Chapter 21 #3
Since their marriage, she had tried everything to bring back the Shaurya she once knew—the one who loved her unconditionally.
She knew he had betrayed her, had ulterior motives when he pursued her.
But his love… that wasn’t a lie. She had seen it in everything he did for her and her family.
And she loved him more than he ever did.
She didn’t want to lose him.
So she tried—picked fights deliberately, pushed him, provoked him—just to get a reaction, to break his walls, to pull him out of his vengeance.
But every attempt ended the same way. And with each failure, something inside her cracked a little more.
She only hoped he would realize it… before she broke completely.
"Shaurya… should I switch off the AC?" she asked.
"Will you, if I say yes?" he asked, a hint of hope slipping through.
"No. It’s warmer in the balcony. I can arrange a spare cot there for you if you want," she replied.
She waited for him to turn, to react, even to glare at her.
But he just sighed… and slept.
She closed her eyes too, too drained to deal with another disappointment.
After her breathing steadied into sleep, he leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
He didn’t know when his anger would fade enough for him to live a normal, happy marriage with his wife.
Every time he tried to take a step toward Akansha, the image of his sister—lifeless in that hospital gown—rose before him, stopping him in his tracks.
And almost as if on cue, her condition would worsen, her panic attacks intensifying, as though she refused to let him forgive his wife… or love her.
He let out a deep sigh, his gaze fixed on his sleeping wife.
He knew it wasn’t just his anger driving his behavior toward her—there were far more layers to it, complications he hadn’t yet untangled.
How was he supposed to deal with all of it at once?
Would he ever succeed?
In the early hours, she began shivering. He quietly covered her with his blanket. By morning, she started sweating. Just as quietly, he removed it and folded it neatly before starting his day—placing a soft kiss on her forehead.
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"Sir… we’ll reach in an hour," Suraj informed, lowering the partition.
"Okay. Inform Mr. Sharma to summon Akash Dikshit in the evening," Shaurya said.
"Mr. Dikshit is already waiting for you at your residence, sir," Suraj replied.
A flicker of rage passed through Shaurya, but he held himself back.
"Ask him to leave. Immediately," he whispered, glancing at the sleeping forms of his wife and daughter.
"Yes, sir," Suraj responded.
Shaurya rolled the partition back up, sealing off the space again.
It had been four hours since Akansha had fallen asleep. He had thought of waking her to eat—she hadn’t had anything—but she looked like she needed rest more than food. So he let her sleep.
Beside him, Siya stirred.
Shaurya gently tried to pat her back to sleep, but this time she resisted. She had slept enough.
Now, she wanted to wake up…
And play with her mumma.
She opened her eyes and found Shaurya right in front of her. For a second, she blinked, rubbing her eyes cutely, convinced she was still dreaming.
Shaurya chuckled softly at his cutest of the cute daughter. Damn… she is my daughter. He and Akansha had created this adorable product. He immediately frowned at himself for calling her a product.
"Sho—" Siya started to squeal, but Shaurya quickly covered her mouth, glancing at Akansha, who was still asleep.
"Siya bache… mumma is sleeping. We don’t want to disturb her, right?" he whispered, gently turning her toward Akansha.
"Mumma is pwetty… vely pwetty (pretty… very pretty)," Siya giggled to herself before leaning forward to place a kiss on her mother’s forehead and then her cheek. Feeling the softness, she began rubbing her face against it. "Cho choft choft (so soft soft)," she murmured happily.
Before she could wake Akansha, Shaurya gently pulled her back into his arms.
"Mumma is sleeping… don’t disturb her," he reminded softly. Siya nodded obediently.
"Sholya… whele ale we going? (Where are we going?)" she asked, then suddenly slapped her forehead as if remembering something. "Sholya… go hide… mumma will beat you if she sees you…" she added in a hushed urgency, aware her mother disliked him.
"Oh? Your mumma doesn’t like me… so will you stop being my friend?" he asked lightly, watching her carefully—testing her, in his own way.
"No. Mumma says we shouldn’t leave good fliends (friends)," Siya replied firmly.
He nodded slowly.
"What if your mumma doesn’t agree? Will you come with me? Stay with me in my big house? I’ll buy you so many toys, I’ll play with you, I’ll—"
"NO!" Siya cut him off instantly, her tiny face scrunching up. "I won’t come with you. I want mumma. I lub mumma… Mamabear and Siyabear alwaych together (always together)."
A soft smile spread across Shaurya’s face. Pride filled him. His daughter loved her mother deeply—unconditionally—and would never leave her.
