PART - 43
After the Family Day concluded, Siya and Akansha walked out of the auditorium. Akash went to his office after the program ended. Akansha walked to Suraj seeing him.
"Ma'am, sir asked to drop you safely at home after you are done", Suraj said and Akansha nodded.
"Um... Okay, we'll leave in 15 minutes, by the way, what's going on there?", Akansha asked looking at some officers with the photographer and Videographer.
"Sir asked to make sure yours or Siya's photo doesn't leak, so just making sure of that... The parents were already instructed accordingly", Suraj said and Akansha nodded.
They knew they couldn't stop the news from spreading, today or tomorrow, people would know about the CM's wife working in a school as a teacher, but until their picture isn't circulated, they are good.
Siya and Akansha went to the staff room, since Akansha had to collect exam sheets that are pending for evaluation.
"Mumma... Are we going to Dadda?", Siya asked Akansha who is packing her things looked at Siya and shook her head. "But why? Mama bear I want to see Dadda", Siya whined
The whole staff room looked at the little girl, enjoying her tantrums, they always adored Siya, but after knowing who she is, the adoration increased ten folds.
"No Siya, Dadda is busy, he will be home at night, you can meet him then", Akansha said but Siya is as stubborn as her father.
"Dadda said he is nevel(never) busy for his magic unicon(unicorn)", Siya declared proudly.
"Okay, you can ask Dadda, if he is free, I'll take you to his office but if he says he is busy, you'll go with me without any tantrums, deal?
", Akansha asked and Siya nodded her head frantically.
"Okay, go and get some water for me, till then I'll call Dadda", Akansha said, Siya ran to the water dispencer but suddenly slowed down remembering her father's words, who got her to promise that she wouldn't run and hurt herself.
Akansha quickly dialed her husband who picked the call in the second ring.
"Yes Akansha", He greeted
"You will tell your daughter you are busy", she said sternly in a low tone but teachers who are just beside heard her.
Not just them, the chief minister too is a victim of their colleague's rude tone,thought they, but who would tell them the pain she faced that turned her like this.
She handed the phone to Siya who gave water to her mother.
"Talk to Dadda", Akansha said and Siya nodded and walked to a side so that her mother doesn't hear their conversation.
Akansha chuckled at her daughter's antics and resumed packing.
"Dadda... I want to see you... Pwease (Please)", Siya said, thought she whispered.
"I know my unicorn, but... Dadda is busy...", Shaurya said unwillingly, he is never busy for his daughter or wife but he didn't dare to go against Akansha.
"Dadda... You say you ale nevel busy for me", Siya pouted
"Yes Bacha... That's true but you know, actually Dadda is busy reading big unicorn stories so that he can tell you at night, if you come here, how will I read?", Shaurya said and Siya got excited.
"Wowww... Unicon... Yayyy Dadda I lub you, come home soon... Bye bye. Siya won't distub you now, read well Dadda", Siya said and hung up quickly making Akansha shake her head at the father-daughter.
She knew Shaurya would figure out some way to handle their daughter.
"Mama bear... Hele(here)", Siya said handing her mother the phone.
"Dadda se milne chale? (Shall we go to meet Dadda?)", Akansha asked with a smile acting as if she is ready to go to meet Shaurya.
"Mama bear... Dadda is busy... Don't distub(disturb) him", Siya said making Akansha and the other teachers laugh at the little girl's shift.
"Oh! Okay then, we'll not disturb Dadda... Let's go, Suraj uncle is waiting for us", Akansha said and Siya walked out of the staff room with her bag and water bottle while Akansha followed her with her bag when Shipra called her.
"Akansha ma'am, tomorrow I need your 2B class period, just before lunch break, actually I haven't finished the course for upcoming test 3, so...", Shipra asked
"Okay Shipra ma'am, I have already finished my syllabus, you can take it, then I'll come in the second half then, I don't have any classes in the morning except for 2B", Akansha said, sighing that she would get at least some time to get settled in Shaurya's place.
"Okay ma'am, bye", Shipra greeted followed by Rashi.
Akansha walked out and Suraj who is playing with Siya carrying her in his arms, opened the door for Akansha, while Siya sat in Suraj's lap in the passenger seat. After playing hand cricket for a while she got tired and went to the back seat to Akansha, who made her asleep.
---------------------------
Shaurya returned in the night and entered Akansha's house.
"Akansha... Call the society owner and his wife, I want to meet them", Shaurya said, after settling on the sofa.
"Why do you want to meet them?", Akansha asked raising her brow.
"Because you told them you'll introduce your husband to them soon, and we are shifting to my place, I won't be coming here to meet them, so please call them", Shaurya said, his tone polite but his eyes held the determination.
It's better to meet the society owner as it would stop at least some rumors that would be circulated, if Akansha and Siya suddenly disappear.
This society offers the best environment for her and Siya, when things get better, she would get back here so it's better to maintain good relationship with the society owner and for that he needs to know she really has a husband wasn't fooling.
If showing Shaurya as her husband could make her and her daughter's life easier, she didn't hesitate to do it, because he was the cause of everything she is facing, so the least he could do is solve her issues.
