Chapter 43 #3
That finally made Siya think seriously. After a little more convincing from both her parents, she reluctantly agreed to shift to her father's place. Shaurya silently prayed his daughter would like living there.
He had already decided he would personally make every change needed according to Siya's comfort.
Honestly, most of the house had originally been designed according to Akansha's preferences itself, so for now there wasn't much to worry about.
But if either of them disliked anything, he would change it immediately.
Even if they stayed there only temporarily until things settled down, he still wanted to give them the best experience possible. Especially Akansha. He had failed her once. That guilt would stay with him till his last breath. He didn't want to repeat the same mistake now.
For the next hour, Siya dragged her father into every possible game she could think of.
They played chor-police, board games, pillow fights, and random nonsense games only children could invent. Then after watching something in a movie, Siya demanded that her father do push-ups carrying her on his back. So naturally, Shaurya did that too.
Meanwhile, Akansha quietly started packing their belongings. Eventually Siya grew tired and fell asleep mid-conversation. Shaurya carefully tucked her into bed under her unicorn duvet before walking toward Akansha to help with the packing.
"I hired an interior designer," he informed while folding Siya's clothes carefully. "Tell me when you'll be free next week. I'll call her home and we'll make changes according to Siya's preferences."
"Not needed, Shaurya," Akansha refused immediately. "She just needs a personalized touch. She'll be happier if you decorate things along with her in your free time."
"I know..." he agreed softly. "I'll do that too. I only hired the designer because—"
"Not needed, Shaurya," she repeated firmly.
The man surrendered instantly.
"Okay. I'll cancel the appointment."
There was no point arguing when he already knew he wouldn't win. Especially not against his wife. The two continued packing while occasionally talking about Siya's belongings.
Sometimes Shaurya would pick up a random toy or tiny dress and ask when it was bought, and Akansha would quietly tell him the memory attached to it. The attention with which he listened to every single detail made something ache painfully inside her.
He would never get those moments back. And perhaps there was no greater punishment for a father than losing memories he had once dreamed of creating every single day.
By the time they finished packing, it was already past midnight.
Akansha carefully packed every photo album, Siya's clothes from infancy, her toys, tiny accessories.
.. everything. Not because she planned to stay there permanently.
But because she didn't want anything to get ruined in their absence.
After all, once things settled down... She still believed she and Siya would eventually return here again.
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The next morning, Akansha freshened Siya up and got ready herself while Shaurya helped his staff load the luggage into the cars. The trio left for his residence early in the morning. Mrs. Sudha welcomed Siya traditionally at the entrance while Akansha quietly stayed aside.
Since Siya had woken up unusually early, she was already cranky and sleepy, so Akansha made her lie down on Shaurya's bed and tucked her to let her sleep for a while.
Later, when Shaurya and Akansha sat on the balcony with coffee mugs in their hands, Shaurya glanced toward the bedroom before speaking carefully.
"Can I get Siya ready for school today?"
Akansha sipped her coffee before answering.
"Siya isn't going to school today. I have classes in the afternoon and she won't go to school without me. Her school ends by noon anyway, so I'll just take her with me later."
Shaurya quietly looked away for a second.
The pain hit him instantly because he knew exactly why she refused his daughter to attend school without her. Would his guilt ever lessen?
"Things are better now with Siya..." he started cautiously. "No one will question or bully her about her father anymore. I understand your fears, and honestly you've handled everything alone till now... but maybe try sending her to school without you once? She'll slowly get used to it."
He paused awkwardly before adding softly,
"I know you know better. It's just... a suggestion."
He was genuinely nervous while saying it, afraid she might think he was trying to lecture her after failing as a father for years. Instead, Akansha looked at him calmly.
"Shaurya... Siya is your daughter too. You have an equal right to decide things for her.
" He looked at her immediately. "It's true that I still don't trust you enough to blindly let you take decisions regarding her," she admitted honestly.
"But that doesn't mean you can't express your opinions freely.
You obviously want what's best for her and I will always consider your opinion before deciding something related to Siya. "
Shaurya stared at her silently.
