Chapter 74 #4
Shaurya frowned. His sister had never agreed so quickly before. Then, noticing the fake smile on her face, he understood it was because of his daughter. He felt a quiet pride—he hadn't expected Siya to become such a protector for him.
Shaurya informed Aakriti about their travel, and she was completely okay to stay alone for the night. He instructed Mrs. Sudha to give Aakriti milk before sleeping and to have it herself as well.
After packing their small travel bag, the trio left.
Within the next two hours, Shaurya, Akansha, and Siya reached the district HQ airport.
Siya fell asleep during the flight, so Shaurya carried her in his arms while deplaning.
It was late at night, and he was assured there would be no media presence—only local city news representatives and the district officials, who had come to receive him.
Shaurya ensured they would only take pictures and ask no questions.
He was walking, holding Siya in his arms, with Akansha beside him, when a media personnel who had infiltrated the City News suddenly began firing questions directly at Shaurya.
"Sir... one question. Do you agree that you failed to keep your wife and child safe? You failed to protect them. And what message do you give to the people who question your capability to protect our state when you can't even protect your own wife and child?" the reporter asked.
Akansha's blood boiled, but Shaurya kept walking calmly. It wasn't new for him—media had thrown worse accusations at him before, and he had always responded. But now he wasn't supposed to. He knew whoever was asking the question had bypassed the authorities.
"Mrs. Shekhawat... what do you have to say about this? Is your husband truly capable of protecting you and your daughter?" the reporter pressed.
"Ignore her... she's just trying to make news out of this and sell it for TRPs," Shaurya said, but Akansha sighed and walked toward the reporter.
"That's my daughter..." Akansha said, pointing toward Siya in her father's arms. "She is peacefully sleeping in her father's arms because she was saved by him.
I am standing here answering your questions because I am alive, and that's because my husband was capable of saving me.
And now we are seeking justice—the case is with the CBI, and we trust the agency to do its job.
Make sure you telecast this so that, like you, others also see my confidence in Mr. Shaurya Singh Shekhawat's capable leadership. "
With that, she turned and walked back to Shaurya, and they left.
She used the moment to shut down all the rumors circulating against her husband—and even against her.
People were claiming she stayed with him only because he was the CM and that she wanted power.
Foolish people didn't even understand that he had been CM for the past five years, while she had not been anywhere near his political life all those years.
And she had never publicly endorsed Shaurya except occasionally on social media, and even that only recently.
Now she had finally given a statement so they would stop using her and her child to defame him.
Akansha vented her anger at that reporter again after they reached the government guest house. Shaurya gently made his daughter sleep in the bedroom before walking back to listen to his wife's frustration.
"That insensitive reporter... thank God Siya didn't wake up. What if she had heard all that nonsense? God! How can they be so stupid and ask such questions?" she said.
He tried to calm her down. He was used to such attacks, so he remained composed, but she wasn't. She had also started openly expressing her dislike for anyone who criticized him, and in a way, that made him feel both happy and hopeful—it felt like her way of expressing love, if not in words.
"How the hell are you so calm while I'm fuming?" she asked.
"All the credit goes to your best friend, Richa Upadhyay..." he began.
She frowned.
"She prepared me for the worst... such a kind heart," he added.
Akansha laughed at his sarcastic tone.
After some time of talking, Akansha went to sleep beside Siya. Shaurya stayed up, working on preparations for the next day's outreach programs and campaign gatherings. A couple of hours later, he finally came to bed, allowing himself the mandatory four hours of sleep before the next day.
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Days passed. All parties finished campaigning, and after a 48-hour silent period, elections were held. The NIA discovered major links, raising serious security concerns, so the central government deployed the Army and CRPF to assist the state government with election security.
The polling percentage increased by 12% compared to the previous elections, and everyone knew it was due to Shaurya's government awareness programs about exercising voting rights.
Celebrities, famous artists, political families, and influential figures—all exercised their voting rights. Shaurya arrived to vote with Akansha, while Dev, Rachna, Rajnath, and Aakriti also came separately to cast their votes.
Shaurya voted in the morning and encouraged everyone else to do the same.
He also praised the Election Commission's arrangements—especially the increased number of polling booths, which reduced queue time significantly.
