Chapter 7 #3
Akansha sighed. Now she had to handle two kids' drama.
Akash then drove to her house.
All three of them entered inside.
"Siyu... go to your room, baby. Mamu has something to discuss with mumma," Akash said.
Siya immediately left for their room after kissing her uncle.
"Now tell me what that was all about? And show me that ba***rd's house... I'll personally teach him a lesson... that f**ker," Akash began, his anger flaring as he cursed.
Before he could continue, Akansha slapped him lightly on his mouth.
"Ouch Di..." he winced.
"What's with your language? You are a government official, a Divisional Commissioner, but look at you—talking like a roadside hooligan... Idiot," Akansha scolded him.
"You expect me to stay calm after all this? I'm telling you for the final time—either you guys are shifting with me, or I will be shiting here," Akash said.
"And shift all the attention on me, and bring that problem named 'him' back on my head again, right?" Akansha snapped.
Akash exhaled deeply.
"How long will you keep hiding like this?" he asked.
"I'm not hiding. I just prefer to live a life away from that man, keeping him in ignorance," Akansha said.
But both of them knew it was more than that. She was deliberately sacrificing her and her daughter's comfort just to stay away from Shaurya. She knew it, and it weighed on her, but she felt she had no other choice.
Akash took a deep breath. He knew he couldn't win this argument with her, but he also couldn't let her and his niece live there with that creepy man, Shekhar, around. He decided he would keep an eye on him and, if proven guilty, would ensure he was put behind bars.
"Fine... let's not argue. We're meeting after months, at least give your brother a hug," Akash said.
But Akansha rolled her eyes at his drama. She was not a hug person. She never gave hugs unless it was her daughter. She wasn't that soft, expressive girl anymore. Life had made her bitter, distant, and emotionally guarded.
"I'll go and prepare dinner for both of us. Till then, help Siya change and put her to bed," Akansha ordered and walked toward the kitchen.
Akash walked toward his niece with a slightly dejected look. This was exactly why he hated Shaurya and his family—because they had turned his sister into this version of herself.
He pushed those thoughts aside for now. They would only make him angry, and he couldn't afford to lose patience. Putting Siya to sleep required calm and patience.
His niece was a good child—never troublesome—but when it came to sleep, she always needed her mother. Without Akansha, it was a difficult task, and Akash knew very well that his sister had indirectly assigned him that challenge as her quiet retaliation.
After dinner, the siblings sat in the hall, trying to fill the gap of all those missed months.
"Di... talk to Papa once... he was worried for you," Akash requested.
"Let's talk about something else, or I am going to bed," Akansha said coldly.
Akash understood his sister was not in the mood to hear him, so he decided to drop the topic for now.
Their father was living in guilt for not taking her side when she needed him the most. He had recently undergone bypass surgery, and stress was not good for him.
Akash had purposely not told Akansha, as he did not want to worry her.
"Okay... take leave tomorrow. We are going to talk in detail about this creepy neighbor of yours. Also, we are going to his place tomorrow. I want to make sure you and Siya are safe here," Akash said.
Akansha was about to protest, but Akash shook his head.
"You wouldn't come and stay with me, and I understand that. But don't stop me. If you do, I will handle this issue—not as your brother, but as the Divisional Commissioner. And you wouldn't like that," he said firmly.
Akansha glared at her younger brother for a moment before hitting him with the cushion lying beside her.
"Dhamki dega mujhe? Apni badi behen ko ha? (You are threatening me, huh? Me? Your elder sister?) See what I do to you," Akansha said, hitting him on his head and pulling his hair in between.
"Ouch... Di... sorry... sorry... please forgive me... ah... Di... it’s paining," Akash screamed.
After the siblings’ fight cooled down, both of them settled.
"I can't trouble Richa's parents again with Siya," Akansha said.
"What are you talking about?" Akash asked in confusion.
