Chapter 37 #2
"Stop lecturing me and bring my wife's saree", Shaurya grumbled again. "Sleeping without her smell is impossible. I can't even move properly, Dev. Not one moment of peace."
"Aur bano hero for your wife", Dev muttered. "Meanwhile she thinks you're the villain."
"Not her fault", Shaurya replied softly. "Anyway, is she eating properly? Your cooking isn't that good. Why don't you hire a cook?"
"First recover completely, idiot", Dev snapped. "Your limbs are practically broken and you still haven't gained any sense."
Then his tone softened.
"She's fine. Worry about yourself. You're lying alone in that hospital like an orphan."
"Shut up", Shaurya immediately warned. "I told you not to mention my accident while you're at home. What if Akansha hears? I don't want her worrying."
"Oh please", Dev scoffed. "Madam ji never even enters the dining hall, forget the kitchen."
"Good", Shaurya replied proudly. "Queens shouldn't go searching for things. Everything should reach them."
"Yeah, yeah", Dev muttered dramatically. "History will remember me as the greatest friend who turned into his best friend's wife's servant."
That made Shaurya laugh—
Only to immediately groan in pain afterward.
"What happened?" Dev asked in panic.
"The rod hurt", Shaurya admitted through clenched teeth.
"Call the nurse!"
"I've been pressing the button for five minutes", Shaurya grumbled. "Nobody came."
"What kind of pathetic hospital service is this?" Dev snapped. "I told you already, I should come stay there with you. Akansha is safe at my place."
"Shut up", Shaurya replied immediately. "I don't want both of us away from the state. My father can still try anything. Stay there and protect my wife."
Dev sighed.
"Fine. Only for you."
Then he added casually,
"By the way, your father has been trying hard to trace your location."
"Let him", Shaurya replied confidently. "He may be powerful, but not powerful enough to match my smartness."
"You mean our smartness?" Dev corrected smugly.
That made Shaurya chuckle again despite the pain.
"Fine... our smartness. The plan was mine though."
"And without my execution your plan would've failed completely."
This time Shaurya agreed.
Together, they had secretly shifted Shaurya to a hospital outside the state so Virendar couldn't trace him. If his father discovered Shaurya's condition, he would immediately take advantage of it and try harming Akansha again.
By remaining hidden, Shaurya wanted Virendar to continue fearing him.
He wanted his father to believe he was still fully capable of destroying anyone who dared to touch his wife. Virendar knew Shaurya had been injured, but he had no idea how severe those injuries actually were. So Shaurya decided to use that uncertainty to his advantage.
"Fine, I'll call later", Shaurya finally muttered. "The nurse finally came."
"Okay", Dev replied. "I'll bring your extremely necessary parcel and talk to the doctors then."
Shaurya groaned instantly hearing his best friend.
Dev immediately realized his mistake.
Doctors.
Hospital.
Too many slips at once.
"Fine!" Dev corrected himself quickly. "I'll be careful next time."
And after hanging up, Dev spent the next three days trying to steal one saree from Akansha's cupboard.
For the first time in his life, the opposition leader of the state cursed his best friend for turning him into a saree thief.
And the moment Akansha later realized one saree was missing...
...she instantly remembered that conversation she heard a few days ago.
So she cornered him during lunch one day.
Dev was genuinely surprised to see Akansha sitting at the dining table for lunch that afternoon. Both of them ate silently for a while until Akansha suddenly brought up the topic of her missing saree, making Dev cough violently.
"So... where is my saree, Dev?" she asked directly, and his coughing only worsened.
"Wh... Which saree?" Dev tried to act innocent, but Akansha was far too smart for that.
"My husband and your wife trusted you, and you? Chi... Dev, how could you..." Akansha started dramatically.
"Oh Devi Mata, stop!" Dev almost yelled. "I didn't do anything like that. It's your husband. He asked me to parcel your dupatta or saree because apparently he can't sleep without it. So I had to do it. Your imagination is horrible, woman."
He stared at her with wide, horrified eyes while Akansha burst into laughter.
"I just wanted to hear the truth. Oh my God... you really thought I meant that? Hahaha... you're too funny," she teased, laughing even harder at his expressions.
"God, you're dangerous," Dev muttered, placing a hand on his chest. "Idiot woman, you nearly gave me a heart attack."
That only made Akansha laugh more.
"Stop laughing like a devil and finish your food. I still have to do the dishes and leave for work," he grumbled.
"I'll do it. You can go. Also... I'll cook dinner tonight," Akansha offered, shocking him completely.
