Chapter 13
Akash woke up. He had slept sitting on the floor, his back resting against the bed, one palm still resting on his sister’s hair. He gently ruffled it and slowly got up, picking up his laptop and case papers.
He had been afraid to leave her alone that night.
Given her history of anxiety attacks and nightmares during her pregnancy, and the initial months after her separation from Shaurya when he hadn’t been around, the guilt still lingered.
When he later learned what she had gone through alone, it had shattered him.
From then on, he had promised himself he would never leave her alone to face it again.
And after the unexpected encounter with Shaurya the previous night, that fear had returned with full force.
So he stayed awake through the night, working beside her to keep an eye on her, eventually falling asleep there.
He quickly wrapped up his work after completing the final sections of his report and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. He wanted to ensure she ate properly before he left, knowing she would refuse food once she slipped into that state of exhaustion and emotional withdrawal.
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Akansha woke up to her daughter’s voice.
“Mama bear… late… kool (school),” little Siya said, tapping her mother’s cheeks.
“Siya… we’re not going to school today, baby. Let mama sleep a little more, please,” Akansha murmured, her head pounding heavily. She realized she had slept without any nightmares. Though the sleep had been restless, she was grateful there had been no anxiety attack.
“Okay…” Siya, still drowsy, snuggled into her mother’s arms just as Akash entered the room.
“But you still have to get up and eat the breakfast mamu made, Siyu. First, let’s freshen up, okay?” Akash said.
Siya nodded with a small yawn.
“Mamu… can we play in the showel (shower)… pwease?” she asked.
“Of course. Anything my Siyu wants,” he replied.
“Akash…” Akansha started, immediately cautious.
He already understood her concern. Too much water play wasn’t good for children, especially with the weather changing. She didn’t want to take any risks.
“Don’t worry, di. I’ll be careful,” Akash assured her.
Akansha nodded and turned to the side, exhaustion pulling her back into rest. Her head was spinning, and she knew she would have collapsed if she had tried to move further. She silently thanked him for being there; otherwise, she would have struggled to manage everything alone.
Akash bathed Siya, fed her breakfast, and after some playtime and cartoons, made her sleep again.
Then he went to wake his sister.
He helped her sit up on the bed. She tried to get up to freshen herself, but collapsed back almost immediately.
“Just sit there. I’ll help you,” Akash said.
Akansha nodded weakly. Her head was still spinning. He cleaned her face with wet wipes and slowly fed her the light breakfast he had prepared.
“You’re sure you don’t want the medicine?” Akash asked again. She had refused it the previous night. The slap had triggered her migraine, which was now worsening with every passing minute.
“I think I’ll take it… the pain is too much now,” she said weakly. “But Siya—”
“Don’t worry,” he cut in gently. “I just made her sleep. And because of the disturbed sleep she had last night, I think she’ll stay asleep for a while. I’ll be back in three hours, before she wakes up. Just take the pill.”
Akansha nodded and took the medicine prescribed by her doctor.
She had developed migraines after pregnancy. Along with it came episodes of hair fall, though frequent oiling and proper care had helped control it. Still, nothing had prepared her for the recurring migraines and occasional ear pain she now endured.
Once she took the medicine, Akash helped her lie back down.
“Take a key with you and have breakfast too,” she said.
“I will. Now stop worrying about me and sleep. Don’t think about anything. If you need me, just call. I won’t let him know,” he assured her, fully aware she wouldn’t want Shaurya to know she had reached out.
She nodded.
He left after locking the door, his mind already bracing for what awaited him, his heartbeat rising, imagining the questioning, the confrontation—especially from his brother-in-law.
Ex-brother-in-law. He mentally corrected.
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Akash’s vehicle entered the Secretariat, and his heart began to pound uncontrollably.
The fear he felt now was far greater than when he had to report major government scandals or urgent law-and-order situations to his superior.
Those were the most serious issues he handled at work, yet none of them compared to this moment.
This wasn’t about his career—it was about his personal life, specifically his sister and niece’s safety.
He needed Shaurya to stay completely out of their lives.
One mistake could make Shaurya suspicious, pushing him to conduct his own background check despite his promise. That would eventually lead him to his daughter. Even the thought of Shaurya discovering her existence sent shivers through Akash.
