shut up... Don't call my baby a puppy," Akansha said with her face scrunched.
"Puppies are cute, Akansha," Richa argued.
"I hate dogs," Akansha said.
"You fear them more than you hate them," Richa added.
"Whatever... I hate and fear them," Akansha said, working on her laptop.
"But Siya loves them..." Richa said.
"Yeah... she went on her father," Akansha's tongue slipped. She clicked it instantly, realizing the words she had spoken. The horror on her face told Richa that Akansha didn't want to say it.
"Day after tomorrow... I'm going to cover Mr. Bisht's wife's birthday.
Family... That's one point where he has an advantage over the incumbent Chief Minister Shaurya Singh Shekhawat.
.. I need to show Dev's family man image and highlight it," Richa said.
She thought she had diverted the topic from Siya's father, without knowing she was still speaking about him, and this time the truth was harsher.
Akansha's heart pained for Shaurya. He might not be a great husband, but he was definitely a great leader.
He cared for his people. She didn't think Dev didn't care for people or that he wasn't a good leader, but Shaurya was the best and deserved to be the Chief Minister more than anyone.
The thought that Richa wanted to use the lack of family against him upset Akansha.
Richa hated when people said she intentionally accentuated Dev's image, but that's what she was doing now.
Akansha wanted to point it out but didn't. She didn't want to say anything positive about Shaurya or do something that would help him.
But it did hurt when her friend said Shaurya wasn't a good leader just because he didn't have a family. And the so-called "family man" image—well, Richa didn't exactly say that, but she was going to take advantage of that fact, and Akansha felt it was wrong, but she didn't voice it.
"Can we talk about something else?" Akansha said, diverting the topic, and Richa nodded, knowing how much her friend hated politicians.
Both friends talked while Akansha finished her work, then went to bed after warning Richa to go home and spend time with her parents instead of staying over every day. Richa, as usual, ignored her warning.
The next day, Richa dropped the mother-daughter duo at school and went to work.
Akansha mailed the shortlisted themes for the party to all the directors, then went to the principal’s cabin to explain them directly.
He was impressed, and even the directors and chairman responded positively, except for Parth Goyal.
But she didn’t care. The majority mattered, and they selected a theme from her list.
She also discussed the kids’ dance. The principal refused at first, but Akansha convinced him, explaining that the kids’ performance would attract attention and impress the guests if properly trained. She also mentioned a renowned choreographer. After repeated assurance, the principal agreed.
When he spoke to the chairman, he also approved it, noting that Shaurya liked children. However, he warned them to ensure the kids didn’t mess up. Akansha assured him and left.
After finishing work, Akansha and Siya went home.
She knew Richa wouldn’t be there, as she would be busy planning to highlight Shaurya’s lack of a “family man” image.
Akansha thought bitterly about it. A part of her wanted to warn Richa that she was going against her own principle of unbiased reporting, but the stronger part of her, still hurt by Shaurya, stopped her. It was none of her business.
That night, she struggled to sleep but still refused to call Richa or interfere.
As promised, Shaurya went to Dev’s farmhouse for Rachna’s birthday. He finished work in the morning and left, planning to arrive at lunch when there would be no other guests. Everyone else was expected in the evening, so only Dev, Rachna, and the children were present.
"Finally... the Chief Minister is here..." Dev teased.
Shaurya ignored him and walked to Rachna.
"Happy Birthday, dear... wish you a great year ahead," he said, hugging her briefly. She smiled warmly.
"I thought you wouldn’t come... the kids will be so happy, their Uncle Shaurya is here after so many days," Rachna said.
"You mean months, baby?" Dev taunted.
"Dev... keep that mouth in check or I might land a punch or two," Shaurya warned.
Dev raised his hands in surrender, making Shaurya smile and Rachna laugh.
The kids ran to Shaurya as soon as they saw him, screaming in joy. Dev had two sons, Ishan and Ivaan. Shaurya ruffled the elder one’s hair and picked up the younger, kissing his cheek.
He played with them while Dev and Rachna arranged lunch. They had planned it in the garden, but due to security and paparazzi risks, they shifted it indoors.
The kids insisted Shaurya feed them. Dev and Rachna refused at first, but they were adamant, and Shaurya never said no to them.
After lunch, he played with them for hours. Once they fell asleep, he joined Dev and Rachna.
