Chapter 9 #2
"Agreed... this coloring video of hers and her cute questions is so adorable..." Dev said.
"I didn’t want to let her go... it was very difficult, but I had to..." Shaurya said, his tone turning disappointed. "But I will meet her soon... she took a promise from me..." he added, his voice lifting with happiness again.
"Great... this time introduce us too," Dev said, and Rachna nodded eagerly.
"Slow down, people... I don’t want to share her time with you guys... I want my little girl’s time only for me, especially when it’s limited," Shaurya said.
"My? If her father hears you, he would thrash you to death without even bothering that you are the Chief Minister," Dev said.
"Well... she will always be his little girl.
.. I feel bad thinking about that unlucky man.
.. he missed time with such a cute child.
.. he passed away, it seems..." Shaurya said, his heart going out to the little girl every time he thought about how she had missed a father’s love—and how much more she would miss in the future.
"Oh God... poor soul... my heart goes out to the little girl... at times like this, I feel God is so unfair," Rachna said, and Dev expressed his sympathies as well.
"It must be so tough for the little girl and her mother..." Shaurya said.
"Hm... I was thinking about the future challenges Siya would face... she is still so young, and her whole life lies ahead... she would need a father..." Dev trailed off.
"I would be there for her whenever she needed a shoulder to lean on... the little girl deserves the world, and I’m sure her mother will give her that.
.. but I would try to be there for her. I decided it the moment she accepted my friendship.
I don’t know what connection I feel with this little one, but I will try my level best to be her friend and support her every time," Shaurya said.
Rachna smiled softly, but Dev frowned.
"You are the Chief Minister, Shaurya. You won’t have that kind of time.
I know I sound rude and heartless saying this, but what you’re saying is impractical.
I’m your best friend—and an adult—and you still don’t have time to meet me.
You barely see me once in six months. Your work is that hectic.
I seriously doubt you’ll be able to meet that little girl frequently or be present whenever she needs you.
And considering her age, you would need her mother’s permission every single time," Dev said. He didn’t want to be this blunt, but he couldn’t let his friend build unrealistic expectations.
"It isn’t like that, Dev... I—" Shaurya started, but a knock interrupted him, followed by Shweta’s voice.
"Sir... the cabinet ministers are waiting for you..." she said.
"Yes, I’ll be there," Shaurya replied.
Shweta nodded and left.
"Okay... I’ll talk to you both later..." he said and hung up.
---------------
"Can’t you be a bit more polite? Didn’t you see how his face paled? You are such an idiot, Dev... poor Shaurya... I heard him sound happy again after so many years... I had almost forgotten what a happy Shaurya sounded like..." Rachna rebuked her husband.
"And that’s exactly why I said what I said.
.. I agree the little girl is making him happy, but he needs a reality check.
He is the Chief Minister—he can’t be present for that little girl whenever she needs him.
Even if he tries, he would have to make sure he isn’t spotted by the media.
If he is, they would blow things out of proportion, and it could cost him his entire career. .." Dev explained.
"I don’t understand these political games... and honestly, I’m sick of it," Rachna said and walked away, leaving Dev to let out a deep sigh.
He was only looking out for his friend, and now both his friend and his wife were upset with him.
Huh...
---------------
"I got to know what you said to the principal, Ms. Akansha..." the chairman began.
"Yes, sir... and I don’t regret it," Akansha said.
"You don’t have to... the fault lies with the school authorities.
When they sent the message informing all the parents, it should have included you too—but it didn’t.
So, I apologize on the school’s behalf. However, I don’t appreciate the threatening part, even though you were right.
.. just refrain from doing that next time," the chairman, Mr. Goyal, said, surprising Akansha.
She noticed that the principal, Mr. Joshi, looked equally taken aback by his words.
"Yes, sir... I won’t—provided I am informed about my daughter’s whereabouts before taking her anywhere outside the school," Akansha said, her tone polite but firm.
"Sure, Akansha... rest assured," Mr. Goyal replied.
After that, the trio discussed the upcoming Sports Day, and then Akansha left for her class.
The principal understood Mr. Goyal’s game but chose to remain silent, as he didn’t have much authority to question the man. He is too ambitious for his own good, Mr. Joshi thought.
