Chapter 52 #2
Yes, she still had unresolved feelings regarding Aakriti. But she would never let those issues stop her daughter from knowing her aunt — her father's only sister.
Still, Shaurya shook his head lightly.
"I think it would be better if we elders sort things out first before introducing Siya properly."
"Okay then. First go meet her. We can discuss everything else later," Akansha said.
"Yeah... I'm already on my way." Then his tone softened slightly. "What is Siya doing by the way? Did she ask for me?"
"No," Akansha replied honestly. "She's busy playing with her brother."
The disappointment in Shaurya's silence was immediate.
"Really? Not even once?" he asked, trying and failing to hide his jealousy. "What are they even playing that she's forgotten me completely?"
Akansha rolled her eyes instantly.
"Shaurya... should I be worried that your daughter is happily playing instead of crying because you left without her?" she chided. "Would you prefer tantrums?"
His dramatic sigh made her suppress a smile.
"I guess you're right..." he muttered gloomily.
Akansha ended the call after sending him a few pictures and videos of Siya and Harsh playing together. She knew very well how much Shaurya loved watching his daughter. He enjoyed every tiny thing about her — every expression, every word, every act of mischief.
The memory of one particular incident made her chuckle softly.
Once, after watching a YouTube video, Siya had proudly painted all of Shaurya's expensive white shirts using watercolors because the child in the video had "surprised" her father similarly.
While Akansha scolded Siya thoroughly and banned screens for days, Shaurya merely smiled gently and thanked his daughter for the "beautiful surprise."
Worse, he started coming home early every evening during her punishment period just to keep her entertained personally.
And that shameless daughter of theirs even requested Akansha to extend her punishment because it meant her Dadda came home early and played with her longer.
Akansha was pissed at both father and daughter that day. Unfortunately, Siya's tiny "Sorry" and puppy face ruined her anger completely.
Shaking away the memory, Akansha entered the kitchen to prepare food for Siya. There, she found both her mother and Suman already inside. She didn't speak much. She simply searched quietly for ingredients.
"Tell me what you need. I'll prepare it," Jaya offered hesitantly.
"No need. I'll cook for myself and my daughter. Just tell me where the ingredients are," Akansha replied coldly.
"What about j-ji... jiju, Di?" Suman asked softly. "Won't he eat here?"
The hesitation and affection in her sister's voice genuinely surprised Akansha. Earlier, Suman mostly spoke only to demand things or blame her for life's problems.
"No," Akansha answered curtly before continuing her work.
Still, Jaya and Suman silently helped arrange everything she needed.
As Akansha prepared Siya's meal, Suman curiously asked about her cooking methods. Akansha absentmindedly explained how Siya refused to eat certain vegetables unless they were crushed and mixed carefully into food.
"Looks like both these kids are the same," Suman smiled faintly. "Harsh also refuses certain vegetables. From now on, I'll prepare them like this too."
Akansha merely nodded. Once Siya's food was ready, she called her daughter and handed her the plate.
"Siya, can you eat by yourself? I still have to cook for myself," Akansha said.
Siya immediately nodded before asking seriously,
"For Dadda?"
"Your Dadda will eat outside today," Akansha replied, smiling faintly at how deeply her daughter worried about Shaurya's meals.
"Can I feed Siya?" Jaya asked cautiously. "I'm feeding Harsh anyway..."
Before Akansha could answer, Siya asked innocently,
"Mamabear... who is she?"
"Siya, this is our Nani," Harsh answered proudly while holding Siya's hand.
Then before Akansha could react further, Harsh excitedly dragged Siya outside toward the hall.
"Papa, please help Siya finish her food!" Akansha called out toward Vasant, who immediately responded yes.
Jaya understood the silent message clearly — Akansha didn't want her anywhere near Siya. Quietly, she stepped back.
Meanwhile, Akansha continued cooking while Suman occasionally suggested small tips to improve the taste.
Though Akansha maintained her cold silence outwardly, internally her heart ached strangely.
Once upon a time, she had desperately longed for such ordinary moments with her mother and sister. Instead, all she received from them were harsh words and pain.
And now, when she no longer desired those relationships anymore, fate suddenly presented those exact moments before her.
Cruel.
Fate truly was cruel sometimes.
"Add a little kasuri methi, Di... it'll taste even better," Suman suggested again, carefully.
