Chapter 25
Akansha didn't know whether the woman recognized her or not, but the moment she saw her, a wave of bitter memories crashed into her. She had met this woman twice before, and both times had left scars on her heart.
This was the third time.
She didn't know what to expect now.
"You are Akansha, right?" the woman recognized her instantly, despite the years. "A psychology student who came to Shaurya to discuss curriculum revision when he was an MLA?" Meera Pathak asked.
Akansha knew her.
How could she not?
She was her ex-husband's friend—perhaps even a close family friend. But the woman had never known the truth. The first time they met, Akansha had been Shaurya's girlfriend. The second time, his wife.
And both times...
He hadn't had the decency to introduce her that way.
The familiar sting of betrayal resurfaced.
Shaurya noticed the shift in her expression, the paleness in her face, and understood exactly what she was feeling.
"Yes, Ms. Pathak. I am the same woman who approached Shaurya sir for curriculum revision," Akansha replied, masking her urge to walk away.
Her words were polite, but her tone was ice-cold—sharp enough to slice through the air.
Sharp enough to slice through him.
And he knew he deserved every bit of it.
Meera turned to Shaurya, about to ask what Akansha was doing there. Shaurya opened his mouth, intending to introduce them properly this time—to correct every mistake he had made before.
But Akansha didn't give him that chance.
"I work in the Curriculum Review Committee under Sir's leadership. Dr. Akansha Dixit, child psychologist," she said, introducing herself.
He hadn't spoken when he had the right to introduce her as his—now, she wouldn't give him that chance.
"That's wonderful," Meera said, then turned to Shaurya. "How many times will you surprise me with your ability to recognize and remember talent, Shaurya?"
She continued, impressed, "It's been what... seven or eight years since she met you? And you still remembered her, hired her at the right time, for the very work she was passionate about. And looking at her now, I can see that passion is still very much alive."
Her gaze shifted to the files in Akansha's hands.
"Meera... not everything is as simple as it seems," Shaurya said, his tone unexpectedly sharp.
It caught Meera off guard.
But he didn't care.
The hurt in Akansha's eyes was enough to ignite something fierce within him. Meera's presence—her words—were only making it worse.
He turned to Akansha.
His expression softened.
So did his voice.
"Is it urgent, or can it wait?" he asked gently.
No matter what he felt, no matter what he was going through—his tone always softened when it came to her.
Meera noticed that.
"It will take five minutes. I need your approval to proceed with the later half of Phase 1," Akansha said, her tone neutral, controlled.
Shaurya nodded and turned back to Meera.
"This is important. You'll have to wait for a while," he said.
A familiar flicker of jealousy stirred within Meera.
What was it about Akansha Dixit that made Shaurya prioritize her... every single time?
Shaurya and Akansha were on a date at one of the city's top-notch restaurants. Akansha preferred simple places over such extravagance, but they had chosen this one to maintain their privacy.
Shaurya placed their order, dismissing the waiter. All the while, Akansha kept staring at him—with a kind of love and adoration she had never felt for anyone before he entered her life.
"Don't look at me that way... You're giving me signals I can never ignore. Don't blame me if things heat up afterward," Shaurya said in a husky voice, his eyes still on the menu.
"The love of your life is sitting right in front of you, and your head is buried in the menu instead... and you're talking about heating things up between us?" she complained, making him smile.
"I was looking for your favorite smoothie, which unfortunately they don't serve here," he said, closing the drinks menu and setting it aside before finally meeting her gaze. "No worries, we'll order takeaway and pick it up on our way home," he added, reaching for his phone.
Before he could proceed, she snatched it from his hand and kept it aside.
"You've already ordered my favorite food. Why not have dessert at your regular café instead of smoothies?" she suggested.
"No," he shook his head. "My girl gets everything she wants. There's no room for compromises or adjustments," he said, holding her hand across the table, his thumb pressing gently against her palm.
"Shaurya... that's unfair. We should be doing things we both enjoy," she protested, but he tightened his hold, his warmth grounding her.
"This is what I enjoy—your company. You have no idea how much even a single minute with you means to me. You've already done enough by agreeing to come out with me despite your reservations," he said.
