Chapter 68 #3
Akash picked up Siya, held Harsh's hand, and walked toward the dining table, where Akansha was glaring at him angrily. Akansha signaled the kids to return to their seats, and noticing her anger, they quickly obeyed and began eating silently.
"Arre Akash... when did you come?" Vasant asked his son in surprise.
"Yesterday, at 3 a.m.," Akansha answered instead, still glaring at her brother. She was upset with both her husband and her brother for hiding things from her.
"What was so important that you had to travel from so far at that time of the night?" Vasant asked again.
"Papa, I had some work with Jiju..." Akash replied.
"Oh! Jiju... and not 'Sir'? So you both are one team? Against whom? Me?" Akansha asked angrily.
"Di yaar... please..." Akash trailed off, but Akansha was nowhere near stopping. After five minutes of constant rebuking, she finally paused — but unfortunately, Shaurya entered at that exact moment, and her fury returned instantly.
"Dadda... come here," Siya whisper-called her father. Shaurya immediately walked toward her, thinking she needed something.
"Mamabear is like fire today... ecsape (escape) if you can," Siya warned him softly. The little girl thought her mother was angry only with her Mamu, not knowing that her Dadda was the real reason behind the storm.
Shaurya chuckled at his daughter's words, but unfortunately Akansha saw him laughing.
"Have some shame, Shaurya... tell me one thing — when did you both become this shameless?" she said, directing the last sentence at both Akash and Shaurya.
"Di yaar, I'm hungry — very hungry. Let me have breakfast first, then we'll talk. I have something very important to discuss with you. Let me explain first, and then you can decide," Akash said.
"Do you really think you both can fool me? I want the entire truth, and I will listen only if I hear it directly from you," Akansha replied.
"Fine! First give me food," Akash said.
"Help yourself, idiot," Akansha scolded her brother and resumed eating, completely ignoring Shaurya.
Shaurya quietly sat between his father-in-law and his daughter. He helped Siya eat and chatted with Vasant.
"What did you do this time?" Vasant whispered.
"Trust me, I didn't do anything intentionally. I'm bound by my duty..." Shaurya trailed off, understanding that Vasant didn't know the whole situation.
"I know... after seeing how you take care of my daughter and granddaughter, I no longer doubt you, Shaurya.
But whatever it is, sort it out soon. I don't want to see my daughter kicking you," Vasant said.
Shaurya coughed awkwardly — hearing the word "kicking" from his father-in-law's mouth was deeply embarrassing, even though he knew his wife was fully capable of it.
"Hm... by the way, where is Suman?" Shaurya asked.
"She's up. She'll be here in a while; she just texted," Jaya answered. Shaurya nodded politely in response.
As they spoke, Suman slowly walked into the dining hall. She was still weak and struggling to walk. Since Shaurya was seated closest to the entrance, he immediately stood up, walked toward her, gently supported her, and helped her reach the dining table. He carefully seated her beside Vasant.
Shaurya's gentleness toward Suman — despite everything she did — softened Akansha's hardened stance slightly. He was a gem, no doubt about it, but that didn't mean she would go easy on him.
"How are you feeling now, Suman?" Akash asked.
"I'm fine," she replied quietly.
Everyone could sense the fractured dynamics between the siblings.
Akansha and Akash were extremely close, but Akash's bond with Suman had been distant for years — more duty than affection.
However, now that Suman had changed and begun to recognize her mistakes, both Akansha and Akash were slowly beginning to forgive her.
"Are you worried about the case next week?" Akash asked softly. The kids were busy in their own world, but Shaurya didn't want to take any chances.
"Little unicorn, Harsh... since you're done eating, why don't you go play with Pogo?" Shaurya suggested. The kids became instantly excited.
Shaurya had already asked the dog sitter he hired to bring Pogo inside the house into a separate room — far enough from Akansha, but still indoors so the kids wouldn't have to step outside. With the danger looming around, he felt it was safer to avoid the lawn, porch, or any open areas.
"Pogo is inside the house. That uncle will take you," Shaurya said, pointing toward the caretaker. The kids happily followed him.
"By next week, Dilip Gandhi will be out of your life forever, and Harsh's custody will be completely yours. That's the only truth you need to focus on," Shaurya reassured Suman gently.
"I'm not worried about the verdict, Jiju.