His government had also ensured voter support facilities, providing water bottles and coconut water to protect people from the scorching heat, and coordinating with healthcare teams to keep ambulances on standby for emergencies.
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The opinion polls suggested a tight fight between the incumbent and the largest opposition, as Dev's party had successfully leveraged several issues against Shaurya's government.
This time, the opposition also secured significantly higher funding.
In fact, some exit projections even suggested a landslide for the opposition.
Finally, results day arrived.
Dev said he preferred watching it with his family, and the party respected his privacy. He shut out everyone he didn't fully trust and kept only his closest circle inside—Ashwini, his private investigator, his wife, and his father.
The real reason was different. If Shaurya lost and Dev won, he couldn't appear too happy immediately—the grief on his face would raise suspicion.
On the other hand, if Shaurya won and his party lost, he wouldn't be able to hide his happiness either, which would also create doubts about his loyalties or even his mental state.
So he decided to avoid both situations entirely.
Shaurya chose to watch the first half of counting with party leaders and planned to join his family later in the second half.
The counting began. Akansha and Dev stayed on a video call the entire time—both tense for Shaurya. He, too, was tense, but compared to them, he remained far more composed. For him, it wouldn't be a setback even if Dev won; he could accept either outcome.
In the initial rounds, Dev's party led in several key seats, and Shaurya urged his team to stay steady regardless of the outcome.
"Ashwini... what's the ground report? Tell me Shaurya can still win..." Dev asked his PI, nervously biting his nails.
"Sir, it's hard to say at this point. It's getting very neck and neck," Ashwini replied.
"God... Shaurya isn't even leading in his own constituency.
.. what was he thinking when he filed nomination in only one place?
I told him to file in at least two, but he was adamant.
God, what if he loses his own seat? Forget Chief Minister—he won't even enter the assembly.
.. Akansha... I will kill your husband.. ." Dev blurted out on the video call.
"Stop spouting nonsense, Dev. I'm already worried," Akansha snapped back.
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In the later rounds of counting, the tide began to shift, and Shaurya's party workers and senior members—who had been anxious until now—started breathing easier. Their earlier fear had been an embarrassing loss if their leader failed to win even his home constituency.
Shaurya returned home and saw his wife, sister, sister-in-law, father-in-law, and mother-in-law all glued to the television screens.
His in-laws had gone to their hometown to vote and returned the next day, already considering shifting their voter registration to the capital for future elections since they no longer resided in their native place.
"Yayyyy!!!" they all screamed in unison.
He glanced at the screen and realized he had won his home constituency with a margin of 71,256 votes—surpassing his previous victory margin.
"Thank God! Otherwise, I would have killed him," Dev said over the video call.
"Yes! Now hang up, I'm tired of your running commentary," Akansha said, and Dev disconnected after a sarcastic remark, which she completely ignored.
Shaurya noticed Akansha praying, looking upward—likely thanking her favorite deity. Beside her, Siya sat copying her mother in prayer.
"Hello, guys..." Shaurya announced his presence.
"Jiju... congratulations! You won!" Suman was the first to react, followed by his in-laws, then little Harsh, and finally Siya, all congratulating him. He smiled.
"This was expected. Stop congratulating him and let's focus on the next part of the results," Akansha said.
"Oh! Yes, yes," Vasant agreed, settling back in, followed by everyone else.
"Siya... Harsh... did you eat?" Shaurya asked, already suspecting what the answer would be.
"No, Dadda... we're hungry," Siya replied.
"Hungry? It's only 1:30. You usually have lunch late when you've had breakfast at 11 AM," Akansha said.
"Yes, but I'm hungry now, Mumma," Siya replied innocently.
Akansha looked at her with a guilty expression. "Sudha aunty... can you please feed the kids?" she asked.
"I'm sorry, Akansha. Please ask someone else. I can't focus on anything properly until I see Shaurya's win... I'm worried," Mrs. Sudha replied, still staring at the screen, praying simultaneously.
"Suman..." Akansha began, but Shaurya interrupted.
"I'll feed them. You all watch," he said, taking the kids inside.
"Look at this man... no tension at all," Akansha said.
"Well, look at you... you're carrying all his tension. Nothing is left for Jiju," Suman replied, and Vasant nodded, giving her a high-five.