"Regarding school..." she continued, "maybe you're right. Fine. Today you can get your daughter ready and drop her to school."
A grin instantly spread across his face.
"One more request..." he added quickly before she could change her mind. "Can I bring Siya to my office in the afternoon after school? Suraj will drop you first and then bring her to me. I'll send her back home before you return."
"Sure," Akansha agreed easily. "If her presence doesn't disturb your work, you can take her."
The smile on his face widened immediately.
"Thank you so much."
After that, silence settled comfortably between them as they finished their coffee.
Soon Shaurya got ready for office while Akansha started unpacking their luggage.
"There's enough space for your clothes in the closet," Shaurya informed her while adjusting his watch. "Tell Mrs. Sudha if you need help with anything."
A few days ago, he had personally cleared the closet that once contained her belongings as well.
Truthfully, long before Akansha returned, he had already arranged her things there beside his. If he couldn't have her beside him back then, he had at least wanted the illusion of living with her.
He knew she still wasn't comfortable sharing a room with him.
But keeping them in separate rooms wasn't practical either.
His residence constantly received visitors — politicians, ministers, party leaders, celebrities, bureaucrats.
Some arrived without prior notice. Separate room arrangements would immediately invite questions and gossip.
So this was the safest arrangement possible, and once he explained the reasons, Akansha had reluctantly agreed.
After getting ready, Shaurya went to wake Siya up and get her prepared for school while Akansha remained busy unpacking. A few minutes later, Shaurya brought Siya inside the walk-in closet to get her hair done.
The moment Siya noticed her mother still wearing pajamas, her eyes widened dramatically.
"Daddaaa... what's the time?" she demanded angrily, clearly assuming her father had woken her up too early.
"8:20 bacha," Shaurya answered patiently, already understanding her outrage.
"Hawww..." Siya gasped. "Mama bear, you ale(are) late for skool(school)! What ale you doing hele?"
"Siya..." Shaurya explained while combing her hair, "Mumma doesn't have morning classes today. Dadda is taking you to school."
"Yayyyyy!" Siya squealed excitedly. "Dadda will dlop me?"
Both parents nodded, making her jump happily. Unfortunately, her excitement completely ruined the hair partition Shaurya had spent the last few minutes trying to perfect.
"Akansha... can you..." he finally admitted defeat and handed her the comb.
"No!" Siya protested instantly. "Today Dadda will do my hair."
"Yeah, he will," Akansha agreed with a laugh while neatly separating Siya's hair into two sections for him. "I'm only helping with the partition."
Shaurya finally managed to tie her pigtails properly before decorating them with tiny unicorn clips he had specially bought for her. Watching them, Akansha shook her head at the father-daughter obsession with unicorns. Soon Shaurya and Siya left for school after saying goodbye to Akansha.
Before leaving, Shaurya once again reminded her to ask Mrs. Sudha for help if she needed anything. He knew she wouldn't ask him directly. But maybe she'd at least accept help from Mrs. Sudha.
At school, Shaurya got down from the car holding Siya's tiny hand in one palm while carrying her school bag and water bottle in the other.
"Dadda... will you come in the afternoon?" Siya asked hopefully.
"No baby. Suraj uncle will come with Mumma. But don't worry, Dadda will meet you later."
Then he bent and kissed her cheek. Siya immediately kissed both his cheeks back. Just then her teacher arrived and gently took Siya inside after collecting her bag from Shaurya.
Standing there watching his daughter walk into school, Shaurya suddenly felt emotional.
It felt like he was experiencing her first day at school.
.. years too late. The surrounding parents, teachers, and staff openly stared at the father-daughter interaction without even realizing how uncomfortable it made him.
The moment he noticed the attention, Shaurya quietly entered his car and the convoy drove toward the Secretariat.
"Such a gentleman he is..." Rashi sighed dreamily while watching the departing convoy. "Forget salary hikes, I swear I'll never leave this school if I keep getting to witness this family-man version of our Chief Minister."
"Rashi ma'am," Shipra interrupted dryly while pointing at the time, "please stop admiring CM sir and focus on his daughter and her classmates first. You're already late for class."