Chapter 40 #2
From tomorrow onward, people would remember him as the man who abandoned his pregnant wife to focus on his political ambitions. The same national and international media houses that once called him an inspirational leader would start addressing him with entirely different titles overnight.
Everything he had done for women's welfare would be wiped away within hours.
Where the hell was he bringing so much courage from?
Wasn't all this hurting him? More than a decade of hard work.
.. everything he built with blood and sacrifice.
.. could collapse overnight. How exactly was he planning to tolerate that?
Akansha's head started throbbing painfully thinking about every possible outcome. Within the next twelve hours, the entire state would be on fire.
"Richa... please get me some coffee", Akansha said quietly while pressing her fingers against her temples.
"Ansha... are you okay?" Richa asked immediately.
"Yeah... I'm fine. Just please get me coffee", Akansha repeated tiredly.
"Of course. Wait, I'll bring it right now", Richa said before rushing toward the kitchen.
Just then, the doorbell rang. Richa was about to step out of the kitchen, but Akansha stopped her.
"I'll check", she said before walking toward the door herself.
The moment she opened it, her eyes widened.
"Dev?"
"What the hell are you doing here? Leave, Dev", Akansha whisper-yelled immediately.
But Dev ignored her completely and walked inside from beside her as if the house belonged to him.
"Dev... Richa..." Akansha started warningly while following behind him, but by then he had already entered the hall.
At the same time, Richa walked out carrying the coffee mug, assuming it was probably Akash at the door.
"Akansha... your cof—"
Her words died instantly the moment she saw Dev Bisht standing inside the house. For one second, she genuinely thought he came there for her. But before she could even process anything, Dev shocked her further.
"Thank you, Ms. Upadhyay", Dev said casually while taking the coffee mug straight from her hand. "Much needed at this point."
Then, without hesitation, he took a sip and comfortably sat on the sofa like he visited the house daily.
Richa stared at him in complete shock. As far as she knew, Dev Bisht was an extremely dignified and reserved man who barely spoke more than necessary, especially with women.
Seeing him casually barging into a woman's house at odd hours felt unbelievable already.
Poor Richa had absolutely no idea she was about to receive far bigger shocks in the next few hours.
"Sir... you..." Richa started awkwardly.
But Dev wasn't even paying attention. Instead, he pressed the hot coffee mug against his forehead while trying to calm his raging headache.
"Dev... abhi ke abhi niklo yaha se(Dev... get out of here right now)", Akansha snapped furiously.
"I'm here to discuss something important", Dev replied calmly. "And I am not leaving without doing that."
From his exhausted demeanor alone, Akansha could tell he was extremely frustrated already. Meanwhile, Richa stood there frozen. Her best friend and the Leader of Opposition were behaving as if they had known each other personally for years.
"At least look around before behaving like this, Dev", Akansha muttered pointedly, subtly gesturing toward Richa.
By now, she knew Richa had already realized she personally knew Dev. But she still didn't know the biggest truth — that Dev and Shaurya were actually best friends. She absolutely could not find out.
"Yeah... right", Dev muttered before instantly dialing someone.
Within the next two minutes, a woman and a man entered the house. Richa immediately recognized them as members of Dev's security team.
"Check Ms. Upadhyay thoroughly", Dev ordered casually. "And seize all her electronic devices for a few hours."
Both Richa and Akansha were stunned. Akansha immediately understood why he was doing this and shut her eyes helplessly. The staff quickly collected everything and left afterward.
"Dev... this is ridiculous", Akansha snapped angrily.
She couldn't let Richa discover the biggest secret connecting Shaurya and Dev. If that truth came out, both their careers would be destroyed instantly.
"You seriously think I care about Richa Upadhyay learning the truth right now when so much bigger stuff is already at stake?" Dev shot back tiredly.
Richa frowned deeply while looking between the two of them.
"Dev..." Akansha whispered exhaustedly.
She genuinely had no energy left to fight anymore.
"Stop that idiot from destroying everything for you and Siya", Dev said while finishing the coffee calmly. "There are other ways to make this announcement. Other ways to protect both you and his daughter."
Then he casually turned toward Richa.
