Chapter 48 #3
"And sometimes, during difficult times, that's all people need... hope."
Akansha's thoughts broke when her phone suddenly rang.
Akash?
Why was he calling this early in the morning?
"Hello... Ak—"
"Di... where's Jiju? He's not picking my calls", Akash's panicked voice interrupted her instantly. "Di, it's urgent. Inform Suraj... even he's not answering. Jasmeet too... nobody is picking up."
Akansha stiffened.
Jiju? Akash hadn't called Shaurya that ever since he learnt the truth about Shaurya's betrayal.
"Akash... what happened? Shaurya went out with Suraj—"
"Di... his life is in danger. There's an attack—" Suddenly, another call interrupted him.
"Di, wait. I'll call you back."
The call disconnected.
For one terrifying second, Akansha went numb. Attack?
Shaurya—
"Siya... stay here, baby. Mama will come back", Akansha hurriedly said before rushing towards the door.
Fear crawled violently through her chest. No. Nothing could happen to Shaurya.
Nothing.
Abruptly, she stopped midway. Then hurried back.
Her trembling fingers grabbed the mangalsutra from the handbag and she wore it hastily. Taking a pinch of vermilion, she filled her hair partition quickly before rushing outside again.
She didn't even know why she did it. Her mind had stopped functioning properly. All she could think about was his safety. The moment she opened the door, she froze.
Shaurya stood right in front of her.
His left hand pressed a white handkerchief against his right arm, now completely soaked in blood, while Suraj and the security team surrounded him.
Akansha's legs almost gave away.
"W... what happened to you?", she asked, somehow forcing herself to remain steady.
"I'm fine. Calm down. It's just a minor injury", Shaurya assured softly, blinking at her knowingly.
To everyone else she appeared calm. But Shaurya could clearly see the panic breaking inside her.
"Sir, we need to get inside", Suraj interrupted seriously.
Shaurya nodded and walked in, instinctively holding Akansha's hand with his uninjured one. He knew she was terrified. And he also knew that right now, only his touch could reassure her that he was alive and standing before her.
"Ak... Akash called me. What happened? How did you get hurt?", she asked shakily while the doctor started dressing his wound in the cottage hall.
"It's nothing. The situation is under control now. I'm fine, and this won't happen again. Don't worry", Shaurya tried calming her.
Akansha immediately cut him off angrily.
"No. I don't trust you." Her voice trembled despite her anger. "You said the same thing last time too, and I trusted you. You said you were safe. Is this what you call safe?"
Her breathing turned uneven.
"What the hell is going on, Shaurya? I swear I want to kill your a** of a fath—"
Shaurya's widened eyes immediately stopped her from blurting the next word aloud before everyone present.
The doctor finished dressing the wound, administered an injection to prevent infection, and assured them it was only a minor injury. Akansha nodded absentmindedly while thanking him. The moment the doctor left, she turned towards Shaurya again.
"It's your father, isn't it?"
Before Shaurya could answer, Suraj spoke.
"No ma'am. It isn't Mr. Shekhawat. We already have surveillance on all potential threats around sir. This attack came from someone else."
Akansha frowned deeply.
"Someone else? What is he talking about, Shaurya?"
Shaurya fell silent. If Akash had called to warn him, then he definitely knew who was behind this attack. But he couldn't reveal anything.
The mission they were carrying out was highly confidential. Only Suraj was aware of the truth.
"Sir, honestly... it's a miracle you survived today", Suraj said seriously while looking at Shaurya. "It genuinely felt like Mahakaal himself protected you."
Shaurya looked at him in surprise. It was rare for Suraj to speak about spirituality. Beside them, Akansha remained completely still. Almost instinctively, her fingers moved towards the mangalsutra resting against her neck.
She shut her eyes briefly in relief. And something else she refused to name.
"Sir, it's time we take action. This is getting out of control now", Suraj added firmly.
Shaurya understood exactly what he meant, but immediately shook his head.
"We already aborted the operation till elections and covered everything properly. Their attack right now doesn't add up. Coordinate with Akash and find out what's happening." His voice hardened. "But nothing official, Suraj. I want everything to remain under wraps at any cost."
"Sir—"
Shaurya looked at him sternly. That single look was enough. Suraj nodded unwillingly and walked out. The moment they were alone, Akansha looked at Shaurya in frustration.
"What exactly is happening? Tell me properly, you madman." Shaurya finally explained everything.