"You?" Dev blinked. "But you don't know cooking."
"I've learned a few things from Sudha aunty. I can manage," she assured confidently, though Dev clearly didn't trust her confidence.
"No need. Wait for me. You can help if you want, but don't enter the kitchen alone. Your husband will chop my head off if you even get a tiny cut on your finger."
The smile on Akansha's face disappeared instantly.
"Yeah... right," she replied bitterly.
"He genuinely loves you, Akansha," Dev said softly.
"What am I supposed to do with that love, Dev?" she asked quietly. "I don't need love without respect. It's useless."
Dev sighed heavily.
If only she knew.
Shaurya not only loved her, he respected her enough to fight the entire world for her dignity. The very reason he was bedridden today was because he couldn't tolerate her disrespect.
But Dev couldn't tell her any of that.
After lunch, Dev left for work, and as decided, they cooked dinner together that evening.
From that day onward, the two of them started cooking all three meals together. Dev taught Akansha simple recipes, and though she never became perfect at it, she slowly learned to make decent, edible food.
And somewhere between burnt rotis, ruined gravies, and constant bickering...
The two of them gradually formed a comfortable bond.
---------
Almost all the students had already left for home. The moment Siya spotted Akansha, she rushed toward her excitedly.
Dev kept staring at the little girl.
She looked so much like Shaurya... but at the same time, he could see traces of Akansha in her too. The sight alone made him emotional. He wanted to take her into his arms immediately, but somehow controlled himself.
"Papa... this is Cutie..." Ishaan introduced proudly, making Siya's attention shift toward him and Dev.
"Ishu... yayy!" Siya squealed happily and rushed to hug Ishaan.
Akansha chuckled at her daughter's friendly nature while Ishaan became shy instantly.
"Cu... Cutie... hi..." Ishaan said softly, pinching Siya's cheek.
"Ishaan... what are you doing?" Dev immediately scolded, pulling his son's hand away from Siya.
Akansha stared at him incredulously.
God, Shaurya alone was enough with his overprotectiveness. If Dev joined that category too, she would genuinely lose her mind.
Soon, the last student left with their parents. After greeting Dev and Akansha politely, the teacher also walked away.
Only then did Dev slowly kneel in front of Siya and gently touch her cheek.
"Hi... I'm Dev. Your mumma's friend and your dadda's best friend," he introduced himself softly.
"Flend?" Siya repeated adorably, turning toward Akansha for confirmation.
Akansha nodded.
Only then did Siya smile brightly and shake hands with Dev.
"Didn't your dadda ever talk about me?" Dev asked dramatically.
"No..." Siya replied innocently before turning toward Akansha again. "Mamabear... shall me and Ishu play there?"
She pointed toward the play ladders in the corner of the classroom.
Akansha nodded, and both kids immediately rushed away, leaving Dev and Akansha alone.
"That a**h*le..." Dev muttered under his breath. "I started talking about him to my kids when they were still in their mother's womb, and this man..."
Akansha heard him and smiled faintly.
"How are you, Akansha?" Dev asked softly.
"I'm good. How are you? How are Rachna and Ivaan? I didn't know Ishaan was your son. Why did you suddenly transfer him here in the middle of the year? I hope everything is alright," Akansha asked politely.
"They're good. And yes... just like that. It's better if he studies here... near Siya," Dev answered casually.
Akansha frowned at the last part.
And it barely took her a second to realize that Dev was the one who had informed Shaurya about the Father's Day event at school.
"So it was you, huh..." she said slowly.
Dev sighed and nodded.
"You know how Shaurya is. That's exactly why I didn't tell him, Dev. But you..." Akansha started, only for Dev to interrupt calmly.
"Akansha... he's Siya's father. He deserves to know. He already missed four years of her life, and trust me, he's burning in that guilt every single day. It's not right to give him more pain... especially right now."
Then he added softly,
"And don't worry. He won't take impulsive decisions. Right now, your and Siya's safety are his biggest priorities."
Akansha sighed heavily.
"I don't know about me, but if any of his actions cause even the slightest harm to my daughter, your friend Shaurya will become Late. Shaurya."
Dev chuckled instinctively but immediately stopped after seeing her glare.
"Woman... even my wife doesn't scare me like this. You're terrifying," Dev muttered dramatically.
"Shut up, Dev," Akansha rolled her eyes.
Well... she knew Dev feared her.
Not as much as Shaurya did, though.
After all, Shaurya had witnessed her true "Raudra Roop" multiple times. In fact, if there was anyone who had seen Akansha at her most violent, it was definitely Shaurya.