Akash always felt uneasy around Shaurya.
He was unaware of his daughter’s existence—unaware that he had a child loved by everyone around her.
That truth weighed heavily on Akash. As a person, Shaurya didn’t deserve this ignorance; he was principled, considerate, and selflessly served his people.
But as a husband, he had failed. And if Akansha had made such a decision, Akash was certain she must have endured far too much to reach that level of resentment.
Akash walked toward the CM’s office, greeting staff mechanically while his mind stayed fixed on the confrontation ahead and how he would present the Shekhar case.
He knew Shaurya would question him about Akansha and her life, and he had to answer without hesitation or doubt. Each step only increased his anxiety.
At the CM’s office wing, his secretary informed him that Shaurya was in a meeting with the Home Minister. Akash saw it as a chance to leave.
"Okay then, Mrs. Gupta, please hand over this report to sir. I assume the meeting will take some time. Please inform him I will attend the scheduled meeting next week," Akash said politely, hiding his urgency.
"No, Mr. Dixit. Sir will be free in 10 minutes. He has instructed me to seat you and block his schedule for your meeting," Shweta replied.
Akash suppressed a curse, forced a polite nod, and sat on the couch.
Soon after, Shaurya’s meeting ended. The Home Minister, Mr. Patel, stepped out of the cabin looking visibly shaken, sweat on his forehead. Akash immediately understood he had been reprimanded.
Mr. Patel was a veteran minister with over four decades of experience, yet Shaurya consistently reduced even senior leaders to silence.
His control over governance made him a dominant figure—not just through authority, but through capability.
He didn’t tolerate excuses; only effort and results mattered.
Ministers who failed to deliver were reprimanded or even removed.
He wasn’t concerned about elections or tenure.
Public trust, earned through performance, gave him confidence to focus purely on work.
That didn’t mean he avoided politics. He understood it deeply and used strategy when required, but never through unethical means. He moved only when necessary, without compromising his principles.
Akash entered Shaurya’s cabin. The cold aura almost made him turn back, but he didn’t.
"Good morning, sir," Akash greeted.
Shaurya nodded and gestured for him to sit.
"Yes, Akash. Go ahead," Shaurya said firmly.
"Sir, the report you requested..." Akash said, handing over the file. "The details are in here. I can brief you if you allow," he added, silently hoping Shaurya would refuse.
"Sure, go ahead," Shaurya said instead of his usual dismissal.
Akash suppressed a sigh and began carefully, omitting details that could raise suspicion.
"Shekhar is Ms. Dixit’s neighbor. He physically, mentally, and se*ually abuses his wife.
Ms. Dixit tried multiple times to help her.
She even urged Kavita to file a complaint, but she refused and never confirmed the abuse.
A few months ago, Ms. Dixit saw Shekhar inappropriately watching his daughter with his hand on her shoulder.
She noticed his predatory behavior toward his teenage daughter.
Ms. Dixit followed them to ensure Sneha’s safety.
She assumed Sneha would be safe inside the house since her mother was present, but when she peeked through the window—"
Akash stopped.
"Peeked?" Shaurya interrupted sharply.
His wife was never someone who intruded on others’ privacy.
Akash closed his eyes briefly, knowing there was no avoiding the rest. He would have to explain exactly how far his sister had gone to protect the mother and daughter.
"Yes, Sir. Shekhar abused his wife, but she never openly accepted it or sought help.
The first time my di saw it from her window, she witnessed him assaulting her.
From that day onward, she made it a habit to check on Kavita through the window.
Mrs. Kavita also ensured the windows were kept open so Ms. Dixit could see if anything was wrong and come to help. "
"That day, when Ms. Dixit peeked into the neighbour’s house, she didn’t find Kavita inside.
She felt it was unsafe to leave Sneha alone with Shekhar, so she immediately called Kavita and asked her to return home.
Kavita came back, which angered Shekhar.
He was furious that Ms. Dixit had foiled his plan, so he verbally complained to the sub-inspector that my sister was committing an act of voyeurism," Akash said.
"What?" Shaurya reacted sharply, shock evident in his tone. He wanted nothing more than to tear Shekhar apart for making such an accusation against his wife.