Without responding, Akansha quickly finished cooking and walked out of the kitchen. Suman watched her leave with a heavy sigh. But this time, she had made up her mind.
She would win her siblings back somehow.
Because now she finally understood something she should've realized long ago — they were the only real family she had left.
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Shaurya and Aakriti sat inside her room in silence for a while before he finally spoke.
"Care to explain your behavior, Aakriti?" Shaurya asked softly.
Aakriti sighed tiredly.
"Leave it na, Shaurya. I already said sorry, didn't I?" she muttered. "I panicked after learning Akansha ma'am and Siya were here too. I just... needed some time to clear my head, so I went out."
Shaurya looked at her sternly despite the softness in his tone.
"I told you to go wherever you wanted, but only with Arun ji. Then why did you leave again after he dropped you home?"
His voice lowered slightly.
"Do you even realize how worried I was until Rajnath uncle called and informed me where you were?"
Guilt instantly crossed Aakriti's face. She apologized again and promised she would never repeat it. Only then did Shaurya relax slightly.
After speaking about random things for a few minutes, Shaurya finally decided to address what truly mattered.
"Aakriti... it's high time we sort everything out between us," he began carefully. "Akansha and I want Siya to know you... properly."
Aakriti lowered her eyes instantly.
"I know, Shaurya," she whispered. "But I still can't gather the courage to face Akansha ma'am.
Despite everything she said to me back then.
.. what I demanded from you afterward was wrong too.
Being a woman myself, I should've known better.
" Her voice trembled with regret. "I don't think I'll ever forgive myself for that. "
Shaurya quietly looked at his sister before speaking again.
"There are still a few things you don't know about what happened years ago."
Aakriti looked at him silently.
"I know you now understand how Dilip Gandhi manipulated you," Shaurya continued. "But he manipulated Akansha and her family too. He made them believe you were trying to break Suman's marriage by faking..."
He paused briefly before adding gently,
"And whatever Akansha said in the hospital that day... she said it under those misunderstandings. She didn't even know you were standing there. She only realized you were present when you were already leaving."
"Suman saw me, Shaurya," Aakriti said quietly.
"Yes bache, only Suman saw you," Shaurya corrected softly.
"And she deliberately said those things to hurt you.
Akansha genuinely didn't know you were there.
" He immediately continued before she misunderstood him.
"I'm not defending the harsh things Akansha said.
I'm only telling you the complete truth. "
Then patiently, Shaurya explained everything in detail — how Akansha eventually confronted Suman and learned about Dilip's double game, how misunderstandings kept piling up, and how badly the situation had spiraled for everyone involved.
Aakriti remained silent for a long time after hearing everything.
"Thank you for telling me all this, Shaurya," she finally whispered.
"One of the biggest reasons I couldn't face Akansha ma'am was because of the impression she had of me.
I never had the courage to stand before a woman who thought so low of my character.
" Her eyes welled up slightly. "Yes, I had feelings for Dilip Gandhi once.
.. but after learning he belonged to another woman, I never tried contacting him again. He was the one who kept—"
"Of course I know that, bacha," Shaurya cut her off gently. "You never need to explain yourself to me." His voice softened further. "I know exactly what my sister is. And now... Akansha knows too." Pain flickered across his face.
"The circumstances... and my betrayal... pushed her into thinking that way. I was the one who hurt her the most."
Aakriti immediately shook her head.
"No, Shaurya. I was the biggest culprit here." Her voice cracked painfully. "I wanted revenge so badly that I stopped seeing anything beyond my own pain. I want to apologize to Akansha ma'am... properly."
Then after a pause, she asked quietly,
"When are you leaving for the capital?"
Shaurya understood the hidden question instantly.
"Not sure yet," he replied. "I need to reach the capital till tomorrow. Their return depends on Akansha. If she decides to stay longer, I'll let you know. But mostly she'll return with me because of her school and CR committee work."
"Oh..."
Aakriti fell silent again, clearly overthinking everything.
She knew she needed time to mentally prepare herself before facing Akansha. But somewhere she also feared that if she let this opportunity go now, she might never gather the courage again.
"Aakriti bacha..." Shaurya called softly. "It's not as difficult as you're imagining." She looked at him quietly. "Stay strong. You'll get through this. And trust me... once you both clear everything between you, you'll finally feel lighter."