I know you won't let me lose Harsh... but Dilip Gandhi warned me that he would prove you're using your influence to snatch his child.
He said courts need evidence to believe things, but the media doesn't. He said he's already in talks with opposition leaders.
.. I don't want you to lose anything because of me.
You and Di have already suffered too much because of my actions," Suman confessed, finally voicing the fear she had been carrying for days.
"Dilip Gandhi warned you? How? He's in jail," Akansha asked sharply. "And why didn't you tell me this earlier?"
"I thought you wouldn't believe me... he sent the message from an unknown number, but I know it was him — that pattern, that tone... it was him. I'm sure... but I have no proof," Suman said, her voice shaking.
"Of course we trust you. Suman, forget the past... how many times do I have to tell you?" Akansha said in frustration. Suman's eyes filled with tears at her sister's angry tone.
"In the past, you never spoke to me angrily... but now you do. I know it's because of me. Because of my actions, I've lost you completely... even if I want to, I can't get my old Di back," Suman said painfully.
"This is how I speak to people I love," Akansha replied firmly.
"In the past I didn't have the confidence that you would stay with me despite my anger — that's why I barely reprimanded you.
But this is how I speak to Papa and Akash too.
If I'm speaking to you like this now, it means I trust you and I know you won't leave me. "
Suman's tears deepened, but a small, relieved smile formed on her lips. Hugging her sister felt like too much — they were never the kind who expressed affection physically — but after hearing Akansha's words, she felt a quiet hope that maybe someday they would reach that place.
"So... Dilip Gandhi messaged you from an unknown number? Do you still have the chat?" Shaurya asked.
"No... the messages disappeared before I could take a screenshot," she said softly.
"It's okay. His game is over. He can't do anything to me.
It's actually good that he exposed his plan — he tried to scare you to satisfy his ego, but now we know his move.
I know how to deal with that a*s," Shaurya said, anger flashing briefly — before realizing he had cursed in front of his in-laws.
"Sorry," he added awkwardly.
"No need. That ba****d deserves much worse," Vasant said firmly.
"Suman beta... you're not alone. Your family is with you.
No one can harm you or take away Harsh from you.
.. And look at your Jiju, he is the Chief Minister of this state, having him on your side, you should fear nothing. .. understood?", he added lovingly
Overwhelmed by her father's support after years of distance, Suman broke down crying and hugged him.
"I'm sorry, Papa... I'm so sorry," she sobbed.
Akansha stepped closer. "Look at me," she said firmly. Suman raised her tear-filled eyes.
"You used to think your sister was a superwoman who could get you anything you wanted.
I used to get tired explaining that I couldn't fulfill every demand — but you were stubborn, and in the end I still did it, remember?
" Akansha said. Suman nodded through tears.
"Have the same confidence now. I won't let anything happen to you.
I'll fight anyone for you — even you if needed.
Earlier I didn't fight you when I should have.
.. but now I will. So don't worry at all. "
Suman squeezed her sister's hand tightly in gratitude.
After breakfast, they all settled in Suman's room to discuss the custody case. Looking at her family's support, especially experiencing her father's and sister's love after years made Suman emotional.
She continued crying in her father's arms for a few moments. No one interrupted her. Years of distance, guilt, and fear seemed to dissolve slowly in that quiet embrace. Jaya gently rubbed her back while Akansha stood beside her, her expression still firm but her eyes soft.
After a while, Suman wiped her tears and tried to steady herself. The heaviness in the room began to ease slightly.
"I'm okay now," she said softly, though her voice still trembled.
"Rest for a while," Jaya said.
Shaurya looked at Akansha and Akash, signaling silently that it was time to move the conversation elsewhere.
"Let her rest," Shaurya said gently. "We'll talk outside."
Akansha nodded, though she hesitated for a second before leaving. She squeezed Suman's hand once more — firm, reassuring — before stepping out with the others.
"Di... don't you think I also deserve some loving words? I was the good sibling, wasn't I?" Akash teased after reaching Shaurya's study.
"Shut up," Akansha replied.
"You promised you'd listen." Akash said
"I didn't promise... but fine, I'll listen," she said. Shaurya sighed in relief. "You're not off the hook," she added, looking at him.
"Akansha..." Shaurya began, but she turned to Akash.
"Say what you want to say. Quickly."