Chapter 75 #3
"Don't talk about the end of life now... we still have a long way to go. You have so much to see—your daughter going to school, finishing high school, college, becoming successful, maybe falling in love, getting married, having grandchildren..." Akansha began.
"Stop! Stop! Don't talk about all that now—especially about Siya's marriage. Do you want me to die of a heart attack or what?" he said. And he didn't say it just for fun—his horrified expression was completely real, making her burst into laughter.
"Not funny!" he protested, and she only laughed harder.
"It is... Okay, for now, no need to think about Siya's marriage—but do think about Aakriti's," Akansha said, and Shaurya's face tightened.
"Akansha... it's up to Aakriti, and she said she can't think about marriage right now," he replied.
"When was this 'right now'? When was the last time you asked her that?" she questioned.
"Two years ago..." he admitted, looking away.
"Exactly. A lot has changed since then. I'm not saying we should move ahead with it immediately, but at least give it a thought.
I want Aakriti to experience the same bliss that you and I share.
.. that Dev and Rachna have. She deserves someone who can love her unconditionally.
Maybe not marriage right away, but she should at least step out and date.
Well... I'll talk to her first. We'll have to see what she thinks about all this.
And if she's not interested, then we'll respect her wishes," Akansha said, and Shaurya nodded.
"What about Suman? Did you talk to her?" Shaurya asked, and Akansha nodded.
"Suman just wants to focus on building her business and securing Harsh's future for now. She's very clear about it, and honestly, I think love will find its way when the time is right," Akansha said, and Shaurya smiled, nodding.
"Today... I became a complete man. You have no idea how many times I've dreamt of this—us discussing Aakriti's future, your parents' health, Suman, Akash, Rajnath uncle's diet, our kids' school.
.. and today, all my wishes came true," he said.
She could see the happiness in his eyes—something she had never seen before—and it gave her a sense of peace.
Maybe this really was the end of their suffering and guilt.
Shaurya would take time to come out of his guilt—she knew that—but that wouldn't stop either of them from living their life to the fullest.
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Shaurya and Akansha walked out, and Dev was standing just outside their bedroom.
"What the hell?" Shaurya stepped back, startled, but Dev pulled him into a tight hug. Behind him stood Rachna and Aakriti.
"You're okay, right?" Dev asked. Shaurya smiled, hugging his best friend back and patting his shoulder.
"I'm more than okay," Shaurya said with a smile as he pulled away.
Dev immediately looked at Akansha, and she blinked, silently confirming what he was thinking.
"Well, good for me. I don't have to see your 'Devdas with an alcohol bottle' phase anymore," Dev teased.
"Shut up, idiot," Shaurya shot back.
Aakriti stepped forward and hugged Shaurya.
"You are so brave, Shaurya. You are the best brother anyone could ever have. You've always loved me like your own, and for me too, you are more than what Dev is to me... you know that, right?" Aakriti said. Shaurya nodded.
"Of course I know that, beta. And you're not just my sister—you're my first child. And daughters are always precious," Shaurya said, kissing her forehead, making her smile.
Holding his sister close gave him a quiet assurance that he had done the right thing.
He had fought for justice for what had been done to her—and she had finally received it.
Maybe she would never know the truth, but seeing her happy and at peace reminded him that he had succeeded in protecting his sister.
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After winning the elections, Shaurya organized a press conference and addressed the media for the first time.
"I would like to thank all my friends in the media for the hectic schedules you managed during the elections. I know it has been a rough period for you as well, so please take some time off after tonight before getting back to your duties," he said, and everyone smiled.
"First of all, I would like to thank the people of this state for electing me as their Chief Minister for the second time.
I promise to serve them to the best of my abilities.
I would also like to thank my party leadership, party workers, and grassroots activists—without their hard work, this victory wouldn't have been possible.
I would also like to congratulate opposition leader Dev Bisht and his party for their increased representation in the assembly.
I have always believed that a strong opposition is good for the state—but only when the opposition leader is someone like Mr. Bisht.
