Chapter 43
After the Family Day celebrations concluded, Akansha and Siya walked out of the auditorium together. Akash had already left for his office once the program ended. Spotting Suraj near the entrance, Akansha walked toward him.
"Ma'am, sir asked me to drop both of you home safely once you're done here," Suraj informed respectfully.
Akansha nodded.
"Okay... we'll leave in another fifteen minutes. By the way, what's happening there?" she asked, glancing toward a group of officers standing with the school's photographer and videographer.
"Sir instructed us to make sure neither your nor Siya's photographs get leaked publicly, so we're handling that," Suraj explained. "The parents were already requested to cooperate as well."
Akansha nodded again.
They both knew the news itself couldn't be hidden forever. Sooner or later, people would find out that the Chief Minister's wife worked as a school teacher. But as long as their photographs didn't circulate openly, things would remain manageable.
Holding Siya's hand, Akansha headed toward the staff room because she had to collect a few exam sheets pending evaluation.
"Mumma... are we going to Dadda?" Siya asked hopefully while Akansha packed her belongings.
Akansha looked at her daughter and shook her head.
"But whyyy?" Siya whined immediately. "Mama bear, I want to see Dadda."
The entire staff room watched the little girl's tantrums fondly. They had always adored Siya, but after learning who she was, that affection had somehow multiplied tenfold.
"No Siya, Dadda is busy right now. He'll come home at night, then you can meet him properly," Akansha explained patiently.
Unfortunately, Siya had inherited her father's stubbornness completely.
"Dadda said he is nevel(never) busy for his magic unicon(unicorn)," she declared proudly.
Akansha sighed in defeat.
"Fine. You can ask Dadda yourself. If he says he's free, I'll take you to his office. But if he says he's busy, then you'll quietly come with me without throwing tantrums. Deal?"
Siya nodded her head frantically.
"Okay. Now go bring water for me. Till then, I'll call Dadda."
Siya immediately ran toward the water dispenser before suddenly slowing down midway, remembering her father's repeated warnings about running and falling. Akansha noticed it and smiled faintly before dialing Shaurya's number. He picked up in the second ring.
"Yes Akansha," he greeted immediately.
"You are going to tell your daughter that you're busy," she stated firmly in a low voice.
The teachers sitting nearby exchanged amused looks. Apparently even the Chief Minister wasn't spared from Akansha ma'am's strict tone, thought they.
None of them knew the pain that had shaped her into this version of herself. By then Siya had returned with water. Akansha handed her the phone.
"Talk to Dadda."
Siya nodded seriously and walked to a corner so her mother wouldn't overhear their conversation. Watching her daughter's secrecy, Akansha chuckled softly and resumed packing her things.
"Dadda..." Siya whispered dramatically. "I want to see you... Pwease(please)."
"I know, my unicorn..." Shaurya replied gently. "But Dadda is busy right now."
Truthfully, he was never busy for his wife or daughter. But he also didn't dare go against Akansha.
"Dadda... you say you ale(never) busy for me," Siya pouted.
"That is true, bacha," Shaurya replied carefully. "But right now Dadda is reading very important unicorn stories so he can tell them to you tonight. If you come here, how will Dadda finish reading them?"
Siya gasped excitedly.
"Wowww... unicon stories?" she squealed happily. "Yayyy! Dadda, I lub(love) you. Come home soon. Bye bye. Siya won't distub(disturb) you now. Read well, Dadda."
And before he could say another word, she disconnected proudly. Akansha shook her head helplessly watching the father-daughter duo. Still... she knew Shaurya would somehow always find a way to handle Siya.
"Mama bear... hele(here)," Siya said, handing the phone back.
Akansha accepted it before asking casually, "Should we go meet Dadda then?"
She deliberately acted as if she was fully ready to take Siya to Shaurya's office. Siya immediately shook her head.
"Mama bear... Dadda is busy. Don't distub(disturb) him."
Akansha burst into laughter along with the other teachers at the little girl's instant change of stance.
"Ohhh okay then," Akansha agreed seriously. "We won't disturb Dadda. Come, Suraj uncle is waiting for us."
Siya proudly walked out of the staff room carrying her tiny bag and water bottle while Akansha followed behind with her own belongings. Just then Shipra called out to her.
"Akansha ma'am, tomorrow I need your 2B class period before lunch break. I still haven't finished the syllabus portion for Test 3, so..."
