Chapter 73 #3
Shaurya continued his outreach programs, while his party workers, activists, and supporters carried out ground-level campaigning through traditional methods.
They consistently projected his leadership—his strength in standing against a powerful and corrupt force like Virendar Shekhawat, and his role in saving the state from an Asur (demon) like him.
Virendar Shekhawat's loyal base still existed, though significantly weakened.
However, this shift also meant something else—those remaining supporters were unlikely to vote for Shaurya, but they had no strong alternative either.
The opposition had failed to fully absorb them, leaving them torn between Shaurya and NOTA.
Meanwhile, the opposition intensified its campaign.
They called the entire narrative surrounding Virendar Shekhawat a carefully built propaganda strategy designed to elevate Shaurya's image.
They also began attacking Shaurya's party over the scams linked to Virendar Shekhawat and a few individuals associated with him.
Some senior leaders advised Shaurya to publicly refute these allegations and clearly distance himself from all actions of Virendar Shekhawat and his associates. But Shaurya refused.
No matter the political cost, he chose accountability.
He publicly accepted responsibility for failing to stop the wrongdoing sooner.
He apologized to the people for the lapses during that period.
At the same time, he explained in detail how he had systematically distanced Virendar Shekhawat from government functioning and decision-making since the moment he assumed office as Chief Minister.
This approach shifted public perception further.
Shaurya's supporters—and a large section of neutral, rational voters—began to see the situation more clearly.
They highlighted his transparency and consistency.
They pointed out the significant reduction in corruption during his tenure, the increase in government employee salaries, the restructuring of pay scales, and improved contributions to provident funds.
Broader development across sectors further strengthened his image.
The tide was visibly shifting.
Shaurya also ensured that any images related to his past injuries, medical reports, or personal suffering were not circulated. He was firm on one principle—he would not win through sympathy. Period.
Dev, though reluctant, complied with his approach. He knew too many forces were working against Shaurya, and the sympathy angle could have strengthened his position. But Shaurya remained stubborn, and eventually everyone had to fall in line.
At the same time, Shaurya intensified his special initiative to rescue domestic violence victims before the elections concluded. He held continuous meetings with the task force he had created, giving them clear instructions.
Saving victims remained the priority—but not at the cost of injustice.
He emphasized that innocent people must not be wrongly punished in the process. During his review of multiple cases, he noticed that some complaints were being falsely filed—sometimes in the context of divorce disputes or alimony demands.
He immediately instructed the police and the special team to ensure equal diligence in protecting the innocent, just as they did for genuine victims.
Because for Shaurya, justice could not be one-sided—even in urgency.
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Shaurya came home at midnight. Akansha was sitting on the sofa with her eyes closed. He realized she was asleep, so he carefully picked her up in his arms, intending to carry her upstairs. She woke up almost immediately, and he quickly set her down.
"Sorry... I woke you up," he said, apologizing at once.
She stared at him for a moment longer than usual, then looked at herself, and then at the staircase leading to their bedroom on the first floor.
"You were going to carry me there? Are you out of your mind?" she said. "You are not in your twenties, Shaurya... idiot, your back will break."
Shaurya immediately looked offended.
"Excuse me? I'm not weak, neither am I old. I can carry you there easily. Do not doubt my caliber."
"I don't have any doubts. I am sure about it. So do not try it again," she said firmly.
He opened his mouth to protest, but she glared at him, and he stopped.
"Go and freshen up. I'm getting your dinner," she added.
He nodded, not having the courage to argue further.
"Why don't you go and sleep? It's very late, Akansha..." he said softly.
"I will, after giving you dinner," she replied.
He understood she wouldn't listen, so instead of arguing, he simply nodded and went upstairs to freshen up.
By the time he came out of the washroom, dressed in night pants and a t-shirt, she was back with his dinner.
He sat down and started eating.
"Go and sleep. I'll finish this and come after a five-minute walk," he said.
"We will both go for a walk after your dinner. Eat fast," she said.
He immediately understood she had something to talk about. He nodded and finished his dinner quickly.