"So where would you want me to send Siya? Idiot... tell me who were your panelists that selected you? Huh? I even doubt how you scored so well in your mains..." Akansha said, teasing and offending her brother.
"I am not an idiot. Why would you send Siya to their house? She will be in school," Akash said.
Akansha looked at him as if he had just uttered something unacceptable.
"I am not sending my daughter to school when I am not there," she said protectively. What if someone questioned her about her father? And she wouldn't be there to handle it.
"Di... I understand your worry, but you can't be with Siya every minute. If you had the courage to take care of her so well and make the decision to raise her single-handedly, then you should also be strong enough to make her face the truth," Akash said, holding her wrist gently.
"She is barely five, Akash," Akansha said, her eyes welling up.
"I know, Di... but hardships don't see age. Who would understand that better than us?" Akash said.
He held her hand a little tighter.
"At least I had you, but you had no one, Di. Despite that, you came out stronger. And I want my Siyu to be just like you—brave, courageous, and strong."
They sat together for a while, talking quietly, before eventually retiring to their rooms.
The next morning, Akansha got her daughter ready for school, and Akash dropped her off, making sure to stay as discreet as possible, respecting his sister’s wish.
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Shaurya’s days had slowly become brighter with the little girl’s videos and thoughts lingering in his mind.
At first, he assumed it was because of her name—the name he and his wife had once considered for their future daughter.
But deep down, his heart knew it was more than that.
That little girl had something in her that had stolen his attention from the very first sight.
He felt as though he was looking at a younger version of himself whenever he saw her.
He found himself wanting to meet her again, more than he could explain.
His best friend, for once, had actually given a useful idea before sneaking out of his home that night without anyone noticing.
Shaurya cringed at the memory. They had both behaved as if they were involved in some secret affair—God, the media would have had a field day if even a hint of that little adventure had leaked.
The idea was simple. He would prepare gifts for the children performing on stage that day and personally invite them to visit his residence.
That way, he could see the little girl again without raising suspicion.
His supporters would praise his gesture as kind and thoughtful toward children, while his critics would dismiss it as a publicity stunt.
Either way, no one would suspect his real intention. Shaurya agreed to it.
He instructed his P.A. to contact the chairman and inform him about the plan.
The chairman, Mr. Goyal, who was eager to secure goodwill from the Chief Minister in hopes of entering politics soon, did not let the opportunity slip away.
He immediately volunteered to bring the children to the CM’s residence.
It was one of the rare afternoons when Shaurya stayed at home. He tried hard to conceal his excitement and mostly succeeded, but Mrs. Sudha still noticed the childlike spark in his expression. She had known him since he was a child—how could she not notice?
Soon, the school chairman, Mr. Goyal, arrived with the children. Shaurya welcomed them warmly, especially the kids, with a gentle smile. His eyes lit up the moment they fell on Siya. She stood there with her big doe eyes, looking around his house in pure amazement.
He bent slightly toward her, but she did not notice him at first, completely absorbed in the grandeur of the place. His house was so large and beautiful that she kept staring around in wonder.
"Did you like it?" Shaurya asked softly, but his voice startled her.
"Haw..." she gasped, her mouth opening wide in surprise. Shaurya’s eyes softened instantly, filled with affection at her adorable reaction.
"I'm so sorry, little one. I scared you," Shaurya apologized.
Siya smiled widely and nodded slowly.
"It's okay, uncle..." she said, her smile never fading. He felt as if she was genuinely happy to see him as well—and he was not wrong. Siya had liked him from the very first meeting. His gentle encouragement during her performance had made her like him even more.
"Can I show you the whole house?" Shaurya asked.
She nodded eagerly.
Shaurya picked her up in his arms and walked toward the other children.
He gently placed Siya back on the floor and then personally guided all the children through his house and library.
He made sure not to single her out or make anyone feel left behind.
He knew how quickly such impressions formed in children’s minds, and he did not want anyone to feel excluded in any way.