Chapter 8
Shaurya gave a tour of the ground floor to all the kids.
His house was huge but, to children their age, quite boring—nothing particularly exciting on its own.
Yet the way he presented it kept them engaged.
He explained things in a language they enjoyed, turning the tour into something playful and interactive.
"And finally, this room... it's where boring meetings happen," Shaurya said with an exaggerated bored expression, making all the kids laugh.
"My mumma papa too say meetings are boring... but I like them... I want to wear the big suit like my papa and work on a laptop sitting in meetings," a little boy said.
"Trust me, smart boy... you would ace those meetings," Shaurya said with a smile.
The little boy grew shy at the compliment, making Shaurya chuckle.
He continued interacting with the kids, but soon noticed Siya had gone quiet. The initial excitement on her face had faded, replaced by a dull, withdrawn expression. He gently lifted her into his arms.
"What happened? Why is Siya sad?" he asked softly.
"It's a seclet(secret), I can't shale(share) it with you uncle... Siya bear only tells about it to mama bear," Siya said.
"Aww... she is such a cute baby," his P.A. Shweta said, who was there to inform Shaurya about his schedule later in the evening.
Shaurya slowly placed Siya back down and looked at Shweta. She immediately lowered her gaze, realizing her comment had been a bit too familiar.
"Sorry, sir," Shweta said quickly. Her tone had slipped earlier out of admiration; Siya’s pout and innocence had simply been too adorable to ignore.
"It's fine, Shweta," Shaurya said in a calm tone.
"Sir, your schedule," Shweta said, handing him the file.
"Leave it there. I'll go through it once I am done hosting these little guests," Shaurya replied, glancing at the children who giggled in delight. They were thoroughly enjoying themselves.
They all liked Shaurya. They also found it fascinating how he had heavily built men with guns around him, how his house resembled something out of a movie, and how everyone around him seemed to listen and obey him. In their minds, Shaurya looked like a hero straight out of a film.
"Okay, sir," Shweta said before leaving the file and exiting.
"Alright... coming back..." Shaurya said, refocusing on Siya. "I understand. But we are friends, so you can share it with me too—just like you share it with your mama bear," he said hopefully, waiting for her to open up.
But Siya remained firm. She was stubborn, just like her mother, though polite enough to stand her ground without being rude—very much like him as well. He was also stubborn in his own way, and maybe Siya had inherited this trait from both her parents.
"But when did we become fliends(friends)?" she asked, making him chuckle.
"My bad, I haven't asked you yet... will you be my friend, Siya bear?" Shaurya asked.
"Don't call me Siya bear. Only my mama bear can call me that," Siya said, clearly offended.
"Sorry... I didn't know," Shaurya said quickly, a slight panic slipping into his voice. The thought of her being upset with him felt strangely unsettling for reasons he couldn't explain. "Um... so Siya... will you be my friend, please?" he asked again, this time bending down onto one knee.
Meanwhile, his staff guided the other children to the next hall, where they had arranged engaging activities along with some delicious food for them.
"Mumma says not to accept fliendship(friendship) from stangers(strangers)...," Siya said, pouting sadly. She wanted to become his friend, but she also had to follow her mother’s words.
"Oh! She is right... but I am not a stranger. You met me on the annual day, and now you’ve visited my home too," Shaurya said. He genuinely enjoyed talking to Siya.
"Hm... light(right), but mama bear says we shouldn't make flends(friends) landomly(randomly)... we should know them first and then say fliends(friends)," Siya repeated exactly what her mother had told her.
Shaurya observed that the child appeared very friendly, yet surprisingly guarded. It intrigued him. Why would her parents make her so cautious at this age?
"Good... your mumma is right. So why don't you stay with me till evening and get to know me? Then you can decide if I can be your friend or not," Shaurya suggested.
"Hm... good idea..." she said excitedly, then suddenly pouted. "But I should go to school..." she said sadly, remembering it. "I can't stay at your home, though it's vely beautiful (very beautiful)," Siya added.
Akansha had never liked sending Siya to anyone’s house except Richa’s. Even when her friends’ parents invited her for playdates, she always refused. She usually preferred that other children come to her house instead, not the other way around.
"Don't worry about that. For today, we'll arrange your school here. What do you say?" Shaurya asked with a smile.
"School? Hele(here)? But my teachel(teacher) wasn't hele(here)," Siya asked.