"Okay Shipra ma'am, that's fine," Akansha replied immediately. "I've already completed my syllabus. You can take the period. I'll come in the second half then since I don't have any morning classes apart from 2B."
Honestly, she felt slightly relieved. At least it would give her some extra time to settle things at Shaurya's place.
"Okay ma'am, bye," Shipra smiled.
Rashi greeted her too before leaving. Akansha finally walked outside where Suraj was busy playing with Siya, carrying her in his arms.
The moment he noticed Akansha approaching, he immediately opened the car door for her. Siya happily sat in Suraj's lap in the front passenger seat for some time, playing hand cricket with him throughout the drive.
Eventually she grew tired and climbed into the back seat beside her mother.
Within minutes, Akansha gently made her sleepy daughter lie down in her lap, and Siya drifted off to sleep peacefully.
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Shaurya returned late that night and walked straight into Akansha's house.
"Akansha... call the society owner and his wife. I want to meet them," he said after settling onto the sofa.
Akansha raised a brow.
"Why do you want to meet them?"
"Because you told them you'd introduce your husband to them soon. And once you both shift to my place, I won't be coming here again to meet them, so call them now," Shaurya replied politely, though the determination in his eyes made it clear he had already made up his mind.
Honestly, it made sense.
If Akansha and Siya suddenly disappeared from the society without explanation, rumors would spread endlessly.
This place had given her and Siya a relatively safe environment, and once things settled down, she would probably return here again.
Maintaining a decent relationship with the society management mattered.
And if showing Shaurya as her husband could make her and her daughter's life easier, Akansha had no hesitation in doing it. After all, he was the reason she had to face most of these problems in the first place. The least he could do now was resolve them.
She didn't want the world to know her as Shaurya's wife. But a few people? The ones capable of making life difficult for her and Siya? That was different. Akansha called the society president and asked him to come over with his wife. Once he agreed, she disconnected the call.
"You really want his wife here too?" Akansha asked suspiciously. "That woman has a huge mouth. What if she—"
"Don't worry," Shaurya interrupted calmly. "She won't blurt anything out. But it is important she learns how to speak to people."
Akansha sighed.
"Fine. Your wish."
She walked into the bedroom to check on Siya.
The little girl had fallen asleep in the car after exhausting herself with the Family Day activities and hadn't woken up since. Akansha had planned to wake her after Shaurya returned home so he could handle her while she fed Siya dinner.
Just as she bent slightly toward the bed, the doorbell rang.
Akansha blinked.
Wow.
They arrived fast.
Exactly how eager were they to finally see her mysterious husband?
She immediately walked toward the entrance and opened the door herself. There was no way she would let Shaurya do it and give the entire society a front-row seat to Mrs. Bansal's inevitable dramatic reaction. The elderly couple stepped inside.
"Where is Siya, Akansha?" Mr. Bansal asked warmly. "Haven't seen her cycling in the park these days."
"She cycles at her father's place now," Akansha answered.
Ever since Siya had mentioned some child trying to push her during playtime, Shaurya had become paranoid about her safety. According to him, too many people in the park meant too many risks. So nowadays, he preferred his daughter cycling safely inside his own property.
Akansha found his overprotectiveness ridiculous... but for now, she had let it go.
"And where is your husband?" Mrs. Bansal asked in that same intrusive tone Akansha had always disliked.
Akansha folded her arms instantly.
"I called you here for exactly that purpose, Aunty. But next time, don't walk into my house using that tone. I won't tolerate it."
Before Mrs. Bansal could react, Shaurya stepped out from the hall.
The couple froze.
Akansha internally rolled her eyes at the dramatic shift in atmosphere.
"Come, let's sit and talk," Shaurya said politely.
The couple silently followed him into the living room, still trying to process the reality standing before them.
"I'll get coffee?" Akansha asked out of formality.
"No need. I'll have dinner directly later," Shaurya replied gently before looking toward the guests.
"No beta, we already had dinner before coming," Mr. Bansal declined respectfully.
"Okay then. You all talk, I have some work," Akansha said and immediately walked toward the bedroom.
She genuinely didn't have the energy to sit there and hear Shaurya introduce her as his wife all over again. She had tolerated enough of that throughout the day. Once she left, Shaurya looked toward the couple calmly.
"I heard you wanted to meet Akansha's husband, so I thought I should introduce myself."
Mr. and Mrs. Bansal exchanged an awkward glance.
"W-We didn't know, sir..." Mr. Bansal stammered. "Akansha never told us."