Chapter 38
"How are you planning to disclose the news? And Shaurya, your time is up. When are you giving me the documents?" Akansha asked the moment she entered his study at the residence.
It was Sunday, and Siya and Akansha were visiting him. Akansha had initially refused to come considering the current situation, but Shaurya assured her everything would be fine, so she finally agreed.
"Siya slept?" he asked first.
Akansha nodded.
"Let's discuss everything before she wakes up. And we'll leave early today."
"Akansha, I barely get one day in two weeks. Don't reduce my hours here too," Shaurya complained softly, earning a glare from her.
"Reduce? You come to my house every alternate day to meet your daughter. Stop the drama and come to the point," she snapped, making him sigh.
"I've already planned a few things. Social media pages and online platforms will help prepare the urban population for the news. To reach rural areas, we need media support. I've already discussed it with Dev..." Shaurya started explaining.
"Yeah... about that..." Akansha interrupted awkwardly. "Actually, Richa saw—"
"Dev already told me. Don't worry, he handled it," Shaurya assured her quickly.
Then his expression shifted slightly.
"Regarding the announcement... I need to discuss a few things with you."
He wanted to prepare her before she heard about the divorce issue from someone else.
"Okay, go ahead. I'm listening," Akansha replied carefully, observing him closely.
The fear on his face alone told her she was definitely going to get angry.
"I'll announce about Siya and you before Father's Day," Shaurya finally said.
"Shaurya..." Akansha immediately tensed. "The time is too short. I don't want Siya suffering because of your impulsive decisions."
"Relax, Akansha. I won't reveal your names or pictures to the media yet. I've planned everything carefully, trust me. They'll only know I have a wife and daughter."
Akansha froze.
"Oh wait... what?" she exploded. "Wife? Have you lost your mind?" She stood up instantly.
"Listen, Shaurya, if you think hiding our divorce will save your approval ratings because being divorced might affect your image, that's your problem, not mine. Don't play politics with me."
"I can't tell them we're divorced..." Shaurya started carefully.
Akansha was about to blast again when he suddenly gulped an entire glass of water nervously, making her narrow her eyes suspiciously.
"Why can't you say we're divorced?" she asked slowly. "We ARE divorced, right? Shaurya... I need the divorce decree right now. Search for it immediately."
"Akansha..." Shaurya spoke carefully. "We're not divorced."
It took her a full minute to process his words.
Back when she signed the divorce papers, she didn't know that signing them alone wasn't enough to legally end a marriage.
But over the years, she had learned that if a spouse remained missing for more than two years, the other partner could use the signed papers to file a claim and, under certain circumstances, even obtain a divorce without the spouse being physically present in court.
That was why she had always believed they were already divorced.
And because of that belief, she assumed Shaurya never had to mention her in his election nomination papers or before the Election Commission at all.
"I never submitted the papers you signed..."
Silence.
Then—
"Are you f**king kidding me?" Akansha exploded. "Like seriously? I was married to you all these years and had no idea? I mean... I'm STILL married to you?"
She stared at him in disbelief.
"You ba**a*d! You told me we'd be divorced soon. I signed the papers and left! Shaurya, how could you do this to me?"
She grabbed his shoulders furiously.
"What if I had dated someone else during these five years because I believed we were divorced? That would've made me disloyal to both you and the other person. Do you even understand how disgusting that is? It's a stain on my dignity!"
But the only thing Shaurya heard properly was—
"What if I had dated someone else..." His heartbeat dropped instantly.
"D... did you?" he asked weakly before he could stop himself.
Her anger made him panic internally. No... Akansha could never love anyone else... But then again, she had every right to move on. What if she actually did?
"THAT is what you understood from everything I said?" Akansha shouted in disbelief. "You idiot! How could you do this to me? First you hand me divorce papers, then you don't even submit them? WHY? Am I some doll for you to play with?"
Shaurya quickly made her sit down and handed her water.
Akansha genuinely wanted to throw it on his face, but she was too thirsty from screaming, so she ended up drinking it instead.
"I never wanted to divorce you," Shaurya admitted quietly. "When I married you, it was for a lifetime."
Then he looked away briefly.