"Ah! Look at the courage of father-daughter. I'll talk to you after the results," Akansha said, and Vasant quickly withdrew his hand, surrendering immediately. She was always the boss.
"Ah! Shaurya... one of your cabinet ministers lost," Akansha shouted so he could hear from the dining hall.
"Who? Who?" he rushed back.
"Harsih Ji..." she said.
"Ah, that's okay... he deserved it. I wasn't even willing to give him the ticket, but I had to. Good that his people showed him his place," he said calmly and went back.
He brought the plate and sat with the kids in the hall. Even though he was worried, he was far less tense than the rest of the family.
"Shaurya... it's seriously neck to neck this time," Aakriti commented.
"Yes... let's see," Shaurya said, continuing to feed the kids.
The counting continued for four more hours. Dev kept complaining whenever his party led in constituencies, saying he wouldn't be able to take his mandatory three to four foreign trips a year with his family if he won. Eventually, Akansha muted her phone in frustration.
"Well! Maybe you can form a coalition government with the number of seats you've got so far?" Vasant asked.
"That would be a weak government. With the kind of work I want to do, it's not a good option," Shaurya replied. Vasant nodded in understanding.
"YESSSS... YAYYYY... YES... Shaurya... you won! You won!" Akansha suddenly screamed looking at the TV, hugging him tightly after the final results were announced following the last round of counting.
Vasant looked at his daughter with a proud smile. She was never this openly expressive, but the joy on her face showed how deeply she had been rooting for her husband.
Shaurya hugged her back, kissing her hair.
"Thank you... thank you for standing with me, always... thank you," he said, breaking the hug and kissing her forehead before pulling her back into another embrace.
The media channels began broadcasting his victory and congratulating his party.
"Shaurya... you won! Congratulations!" Aakriti said with tears in her eyes, hugging her brother, who returned a side hug while still holding Akansha.
Siya and Harsh, who had been playing, were startled by the sudden celebration. Siya quickly ran to her father. He picked her up, tossed her lightly in the air, and caught her again, kissing her hair.
"Dadda won because he has Mumma and Siya's magic charm, Bua's, Dev uncle's and Rachna aunty's wishes and hard work, Nanu and Dadu's blessings, Mamu's efforts, and Mausi, Harsh's cooperation, and Sudha aunty's prayers," Shaurya said.
Mrs. Sudha looked at him with tears in her eyes. He never failed to acknowledge her contribution.
Everyone wanted to congratulate him, but he walked straight to Mrs. Sudha and hugged her. She broke down.
"I've had three elections till now, and two as Chief Minister, and you've been there through all three. Everything has changed, but you breaking into tears after my win hasn't," Shaurya said softly.
Mrs. Sudha smiled through tears. "Not three... four elections. Have you forgotten your student leader election in school?" she said.
Shaurya smiled and wiped her tears. "Thank you... for never leaving me. For always taking care of me... like a mother," he said.
Mrs. Sudha kissed his forehead.
"You are the best person, Shaurya. People made the right decision," she said.
Suman, Vasant, Jaya—everyone congratulated him. Shaurya had won the election, but he had also lost a few seats, and the opposition had gained them. That meant a stronger opposition—and strangely, that interested him more than the victory itself.
Dev video-called Akansha since Shaurya wasn't answering his calls; he had chosen to spend time with his family first.
"Shaurya... you won! You won! Thank God, my four vacations are safe," Dev said with a wide grin, trying to hide his excitement, though Shaurya clearly noticed his moist eyes.
"Hahaha... control your grin, idiot. If your party workers see you like this, they'll think you've lost your mind," Shaurya teased.
"Yes, now I have to act normal... huh! Anyways, we've got good news too... we're stronger than before," Dev said.
"Yes, and that will make your people trust you more," Shaurya replied. Dev nodded.
They spoke for a few more minutes before Shaurya ended the call as Rajnath was calling. From there, he began taking calls and wishes from everyone.
Party workers and senior leaders gathered outside his residence in large numbers. Inside, Aakriti went upstairs with Akansha's family, while Mrs. Sudha and the other helpers, guided by Akansha, began preparing to host the incoming guests for the next few days.