Chapter 21
Shaurya adjusted Siya's position carefully before holding the door open for Akansha to get in—and she did.
Suraj watched silently. He knew his boss was always a gentleman, but holding the door for a woman—as the Chief Minister, and that too in front of his staff—spoke volumes about Akansha's importance in his life.
Looking at the affection Shaurya had shown toward Siya, Suraj had already begun to piece things together, but he chose not to dwell on it for now.
One thing, however, was certain—if this truth ever came out, it could explode into a major scandal, one that might threaten Shaurya's entire political career.
And yet... Shaurya didn't seem to care.
That, more than anything, unsettled Suraj. Shaurya had always been careful—calculative—about his political future. Every move of his had purpose. But today... this was different.
Suraj moved to the other side, held the door open for Shaurya, and once he got in, quietly shut it before taking the passenger seat.
Inside, Siya lay asleep between her parents, while they sat at opposite ends of the back seat.
Akansha kept shifting further into her corner, as if even that distance wasn't enough—her discomfort with Shaurya's presence evident despite their daughter lying between them.
Shaurya noticed.
And it irritated him.
"Thank your stars the doors are strong, otherwise you'd be out on the road with the way you're moving," he taunted.
"Excuse me?" Akansha snapped, glaring at him.
"Sit properly. I don't bite," he said, this time toning it down.
"I can never be comfortable in your presence," she shot back.
"Akansha... you are—" Shaurya began, but she cut him off instantly, gesturing toward Siya.
"Don't... She's a very light sleeper," Akansha whispered.
At that, Shaurya's lips curved faintly. He leaned slightly toward Siya and gently caressed her hair.
For a brief second, Akansha's heart softened. That peaceful smile on his face—it had been years since she had seen it. It had vanished the moment he had forced her into marriage.
But just as quickly, the memories followed—everything he had done, everything she had suffered... and the fact that her daughter had been born without a father.
The warmth vanished.
Akansha swatted his hand away, startling him.
"Don't touch my daughter with your filthy hands," she whisper-yelled, her voice laced with disgust.
The words struck him.
"She is mine too. Don't you dare stop me from seeing or being with my daughter, Akansha," he said, his voice low, his eyes locking onto hers.
The anger he had been holding back until now was beginning to surface.
He wanted to shout at her... demand answers... ask her why she had hidden this from him.
But he didn't.
He never raised his voice at her.
And he never would.
After his warning, she didn't utter another word.
She simply shut her eyes, craving a moment of peace. Her mind was already overflowing with disturbing thoughts, uncertainty tightening its grip around her. What now? And Akash... what would Shaurya do to him for helping her escape?
The thought unsettled her further.
A moment later, she glanced at her watch and stiffened. Siya had woken up twice or thrice during the journey, and Akansha had managed to feed her fruits once and cereal twice. Luckily, the little girl had been both hungry and sleepy, so she had eaten calmly in her half-asleep state.
But now... it was time for her morning cereal.
Siya could wake up any moment, and if her food wasn't ready by then, she would wake up completely—and once she did, she would throw tantrums. And with everything swirling in Akansha's head, she didn't have the strength to deal with that right now.
Quickly, she leaned forward and began searching through Siya's bag, pulling out containers and essentials she had carefully packed—food, diapers, hair accessories, body care items—everything her daughter might need.
"What happened?" Shaurya asked in a low voice, watching her juggle between boxes.
"It's time for her cereal. She might wake up anytime, and if she isn't fed on time, your daughter throws a lot of tantrums, Shaurya—which I'm in no mood to handle right now," Akansha replied, her voice edged with worry.
Her hands froze the very next second.
She realized what she had just said.
Embarrassment flushed her face. Not shock—because she often muttered things like this in her mind when Siya became difficult—but she had never imagined she would say it to him, directly.
Slowly, she turned to look at him.
Her cheeks were flushed, but the moment her eyes met his face—lit up like a thousand-watt bulb—she understood. Her one statement... calling Siya his daughter... had stirred something deep within him.
Akansha quickly shook her head, forcing herself not to get distracted by that expression.
Meanwhile, Shaurya swiftly opened the built-in side and front tables in the SUV. He was used to having his meals there during travel or while campaigning, and the setup made things easier.
The small tables allowed Akansha to spread out everything she needed.