She didn't want the world to know her as his wife, but just a few people who can create a problem in her and her child's life.
Akansha called the society owner to her home and asked him to bring his wife along as Shaurya asked her to. She hung up after informing him.
"You really want his wife too here? She has a big mouth, what if she...", Akansha started
"Don't worry, she won't blurt this out, it's important she learns how to talk to people", Shaurya said
"Fine... Your wish", Akansha said and went inside to check if Siya woke up.
She was so tired the whole day with the family day activities that she dozed off in the car and didn't wake up till now.
Akansha thought to wake her up after Shaurya comes home as he would manage Siya while she fed her dinner.
Akansha thought to wake her daughter up but by then her calling bell rang indicating their society president and his wife's arrival. Woah! So fast... Exactly how eager are they to know about her husband?
She opened the door, obviously she can't let Shaurya open the door and let the whole society witness the lady's extreme reaction considering her personality.
The elderly couple came in...
"Where is Siya, Akansha? Haven't seen her in a while, you don't bring her for cycling in the park these days...", the society president, Mr. Bansal asked.
"She cycles at her father's place these days", Akansha said, Shaurya is so scared of his daughter getting hurt in the park as there will be many people and some kids might bully Siya and might hurt her, he got even more scared after Siya told him how a kid tried to push her off.
So he requested Akansha to let his daughter cycle only at his house.
Of course, Akansha didn't agree with his thought process but complied for the time being.
"Where's your husband?", Mrs. Bansal asked, in a rather curious and somewhat rude tone.
"I called you here for the same purpose Aunty. Next time don't enter my house if you are going to use that tone, I won't tolerate it", Akansha said folding her arms.
Before the lady could react, Shaurya who was waiting in the hall, walked there to announce his presence, because if the lady opened her mouth again to spit venom against his wife, he had to toss all his plans of dealing patiently and peacefully with them and that won't do any good to Akansha Or Siya.
The couple's eyes widened seeing Shaurya there. They didn't speak anything while Akansha rolled her eyes at the dramatic turn of events.
"Hi... Come, let's sit and talk", Shaurya told the couple who silently followed him to the hall trying to cope up with the fact.
"I'll get coffee for you?", Akansha told looking at the three.
"Not required, I'll have dinner directly", Shaurya said politely to her and then looked at them for their response.
"No need beta... We just had dinner before coming here", Mr. Bansal politely refused.
"Okay then, you guys keep talking, I have some work", Akansha said and Shaurya nodded and she left to her room.
She didn't want to stay to hear him calling her his wife again.
She heard that a lot in the morning at her school, now there's no energy left in her to tolerate listening to that fact anymore.
"I heard you wanted to meet Akansha's husband, so thought to introduce myself", Shaurya started, looking at the elderly couple. His looks made them think maybe he might have heard what they said that night, because he was present in the house that day.
"W.. We didn't know sir... Akansha has never told us", Mr. Bansal said
"That's right but despite the fact who her husband is, I guess a woman deserves respect and dignity, which you failed to give my wife, can I know the reason?
", Shaurya asked, his tone is low but his demeanor expressed his anger.
Mr. Bansal looked away in guilt while his wife came to their false defense.
"The society... society people were concerned and as a society president, it's his responsibility to look after the residents' concerns", Mrs. Bansal said, Shaurya glared at the woman's audacity to defend her pathetic behavior.
"Responsibility? I remember something when I hear you speaking about it.
.. This area has been suffering from water problem until the past 5 years.
.. As a society president, your husband used to write a letter to Municipal Corporation once every 2 years and once to the Chief Minister every 5 years.
That's how responsible he is... I received one such letter, a few weeks after I took office.
It took me 7 weeks, multiple meetings with several departments, crores of government funds, and going through tens of documents to get this problem resolved, and you can see, from then, there's not even a single instance where this area faced a water problem.
It wasn't easy to get this solved, but as soon as I read the letter, I realized it was my responsibility to get it resolved.
There are hundreds of such instances I could give you where I worked for the welfare of people, it's my responsibility and I can proudly claim that I have done my best in it.
I chose to do this leaving my wife and child alone, I thought I'm doing good for society and this society would definitely treat my family good, but how wrong can I get more.
..", Shaurya said, Mr. Bansal and Mrs. Bansal looked down unable to face him.
There's this deep anguish in him thinking how this society might have treated them all these years.
If hearing Mrs. Bansal taunting his wife once caused him so much ache, he wouldn't know how many such instances have taken place in the past few years.
While he was kind and selfless to his people, they didn't leave a single chance to trouble his wife and child.
That's the sad reality. Society's narrow-mindedness towards a single mother and woman has been the same for decades now, and this has to change.
He determined that he would keep working until his last breath to change this.
Mr. and Mrs. Bansal knew Shaurya was right, he resolved the water problem which was decades old, in just a few weeks, and they can't even say that he did it for his wife because Akansha wasn't living there then, she came to that society approx.
a year and a half later with little Siya.
Shaurya has done the best work in every sector, their state saw more development in the past 5 years compared to the two decades before that.
That's some unimaginable and extraordinary work he had done, but they in return failed as people with the way they treated his wife.
