Chapter 32 #4
Akansha was genuinely curious about the project because Mr. Khanna had spoken highly about it several times earlier. Besides, she appreciated the passion Neil seemed to have toward his work.
"Mr. Khanna, I appreciate your concern for her. But like I already mentioned, Suraj will drop her... on our way to my residence."
Shaurya spoke politely while calling for Suraj.
"Suraj."
Immediately, Suraj walked toward them.
"Escort Dr. Dixit to the car", Shaurya instructed calmly before walking away toward his own car without waiting for any response.
The moment he referred to her merely as "Dr. Dixit" instead of "Dr. Akansha," she instantly understood how furious he actually was.
But did she care?
No.
Akansha politely greeted Mr. Khanna and Neil before quietly leaving with Suraj.
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Akansha settled inside the car, after which Suraj got in as well. For the very first time, Shaurya himself shut the partition separating the driver's seat from the backseat. The moment the partition closed, the atmosphere inside the car instantly turned tense.
"What was that, Akansha?", Shaurya finally asked.
His tone remained composed. But the agitation and anguish burning inside his eyes were impossible to miss. Akansha deliberately remained silent.
"Akansha... Don't do this, please", he requested softly.
"Shaurya... mind your business", she replied coldly.
"You were never this friendly with anyone during your first meeting. Then what is so special about Neil Khanna?", Shaurya asked directly, unable to suppress his jealousy anymore.
"I am not the same Akansha you once knew, Shaurya Singh Shekhawat", she answered emotionlessly.
"Yeah... You became more rigid, more careful, and much ruder than before", he replied honestly.
"But why is Neil an exception?"
Akansha didn't answer him this time. Instead, she simply turned her face away, leaned back against the seat, and shut her eyes completely, silently ending the conversation.
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"Shaurya... It's time you come back and join politics", his father said the moment Shaurya answered the call.
"Papa... I was in the middle of a football match. Let me call you back after the game, okay?", Shaurya replied.
He couldn't ignore the seriousness in his father's tone. He immediately understood Virendar meant every word he said. But Shaurya still wasn't ready to leave his finance career behind and enter politics yet.
"Shaurya... I wouldn't have asked your assistant to tell you it was urgent if it wasn't, right?", Virendar Singh Shekhawat said irritably.
Shaurya sighed deeply before walking toward a secluded corner to continue the conversation properly.
"What's the matter?", he asked seriously.
"The youth leader of our party has been accused of drug trafficking.
.. and the case will most likely be proven very soon.
This scandal has damaged the party's reputation badly.
We need a young and dynamic leader to regain the people's trust. The opposition-backed media channels have completely crushed our credibility", Virendar explained, sounding genuinely distressed.
"Yeh toh hona hi tha(This was bound to happen). I warned you that Sachin was the wrong choice. You knew very well how twisted he was, yet you still allowed him into the party and let him damage its reputation."
Shaurya's tone hardened.
"I don't want to be somewhere my opinions hold no value. I'm sorry, Papa... I can't help you."
"Shaurya... Sachin's father was extremely important for the party. People loved him. Even seven years after his death, people still voted for Sachin only because of his father's image. We couldn't just remove him from the party back then."
Virendar paused before continuing helplessly.
"But now things are different. The party has already suspended him. And right now... the party needs you. Please come back, Shaurya. My entire life's work will collapse otherwise."
For the first time in his life, Virendar sounded like he was pleading.
"Please, Shaurya... this is the last thing I am asking from you."
Shaurya shut his eyes briefly. He didn't want to leave his career yet. Not now. But the political situation in the state clearly seemed worse than he initially imagined, and the fact that his father himself was pleading proved that.
Part of him genuinely wanted Virendar to suffer the consequences of his own poor decisions.
But at the same time... this wasn't only about his father anymore.
It was also about his own political future.
And more importantly, about the things he wanted to do for the people.
Until now, he had indirectly helped the state by implementing certain good policies through his father.
But if their party lost power entirely, he would lose even that influence. He released another long breath.
"I'll call you back in a while, Papa." Without waiting further, Shaurya disconnected the call and immediately dialed his best friend Dev, who had recently joined politics too, in the opposition party.