Despite her initial refusal, Shaurya quietly helped her arrange the items.
The partition between the driver's seat and the back was shut, giving them enough privacy—an odd, silent bubble for a family that was anything but whole.
"Damn... not now," Akansha muttered under her breath after tasting the water from the flask.
"What happened?" Shaurya asked, immediately catching the worry in her expression.
"I need hot water to mix her cereal... but this isn't hot anymore," she said, showing him the flask.
She had expected to reach the hotel by now. Their plan had been simple—cross the state border, stop at a remote hotel, rest for a few hours, and then continue the journey.
But Shaurya had caught them even before they could cross the border.
It's all his fault.
Her gaze fell on Siya, who was beginning to stir in her sleep.
She could wake up any second.
"Siyu... please sleep a little longer," Akansha whispered, gently patting her, anxiety creeping into her voice.
"I'll arrange it. Don't worry," Shaurya said immediately, sliding open the partition before she could respond.
"Suraj, I need hot water. Immediately. Arrange it," he ordered.
There was urgency in his tone.
Watching Akansha panic like this unsettled him. Was it really so serious if Siya woke up and didn't get food instantly?
He didn't know. This was all new to him.
But one thought hit him hard—what if his baby cried out of hunger? A sharp discomfort settled in his chest.
What kind of father was he, if he couldn't even handle something this basic?
If he failed at something this simple, how was he supposed to take on the responsibilities of being her father?
Wouldn't Akansha just get one more reason to prove him unworthy?
The car came to a halt, and Suraj stepped out. Shaurya followed immediately, along with his entire security team.
"Sir... hot water?" Suraj trailed, unsure.
"Yes, Suraj. For drinking purposes," Shaurya instructed.
He began pacing back and forth, his forehead creased with a deep frown. His security personnel exchanged confused glances—this was new. They had never seen him like this. He was always calm, always composed. But now, he seemed restless... over a flask of hot water.
Every few minutes, Shaurya opened the car door to check on Siya.
"Don't open the door until you have hot water... she's getting disturbed. Use your brain, Shaurya," Akansha whisper-yelled, irritation evident on her face.
She had once decided never to take his name again—because every time she did, it made him feel like hers, like someone close, like her man... and she didn't want to feel that anymore.
"Sorry..." he muttered, quickly shutting the door.
She was right. If he kept opening it, Siya would wake up.
How did I not think of that?
He ran a hand through his hair, silently cursing himself.
Just then, he saw Suraj approaching with the flask. Shaurya rushed to him, grabbed it instantly, and got back into the car, a small sigh of relief escaping him.
"Here," he said, handing it to Akansha.
She opened the lid—and immediately frowned.
Steam rose straight to her face. The water was boiling.
"Shaurya Singh Shekhawat, do you not have a brain?" she snapped in a hushed but furious tone. "I need water slightly hotter than lukewarm—and this is steaming hot. How am I supposed to mix cereal in this? And even if I do, I'll have to wait for it to cool down before feeding Siya."
Her glare was enough to unsettle him.
At that exact moment, Siya stirred restlessly, as if she would wake any second.
Shaurya's heartbeat spiked.
Now his wife would kill him.
Without wasting a second, he lifted Siya into his arms and gently patted her. The warmth of her father's hold soothed her almost instantly, and she slipped back into sleep.
Both of them exhaled in relief.
"It's Suraj's fault... I'll ask him to get lukewarm water," Shaurya muttered, laying Siya carefully beside him before stepping out again.
Akansha followed him immediately, knowing he would mess it up again if left alone.
"Suraj, I asked for hot water—this is steaming hot. What are—" Shaurya started, but Akansha shot him a look that made him stop mid-sentence.
Understanding the cue, Suraj quietly stepped away, giving them privacy.
"Why are you scolding him when it's your mistake?" Akansha said, her tone firm but controlled. "You knew what the water was for—he didn't. You should've told him you needed it moderately hot."
"Okay... let's just cool it instead of arguing," Shaurya said, calming down.
She nodded.
"Do you have ice?" she asked, almost without expectation.
"Ice packs hai, chalega? (We have ice packs... will that work?)" Shaurya replied instinctively—only to curse himself the very next second. What did she ask, and what was he even answering?
But luckily, she nodded.