Chapter 18 #5
He had an important discussion planned with Akash—his entire second half was blocked for it.
There were critical matters to finalize regarding the wrap-up, pending actions, and the precautions required to keep everything under wraps.
One wrong move could destroy him—but more importantly, it could derail the entire cause they were working toward.
And that wasn’t just political.
It carried weight for the state—perhaps even the country’s future.
He couldn’t afford mistakes.
But with Siya’s condition, he shifted the meeting to his residence. Akash was family—his brother-in-law—and someone he trusted enough to be around Siya.
Shaurya and Shweta settled into the CM convoy. He sat at the back while she took the seat beside him.
"Sir... should I share your personal number with Mr. Dikshit?" Shweta asked. "In case your work phone is busy, he could reach you directly before arriving."
Shaurya looked at her, surprised.
"Doesn’t he already have it?"
"No, sir. The last time your number was changed, I shared it with your family and close associates. I was about to share it with Mr. Dikshit too, but he declined. He said he would contact you through your official number if needed," Shweta explained.
Shaurya’s number changed every few months for security reasons.
"Are you sure Akash doesn’t have my current number?" he asked again.
"Two hundred percent sure, sir."
That answer unsettled him.
If Akash didn’t have it... then how did Akansha get it?
His thoughts spiraled.
Family? No—she wouldn’t go to them. She wouldn’t even want to see their faces.
Dev?
Possibly—but it didn’t feel right
Nothing did.
By the time they reached his residence, his mind was still tangled in questions. He decided he would ask her directly.
But would she take it the wrong way?
Probably.
These days, even his presence seemed to offend her.
The distance between them had sharpened—turned colder. He didn’t understand why, but it hurt. Constantly.
Thinking back to that night, her behavior had been strange. But hearing his name from her lips after years had clouded his judgment.
He had let the moment consume him.
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Within minutes of his arrival, Richa walked in, carrying Siya.
The little girl was bundled up—woolen sweater, monkey cap, gloves, socks—everything to keep her warm. Her cheeks were flushed from fever and crying.
She looked painfully fragile.
And heartbreakingly adorable.
Shaurya’s chest tightened at the sight.
Her condition stirred something deep within him—a fierce protectiveness. The urge to shield her from everything that hurt her.
He had only ever felt this way before for his sister... and once, for his wife.
"Siyu... we’re here," Richa whispered softly, kissing her forehead.
Siya opened her eyes weakly—and the moment she saw Shaurya, she lit up.
She wriggled in Richa’s arms, desperate to reach him.
The sudden burst of energy startled Richa. Guilt hit her instantly. She had been the one who allowed this bond to grow—meeting after meeting, including this one.
Akansha didn’t know.
And when she did...
Richa’s hands trembled at the thought.
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Shaurya stepped forward quickly and took Siya into his arms.
"Uncuul..." Siya squealed, clinging to him, burying herself against his chest.
"Siya bache... you’re burning," Shaurya said, his voice shaking as he felt her temperature.
"Hehe... fevel (fever)," she giggled weakly.
"Why isn’t her fever going down?" he asked, settling onto the sofa with her in his lap.
Richa sat across from him.
"The doctor gave her an injection... it should come down soon," she replied.
Shaurya’s grip tightened instinctively at the mention of injections.
He hated them.
And judging by how tightly Siya clutched him—so did she.
"Is it viral? She just recovered a few days ago. Why did it come back? Did the doctor run any tests?" he asked, concern evident in his tone.
You are the reason for her fever.
The words burned in Richa’s throat.
Siya had been missing him—desperately—and that emotional strain had triggered this.
Richa wanted to lash out, to blame him outright.
But she didn’t.
Instead, she explained gently.
Shaurya went still.
So it wasn’t one-sided.
This pull—this strange, unexplainable connection—wasn’t just his imagination.
Siya felt it too.
Mrs. Sudha, who had just walked in with coffee, froze mid-step as she overheard.
A flicker of shock crossed her face.
Because Shaurya had always been the same.
