Chapter 21 #4
"You have no right to speak about it. No effing right," Shaurya snapped, his voice rising—something he rarely did.
His mother fell silent for a moment.
"Shaurya… don’t forget you are talking to your mother," she shouted.
"I will remember that—until you remember how to treat my wife," he said coldly. "Listen carefully, Ma. We are not discussing this again."
With that, he led Akansha to their room.
Mrs. Sudha followed, worried he might lash out at Akansha—but what she saw surprised her.
"Shaurya… I… I’m sorry… I went there to—"
He shook his head. She had expected anger, refusal to listen—but he didn’t let her continue.
"It’s fine. Just let me know next time. Now let’s not talk about it, okay?" he said softly, holding her chin.
It was the first time he spoke to her with such affection after their marriage.
Mrs. Sudha smiled quietly and left.
Akansha hugged him tightly, and he hugged her back, ruffling her hair.
"I was so scared… I thought you would be furious. Trust me, Shaurya, I can never upset you… I went there because—"
"Shh… it’s okay. Let it go. Calm down… hm?" he murmured.
She relaxed in his arms.
After dinner, Mrs. Sudha took Shaurya aside.
"Don’t leave Akansha alone tonight," she said seriously. "She’s strong—but today she’s shaken.
Your mother humiliated her badly. She hit her where it hurts the most—said her parents never cared for her, that they married her off to you despite knowing your reasons…
that no one truly cares about her. She even accused her of going to see Akriti to kill her so that you could move on and accept this marriage.
She crossed every limit today, Shaurya."
Shaurya’s fists clenched.
"I should confront Ma. She needs to know her boundaries—and after today, she will," he said, fury evident.
Mrs. Sudha held his hand firmly.
"It won’t change anything. Every time you defend Akansha, your mother hates her more. It only makes things harder for that girl. I can stop her only to some extent—and after today, even that might not be possible. And you won’t be at home all the time to protect her."
She softened.
"So don’t confront your mother. Take care of your wife instead. She’s deeply shaken."
Shaurya nodded.
He picked up a dinner plate for Akansha and went to their room. He had already asked her to rest there and skip dinner in the hall—and she had agreed without hesitation. She had no strength left to face anyone that night.
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"I don’t know why you asked me to make all these preparations, but everything is ready, Shaurya," Mrs. Sudha said, stepping out with an Aarti thali.
Akansha’s thoughts broke at the sound of her voice—and then she saw her.
Mrs. Sudha froze, her eyes moving from Akansha to Siya in her arms. It took her a moment to connect the dots. When she did, her gaze shifted to Shaurya—teary, questioning.
He nodded.
"Akansha…" Mrs. Sudha whispered, pulling her into a tight embrace, Siya caught between them. "I can’t believe Siya is Shau—your daughter…" she corrected herself quickly, sensing the complications.
"How are you, Sudha aunty?" Akansha asked softly, breaking the hug.
"I’m fine… how are you, Akansha?" she asked, and Akansha simply nodded with a faint smile.
"Mumma… you know aunty?" Siya asked curiously.
Akansha expected that. "Yes… now shhh," she said, gently silencing her.
"Mrs. Sudha…" Shaurya called.
"Yes… one minute," she replied, adjusting the Aarti thali.
Akansha instinctively stepped back—but Shaurya held her hand.
"You can’t deny Siya’s right," he said quietly.
Akansha shook her head. She wouldn’t compromise on her dignity—not even for her daughter. If she did, she would set the wrong example. Shaurya had broken her—deeply—and she wouldn’t give in to him now. If she ever did, it would be for herself, not for anyone else.
"Here…" she said, handing Siya to Shaurya and stepping away.
Mrs. Sudha gave a small, understanding smile and performed the Aarti for Siya in Shaurya’s arms, while Akansha stood at a distance—as if she had nothing to do with them… or rather, with him.
"Done now?" Akansha asked, stepping forward once the ritual ended.
"One minute," Shaurya stopped her.
