Chapter 43 #4
Meanwhile, after reaching the Secretariat and finishing an important meeting, Shaurya immediately called Mrs. Sudha to ask whether Akansha was alright.
At that exact moment, Akansha happened to walk downstairs looking for the terrace keys to dry clothes.
"Mrs. Sudha... please check if Akansha needs anything," Shaurya said rapidly over the call.
"She won't ask for help herself. She was separating clothes when I left.
Ask someone to help her wash and dry them.
Even if she refuses, insist. And make sure she eats lunch before leaving for school.
" Then he lowered his voice slightly. "And don't tell her I cooked. "
Mrs. Sudha laughed softly hearing his nonstop instructions.
"Shaurya... calm down. She's fine. I already gave her breakfast and someone is helping with the clothes.
I'll make sure she eats lunch too." Her tone softened emotionally.
"You really haven't changed at all. You used to call me exactly like this years ago too.
Every few hours you'd remind me to check on her. "
Shaurya fell silent briefly before speaking in a low voice.
"I thought I was taking care of her back then, Mrs. Sudha... but the truth is I failed. I don't want to fail this time." And before she could respond, he disconnected the call.
Mrs. Sudha sighed sadly.
"Shaurya used to call you about me?" Akansha asked quietly, startling her.
"Yes..." Mrs. Sudha admitted honestly. "Every day before leaving for work he would ask me to take care of you. And every few hours he'd call again to check if you had eaten or rested. Whenever his mother sent me outside for work, he'd ask me to inform him immediately, too."
Akansha stood frozen. Suddenly so many things from the past started making sense. Shaurya's sudden arrivals whenever Mrs. Sudha wasn't around... His silent watchfulness... The invisible protection surrounding her... So he had hidden his care because he was trying to protect her from his parents?
Dev had already told her everything — about Virendar Shekhawat threatening her life, about the repeated attempts made on her, and about how dangerous things had truly become after Shaurya openly took a stand for her during Meera's visit, especially when his father had insultingly introduced her as nothing more than a "caretaker. "
But then another thought rose bitterly inside her. What was the use of all this hidden love when the very foundation of their relationship had begun with a lie?
His approach toward her... His closeness... His love... Everything had originally started as revenge. To punish her for hurting his sister. And maybe that pain would always remain impossible to erase.
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"Why are you still following me? I already warned you not to, didn't I?
I don't care whether you're an MLA or an MP.
I don't like you. Period," Akansha snapped the moment she spotted Shaurya waiting outside her university, just two days after she had warned him outside the hospital where she had taken her father for a check-up.
"I like you, Akansha Dikshit... and I'm not backing off until you give me one chance," Shaurya replied smoothly.
"You've seriously lost your mind," she shot back. "You said your sister studies in the classes I teach, right? Tell me who she is. I'll deduct her marks and fail her. Maybe then you'll finally stop following me."
The easy smile on Shaurya's face vanished instantly. Her words dragged him right back to the reason he had entered her life in the first place... his sister.
The rage he carried for Aakriti's pain returned just as sharply as before.
Every single time he looked at Akansha, he forgot why he was supposed to hate her. Instead of avenging his sister, he found himself genuinely flirting with the woman standing before him. His eyes followed her as if no other woman existed in the world.
But the moment she mentioned his sister, all the buried anger resurfaced.
If only Akansha had handled Aakriti calmly instead of being brutally harsh with her. Not everyone was as emotionally strong as Akansha Dikshit.
She should have thought before speaking so mercilessly to a girl who had already attempted suicide once and was still lying on a hospital bed.
At the very least, she should have verified the truth before barging into the hospital and accusing Aakriti of creating drama just to stop her sister's wedding.
Aakriti had always been emotionally fragile.
Shaurya had always been extremely sensitive when it came to her.
After everything Aakriti had survived in childhood.
.. her biological parents trying to kill her, the trauma, the constant fear.
.. he had spent years protecting her almost like a father raising his child.
Dev and Rajnath pampered her endlessly too.
She grew up surrounded by immense love, yet remained emotionally fragile in ways very few people truly understood.
She was too pure-hearted for the world around her.
She never realized when people befriended her only for money, gifts, or benefits.
She had wealth, influence, and privilege.
.. but what she truly craved was genuine affection.
Genuine friendship. Instead, people used her kindness and disappeared once they got what they wanted. Then she met Akansha.
For two entire semesters, Aakriti attended every one of her classes with admiration shining in her eyes. She adored everything about her... her confidence, intelligence, strength, beauty, self-respect, and the way she carried herself without depending on anyone. And Akansha had noticed her too.
She saw how Aakriti constantly paid for her so-called friends, cleared their canteen bills, dropped them home, and let them take advantage of her generosity. Akansha had warned her repeatedly to stay away from such people.
"You don't need these kinds of friends," she had once told her firmly. "You are capable enough to stand on your own."
That small moment of concern... that tiny lecture about valuing herself... had touched Aakriti deeply. For the first time in her life, she felt as though someone cared for her the way a mother would have. Maybe that's why Akansha's rejection shattered her so badly.
The girl she admired the most treating her coldly... combined with the betrayal from the man she loved... became too much for her already fragile heart. Shaurya knew his sister was wrong for harming herself. But in his eyes, Akansha Dikshit wasn't blameless either.
"My sister discontinued her studies here," Shaurya said finally, his voice turning serious. "I sent her abroad."
Akansha frowned slightly at the sudden shift in his tone. Then, just as quickly, his playful expression returned.
"So your threats won't work anymore," he said with a grin. "See you tomorrow."
Before she could respond, he turned and walked toward his car.
"What a complete nutcase," Akansha muttered under her breath before heading inside the college, completely unaware that she would soon fall hopelessly in love with this nutcase.
By evening, she finished her classes, packed her things, and rushed to catch the city bus home. Most days, she preferred public transport. Every rupee saved mattered to her. If she spent less on herself, she could do a little more for her family.
That was who Akansha was.
A provider.
The moment she stepped inside the house, her mother's voice greeted her.
"Akansha, did you buy the skincare products Suman asked for?"
"I didn't, ma," Akansha admitted carefully. "I don't think they're necessary right now. She already has so many products at home. She can use those, right?"
Exactly as expected, her mother frowned.
"How can you say that?" Jaya scolded immediately. "Her wedding is only a few months away. A girl has to take care of her skin during this time. A wedding happens only once in life."
"Exactly, ma," Akansha replied, trying hard to stay calm. "A wedding happens once in life, which is why I want to save enough money to book a proper wedding hall for her."
"You'll never afford a good hall with your salary, so stop dreaming," Jaya replied bluntly. "At least buy those skincare products. Maybe then we'll save money on the makeup artist."
The words hit harder than they should have.
"Ma... how can you say that?" Akansha asked quietly. "I'm doing everything I possibly can for Suman."
"It doesn't look like it," Jaya retorted sharply before her tone softened in a way that hurt even more. "Tell me honestly... are you upset that your younger sister is getting married before you? It's natural if you feel jealous, but—"
"Enough, ma," Akansha cut her off immediately, hurt flashing across her face. "You really think I'd feel jealous of my own sister's happiness?" Her voice trembled despite her efforts to stay composed. "I'm your daughter too. Don't you know me at all?"
A painful silence filled the room.
"I'm trying my best for this family," she said softly. "Maybe my best just isn't enough for you."
Before her mother could respond, Akansha quietly turned and walked out again to buy the skincare products for her sister.