"Ms. Upadhyay... can I please get another cup of coffee?" Then, without missing a beat, he added, "By the way, you make excellent coffee. Unlike this woman here, who probably makes the worst coffee on earth."
Akansha glared murderously at him.
"Shut up, Dev. You've completely lost your mind", she snapped furiously. "And my best friend is not your maid that you keep demanding coffee from her."
"I didn't know you developed hearing problems too", Dev argued lazily. "I clearly said please, Akansha." Then he sighed dramatically. "And what exactly should I do? Your husband is giving me headaches no medicine can cure."
Akansha immediately held her forehead again. Between Dev and his best friend, she genuinely felt like losing her sanity.
Meanwhile, Richa silently walked back toward the kitchen to prepare two... no, probably three coffees at this point. Because after hearing everything Dev casually revealed, even her own head had started pounding badly.
By now, she had already understood one thing clearly.
Dev was not against Shaurya. If anything, he was protecting him.
And suddenly, so many things from the past started making sense.
Every time she tried maligning Shaurya publicly, Dev somehow stopped her.
At that moment, Richa genuinely felt like a fool.
But if Dev and Shaurya were secretly together... then what exactly was the purpose of sitting on opposite sides inside the Assembly?
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"He had no other option, Dev", Akansha said quietly. "If there was even one better way, he would've chosen it. I couldn't do anything."
"There are other ways, Akansha", Dev argued immediately. "Much better ways than this. But that idiot was only thinking about your comfort."
"What way?" Akansha asked, though deep down she already knew what he was about to suggest.
"You just have to show that this was a mutual decision", Dev explained carefully. "That you both never actually separated... that you're still together."
"That's impossible, Dev", Akansha replied instantly, glaring at him. "I am not doing anything like that."
"At least let me finish first", Dev snapped in frustration. "This is a foolproof plan. No one gets hurt this way." Then his tone softened. "Akansha... please think beyond your pain for once. I am begging you. This isn't just about you two anymore. Millions of lives are tied to this."
He leaned forward, exhaustion evident on his face.
"Even if Shaurya takes all the blame on himself, there is still a huge possibility his career will collapse completely. Yes, you may receive temporary sympathy and escape the initial backlash... but eventually the hatred will reach you too." His jaw tightened.
"And some supporters of Shaurya are insane. No matter what explanation he gives, they will still blame you and Siya for their favorite leader's downfall."
Dev shook his head bitterly.
"People don't think rationally like you and me, Akansha. Even with this self-destructive path Shaurya chose, there are still chances you both could get hurt badly. But if you stand beside him publicly, most of this can be avoided."
Akansha shut her eyes briefly. Everything Dev was saying made sense. But to do that, she would have to sacrifice her self-respect and stand beside Shaurya again. And right now, that felt no less than dying.
"I... I really can't, Dev", she whispered helplessly.
Dev clenched his fists hard. He understood Akansha or at least he tried to.
But unlike her, he had seen both sides closely.
He had witnessed the terrifying extent of Shaurya's love for this woman.
The man had almost died protecting her. And now here she was.
.. hesitating to utter even one sentence publicly in his support.
Not even for Shaurya himself. But for the people depending on him.
"Woman, just look at this", Dev snapped before showing her the footage of party leaders threatening mass resignations if Shaurya continued with his plan.
"Party MLAs are openly threatening to resign and collapse the government", Dev said angrily.
"This will become the darkest stain on Shaurya's entire life.
Every selfless thing he has done till today will be erased overnight.
" Then, for the first time, his voice cracked slightly. "Please save his career, Akansha."
At that exact moment, Richa walked back into the hall holding the coffee mugs.
But the sight before her froze her steps instantly.
Dev Bisht — the powerful Leader of Opposition — was practically pleading before Akansha.
She had never seen him this helpless before.
For a second, it genuinely felt as if Dev's own career was collapsing, not Shaurya's.
"Dev... I would've helped if I truly could", Akansha said softly.
"Don't do it for Shaurya", Dev replied immediately. "Do it for yourself and Siya." His expression turned serious. "The moment Shaurya loses power, many party workers and supporters won't spare you both. They'll target you and blame you for his downfall." Then he looked directly into her eyes.
"You have no idea how aggressive political supporters become once emotions take over."