"There are many things you still don't know about our marriage. Let me start with this..."
His throat tightened.
"My father planned to kill you before I filed my nomination papers. He didn't want me declaring our marriage to the Election Commission."
Akansha stared at him in shock.
"T... those were probably empty threats..." she muttered weakly, trying to convince herself more than him. "Your father can't just kill someone like that. He was too much of a coward to do it... come on, Shaurya."
Shaurya knew this reaction would come. Despite all her strength, Akansha feared death deeply. She feared physical harm. That was one of the biggest reasons he had hidden multiple attacks from her.
Because he knew she would panic.
"I wish they were empty threats..." he said softly. "But they weren't." His voice turned heavier. "So I had no choice but to start the divorce proceedings."
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"Sign these."
Shaurya handed her the divorce papers. By then, Akansha had already emotionally given up on both him and their marriage. But divorce...
That was still huge. Especially when she was pregnant. The child growing inside her didn't let her sign those horrible papers immediately and throw them back at his face.
"I need some time," Akansha whispered.
"You don't have much time. Sign them and get out of my life," Shaurya replied in his soft yet firm tone before walking away, shattering whatever remained of her already broken heart.
"I'll try... for you, my baby..." Akansha whispered while gently caressing her stomach. "I'll keep trying until he breaks the last piece of my heart."
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"Nomination day is getting close. Did you give her the divorce papers?" Virendar asked sharply.
"I did. She'll sign them soon," Shaurya answered calmly. "And stop wasting your resources trying to harm her. Especially during elections."
"I won't dirty my hands if she's leaving anyway," Virendar smirked coldly. "But listen carefully, if you try double-crossing me, the first person I'll kill will be your sister... and then your wife."
His voice darkened further.
"Soon-to-be ex-wife."
Shaurya silently clenched his fists.
One small doubt...
And Virendar Shekhawat wouldn't hesitate for even a second before killing both his wife and sister.
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"I just need to continue this drama for a few more days, Dev," Shaurya said exhaustedly over the phone. "Once I get those documents, I'll finally gain leverage over my father. Then I'll tell Akansha everything."
Pain filled his eyes.
"I'm hurting her too much. She's still trying to save this marriage while I'm acting like I don't care."
His voice cracked slightly.
"It's killing me, Dev. How can I hurt her like this? Why did I even marry her and drag her into this hell? I'll never forgive myself for this."
"Calm down, Shaurya," Dev tried soothing him. "It's only a matter of days now. Ignore her until you get the documents. At least that way you won't have to hurt her further. Once everything settles, tell her the truth."
"Yes..." Shaurya nodded tiredly. "Those papers will stop my father temporarily. By then election results will be out. Whether I win or you do, power will still stay in our hands, and I can finally control him."
Then his voice lowered painfully.
"Just a few more days..."
He shut his eyes.
"Akansha won't forgive me easily, Dev. She's too hurt. I can see her slowly giving up on us... on me." His breathing became heavier. "Sometimes I feel like she's completely fallen out of love with me and our relationship."
Then he whispered brokenly,
"If that's true... I'll die, yaar." He rubbed his forehead tiredly. "You know I had no other option, Dev... otherwise I would've never hurt her like this."
His voice turned hollow.
"I just wanted to keep her alive."
"I know, Shaurya..." Dev replied softly. "Relax. We'll find a way. Right now we just need to stay careful."
After talking for some more time, the two friends finally disconnected the call.
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"I know you could never forgive me for the pain I have given you.
.. A sorry wouldn't fix anything... But please know this, I was dying every second.
Every word I uttered, every attempt I made to push you away killed me, Akansha.
.. Every word of yours trying to save our marriage that I pretended to ignore kept haunting me.
.. But I was scared... Scared to lose you, scared my father would hurt you", Shaurya admitted while Akansha sat there silently.
"You handed me divorce papers just after I got to know about my pregnancy... The very same day", Akansha whispered, leaving him stunned.
Tears slipped down her cheeks as the same pain consumed her all over again. Now that he had finally revealed the reason behind everything, it hurt even more. He had put her through so much agony just because of his father's threats.
Shaurya's chest tightened painfully hearing her words.