Chapter 57 #2
"The doctor who treated Aakriti recommended Dr. Chauhan to us, so we got Aakriti treated under him.
Shaurya was also suffering then. It was just after you left, and he started taking Dr. Chauhan's help to cope.
That's all I know. Shaurya never shared his health updates with me.
He pretended to be fine, and because of the facade we both wore in front of people, I couldn't even go and check on him. "
Regret weighed heavily in Dev's voice. Akansha understood. This entire performance of public rivalry with his best friend had cost him more than he ever admitted.
"Good things take time, Dev. Great things demand sacrifices", Akansha said quietly.
"That is what both of you have been doing for the betterment of people.
Look at the unbelievable change this state has witnessed in every sector.
And this remarkable change is not just because of Shaurya.
You contributed to a major part of it too. "
Dev looked at her, surprised.
"Shaurya doesn't have to deal with a chaotic opposition that constantly discourages the government, manufactures pseudo-problems, and stops it from reaching the real ones.
He invested that time in state development because you allowed him that space.
You are the best example of what a state or country can achieve when the opposition does exactly what it is meant to do — fight with the government for people's rights, not against it. "
Dev stared at her for a beat.
"You know, this is the first time I've heard you praise me. And Shaurya too, for that matter. What happened to you, woman?"
Akansha glared at him.
"Shut up", she said, rolling her eyes.
They discussed a few more things before Akash made his way inside.
The trio then shifted to practical matters — how to manage the situation, what statement to release, and how to place the news before the media.
Shaurya had to remain in the hospital for at least three to four days, and his absence from both office and public spaces would spark confusion if not handled properly.
They couldn't reveal his actual condition.
For now, they decided to keep the statement simple.
Akansha decided she would take a call only after discussing things with Mr. Sharma and Shaurya's advisory team, who were currently in the Secretariat handling a meeting that was supposed to be chaired by Shaurya.
She didn't want the authority of deciding what statements should be released or how things should be handled politically, but as the Chief Minister's wife and immediate family, she was expected to step in, and she refused to back away at a time when he needed her the most.
She briefly informed Mr. Sharma about Shaurya's condition and requested him to manage things at the Secretariat first before coming to the hospital so they could discuss the further course of action together.
"When do you think he will wake up?" Dev asked, glancing at Shaurya every two seconds.
Akansha looked at him dryly. "Oh? I thought you would've figured that out by now, especially by how frequently you've been staring at him like a creep."
Dev glared at her.
"Have you ever given a straight answer to a question?" he asked irritably.
"To you? No", she replied without missing a beat.
Dev looked ready to pull his hair out.
"Usually, in cases like his, it takes anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours because the bleeding is minimal. If it were severe, it could've taken two or three days. He should wake up soon... but again, I'm not a doctor", she finally explained, unable to tolerate his frustrated face any longer.
"Hm..." Dev stood up abruptly. "It's already been more than a few hours. I'll go ask Dr. Chauhan to check him again."
"Dev, calm down", Akansha stopped him softly. "He needs rest. The moment he regains consciousness, he'll start thinking about things he shouldn't be thinking about right now."
Dev sighed and sat back down. A while later, Akash walked in holding a few papers and Akansha's card.
"Di... I paid the bill till now. Here's your card back. They said final billing would happen during discharge, but I requested the amount charged till now."
"You paid the bill?" Dev looked genuinely shocked. "Why would you?"
Akansha frowned at him as if the answer were obvious. "Then who would've?"
Dev tried very hard not to grin.
Her simple statement filled him with an absurd amount of happiness. If Shaurya had heard her say that, he would've gone to heaven and back from happiness alone.
Dev instinctively looked toward Shaurya — only to freeze. Shaurya's eyes fluttered open slowly.
"Shaurya..." Dev immediately walked toward him, followed by Akansha and Akash.
"Akash, get the doctor", Akansha instructed calmly as she moved to the other side of the bed.
"Do you feel any heaviness?" she asked softly.
"A bit", he admitted quietly.
She nodded.
The doctor arrived, checked him thoroughly, and after declaring his condition stable — though still requiring observation — left the room.
Even Dr. Chauhan looked mildly surprised that Shaurya didn't insist on immediate discharge.