He was right.
It hadn't been easy for Akansha to agree to this date.
She constantly feared someone familiar spotting them together and informing her family.
Her mother's taunts and constant suspicion about her personal life had already made things unbearable.
Any delay in reaching home invited questions she didn't want to answer.
She didn't want to give her mother another reason to doubt her.
But when Shaurya had asked her out...
She couldn't say no.
She couldn't watch the light in his eyes fade.
"I did it for myself, not for you," she said, lifting her chin slightly.
He rolled his eyes at her obvious lie.
She had never been someone who openly expressed what she did for others—whether it was for him or her family. She believed in giving silently.
Just like Shaurya.
In that, they were the same.
"Yeah... as if I don't know," he muttered.
They continued their light arguments until the food arrived. Shaurya dismissed the waiter who offered to serve and did it himself.
Akansha watched him, a soft smile forming on her lips.
Her man.
He was everything a woman could wish for—faithful, loyal, loving, caring, dangerously handsome, responsible, successful, a perfect gentleman... and above all, a passionate lover.
She had never imagined she would be this lucky.
Sometimes, she still found it hard to believe that a man like him was in love with her. Not because she lacked confidence—but because she had always shown the world only her harsh side.
The side meant to push people away.
She had always believed no man could tolerate her for more than a day. She wasn't sweet, she wasn't soft. She came across as rude, arrogant. She had no patience for stupidity. She wasn't compassionate—or at least, that was the image she chose to present.
It wasn't as if men hadn't approached her.
They had.
Attracted by what they saw on the outside.
But none of them stayed long enough to see what lay beneath.
She had driven them all away—with her strength, her bluntness, her sharp edges. To them, she was too dominant... everything a man didn't want.
She had shown the same side to Shaurya, but instead of being repelled, he had been drawn to her. Like iron to a magnet.
He had taken his time—patiently, persistently—until he uncovered the real Akansha Dixit.
And he had fallen in love with all of her. Even the parts others ran from. She had never expected him, of all people, to stay. Someone so perfect... so complete.
But with time, he made her believe—in him, in his love. She knew it now. He didn't want perfection. He wanted her. And with her, he wanted to build a life that was perfect in its own way.
He held out a spoonful of biryani mixed with her favorite malai kofta, earning an immediate glare from her. She hated such gestures, and he knew it—yet he still dared to do it.
"I am eating my food. You eat yours. You know I don't like all this," she snapped rudely.
Anyone else in his place would have been offended.
Shaurya only smiled.
"This has kofte. You already finished yours. I know you like it, so come on... have it," he said softly.
The warmth in his voice melted her resistance. He always paid attention to the smallest details—making sure everything she liked was within reach and everything she disliked stayed far away.
She finally gave in, taking the bite, closing her eyes as she relished it.
"Thank you... The kofte here are delicious," she murmured.
The next moment, he transferred all of it onto her plate.
"Shaurya...!" she shrieked at his audacity.
"Eat," he said gently, continuing with the plain rice on his plate, mixing it with raita.
"You are ruining me for every other man," she said, her eyes softening with love.
"You already did," he replied, holding her gaze.
"Shaurya, I am serious," she said with a pout.
"Who said I wasn't?" he asked, but seeing her glare, he gave up his teasing.
"That's the plan, Ms. Akansha Dikshit—ruin you for every other man so that you always stay with me," he said.
"No one other than you can bear me either..." she muttered.
"Bear?" he repeated, his tone shifting. "You think I bear you?
Woman, you have no idea how lucky I feel to have you in my life.
Every second of you in my life is a result of my good deeds.
Stop talking as if being with you is a punishment.
And more importantly... I won't let any other man even think about having you.
You are mine—and you will stay that way. "
The possessiveness in his voice made her roll her eyes.
"Keep your possessive soul out of this date. I can't deal with it," she said, irritated.
He chuckled.
They finished their dinner and ordered desserts. While waiting, Akansha decided to bring up her curriculum revision plan.
"You'll be attending the assembly sessions from next week, right? Hear me out once so you can discuss it with the minister," she said.
"Love, you've already explained it to me multiple times," he replied.
"I've made some changes," she insisted.