Chapter 73
"What the hell is this, Dev?" Akansha exclaimed, her eyes widening as she looked at him.
"I think Shaurya revealed this information while filing his nomination five years ago... but why would the Election Commission release it now?" Dev wondered.
"Why would Shaurya do something like this?" Akansha asked, holding her head in disbelief.
"Akansha... you already know the answer to that..." Dev said, but she remained silent.
"He was supposed to disclose details about his family to the Election Commission while filing his nomination.
You are his wife—why wouldn't he disclose it?
Yes, you both weren't together then, but you weren't legally separated either, so he had to mention it.
But he didn't want that information to go public.
He needed a valid reason to request confidentiality, and Shaurya isn't someone who lies—especially not to the Election Commission.
So he stated that your life was under threat.
.. and that threat was from none other than his father, Virendar Shekhawat.
The only thing that doesn't make sense is—why would the EC release these confidential documents now? " Dev explained.
"I knew Shaurya had revealed that he was married to me... but all these evidences?" Akansha said, her voice tightening. The implications of the release were far more dangerous than she had anticipated.
"They probably no longer consider it a threat since Virendar Shekhawat is in CBI custody. The case against him is strong enough that they're confident he won't walk out again... so they released it—knowing fully well this could either make or break Shaurya," Akansha added, thinking aloud.
"But the EC doesn't act recklessly like this.
This has to be the doing of the newly appointed Chief Electoral Officer.
After this, Shaurya will be forced to answer the media.
Otherwise, they'll twist it into a narrative that he deliberately built cases against his father to eliminate him politically—and that will backfire badly.
And I know Shaurya... he won't say a word, because this involves you.
We need another way out, Akansha," Dev said.
"I think Shaurya should come clean, Dev. Right now, he's in a press conference... and if I'm not wrong, the questions must have already started," Akansha said.
And she was right.
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Suddenly, the press hall fell into an unusual silence—replaced by murmurs and restless chatter.
Mr. Sharma, who had been standing out of the camera's frame, rushed toward Shaurya and informed him about the documents just released by the Election Commission.
Shaurya understood instantly—this wasn't something he wanted to address. But he also knew the people wouldn't stay silent. They would demand answers.
And Akansha... she would never want this out. She despised sympathy. And this—this would invite exactly that.
"Sir... the EC has just released documents stating that your wife faced life threats from your father, Mr. Virendar Shekhawat. Is that why you hid your wife and daughter from the public? Is that why you stayed away from them all these years?" a reporter asked.
"I've already addressed all of this when I made my marriage public. There's no reason to revisit it," Shaurya said, attempting to deflect.
Back when he had revealed his marriage and his daughter, he had mentioned there was a threat to their lives—that was why he kept them away from the public eye. But he had never disclosed who the threat was from. The media had questioned him then as well—but he had evaded it.
He intended to do the same now.
But this time, he wouldn't be allowed to.
"Sir, we're specifically asking about your father now.
You stated five years ago that your wife and daughter were under threat—and now it's clear that the threat came from your own father.
That means you were aware of his intentions back then.
Then why didn't you file a case against him?
Or was this a calculated move to defame Virendar Shekhawat and push him out of the party? " one reporter questioned.
Others immediately picked up on the same line of attack.
"Were you framing Mr. Virendar Shekhawat to secure power for yourself?"
"If you knew your father intended to harm your wife and child, why didn't you report him? Why send them away instead—why let your pregnant wife suffer?" another voice cut through.
"You think it would have stopped Virendar Shekhawat from harming my wife?" Shaurya shot back.
"Then what did you do that stopped him?" another reporter countered instantly.
"Why did your father want to harm your wife and child? What are you still hiding?" another pressed.
Back at home, Akansha switched on the TV as Dev told her it was live. The barrage of questions filled the screen.
"He has to answer them. Otherwise, no matter what clarification we give later, it will always be seen as a cover-up," Dev said.
"You're right," Akansha replied.
"Tell them, Shaurya... tell them everything. It's time you show people your father's true face—and how you've been fighting it. Tell them about Aakriti too... only what's necessary, do anything to clear your image, I have your back..." Akansha texted him.
On screen, she saw him glance at his phone.
Shaurya took a deep breath.
Then he looked up—his expression firm, resolved.
"I disclosed this information to the Election Commission because I needed them to keep my marital status confidential.
At that time, my only goal was to protect my wife—and I did everything in my power to achieve that.
Yes, there was a threat to her life... and it came from none other than my parents.
Many of you asked why I didn't involve the police.
I did. But the attacks on my wife intensified after that.
That's when I realized Virendar Shekhawat's network was far more powerful than I had anticipated.
My priority was to save my wife—so I sent her to a secure location," Shaurya said.
"But what was the reason? Why would your father try to kill your wife?" a reporter asked.
"Because he wanted me to marry someone else—someone who could financially back our elections. But I chose to marry Akansha against his will," Shaurya answered.
"Then why did you allow such a man to remain in charge of the largest political party in the state all this time? Isn't that your failure?" another reporter pressed.
"It is because of Shaurya Ji that we were able to bring Virendar Shekhawat under CBI custody.
Shaurya Ji had been requesting a CBI probe into his father's activities for a long time.
But the CBI requires solid evidence before proceeding—otherwise, the same people questioning us today would have called it a political vendetta," Pankaj, a senior leader and Shaurya's loyalist, stepped in.
"In fact, some of you are still suggesting that today—that Shaurya Ji sent his own father to jail to secure his position.
How low can such accusations go? Do you even know that he was ready to resign from politics just a few months ago?
He had no desire for power—his only goal has always been the welfare of the people.
He even said he could serve through NGOs and non-profit work.
It was us—the party—who refused to let him go.
We need him. This state needs him. People cannot imagine this state without Shaurya saab.
He has made it safer for women—crime rates have dropped significantly under his leadership, and we want that number to reach zero," Mrs. Alka, the party's women's wing chief, said emotionally.
The media erupted—this revelation was unexpected.
Shaurya shot her a sharp look. He hadn't wanted that information out. But the party had its own strategy—they were turning this into a moment of maximum impact.
"If cases were already filed against your father for attempting to harm your wife, why is there no mention of them in CBI reports?" a reporter asked.
"There are multiple cases pending against Virendar Shekhawat. However, Shaurya sir personally requested the CBI to prioritize investigations into money laundering and corruption," a senior MLA responded.
"Shaurya sir, were you trying to avoid political chaos before the elections? Were you concerned that these allegations against your father would damage your image? Is that why you asked the CBI to delay investigating those specific cases?" another reporter fired the next question.
"No, I'm not afraid of any consequences.
And one thing you need to understand is that the CBI is a central agency—we can request a probe, but we cannot order one.
I placed my request because Virendar Shekhawat worked against the people.
He cheated the very people he was supposed to serve.
He misused their trust, and both Virendar Shekhawat and Shoba Shekhawat must be held accountable for that.
They should be punished for betraying the people of this state.
After that, the CBI can proceed with the case of Rajgopal Ji's death, and then take up the charges I pressed regarding the attempt on my wife's life and mine.
Virendar Shekhawat must first answer to the people.
Any harm he caused to my wife or Rajgopal Ji's family is far less than what he did to the people of this state.
I consulted Pankaj Ji—the elder son of Rajgopal Ji—before sending my formal request to the CBI.
He too believed that the people's loss is greater than our personal losses.
I'm proud to have leaders in my party who place the people above everything else," Shaurya said.
The media broadcast every word. People could feel the conviction in his voice—his concern for the state was evident. While many admired him even more, some opposition leaders seized the moment to cast doubt.