Chapter 6
Akansha went berserk hearing Rathi.
Why did that man want to meet her? Did he get suspicious seeing Siya?
God... her daughter was a replica of her father. At first glance, it was hard to tell, but anyone who knew Shaurya well could notice the similarities. The chances of him recognizing it were low... but not zero.
And that was enough to terrify her.
She started hyperventilating.
He was the Chief Minister. He had power. What if he challenged her in court for custody? What if his blind followers harmed her just to take Siya away?
Her breathing grew sharper with every passing second as the thoughts spiraled.
"God! Akansha... what's happening?" Rathi asked, worried.
"N... nothing... I am not feeling well... Pl... please get Siya here... she can calm me... please," Akansha fumbled, trying to steady her voice.
"Sure... just give me a moment. Till then, have some water," Rathi said, handing her a glass before rushing toward the ground where the function was happening.
In the past three and a half years, Rathi had never seen Akansha like this—so helpless, so shaken. She had always known her as arrogant, stubborn, rude, and strong-headed. This version unsettled her.
Whatever it was, she silently prayed Akansha would be fine—unaware that peace would never come as long as Shaurya remained a part of her life.
Rathi approached Shaurya’s row hesitantly.
"Sir..." she called softly.
She noticed Siya’s tiny hand in Shaurya’s, his other hand gently rubbing the back of her palm. Unconsciously, Siya was doing the same with his other hand.
"Yes, Ms. Rathi?" Shaurya responded.
"Um... my sincere apologies, but Siya’s mother is unwell and she needs to see her dau—"
Before she could finish, Siya jumped from her seat, slipping out of Shaurya’s hold.
"Mama bear!" she cried, running without a second glance.
For reasons he couldn’t explain, it stung.
He watched her go, an odd emptiness settling in. He had the sudden urge to follow her but stopped himself. It wouldn’t look right.
Instead, he signaled his security. "Make sure she doesn’t fall."
Rathi nodded and ran after Siya.
They reached the staff room to find Akansha sitting on the floor, one hand pressed to her chest, trying to calm herself.
"Mama bear... mama bear..." Siya sobbed, breaking free from Rathi and rushing into her arms.
The moment Akansha held her, it felt like life returned to her body.
"Shh... Siya bear... ca... calm down... Mama bear is fine..." she whispered, kissing her cheek and stroking her back.
"Are you okay, Ms. Akansha?" Rathi asked.
Akansha nodded, genuinely acknowledging her concern.
"Thank you for bringing Siya... and I’m sorry for being rude before. Please don’t mind," she said.
Rathi blinked, stunned. "Huh... what?"
Then it registered. Akansha had apologized.
"Yeah... no worries," she replied quickly.
Akansha nodded again.
Rathi left to handle the children while Akansha quietly packed up and left with Siya after handing over her responsibilities.
On the way home, Siya tried speaking to her, but Akansha remained silent.
The little girl understood.
Her mother was angry.
And honestly, Akansha never imagined Siya would lie to her... hide something from her. She didn’t need proof to know Richa had a hand in this.
Once home, Akansha helped Siya freshen up.
"Mama bear... sorry... Siya is so sorry," the little girl said, holding her ears.
Akansha didn’t respond.
She placed Siya’s toys and colors basket on the floor and silently walked to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Her mind was elsewhere.
She was angry at herself.
She should have been more careful. She knew Richa’s rebellious nature, yet she let her guard down. Even the thought of Shaurya seeing Siya... recognizing her... made her body shiver.
She needed to know what happened between them.
Did he notice anything?
Did he suspect?
But not now.
For now, she stayed silent.
Richa arrived in the evening.
Akansha didn’t acknowledge her either.
Dinner was unusually quiet.
Richa and Siya kept apologizing, their "sorrys" echoing in the dining hall.
Akansha ignored them both.
But what her daughter and her best friend did next didn’t let her ignore them anymore.
She entered the room only to see both of them on their knees, colors smeared all over their faces and clothes, holding big charts with "SORRY" written colorfully.
"Mama... Siya is sorry..." Siya said, trying to hold the chart with one hand and her ear with the other, just like Richa had taught her. But she couldn’t balance, so she held the chart against her neck, supporting it with her chin and one hand while holding her ear with the other.
Richa stood in the same position.
"Yes, Anshu... we are really sorry. And it’s my fault. Your Siya baby refused to hide it from you, but I convinced her," Richa admitted.
