Chapter 35 #4
"Suraj acted immediately, and my security team advised me not to let anyone know about my movements. I was brought back through the rear entrance of the building, and there were no plans for me to meet anyone or reveal my presence publicly until the situation was completely under control."
He paused before continuing.
"But then the former Education Minister arrived outside the Education Department with party workers protesting against the curriculum revision. The situation was turning violent, and I had no choice but to step in."
His tone softened slightly.
"After handling the situation, I thought of checking on you. Trust me, I genuinely had no idea Siya was there."
There was a slight shift in Akansha's expression, but suspicion still remained.
"An attack on you and protests outside the Education Department happened on the same day? Do you seriously take me for a fool?", she asked coldly.
The disbelief in her eyes hurt him deeply. And what hurt even more was the complete absence of concern regarding the attack itself. But then again... betrayal had consequences.
"The attack happened two days ago. The protest happened today", Shaurya clarified patiently. "I stayed in the guest house on the outskirts for more than thirty hours until the attackers were caught and the situation stabilized."
Even now, he could see the suspicion lingering on her face.
"I have no reason to lie to you, Akansha. If I had done something intentionally, I would've admitted it the same way I admitted to leaking the information online."
"Your track record doesn't exactly make you trustworthy, Shaurya", she replied sternly.
He silently swallowed the pain those words caused and simply nodded before pulling out his phone.
"Suraj... send me all the details regarding the attack, including the evidence and the assailants' statements", Shaurya instructed.
"In five minutes, sir", Suraj replied immediately.
Once the files arrived, Shaurya handed the phone to Akansha. He showed her everything. The intelligence reports. The captured evidence. Even the recorded confessions where the attackers openly admitted regretting their failed attempt to kill him.
Akansha unconsciously clenched her fists hearing the venom in their voices. For the first time, she wished Shaurya had lied. Because the reality was far worse. She didn't want his life under threat.
"Don't worry. I won't let any harm reach you or Siya", Shaurya assured her softly, misunderstanding the fear on her face.
He assumed she was worried for herself and their daughter. Earlier, he had avoided telling her about the attack thinking she would panic for him. But now he realized something painful. She didn't trust him enough even to believe something this serious.
And the fact that she genuinely thought he could lie about an assassination attempt made him understand just how deep her distrust had become because of his past actions.
What he failed to realize was that her fear wasn't for herself. It was for him.
"I don't think revealing Siya's identity in the middle of all these security issues is wise", Akansha said finally.
"Sooner or later, it has to happen, Akansha", he replied quietly.
She sighed heavily.
After that, the two of them discussed the possible risks and the security arrangements around both her and Siya. Shaurya carefully informed her about everything this time, including the discreet security measures already placed around them.
He didn't want to hide anything from her anymore. He had already seen the consequences of doing that. Then suddenly, Akansha remembered something.
"The other day... you said you wanted to discuss something important?"
"Oh... yes", Shaurya replied before folding his arms across his chest. "What do you think about Father's Day?"
One look at his expression was enough for Akansha to realize he already knew about the school celebration.
"I didn't think it was important enough to inform you about", she replied coldly.
Shaurya narrowed his eyes at her response.
"You can punish me however you want for what I did to you", he said firmly. "But don't treat me the same way when it comes to Siya."
His voice softened.
"You can imagine exactly how upset she'll feel if every child there has their father beside them while she doesn't."
Akansha instantly lost her temper.
"Imagine?" she laughed bitterly. "I don't have to imagine anything. I already saw my daughter crying because of it last year."
Her voice trembled with suppressed anger.
"The school conducted multiple father-child activities, and Siya wasn't even allowed to participate because she didn't have her father there. One of my male colleagues even offered to participate with her out of kindness, but it wasn't allowed." Her eyes filled with rage and hurt.
"Do you know how badly she cried that night? Every tear of hers made me hate you even more."
Shaurya stood frozen.
"She could've participated with you like every other child if her father hadn't married her mother for revenge", Akansha spat. "So don't you dare throw emotional dialogues at me, Shaurya. Sometimes I genuinely feel like killing you... but I don't want to dirty my hands."
Shaurya's eyes filled hearing about Siya's pain. He could imagine his little girl crying helplessly and he could imagine Akansha struggling alone to comfort her.
"I'm sorry...", he whispered, though even he knew the apology had long lost its value.
"Stuff your sorry in your—"Akansha stopped midway, shutting her eyes tightly to calm herself before she uttered words she despised using.
"I know exactly how upset Siya will be", she continued more calmly. "But I can't risk her future for temporary happiness."
"I won't let our daughter suffer for my sins anymore", Shaurya said firmly. "Don't worry. I'll handle everything properly."
And Akansha knew that tone. Once Shaurya decided something, nobody could stop him. After all, she had been handling his miniature version for the last four years.
"If I see even a single tear in Siya's eyes because of your impulsive decisions, I will stab you to death, Shaurya. Mark my words", Akansha warned coldly.
Shaurya simply nodded. After discussing a few more details regarding his future plans for the revelation, he quietly left the house.
After Shaurya left, Akansha sat down on the sofa in her living room, holding her head in frustration.
She felt terrible for slapping him. And even worse for accusing him of lying about the assassination attempt. How could she even doubt him like that?
Whatever Shaurya had done in the past, he was never cheap enough to use something as serious as an attack on his life for manipulation.
But then again... her entire experience with him had taught her distrust before trust.
She tried to sleep, but the hurt and pain she had seen on Shaurya's face earlier refused to let her get even a wink of sleep that night. And the absence of her daughter only made the restlessness worse.