Mrs. Sudha brought a large bowl filled with soft clay. Gently, Shaurya made Siya step into it—marking her first step into his house… and into his life.
Welcome to Dadda’s life, Princess… I just hope your mumma enters it again too, he thought, pressing a kiss to her head.
After that, all three walked inside.
"Mrs. Sudha, ask Suraj to hand this over to the studio for casting and sculpting," Shaurya instructed.
She nodded and left them.
"Mumma… bhuki…" Siya murmured.
Akansha nodded. "Give me ten minutes, okay?"
Siya agreed, and Akansha immediately moved to the kitchen. With Mrs. Sudha’s help, she prepared Siya’s meal, fed her, freshened her up, and put her to sleep. She needed Siya settled before facing Shaurya—and ending this, so she could leave.
This place… this closeness to him… suffocated her.
And yet, a small part of her heart stirred with quiet happiness—living a life she had imagined countless times.
She crushed that feeling instantly, reminding herself of every wound he had given her.
"Can we talk now?" Akansha asked as soon as Shaurya entered the room.
Seeing his wife and daughter in his room—the same room where he had spent endless sleepless nights imagining a life with them—filled him with a quiet, painful happiness.
But her urgency… it hurt him.
He nodded.
Akansha looked around, searching for something to cover Siya.
"There’s a fresh blanket in the closet… last drawer," he said.
He wanted her to get it herself—to move freely here, as if this was still her home.
But she shattered that thought.
"I’m your guest, Mr. Shekhawat… please get it," she said.
He walked up to her and gently pulled her closer.
"You are not. You are my wife. You can never be a guest here. This place is as much yours as mine," he said, looking into her eyes.
She jerked his hand away and stepped back.
"Stop wasting my time with your nonsense and get the blanket before my daughter wakes up," she said, turning away.
Damn him… even now, his presence unsettled her. His scent, his closeness—she hated how it still affected her.
"Our daughter," Shaurya corrected.
She glared—but didn’t argue.
Akansha exhaled sharply and reached for the duvet on the bed—but he stopped her.
"That’s mine. I don’t like anyone using my duvet except my wife," he said.
The words stirred something in her—but she pushed it down, choosing instead to provoke him.
"And you want to claim your daughter when you can’t even share your blanket with her? I’ve never seen a man like you," she said coldly.
"She is my daughter. And I know she wouldn’t like using someone else’s duvet. That’s why I said it," he replied calmly, walking to the closet.
The moment he found out about Siya, he had already ordered everything—unicorn toys, duvets, essentials. He had even spoken to an interior designer to set up her room.
Akansha shut her eyes, frustration washing over her.
What had she become?
In her desperation to hurt him, she had forgotten her own daughter’s habits.
Yes… Siya hated sharing her duvet.
Just like her father.
She only shared it with Akansha—no one else.
Shaurya returned with a unicorn duvet and gently covered his daughter, adjusting the AC temperature to make it comfortable for her.
"How do you know unicorn is Siya’s favorite?" Akansha asked.
"Siya told me," Shaurya replied.
"And looks like you know a lot more than that…" she added, scanning the toys, drawing books, arts and crafts—everything perfectly aligned with Siya’s taste.
"Yeah… she told me," he said again.
"You’ve barely met her three or four times. How do you know so much about her?" Akansha asked, narrowing her eyes.
Shaurya hesitated. He didn’t want to bring Richa into this, but he had decided he wouldn’t lie to Akansha anymore.
"I’ve met her more than four times, Akansha," he said, holding her gaze.
Her eyes widened as realization dawned.
"Was it Richa who helped you?" she asked, fury rising.
Shaurya felt bad for Richa—but he nodded.
That single gesture doubled Akansha’s anger. For the past week, she had been feeling guilty, thinking about what she had done to her best friend—but not anymore. She had trusted Richa with her daughter… and this was what she did? And Shaurya? How could he?
Akansha grabbed Shaurya by his collar, her anger spilling over.
"Don’t you have any shame? You call yourself a responsible citizen…
a Chief Minister? The so-called people’s man doesn’t even have the decency to take a mother’s permission before meeting her child?