Looking at them like that—especially her daughter struggling so cutely—a small smile formed on Akansha’s lips before she controlled it.
"Both of you, freshen up and come. We need to talk," Akansha said.
Siya smiled widely, happy that her mother finally spoke to her.
"Yes, mama bear," she said and moved forward to hug her, but Akansha shook her head.
"You have colors on you, Siya. Take off your clothes and go to the bathroom. Your Richa aunty will give you a bath today."
The little girl nodded and ran inside.
"Make sure to rub off all those colors from her body, or you won’t be spared," Akansha warned her friend.
"Huh... Hitler," Richa muttered before walking toward the washroom.
"What?" Akansha asked, placing her hands on her hips.
"I said okay," Richa replied quickly and went in.
After some time, Richa finished washing off the colors from Siya.
Akansha dressed her daughter for bed while Richa went to take a bath.
"Siya... you won’t hide anything from mumma from now on, okay?" Akansha asked.
Siya nodded sincerely.
"So... Siya bear, won’t you share how your experience was?" Akansha asked casually.
She felt guilty for not being able to watch her daughter’s first performance. More than hurt, she felt jealous that Shaurya—her daughter’s undeserving father—got to watch it, while she couldn’t.
"Mamabear... evelyone clapped so loudly... all praised us," Siya said excitedly. "You know, I got scaled before the perfolmance... my fliends’ palents clapped for them. I was sad that you not (weren't) there..."
Her voice dipped slightly, then brightened again.
"Then that uncle clapped for me. He did like this..." she showed a thumbs up, just like Shaurya had done, "and I wasn’t scared anymore."
Akansha’s breath hitched.
"Wh... which uncle, Siya?" she asked, though she already had a sinking feeling.
"I don’t know... but I like that uncle. Everyone was scared of him," Siya said, giggling.
"Why are they scared of him? Did he look scary?" Akansha asked, trying to confirm.
By now, she knew—it was Shaurya.
A part of her wanted to kill him for being near her daughter.
At the same time, another part of her wanted to thank him for being there for Siya, calming her down when she couldn’t. He might never know Siya was his daughter, but unknowingly, he fulfilled a father’s responsibility.
"No... he is vely vely handsome," Siya said with a cute smile.
Akansha smiled faintly.
"He is..." she replied unconsciously, then quickly corrected herself, "Then why are people scared of him?"
"Because there are big big men behind him, like this," Siya stretched her hands to show how big they were, but they didn’t reach far. "Bigger than this... like this..." she tried again, and Akansha giggled at her daughter.
"Okay... I get it... And what did he say more?" Akansha asked.
"He kissed me hele," Siya said, pointing to her cheek, and Akansha’s eyes welled up.
If things were any good between them, he would have loved his daughter so much.
He always wanted a daughter—at least that’s what he showed during his 'love' act with her. Sometimes, Akansha felt guilty for her daughter. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t give her the feeling a child gets from a father, and one day, Siya would feel that absence.
Akansha hated herself for giving in to her heart. Because of her mistakes, her daughter had to suffer.
She shook her head, pushing those thoughts away and shifting her concentration back to her daughter.
"He made me sit beside him... And..." Siya kept narrating everything, and Akansha listened patiently, smiling at her excitement.
"Looks like your daughter is the chief minister's favorite," Richa, who came out just then, said, earning a glare from Akansha that was enough to shut her up.
"Okay, Siya baby... it's time for your bed... Come on," Akansha said.
After making her daughter sleep, she took Richa to the hall.
"This is the last time you are doing something like this, Richa. I trust you with my daughter—only you. Don’t make me regret it," Akansha warned.
"Anshu... calm down. Siya is very important to me. I love her like my own. Why would I do something that would hurt her? Did you see how happy she is after performing?" Richa argued.
"I saw... but whatever I decide for my daughter is in her best interest. Next time, consult me before taking a decision. It’s not like I don’t listen to you—I always ask for your opinion.
And if I don’t agree, there is a reason.
So don’t go behind my back again," Akansha said firmly. "I won’t forgive you next time, Richa. I’m damn serious. "
She walked away, leaving Richa to take a deep breath.
Richa knew her friend was upset, but she still believed she did the right thing by making Siya participate in the Annual Day.
She thought she knew why Akansha didn’t want Siya to perform in front of the Chief Minister.
But she only knew one percent of the truth.