Chapter 60 #3
Akansha shook her head helplessly before walking downstairs while Shaurya followed behind her with the exact same grin still firmly intact.
"Look at his shameless face, Dad. Look at that proud grin as if he just won the Nobel Peace Prize", Dev complained dramatically the moment Shaurya descended the stairs.
Rajnath looked between the two boys calmly.
"I would like to hear Shaurya's side first before deciding whether he is wrong or not", Rajnath said evenly.
Shaurya walked toward Aakriti and settled beside her, immediately ruffling her hair affectionately.
"How are you, my bacha?", he asked while pulling her into a side hug.
"I'm good. How are you now, Shaurya? You're fine, right?", Aakriti asked worriedly.
"Yeah, I'm perfectly fine. It's just a minor issue, nothing serious", Shaurya assured casually.
Akansha immediately glared at him for lying so smoothly.
"I was really scared. I wanted to come here, but Dad and Dev stopped me. I don't understand why you never let me take care of you", Aakriti complained softly, remembering how he sent her away to the US even when he was hospitalized years ago after getting stabbed.
"I'm not alone anymore. Akansha stayed with me in the hospital. She took care of me. Dev and Akash kept visiting too. So stop worrying, beta", Shaurya said while patting her head lovingly.
Aakriti looked toward Akansha with visible respect and affection.
"Thank you, ma'am", she said sincerely.
Akansha smiled lightly and shook her head.
"She isn't your professor anymore. Address her the same way you address Rachna", Dev interrupted.
"Dev, let her decide according to her comfort. It's okay", Akansha said immediately.
"No, he is right", Aakriti replied softly. "You are my sister-in-law, just like Rachna bhabhi. So if you don't mind... I would love to address you like that."
Akansha simply nodded with a small smile.
Shaurya watched them fondly, but the moment his eyes shifted toward Rajnath, his smile weakened slightly. The calculated look on Rajnath's face didn't escape him.
Clearing his throat softly, Shaurya finally began speaking.
"You probably already know the entire issue from Dev..."
His tone initially carried hesitation, but gradually steadied as he explained why he wanted to quit politics.
"I could have continued handling everything if the consequences affected only me. But I can't digest the fact that I unknowingly helped the same people rise politically who once made my nine-month pregnant wife suffer like that."
His jaw tightened.
"I..."
But he stopped himself midway. He didn't want to drag the conversation further and force Akansha to relive those horrors again.
"I understand your reasons, Shaurya", Rajnath finally spoke calmly. "But I don't agree with your decision."
Everyone fell silent.
"Despite being a first-time Chief Minister, you performed better than most of your predecessors. You never allowed emotions to dominate your governance. People's suffering affected you deeply, yes, but you still balanced welfare and development remarkably well."
A faint smile appeared on Rajnath's face.
"Honestly, when you first took office, I assumed your kindness would make you excessively emotional in governance. I thought you'd focus only on welfare schemes and freebies because you couldn't tolerate watching people struggle. But you surprised me."
His tone grew firmer.
"You focused on job creation, economic growth, infrastructure, education, industrialization, and purchasing power equally. So where did that emotional balance disappear now?"
Shaurya stayed silent.
"Right now, you are thinking only as Akansha's husband. You are consumed by guilt because your wife suffered while people associated with your political rise were responsible for it", Rajnath said, his tone calm but firm.
"But you're making a mistake, Shaurya. In your mind, Shaurya the husband and Chief Minister Shaurya Singh Shekhawat are the same person, but they are not. You need to learn separating them."
"You think I didn't try? I did. I tried countless times, but I just couldn't", Shaurya sighed tiredly.
"Then try harder", Rajnath said sternly before his gaze shifted toward Akansha, softening instantly.
"Akansha is the strongest woman I have seen after my wife. Any man in your place would make this powerhouse of courage his strength, but you are foolish enough to let her become your weakness", Rajnath said bluntly.
"Dad...", Dev immediately protested.
"That's rude. Shaurya isn't a fool", Aakriti added defensively, making Shaurya chuckle softly at how quickly his sister switched sides to protect him.
"Well, I agree she is a powerhouse of courage", Shaurya admitted while looking at Akansha. "But I don't want to use her, neither emotionally nor directly, to fuel my political ambitions."