He knew the chairman wanted to use Siya as a way to keep meeting the Chief Minister.
He had understood his tactics the moment Mr. Goyal asked for the photos of Siya with the Chief Minister from the Annual Day function, intending to send them to the CM’s office.
Shaurya’s fondness for children—especially Siya—had not gone unnoticed during the function.
Still, Mr. Joshi chose to stay quiet and simply observe Mr. Goyal’s moves. He will barely get anywhere with this, he thought. The idea of getting close to a state’s Chief Minister using a little child—who was nothing to him—seemed absurd.
Only if he knew.
---------------
Days passed, and Siya kept asking her mother to let her meet "uncle," but every time, Akansha refused—citing one reason or another.
The little girl also began to notice that her mother got angry every time she expressed her wish to meet her "special friend"—that’s what Siya had started calling Shaurya—which only raised Akansha’s blood pressure.
Being the smart child she was, Siya understood her mother’s reluctance to let her meet her new friend. So, she decided to find a way on her own.
"Siya bear... are you sure you’ll be fine?" Akansha asked for the nth time.
She had been called to school on a Sunday by the sports committee, which she was chairing along with the PT teacher. He would handle the sports side of the event, while she would take care of the administrative and logistics aspects.
She couldn’t refuse the responsibility. The principal was still upset about her recent outburst, and before she could even try to decline, he had shut down all her options by making a valid point—reminding her how she had opted out of the Annual Day celebrations and had been allowed to do so.
This time, she couldn’t risk letting it affect her career. The job paid decently, and a pay raise would help her fulfill her daughter’s needs better. So, despite her reluctance, Akansha had to take on the responsibility of organizing the upcoming sports event.
"Ansha... this is the hundredth time you’re asking her this... didn’t I tell you I’ll take care of Siya? And it’s not the first time," Richa said.
"That is exactly why I’m worried. My experience has taught me not to trust you with my child—especially in my house. Every time I leave you two alone, you create a ruckus," Akansha said.
"Oh God, Anshu... we’ll be on our best behavior, right Siya?" Richa added, turning to the little girl.
Siya nodded innocently, which only made her mother look at her with suspicion.
Her daughter was definitely calm and less troublesome—but innocent?
No.
She was just like her father.
And every time he gave that innocent look, he was up to something mischievous.
"Shaurya... where are you taking me? Shaurya... will you answer me now?" she asked, getting frustrated with his silence, but he didn’t say a word.
"It’s a surprise, Akansha... walk with me calmly," he said in his ever-calm, controlled tone.
"Shaurya... this better be a pleasant surprise... I can’t even imagine the drama that would unfold at my place if my mother realizes I’m out of home at this time of the night," she said. Her body tensed at the thought of her mother’s taunts.
Though she managed to keep her expressions steady, her stiff posture betrayed her anxiety.
"Akansha... relax... your mother won’t find out. Akash will manage it. Don’t worry," he said, surprising her.
"Akash? You involved my brother? Shaurya, you are so stupid... I wonder how you’re going to manage the youth wing of your father’s party with this pea-sized brain," she taunted.
"Excuse me? Did you just doubt my skills?" he asked, sounding offended, and Akansha couldn’t stop the smile forming on her lips at his reaction.
"Yes, I did. What are you going to do about it?" she asked, not knowing she would regret that question in a couple of hours.
"Nothing... what can I possibly do? I become powerless in front of you, Ms. Dixit.
.. and you very well know it," Shaurya whispered into her ear, his tone turning softer.
His warm breath against her skin made it impossible for her to focus on anything else.
And that innocent face of his—too adorable for her to question anything further.
"We are here," Shaurya’s voice pulled her out of the moment.
Her expression shifted to confusion as she looked around.
"Where are we?" she asked the obvious question.
"You and Akash couldn’t focus on your studies at home because of various distractions.
So I thought of this... this belongs to one of my friends.
He lives in Australia and visits once a year or two, but he doesn’t want to rent it out, so it stays empty.
You both can study here. I’ve made all the arrangements inside.
Go have a look and tell me if anything needs to be changed," he said, his gesture overwhelming her.