Though he did notice Shaurya occasionally glancing toward his wife, almost as if assessing whether she could be convinced.
"Siya..." Shaurya trailed weakly. "She must be upset..."
"Yeah", Akansha answered dryly. "She said she wouldn't come out of school unless her Dadda came to pick her up. So after three days, once you're discharged, you can personally go pick your daughter up from school and come home."
Despite her mocking tone, relief flickered through Shaurya's eyes at the mention of Siya.
"You promised my little munchkin and broke it?" Dev clicked his tongue dramatically. "You could've collapsed after bringing her back from school."
Akansha smacked Dev's shoulder immediately.
"Stop stressing him more."
Dev glared at her while rubbing his arm.
Akash and Dev then informed Shaurya that they hadn't released any official statement yet. Mr. Sharma and the advisors were on their way, and Shaurya could decide what narrative should go to the press.
But Shaurya's response shocked all three of them.
"No official statement regarding my health is needed", he said quietly. "People should think I'm fine and simply working from home for a while."
Dev stared at him like he'd lost his mind.
"Ask the doctor if the stroke affected his brain too", he muttered dramatically. "This is exactly when you gain public sympathy. People deserve to know their Chief Minister's condition."
Shaurya remained silent.
Akansha folded her arms slowly, watching him carefully.
"What's running in your head, Shaurya?"
"I'll tell you soon", he answered softly, avoiding her gaze.
She instantly understood why. He still couldn't face her properly after what had happened that morning.
"Take some rest", she said quietly before turning away.
"What rest?" Dev frowned immediately. "Didn't you hear what he said? He doesn't want anyone knowing about his health."
"Dev..." Akansha interrupted calmly. "You can play politics - politics after he recovers. Right now, let him do whatever keeps him away from stress."
Then she walked out before either man could argue further.
Dev blinked in confusion.
"What happened to her? She was completely fine till now. We were literally discussing press statements."
"She's upset with me", Shaurya answered weakly.
"Yeah, that much I know", Dev replied matter-of-factly. "I'm asking about the reason behind her behavior."
Shaurya glared at him with a look that clearly screamed idiot-that-is-the-reason.
Realization finally dawned on Dev.
"Oh."
"She didn't want to yell at me, so she walked away", Shaurya muttered quietly.
Dev nodded thoughtfully.
Once Dev learned Mr. Sharma would arrive shortly, he left the hospital to avoid raising unnecessary questions. Soon after, Mr. Sharma and the advisory team arrived, and they discussed the necessary arrangements with Shaurya.
Despite everyone's disagreement, Shaurya remained firm about not disclosing his condition publicly, and eventually, the team unwillingly complied.
After giving his instructions, he was finally forced to rest — entirely on his wife's orders.
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Akansha later went to Dev's house, leaving Akash behind at the hospital with Shaurya for some time.
"Mama bear... When are we going home?" Siya asked while Akansha fed her dinner.
"Why?" Rachna asked gently, stroking the little girl's hair. "Don't you like it here?"
"I dooo", Siya replied quickly. "But I want to sleep with mumma and Dadda."
"Acha?" Akansha raised her brows. "I thought you were angry with your Dadda."
Siya immediately puffed her cheeks. "Yes! Very angry. Dadda broke his promise. Siya is katti with Dadda."
Akansha suppressed her smile.
"Siya... did you ask why Dadda couldn't come? Why he broke his promise?"
"No", Siya answered stubbornly. "Because Siya is angry."
Akansha gently wiped her mouth before speaking softly.
"But think once, bacha... has Dadda ever broken a promise to you before?"
Siya paused to think seriously before shaking her head slowly.
"Then maybe something really important happened this time, no? Dadda loves you so much. He plays with you despite being busy, gets you everything you ask for... so don't you think you should be a little understanding when he can't fulfill one promise? Dadda is very sorry, you know."
Akansha usually let father and daughter solve their own emotional drama, but right now, Shaurya was already burdened enough. The last thing she wanted was for him to stress over Siya staying angry with him too.
Siya's stubborn little face softened slowly.
Then she asked the question Akansha had been expecting.
"Then why Dadda didn't come?"
Akansha sighed softly before answering honestly, just in a simpler way.