I would like to thank Mr. Bisht for the kind of person he is.
We may have differences of opinion, we may clash in the assembly, I may believe something is better for the people while he may think otherwise—but at the end of the day, we are both working to improve people's lives.
As a person, I respect him a lot. Unlike some parties in other states that stoop to any level to defame their opponents, Mr. Bisht remained focused on his manifesto and what he and his party could do better for the people.
He raised genuine issues with me and my government, and never tried to malign me by creating or using false narratives.
I respect him for that and wish him the very best."
"Last but not least, I would like to thank my wife for being kind, patient, and extremely supportive throughout.
She has been exceptional—not just as a wife, but also as my political analyst. She is truly a superwoman—managing our daughter, taking care of our home and family, fulfilling her responsibilities as a core team member of the CR committee, and actively contributing to my political campaign.
She has been incredible, and I cannot thank her enough for everything she has done," Shaurya said.
After a few more questions, the press meet concluded, and everyone left.
The internet quickly lit up with Shaurya's praise for Dev, with clips circulating widely and people applauding Dev's character.
Later that night, in their WhatsApp group—
"Rulayega kya, pagal? ???? (Are you trying to make me cry or what?) I'm coming to your place—I want to hug you, @Shaurya," Dev texted, and everyone shook their heads at his dramatics. Another chaotic night was clearly on its way.
Akansha, meanwhile, briefly considered removing the back door of Shaurya's house and replacing it with a tall wall—just to permanently block Dev Bisht's entry.
But then she thought about Rajnath, Rachna, Ishan, and Ivan.
If she did that, they wouldn't be able to come in either.
And that was exactly how she resigned herself to tolerating the nuisance called 'Dev Bisht'—her husband's best friend, and the chaos that came along with him.
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Shaurya chose the date of his oath-taking ceremony to coincide with the anniversary of the riots that had taken place five years ago—a way to honor the victims who had lost their lives.
It was his way of assuring their families that he would always stand by them, even though his actions had already spoken louder than any words ever could.
His yearly visits to the families reflected his unwavering dedication, and the fact that such riots had never occurred again under his leadership proved his commitment to protecting his people.
The day had finally arrived, and the entire venue carried a rare kind of energy—one that only exists when power, pride, and history converge in a single space.
Political leaders from across the nation filled the front rows, while influential business figures from around the world took their seats with quiet curiosity.
Shaurya Singh Shekhawat's journey—from being the CFO of a multinational company to this moment—had not been forgotten.
His strong corporate connections were evident in the presence of foreign delegates, each representing the investments and trust he had brought into the state.
Even the Prime Minister had made it a point to attend—a gesture that spoke volumes.
Despite not forming a coalition, Shaurya had remained a reliable ally, supporting key development policies and playing a significant role in pushing reformative bills through Parliament.
That mutual respect now filled the room with an unspoken acknowledgment of his growing stature.
In the front row sat Akansha and Siya. Akansha's eyes shone with pride, her smile steady yet emotional as she watched the moment her husband had worked so hard for.
Beside her, Siya was completely at ease, enjoying the attention with innocent delight.
At one point, the Prime Minister himself lifted Siya into his arms, and she responded with effortless comfort, her laughter softening the otherwise formal atmosphere.
He exchanged a few warm words with Akansha, appreciating her work in the CR committee and mentioning how proud Shaurya was of her. She thanked him with genuine warmth.
Not far from them, the Prime Minister also greeted the opposition leader, Dev Bisht, acknowledging his strong performance in the elections and the role he played in raising important issues—an exchange that reflected the balance of power and responsibility in the room.
Gradually, the conversations faded, and a deep silence settled across the hall.
The Governor, Dr. Swaminathan, stepped forward and formally commenced the ceremony.
All eyes turned toward the stage as Shaurya walked up—calm, composed, yet carrying the weight of expectations from every corner of the room.
He stood before the podium, paused for a brief moment, and then began—