"I was kidding, bacha… mumma knows I’m here. And I’m taking you both to our… my place," he corrected himself, wishing someday he could call it their place.
"Oh! So you and mumma became fliends (friends)?" she asked eagerly.
He let out a quiet sigh. "Hm… we have a lot to talk about. But we’ll become friends soon."
Siya nodded excitedly, and from that moment until they reached, the two kept chatting endlessly about anything and everything.
Once they arrived, Shaurya first sent Suraj ahead to check the premises—ensuring there were no uninvited guests or anything suspicious. Only after receiving a complete clearance did he wake Akansha.
Her headache had eased, thanks to the uninterrupted sleep. But the moment she realized Siya was awake—and in Shaurya’s arms—panic flashed across her face.
Did he tell her?
Noticing her expression, Shaurya immediately shook his head, silently assuring her.
He was taken aback by her lack of trust. He would never take that liberty. Telling Siya the truth was her right—her responsibility. He wouldn’t take that away from her. He thought she knew that.
But then again… after everything he had done—how could he expect her to trust him?
"Mumma…" Siya jumped into Akansha’s arms, who held her close, gently patting her back.
"This is my fliend Sholya’s home… he is vely good," Siya said proudly.
Akansha simply nodded.
That small acknowledgment, instead of a reprimand, made Siya beam. She kissed her mother’s cheeks excitedly. Akansha smiled faintly, though her mind was already spiraling—her daughter’s growing attachment to Shaurya, her father… and the man furious with her for hiding the truth all these years.
"Siya bacha… come here. Let’s welcome your mother properly, hm?" Shaurya said, holding out his hand. Siya jumped toward him, thrilled by the idea.
He quickly moved to open the car door for Akansha, but before he could reach it, she had already stepped out.
She sighed at her daughter’s disappointed face.
But when she saw Shaurya’s expression fall—
She felt nothing but cold resolve.
If he thought he could use their daughter to reach her…
He was wrong.
And she would make sure he understood that—through every single action.
They walked in with Siya in Akansha’s arms, though Shaurya had insisted on carrying her. Just as they were about to step inside, he held Akansha’s hand, earning a glare from her.
"Mrs. Sudha…" Shaurya called.
"I’ll be there in a minute, Shaurya," came her voice.
Akansha’s eyes filled with tears. It felt like she was about to meet the kindest part of her marriage—Mrs. Sudha—the one who had stood by her at every step in a marriage full of thorns.
There was even a day when she was almost thrown out of the house for taking a stand for her… if Shaurya hadn’t arrived in time.
"How dare you go to the hospital and meet Akriti? Do you want to kill her? Tell me why you went!" Shaurya’s mother shouted, gripping Akansha’s forearms tightly.
"Please leave me… it’s hurting," Akansha tried to free herself, but her mother-in-law dug her nails in deeper. If not for Shaurya, Akansha would have retaliated long ago.
"Mrs. Shekhawat… what are you doing? I took her there, it’s not Akansha’s fault," Mrs. Sudha stepped in, as always, even without knowing the full truth.
"You? Out of everyone—you?" his mother scoffed, fury taking over. "How dare you go against me and my family? Especially Shaurya?"
Her grip on Akansha loosened as her attention shifted. Mrs. Sudha had always been a constant obstacle to her plans of tormenting Akansha—and now was the perfect chance to remove her. She was certain Shaurya wouldn’t stop her once he found out.
"Your services are no longer needed, Mrs. Sudha. You can leave," she declared.
"Mrs. Shekhawat?" Mrs. Sudha stood shocked.
"Ma?" Shaurya’s voice cut through as he walked in.
He glanced at the staff watching the scene unfold and dismissed them immediately.
"What is it today?" he asked, irritation clear. He was used to his mother creating scenes about his wife—but today, he was already upset. Mrs. Sudha had called him earlier, informing him that Akansha had gone to meet Akriti and his mother was making an issue out of it. He didn’t like Akansha visiting Akriti after everything his sister had gone through because of her—but the moment he saw Akansha’s tear-filled eyes, his anger vanished.
That one look told him enough—his mother had crossed a line.
"I’m right, Shaurya. Mrs. Sudha is no longer our well-wisher. She’s shifting her loyalties, so it’s better she leaves," his mother said, glaring.
"Speak about yourself, Ma," Shaurya replied firmly. "Mrs. Sudha is still my well-wisher—and always will be. And if she took my wife to meet Akriti, what’s wrong in that? Akansha asked me before going."
Akansha and Mrs. Sudha both froze in surprise.
He was defending them. Openly. Against his mother.
"Now you’re lying too? I know you would never allow this woman who is responsible for—"