Whenever he missed someone deeply—when the longing became unbearable—
he fell sick too.
Sudha’s mind drifted back five years.
She remembered how he used to burn with fever again and again after Akansha left him. His health had deteriorated badly, yet work never paused. Within a few months, he had taken charge as the Chief Minister, and with that came responsibilities he couldn’t afford to neglect.
He had no choice but to pull himself together.
He forced himself to focus on his health—fixed his diet, consulted multiple doctors until he found one that worked for him, and slowly began working on the turmoil inside him. The ache, the emptiness his wife had left behind—it never truly went away, but he learned to live around it.
Physically, he recovered.
But that phase remained the worst of his life.
He couldn’t even take time off to heal. Becoming functional—becoming capable of carrying his responsibilities—was the only option he had.
From then on, he became strict about his health. He gave up everything unhealthy—even things he once loved.
And strangely, it didn’t feel like a loss.
Because after his wife left, it was as if his desire for any kind of pleasure had left him too.
"What did the doctor advise her to eat?" Shaurya asked.
"Her cereal, some fruits, bread... I’ve brought everything. Just need some warm water and a few things to prepare her meal," Richa said, directing the last part to Mrs. Sudha.
"Of course, please come inside," Sudha said, leading her away.
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"We’ll be in my office upstairs, Shweta. Send Mr. Dikshit when he arrives," Shaurya said before walking away with Siya still in his arms.
The little girl snuggled closer, clearly more at ease in his hold. She didn’t want to leave him.
"Dikchit (Dixit)..." Siya whispered softly.
"Yes, an uncle will come to meet me. I have some work with him... can I do that?" Shaurya asked gently.
"Okay... but don’t leave me, uncuul..." she said, tightening her grip around him.
"I won’t, bache. You can sleep in my lap while I talk to him, okay?"
She nodded faintly.
"Dikchit... I also Dikchit..." she murmured.
Shaurya frowned slightly.
Did he hear that right?
But her voice was too faint, too drowsy. He let it go.
She looked exhausted—too weak to engage, unlike her usual self. Normally, Siya would greet everyone around him with a bright smile. She was a well-mannered, cheerful child.
But not today.
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Siya soon dozed off in his arms.
Richa came upstairs to feed her, but seeing her asleep, Shaurya asked her to leave the food there.
"I’ll feed her when she wakes up," he said.
Richa hesitated but nodded, placing the tray aside. She couldn’t help but notice how peacefully Siya slept in his arms—not even bothering with the comfortable couch nearby.
That sight unsettled her.
She quietly stepped out and decided to wait in the guest hall downstairs.
Her phone had already been confiscated as part of security protocol. She knew it wasn’t just protocol—Shaurya didn’t trust her.
And honestly, she couldn’t blame him.
If there was something worth exposing, she wouldn’t hesitate—even in her sleep, the journalist in her never rested.
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Akash arrived at the Chief Minister’s official residence.
Shweta greeted him and guided him inside.
"Akash beta... coffee?" Mrs. Sudha asked as she met him near the staircase leading to Shaurya’s office.
Akash smiled politely. He had known her since the days Shaurya had started dating his sister. In fact, she was the first person from Shaurya’s side who knew about their relationship.
And more importantly—she had always been kind.
She was the only one in that household who had cared for Akansha, who had made her life even slightly bearable.
That alone earned her Akash’s deep respect.
"No, Mrs. Sudha. Thank you," he replied.
She smiled softly and walked away.
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Akash stepped into Shaurya’s office.
Inside, Siya had just woken up. Shaurya had gently made her sit on the couch and was leaning forward to pick up her cereal bowl when the knock came.
"Come in, Akash," he called out, already knowing who it was.
Akash entered.
At the sound of her mamu’s name, Siya turned toward the door—and the moment she saw him, her face lit up.
Before either of the men could react, she jumped off the couch and ran straight to him.
"MAMU... MAMUUUUU!" she squealed, hugging his knees tightly.
Both men froze.
Akash, surprised.
And Shaurya—
his expression turned cold as ice.