Chapter 32
After the demo concluded, a few dignitaries and guests raised their questions, and Mrs. Arora along with the team handled everything efficiently.
Everyone present seemed genuinely impressed by the depth of their research and the modifications they had incorporated according to both Indian and global market demands, keeping in mind the skills required by today's generation.
At the same time, Shaurya's detailed knowledge and understanding of even the smallest aspects of the project impressed everyone further.
Throughout the event, several dignitaries praised the team's efforts and also suggested a few additional improvements that could strengthen the project's performance even more, all of which the team accepted constructively.
Finally, the concluding speech was delivered virtually by the Governor himself.
He openly appreciated both the Chief Minister's efforts and the team's expertise in handling such an ambitious project. He even expressed his wish to personally visit the CR team's office to understand the project in greater detail.
Overall, the event turned out to be a massive success.
Gradually, the guests started leaving.
However, Shaurya still remained inside the school building, which served as the venue for the event, because he had another meeting scheduled with the DEOs.
Meanwhile, Akansha and the rest of the CR team stayed back to wrap up a few remaining discussions.
They had decided to begin selecting students who would become the alpha users for their curriculum testing program.
The team specifically wanted meritorious students with flexible and adaptive mindsets because those students would have to manage the pressure of simultaneously following both the experimental pedagogy and the existing curriculum system.
To begin the selection process immediately, they decided to start from the same school itself.
Since students from different kinds of schools would eventually be selected, they considered this the perfect starting point.
The school management offered them the projection room so the CR team could continue their selection process comfortably.
Akansha first explained the entire project to the students in detail.
She carefully informed them about the changes they would encounter while following the new curriculum along with the possible academic and mental challenges they might face during the process.
Once she finished, Mr. Khan took over the session.
Taking that opportunity, Akansha quietly stepped out of the room to call Richa's parents and check on Siya.
After confirming everything was fine with them, Akansha started talking to her daughter, who immediately became busy narrating every tiny detail of her day excitedly.
"Here... here... Pass the ball!"
The loud voices of a few boys suddenly reached her ears.
Curious, Akansha instinctively walked ahead to see what was happening.
And the sight before her completely froze her in place.
A group of school boys were playing football on the ground.
But what truly held her attention wasn't the game itself.
It was Shaurya.
With the sleeves of his formal shirt folded neatly till his forearms, Shaurya was playing football with those boys as though he was simply one among them.
His carefree laughter and youthful enthusiasm blended so naturally with the students that it became impossible to separate him from the group.
It genuinely looked as if he belonged there. And surprisingly... he played exceptionally well. So well that even some of the best players present looked genuinely shocked.
This particular school was famous for producing some of the finest football players for both state and national teams, and every boy on the field seemed highly skilled. Yet somehow, Shaurya not only matched their level but occasionally even outperformed them.
There are generally two kinds of celebrities and public figures.
The first category consists of those who deliberately act humble and approachable only as a part of their public relations image.
The second category includes those who genuinely belong among people. They don't need to pretend or perform for acceptance because their natural behavior itself constantly proves how deeply connected they are to ordinary people.
Most politicians belonged to the first category. But surprisingly, Shaurya belonged to the second. Despite being born into privilege and power, he never struggled to connect with common people.
It was almost as though wealth, status, and influence never corrupted him. He never needed scripted PR stunts to appear approachable.
His compassion and outgoing nature naturally allowed him to blend effortlessly with any crowd regardless of age, class, religion, gender, caste, or status.
That exact nature of his made those boys play so comfortably with him despite the fact that he was the Chief Minister of the state.
It genuinely seemed as if they had forgotten who he was.
And looking at Shaurya's carefree laughter and boyish excitement, Akansha was certain that even he himself had forgotten for a while that he was the Chief Minister.
At that moment, all her complaints and hatred momentarily disappeared.
Watching the childlike side of him somehow mesmerized her enough to temporarily forget all the pain he had caused her. Before she even realized it, she had unknowingly disconnected the call with Siya, who was still asking when she could meet her Dadda again.
Without thinking much further, Akansha quietly took out her phone and started recording a video of Shaurya playing football with the boys. Just like everyone else around her, who were equally busy capturing videos of him while loudly cheering him on.
Shaurya was playing exceptionally well, scoring goal after goal effortlessly. But suddenly, his movements halted the moment he noticed his wife standing there, quietly recording his video on her phone.
That tiny bit of interest she unknowingly showed toward him instantly transformed the entire moment into a beautiful memory for him. For a few seconds, he completely lost himself in her eyes... eyes that once held endless love for him.
Akansha looked away briefly. But the moment her gaze returned to him, the hesitation in her expression had already changed into shock. Her mouth widened slightly.
Only then did Shaurya realize the opposing team was about to score because of his distraction.
Damn it.
How could he lose focus like that? What if someone noticed him staring at her? How could he allow his attraction toward his wife to overpower his protectiveness and caution regarding her?
Quickly regaining his senses, Shaurya immediately diverted his attention back to the game, successfully blocking the goal attempt while simultaneously handling both the match and the dangerous distraction named Akansha.
He continued playing for another hour until the boys themselves became exhausted and finally wanted to stop. Shaurya wasn't playing for publicity or image-building.
He was genuinely enjoying the connection he felt with the boys and how freely they interacted with him. Most importantly, he genuinely enjoyed teaching them small tricks and techniques.
"Sir... You were absolutely awesome", the team skipper praised excitedly while admiring Shaurya's skill and understanding of the game.
"Thanks... It's been years since I last played football. But honestly, this match was far better than the previous one", Shaurya replied with a faint smile.
His mind immediately drifted toward the last football match he had played years ago with his office colleagues.
That same day, he had received a phone call from his father.
.. a call that completely changed the direction of his life.
Politics had always been a part of his long-term plans.
That was the career path he had ultimately chosen for himself.
But during the initial ten to fifteen years of his professional life, he wanted to satisfy his love for numbers.
Finance had always been his strongest subject. He genuinely loved working with numbers, investments, and financial structures. In fact, he was once considered one of the finest financial analysts in the industry.
His extraordinary analytical skills and sharp financial strategies had helped him rise to one of the top positions in his company within a remarkably short period. His investment ideas consistently turned out to be massive advantages for the organization.
Ironically, those very same skills later helped him transform his state into one of the most economically stable states in the country.
But then came that call from his father. One phone call. And he left behind everything.
His career.
His identity.
His company.
His friends.
His entire life.
All to step into politics.
Shaurya quickly forced himself out of those bitter memories because even the mere thought of that phone call left a sour taste in his mouth.
Soon, he started giving football tips to the students.
And when someone curiously asked how he possessed such deep knowledge about the sport, his answer completely stunned everyone present.
Once upon a time, Shaurya himself had been a football player. Not only that, he had even been selected for the national football team. But eventually, his passion for numbers overshadowed his passion for football, leading him toward higher studies at Harvard instead.
After hearing that revelation, everyone around him looked visibly impressed by yet another hidden talent of their Chief Minister. Meanwhile, Shaurya already knew this forgotten chapter of his life would soon go viral everywhere.
"We thought your life was an open book... but looks like it isn't", one of the students joked with a smile.
Shaurya smiled faintly.
"Well... it is an open book. But some pages are yet to be revealed... and some pages are yet to be rewritten", he replied calmly while briefly glancing toward Akansha before quickly shifting his gaze away again.