How dare you meet my daughter behind my back?
Actually, I’m expecting decency from the wrong man…
you’re not even human—you’re an animal…" she lashed out, glaring into his eyes.
"Don’t lose yourself in your hatred, Akansha… you know I’m not that kind of man," Shaurya interrupted softly.
The hurt in his eyes made her falter—just a little.
"I didn’t know Richa was bringing Siya without her mother's permission. In fact, I asked her for Siya’s mother’s number many times.
I wanted to speak to her myself… to make sure she was okay with it.
But she said it wasn’t needed. Siya told me Richa stayed with her, and when she spoke about her ‘Mamu,’ I assumed Siya lived with her mother and grandparents…
and that Richa was related to her. I’m sorry—I should have been more careful.
But if I had known Siya's mother disapproved, I would never have met her without your consent. "
He paused, his voice hardening.
"But it’s good I didn’t know. I got my daughter. I got to know about my daughter… the one my wife hid from me for five years."
The shift in his tone sent a chill down her spine.
Akansha slowly loosened her grip and stepped back.
"Let’s talk somewhere else… Siya will wake up," she said.
Shaurya nodded, forcing himself to calm down.
He placed a gentle kiss on his daughter’s forehead, adjusted her duvet once more, and walked out. Akansha followed, taking a deep breath.
It was time to confront one of the darkest nights of her life.
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She followed him silently. She had never stepped into this house before—Shaurya had bought this mansion after becoming Chief Minister.
Though he owned penthouses and buildings in the city, they were either in crowded areas or commercial zones.
He had needed something central, secure, and private—and this place had everything.
As she walked, Akansha couldn’t help but notice the interiors. His bedroom looked exactly like something they would have chosen together.
Did he plan a life with her here?
Had he been dreaming about them all these years?
But why… after everything he had done?
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Shaurya stepped into his study. Once she entered, he locked the door behind them.
"What do you want to talk about?" Akansha asked immediately, as he moved toward her. Her urgency was clear—she wanted this over with.
"Tell me something… were you ever going to tell me about my daughter?" he asked.
The question caught her off guard. She had expected accusations—why she hid Siya—but not this.
What was she supposed to say?
Her answer would shatter him… and she wasn’t ready to see that and It would only make him angrier.
"You know now. So stop asking pointless questions and come to the point," she said.
That was enough to ignite his anger.
"This is the point. And you will answer me, Akansha," he said, his voice firm. "You hid my daughter for five years. I had no idea she even existed until a week ago—and that too by accident. I need to know… did my wife ever consider telling me about my child?"
His fists clenched at his sides. He had to restrain himself from grabbing her. No matter how furious he was, he would never cross that line.
Akansha flinched at his raised tone—he had rarely spoken to her like this. Not even in the past when he claimed to hate her.
She ignored the word wife for now, though she wanted to correct him. Another question lingered in her mind—their divorce. She was almost certain they were legally separated… but she needed confirmation, and only he could give her that. That, however, was for another day.
"Answer me, Akansha… were you ever going to tell me about our daughter?" he asked again.
This time, she didn’t hold back.
"Siya is mine. Mine alone," she said coldly. "And to answer your question—no. I had no intention of telling you about her. She’s better off without a father like you."
Her words struck him like a blow.
Now he understood… how deeply he had broken her. She was never like this before.
"Why, damn it? Why don’t I deserve to be her father?" he demanded, gripping her forearms—but holding back from hurting her. "I was a terrible husband—I accept that. But how did you decide I’d be a terrible father? You know how much I love children… how much I dreamed about ours. Then why?"
"Until one day… you changed," she shot back, her voice rising. "You became someone I didn’t even recognize. You asked how I decided? You didn’t give me a chance to decide anything. You yourself said how much you hated the idea of having children with me!"
The words hit him like a shock.
His grip loosened.
Was she there that night?
But she was supposed to be with Akriti… at the hospital.
Then… how did she know?