"Let me take care of that," Shaurya said and straightened up, walking toward Mr. Goel after leaving Siya with the other children who were playing.
Shaurya spoke to the chairman, who then called the school to confirm the timings of the children. He was informed that some of them had half-day and needed to return home, as their parents would be expecting them. Shaurya nodded in understanding, but he was not ready to give up on Siya yet.
He was about to suggest that Siya stay longer when Mr. Goel spoke up.
"But Siya can stay for a while. Though her school ends in the afternoon, she usually leaves in the evening with her mother. Oh! I forgot to mention—Siya’s mother is a primary school teacher in our school," Mr. Goel said, trying to impress Shaurya with the information.
Shaurya’s expression softened slightly at that.
"That's great... I'll ask the staff to prepare for the departure of the other kids in the meantime," Shaurya said. Mr. Goel nodded and agreed.
Shaurya distributed small gifts and trophies to the children who had to leave.
Mr. Goel said he would drop them at school and return later to pick up the remaining children. Shaurya appreciated his responsible behavior, though internally it only reinforced his impression of the man trying to stay in his good books.
That’s when Siya ran back toward them.
"All my fliends ale leaving..." Siya complained, looking worried and confused about being left behind.
Mr. Goel explained that she was staying back with the older kids since she usually went home in the evening with her mother. That was when Siya informed them that her mother was on leave that day.
Mr. Goel immediately apologized to Shaurya and said he would fix the arrangement. Shaurya nodded, and Mr. Goel moved aside to speak with the principal.
Shaurya then knelt down to Siya’s level.
He explained gently why she was staying back as part of the plan, and Siya quickly brightened up again. She was happy to spend time with Shaurya and liked the idea of possibly becoming his friend.
"So... who dropped you at school today if your mumma didn't come with you?" Shaurya asked afterward.
"My Maama(maternal uncle)... you know he is a supelhelo(superhero)," Siya said proudly.
"Really? Then I need to meet this uncle of yours. By the way, what's your pa..." Shaurya began, but stopped when Mr. Goel returned, interrupting him.
"Sir, the issue is sorted. The principal will speak to her mother, and Siya will be dropped home in the school van along with the other children," Mr. Goel informed.
"I told you, didn't I?" Shaurya said, turning back to Siya.
"Yayy..." Siya exclaimed and hugged his legs.
"Siya..." Mr. Goel was about to intervene when Shaurya raised his palm slightly, stopping him.
The children were unaware of politics or authority, and he preferred it that way. That was exactly why he enjoyed spending time with them—their innocence and simplicity. They did not treat him as the Chief Minister; they treated him like a normal person, and he valued that more than anything.
"Sir... I need to talk to you about something," Mr. Goel whispered.
Shaurya nodded.
"Siya beta... can you bring those keys from that table for me?" Mr. Goel asked, pointing toward a table at a distance.
"Yes," Siya nodded happily, flashing her cute dimpled smile and walking toward it.
"Careful, Siya bacha," Shaurya called after her.
Siya turned and nodded, assuring him with her small palm gesture that she would be careful. Shaurya chuckled at her innocence, his gaze still following her.
He understood that Mr. Goel had deliberately sent her away.
"Yes, Mr. Goel..." Shaurya said, his attention still drifting toward Siya every few seconds, making sure she did not hurt herself on the steps between them.
"Um... I noticed your conversation with Siya... I think you were about to ask her about her father," Mr. Goel started.
Shaurya nodded, still watching Siya.
"Um... I request you not to ask or bring up her father in front of the child... she is fatherless... hope you understand. She is still a child and..." Mr. Goel continued speaking, adding several clarifications and even apologizing in case he had crossed a line by advising Shaurya.
But Shaurya’s mind stopped at the word fatherless.
He assumed her father had passed away. His heart immediately went out to the little girl. He did not understand why it affected him so deeply, but he could not stop the ache rising within him.
"I... I understand, Mr. Goel. I appreciate your concern for the little girl," Shaurya said with a faint smile, concealing the heaviness he felt.
Siya returned shortly with the other children, and soon the group moved to the hall next door.
"Okay... so, who wants to come to my office? I have some work," Shaurya asked.
He silently hoped none of the children would volunteer, as he wanted to spend a little more time alone with Siya. That wish only grew stronger after hearing about her father. To his relief, all the children were still engaged in their activities and did not respond.