"You don't have to", Rajnath replied calmly. "But you also don't have to step down because of one mistake you committed unknowingly. If you truly want to rectify that mistake, then destroy their political aspirations, not yours."
Dev tried listening seriously, but his constant yawns kept interrupting him. Akansha sighed before getting up quietly to prepare coffee for everyone since it was already past midnight and they clearly needed caffeine to survive this discussion.
Aakriti followed her despite Akansha politely refusing help.
"I know", Shaurya continued once they left. "And I will make sure they suffer for what they did. But I don't think I can remain in politics forever. Akansha has endured enough already. I want to give her a peaceful life now, and peace can never exist around politics. It's chaos all the time."
"You didn't think about this peaceful life when you married her", Rajnath countered immediately. "Not even after marriage. So why now?"
"Exactly", Dev added. "Back then, you were confident that once your parents were removed from the equation, you could give Akansha a proper life and happiness. Where did that confidence disappear now?"
Shaurya's jaw tightened.
"At that time, I didn't know my nine-month pregnant wife would go into labor alone on a road after getting attacked by rioters belonging to my own party."
His eyes reddened instantly, exposing the torture that single memory continued inflicting on him.
Dev silently closed his eyes for a second. He and Akansha had hidden that truth from Shaurya for so long precisely because they feared this reaction. And now, seeing him break under the weight of it, Dev realized even their worst fears had fallen short.
"Shaurya..." Rajnath's tone softened considerably. "Have you spoken to Akansha about all this? What does she think?"
"No", Shaurya admitted honestly. "But I know her. She would want me to continue because she knows this is the best career for me. She knows I genuinely love doing this. And she always wants what's best for the state and—"
"And you are the best this state deserves", Dev interrupted firmly.
Shaurya shook his head.
"You have the potential to become even better, Dev. It's time you take charge."
Dev looked ready to throw something at him but somehow controlled himself.
"We'll discuss that later", Rajnath intervened. "For now, you need to continue in politics for at least a few more years. Dev isn't ready yet. And more importantly, you've created a massive governance dependency around yourself at the CMO."
Shaurya listened silently.
"Earlier, Chief Ministers relied heavily on bureaucrats and departmental briefings before making decisions.
But in the last five years, that entire pattern reversed because of you.
Every department now depends on you to move things forward.
Yes, the results have been positive, but the system itself isn't sustainable.
If you leave suddenly, the chaos would be unimaginable. So stay."
Shaurya exhaled slowly.
"I realized that too. I'll start working on reducing that dependency as quickly as possible."
"It'll still take years", Rajnath replied bluntly.
By then, Akansha and Aakriti returned with coffee for everyone except Shaurya. Akansha placed a glass of warm milk in front of him instead.
"I know it'll take time", Shaurya said while taking the glass. "But I'll at least try."
Akansha, who already understood where this discussion was headed, quietly joined in.
"Changing a system that's been functioning a certain way for five years isn't easy, Shaurya.
The more pressure you put on yourself to fix everything immediately, the more you'll lose yourself in the process.
Some things need time. If you rush them, you'll end up damaging the very progress you created till now. "
He knew she was right.
The discussion continued for nearly two more hours before Shaurya finally agreed to postpone his political exit for a few years.
Dev and Akansha visibly relaxed, though not entirely, because he still hadn't abandoned the idea completely.
"I may stay in politics for a few more years", Shaurya finally said, his tone turning dangerously calm, "but Virendar Shekhawat's time is over."
Everyone looked at him immediately.
"What exactly are you planning?", Dev asked carefully.
"Virendar Shekhawat's dirty games will be exposed before the entire state. He'll face trials for illegal businesses, scams, money laundering, murders, and every other crime he committed while hiding behind power."
The room fell completely silent before chaos erupted.
"Have you gone mad?" Dev snapped immediately. "He won't go down alone. He'll drag you down with him. You're still his son in the public eye, Shaurya. You entered politics as Virendar Shekhawat's son. This is political suicide."
"Shaurya, Dev is right", Aakriti added immediately.
She wasn't the naive girl she once used to be. Her brothers had taught her enough about politics, people, and survival to understand the gravity of this situation now.
"Shaurya", Akansha spoke calmly, though her eyes remained sharp. "Explain properly."
Dev and Rajnath nodded too, waiting for him to continue.