After placing the plate in the kitchen, they both went to the terrace. For five minutes, they walked in silence.
"What is it, jaan?" he finally asked softly.
"Why didn't you ask me anything?" she asked.
"About?" he replied.
"About why I shared those files and the video clip with Pankaj ji. I know you know it was me," Akansha said.
She knew he had understood. He never wanted that clip or those reports to come out publicly.
He absolutely hated the idea, but she couldn't tolerate the media anymore—especially Richa and her team trying to prove Shaurya wrong.
Richa knew he was telling the truth, yet she still wanted to create doubts in the public's mind.
"What would I ask you?" he said calmly.
"Why I did it," she replied, clearly frustrated by his calmness.
"And why would I do that when I already know why you did it?" he answered.
"And Akansha, I will support you in anything you do, even if it goes against my opinion. You know that. And don't think I am doing it unwillingly—I am not. I am doing it because I love you."
Akansha shook her head angrily.
"You should have questioned me, Shaurya. You are trying to do damage control, working overtime to ensure this doesn't reach people. I feel so guilty. Even more guilty because you didn't question me at all."
"Guilty? Akansha... whatever you did was for me.
You didn't want Richa to paint me as a liar.
You didn't want our horrific past to be called fiction.
Especially when that past gave hell to both of us—especially you.
Why should you feel guilty for acting in my interest? " he asked, cupping her cheeks.
She jerked his hands away and walked inside to the sofa. He followed and sat beside her.
"What is it that's actually bothering you, ansha?" he asked softly.
She took a deep breath. She didn't know how to say it. She herself didn't fully understand why she felt like that. He waited patiently without interrupting her.
After about ten minutes, she finally spoke.
"When you didn't question me... it felt like you were trying to stay calm so you wouldn't offend me.
It felt like you would have questioned me freely and with authority if we were a normal husband and wife.
But just because we weren't, you stayed quiet because you didn't want to upset me," she said.
"You want us to be a normal wife and husband?" he asked with a slight grin.
"That's what I have been telling you all these weeks, you dumb idiot!" she yelled immediately, frustrated. She slapped his arm, and he winced.
He let her frustration pass without reacting further.
"Akansha... yes, I agree I do have a fear of hurting you unintentionally, and that does make me careful.
But me not questioning you has nothing to do with that fear.
I wouldn't have questioned your decisions even if things were normal between us.
The reason I made you my political advisor is because I trusted your capability.
Not because you're my wife—you know that. "
He continued.
"And even before I thought about why you did it, I already had the confidence that if you did, there must be a reason. My trust in you hasn't wavered even once. Why would any man question his wife when she is this capable and this much of a perfectionist? If he does, he's stupid. I am not."
Akansha shook her head at his words, the way he framed everything so simply yet strongly.
She kept staring at him, still trying to figure out whether he had addressed what was really bothering her. He understood her silence.
"Maybe I am still afraid of doing something stupid that could hurt you.
But that doesn't mean we are not a real husband and wife.
And I say this fear is good—it keeps me in check.
And what more 'real' do you want? I don't know about others, but I am a real husband.
I listen to you, I follow your words, I don't tolerate anyone speaking against you, and most importantly, I fear you.
Can any husband be more real than that?"
That finally made her chuckle.
He hugged her tightly as he saw her smile, and she stayed in his arms.
She also wanted to ask him why he never mentioned what Virendar Shekhawat did to his newborn daughter, but she understood he was deliberately keeping Aakriti out of it, so she didn't bring it up.
"Seeing you smile... it calms my heart like nothing else in this world. I love you, Akansha," he said, kissing her neck.
She gripped his hair as his stubble brushed her skin.
She inhaled deeply to control herself, but he noticed.
He broke the hug and cupped her face, slowly capturing her lips. The kiss deepened quickly, turning intense as both of them lost control for a moment. He pulled away only when he felt her breath becoming uneven.
He trailed soft kisses down her neck, and she tightened her grip in his hair, trying to steady her breathing.