Someone had thrown a sharp knife at him. The blade was coated with a powerful drug capable of permanently paralyzing him. But before the knife could hit him, Suraj pushed him away in time.
He fell against a sharp stone instead and injured his arm.
"They're investigating the drug. The man who attacked me has been caught, so let's see if we get any lead from him", Shaurya finished calmly.
Akansha silently tightened her saree pallu around her trembling fingers. What if that knife had actually pierced him? Was it really a coincidence that she wore the mangalsutra just moments before seeing him safe?
Or...
Her thoughts spiraled uncontrollably.
Without realizing it, tears slipped from her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away before Shaurya could touch her face. It took her a long time to process what had happened.
Shaurya patiently kept reassuring her for almost half an hour before she finally agreed to step outside.
After all, she didn't want to miss taking the holy dip, especially after how narrowly Siya's father had escaped death.
Once Suraj and the security team ensured everything outside was safe, Shaurya, Akansha and Siya finally stepped out together. And only then did Shaurya properly notice the mangalsutra and vermilion adorning her.
His heartbeat instantly lost rhythm.
For one foolish second, he wanted to tell her to remove them because he didn't want her forcing herself into something unwillingly.
But he also knew very well that if he dared say something like that right now, Akansha would probably slap him publicly. And honestly, he couldn't afford another injury today.
So wisely, Shaurya kept his mouth shut.
At the sacred Triveni Sangam, Shaurya took the holy dip alongside his wife and daughter.
The trio performed all the rituals together under the guidance of the priests, standing waist-deep in the holy waters while chants echoed around them.
For the first time, cameras captured Akansha and Siya publicly as the CM's wife and daughter while they emerged from the water after taking the holy dip.
Shaurya noticed the media flashes instantly, but there was little he could do at that moment. Damage control could happen later.
Right now, he wanted to focus only on the rituals.
For the first time in years, he felt a strange sense of peace while performing the pujas beside his wife and daughter. After completing the rituals, they went to change clothes. Akansha wore a blue saree while Shaurya unknowingly chose a kurta of the same shade.
Siya, who had initially been dressed in a pink frock by Akansha, immediately started throwing tantrums because she wanted matching clothes like her mama-dadda.
After getting a silent nod from Akansha, Shaurya made Siya wear a powder blue frock instead while Akansha got ready.
A while later, the trio stepped out again and continued with the remaining prayers together.
They returned to their cottage after completing the prayers.
"Siya... shall I change you into that pink frock? It's prettier, baby", Akansha asked while getting Siya ready to meet the honourable Prime Minister.
"Will you and Dadda also weal(wear) pink?", Siya asked innocently, making Akansha sigh.
"Siya... your pink frock is so beautiful. It has flowers and pearls on it. Look at this blue one, it doesn't even have any designs", Akansha tried convincing her patiently.
But Siya stubbornly shook her head.
"No... I want to match with you and Dadda."
"It's okay, let her wear this", Shaurya intervened immediately. "Anyway, this frock is softer and more comfortable. She'll be fine."
Akansha narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him.
"Did you plan this by any chance?"
Shaurya instantly raised both hands defensively.
"No... no. I packed your other sarees and suits carefully so they wouldn't match with my kurtas or Siya's frocks. This is genuinely a coincidence", he defended himself quickly.
Akansha nodded slowly while adjusting her hair and the light makeup she had worn.
"We'll wait in the hall for you", Shaurya said before quickly picking Siya up and escaping towards the living area before his wife grilled him further.
"Dadda... hi-fi", Siya whispered excitedly, raising her tiny palm.
Shaurya softly hi-fied her before putting a finger on his lips dramatically.
"Dadda, how you know mumma wears thich(this) only?", Siya asked curiously.
Shaurya lowered his voice conspiratorially.
"Calculated guess." Siya blinked blankly. "The other sarees are suitable too, but their pallus keep slipping because of the soft material. During puja, your mumma has to cover her head often, so I thought she would choose this saree if she decided to wear one."
More than half his explanation went over Siya's head, but she nodded seriously anyway, simply enjoying the feeling of sharing a secret with her father.
Shaurya chuckled softly at her adorable expression. A few minutes later, Akansha walked out. And for one brief second, Shaurya forgot what he was doing.
The blue saree complimented her beautifully, making her look calm, elegant and impossibly graceful. He quickly looked away before she caught him staring again.