"Dev... I heard about it. What's the actual situation? If my father's government collapses, is your party prepared to take over? You'll be the CM candidate then, right?", Shaurya asked directly.
"No, Shaurya. The situation here is even worse. These people aren't politicians... they're leeches. This is not the right time for a power shift. If the government changes now, the state will suffer badly", Dev replied seriously.
"Who's the CM candidate?", Shaurya asked immediately, already sensing something terrible.
"Mahesh Khandelwal...", Dev answered.
Shaurya's eyes widened instantly.
"What the f**k? That bas***d? That bl**dy fifty-five-year-old a**h*le has three hundred and forty-five criminal cases against him, including three r*pe charges. What the hell is happening there, Dev? How are you people allowing this?", Shaurya exploded angrily.
"Shaurya... do you think I have that much power inside the party already?
I'm only relevant here because of my money right now.
It'll take time before I gain actual influence.
But this isn't the time for political transfer.
Do something. You know exactly what will happen to the state if Mahesh becomes Chief Minister.
" Dev's voice grew heavier. "This state and its people don't deserve that. "
The two best friends discussed possibilities for almost an hour. They explored every possible alternative. But ultimately, the only solution Shaurya kept arriving at... was himself. Nearly an hour later, he finally called his father again.
"I'm coming back to India. I've already mailed my resignation to the chairman and board. The formal procedures will take at least a week. Prepare for my arrival by then", Shaurya said calmly before disconnecting the call without waiting for a response.
He already knew his father would be overjoyed. But Shaurya himself wasn't emotionally prepared to hear it. His dreams had shattered. His plans had collapsed. And he needed time to mourn the life he was leaving behind.
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A week later, Shaurya returned to India. And almost immediately, he started handling the political crisis efficiently.
His grand political entry wasn't exactly welcomed warmly because the scandal involving his party member had severely damaged the party's reputation.
But within a few months, Shaurya managed to establish a strong name for himself among both party leaders and workers.
Soon afterward, when one of the party MLAs died unexpectedly due to a heart attack, Shaurya contested the by-election from that constituency and won.
Fortunately, the constituency was located far away from the capital city, allowing him to stay away from his parents. That fact genuinely pleased him because now he could stay in the same city as both Dev and Akriti. And coincidentally... it was also the city where Akansha lived with her family.
Although Shaurya successfully prevented his father's government from collapsing initially, he couldn't help Virendar win the next state elections.
Their party eventually lost power. Another party formed the government.
However, Shaurya and Dev together ensured that Mahesh Khandelwal was forced out of politics permanently.
At least now, Shaurya felt reassured that the state itself was safe.
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"Shaurya... You're back?" Akriti immediately hugged him tightly the moment she saw him enter her house.
"How many times have I told you to call him Bhai?", Dev complained while lightly hitting Akriti's head with the diary in his hand.
"Stop it, Dev. Have I ever called you Bhai? Then why would I call Shaurya that?", Akriti shot back irritably.
"That's alright, Dev. Stop troubling my sister. It doesn't matter how she addresses us. We are still her brothers and will always do everything to keep her happy", Shaurya said warmly while side-hugging Akriti.
"You know what? You're the best brother, Shaurya. Why didn't God make you my real brother instead of this duffer?", Akriti complained dramatically.
For one brief second, Shaurya's smile faded. But he quickly masked it again.
"How does blood matter? What matters is how important you are to me and whether I fulfill my responsibilities properly as your brother", Shaurya replied while ruffling her hair lovingly.
"Okay... I'm getting late for college. Bye guys... see you in the evening", Akriti announced before rushing away.
"Akriti... bacha, Shaurya came after almost a month. Stay home today and spend some time with him", Dev tried stopping her.
"I'm really sorry, Dev. I absolutely cannot miss today's lecture. My favorite professor's class is today. I can't skip it for anything", Akriti replied immediately.
"Don't tell me it's her again...", Dev groaned dramatically.
"Who?", Shaurya asked curiously.
"Akansha Dikshit", Dev replied while rolling his eyes.