"So, how are things going, CM sir?" Rachna asked, sitting beside him while Dev sat opposite.
Dev let Rachna talk to Shaurya. He keeps meeting Shaurya in official meetings, but she rarely gets to see him, so he let them talk.
"They are going well, but there is a lot to improve. I feel distressed seeing the condition our people live in. Their living conditions are pathetic compared to those in developed nations. They deserve much more, Rachna. And the fact that I’m unable to fully give them that is disappointing," Shaurya said.
He rarely expressed such thoughts, but he felt safe speaking to them.
He knew the state had improved in some areas compared to developed nations, which had their own issues, but he always used positive benchmarks to push progress.
"Shaurya... you are doing your best. And I don’t care if it sounds like exaggeration, but you are the best Chief Minister this state has ever seen," Rachna said, and Shaurya chuckled.
"Abbey has mat (don’t laugh, man!) she is absolutely right. Well, I could take that tag from you if I become Chief Minister," Dev said.
All three laughed.
Later, Shaurya left with Dev and Rachna seeing him off.
Richa, who was there to capture candid pictures of Dev’s family, was shocked to see Shaurya. Her cameraman hadn’t arrived yet, and she cursed him for the delay. She took out her phone and clicked pictures, but Shaurya’s team noticed her.
She cursed her fate. She hadn’t intended to get caught. Her phone couldn’t capture clear images from a distance, so she moved closer—and that was her mistake. The commotion caught Shaurya’s and Dev’s attention.
Dev recognized Richa and asked Shaurya to ask the guards to bring her to them, and Dev blinked at Shaurya, and Shaurya caught the hint. The two best friends knew how to cover their meetup very well to avoid any speculations.
The guards brought Richa towards them.
"CM Saab, this is Richa... reporter at..." Dev started but Shaurya interrupted, giving her a pleasant smile.
"I know... Well... I like to watch my critics more than my supporters," Shaurya said to Dev before turning to Richa.
"You are great at what you do... but when you report something, try to know the other side of the coin too.
It would help you in making an unbiased judgment," Shaurya advised Richa.
Shaurya's pleasant smile looked too familiar but Richa couldn't place it.
Looking at him closely, she even doubted if she knew him personally, but she shook her thoughts away and gave a polite nod.
"Yes sir..." Richa replied. Well, she was a critic of the ruling party but she respected Shaurya.
"What are you doing here Richa?" Dev asked.
"Um..." she hesitated to say it in front of Shaurya and both the friends understood it. They also observed Richa's suspicious looks at them, which she was trying hard to hide but was unsuccessful.
"Okay, I'll take your leave Dev ji (Mr. Dev)," Shaurya said, folding his hands. Dev reciprocated. Later both the men shook hands as well.
"Thanks for coming CM Saab... It means a lot to me and my family," Dev said and Shaurya nodded curtly. He gave a polite smile to Rachna, folded his hands, and she reciprocated it, then Shaurya walked away without giving a look to Richa.
"Now tell me Richa... Why are you here?" Dev asked sternly.
"I'm sorry sir, I know you want to spend this day with your family privately but I want to click some candid pictures of your family that would help in your PR," Richa answered, and that got Dev furious but his wife held his hand, calming him.
"You are not my PR manager, Richa... You are a journalist and I want you to report the news, people's problems, not news about my family or publicize my family man image," Dev warned Richa.
"I would do that as well sir, but I think you are a good leader but you are underrated, so I'm just trying to help... I'm sorry if I crossed a line," Richa apologized and Dev nodded accepting it.
"One more thing Richa... Don't talk about CM Saab's presence here. It was a private meet. I invited all the ministers and even the CM to the evening party, but he said he couldn't make it, so I asked him to visit me at any time that was feasible for him, and he came for lunch," Dev said.
Richa wanted to show it, as it would create a good image for Dev if people got to know that he invited the Chief Minister from the ruling party, who was his biggest rival in work, to his wife's birthday party.
That would show him in a different angle which wasn't touched till date, but Dev refused. After a lot of argument, Richa agreed.
That night Richa filled Akansha in on every detail, including how Dev convinced her to keep the news under wraps. By now Richa was frustrated, but Akansha was relieved. She soon shook away those thoughts, quietly glad that Shaurya was saved from some damage.