Mr. Bansal felt ashamed as he refused to let Akansha stay in society; it was only after Richa's dad's recommendation that he agreed.
"We are sorry, Sir", Mr. Bansal said
"It was your wife who should apologize more. I heard what kind of comments she passed on to my wife that day. Tell me one thing, Mrs. Bansal: Would you be okay if someone uses those words for your daughters?" Shaurya asked, looking at the woman who dared to use unacceptable words against his wife.
"No sir... I am so sorry", Mrs. Bansal responded.
"I cannot forgive you, but maybe my wife might.
.. Make sure not to repeat it, ma'am, because I may be a very kind leader and forgiving towards my people, but I am definitely not the same to my wife's offenders.
I won't spare them; I never did. You should have understood what happened to Shekhar", Shaurya said in his usual light tone, but the couple very well understood that they couldn't take his warning lightly.
"Dadda...", Siya ran to Shaurya where he sat.
"My little unicorn woke up?", Shaurya said kissing her cheek.
"Hehe... Dadda, yes... ", Siya giggles, wrapping her arms around her father, climbing on his lap, and settling there.
"Acha... What's mumma doing?", Shaurya asked
"In the room", Siya answered.
"Go and tell her, we'll have dinner now", Shaurya said but Siya hugged him tightly unwilling to go but he can't talk about them shifting to his place in front of his daughter.
"Dadda is hungry bacha, please go and tell mumma about dinner", he said Siya got down immediately running to her mother, on her way shouting about her father being hungry.
Shaurya chuckled followed by the couple but as soon as Shaurya looked at them, their smile disappeared.
"My wife and child will shift with me, but this place will remain theirs.
.. Akansha will continue paying rent, so no need to search for a new tenant", Shaurya said, he already discussed with Akansha and asked her permission regarding if it's okay for him to inform Mr. Bansal and she allowed him, as after Shaurya's conversation, she didn't want to converse with the couple and see their change of behavior after knowing she is the chief minister's wife, especially Mrs. Bansal's act.
Shaurya concluded and got up, indicating he finished talking and they can leave. The couple got up immediately and folded their hands greeting him.
"This news stays low Mr. Bansal... I hope that's clear", Shaurya said in his polite tone.
"Yes sir... You can trust us... This won't go out...", Mr. Bansal said and Mrs. Bansal nodded, now careful about her actions.
"Any issue regarding the society let me know, I'll take care", Shaurya said and Mr. Bansal gave a grateful smile.
"You always did, you solved our water problem which was the biggest issue for us disrupting our daily lives, we'll be grateful to you forever, for the hospitals, schools and proper transport and roads, in fact for everything.
I am sorry that we as a society disappointed you.
..", Mr. Bansal said, his words weren't fake, Shaurya knew it so he nodded.
---------------------
Akansha kept thinking about what Shaurya said at the end... She just heard that part, because Siya woke up just then and started asking for her father, so she came out to see if it's okay to send her out. What did he mean by he never spared anyone who offended her? And what did he do to Shekhar?
Before she could stop her daughter, Siya rushed to her father, so she went back and sat down in front of the laptop to work but his statement kept looming in her head. What did he do to Shekhar? She thought he was in jail as she never saw him after that.
"Mumma... Dadda is hungly... Vely hungly(very hungry) give dadda food", Siya said again and this time Akansha concentrated on her daughter pushing her thoughts for later.
"Hawww, Dadda is hungry? But I didn't cook for Dadda, I made food just for you and me", Akansha said to see what she does for her father.
"Mama bear, you folgot(forgot) Dadda?", Siya asked as if it was the most impossible thing to do.
"Yeah, your Dadda isn't a George Bush to remember him", Akansha said rolling her eyes. Sometimes she feels like banging her head to a wall seeing her daughter's elevation of her father.
"What?", Siya asked not understanding what her mother said.
"Nothing... Since there is no food for Dadda, what should we do? Should I give my food to Dadda?", Akansha asked to see how she responds.
"No mama bear... You also hungly(hungry) na... Dadda and I will shale(share) my food", Siya said making Akansha smile.
"No need, mumma is joking, there's enough food for Dadda too", Akansha said
"Girls... Come for dinner", Shaurya called them from dining hall, he with difficulty resisted adding 'my' before girls, if he had let his tongue slip, his wife would have added Late. before his name.
Akansha settled on her chair seeing all the dishes heated and arranged on the dining table. Shaurya served her and then to Siya's plate before feeding her. Knowing he would like to feed his daughter, Akansha started having her food.
"Dadda... You are hungry, eat", Siya said feeding her father.
Akansha shook her head at the father - daughter with a smile. They finished their dinner and then they made Siya sit on her little chair while Shaurya and Akansha sat in front of her. Now the toughest task which is telling their daughter.
"Siya... You wanted to stay with mumma and Dadda right?", Akansha started and Siya bobbed her head frantically, Shaurya slowly held her head pressing the neck as if she would hurt her neck by nodding.
"So, we are shifting with Dadda", She added and like they expected, Siya frowned.
"But Dadda won't sh.. shifft here?", Siya asked... "Mama bear... This is oul(our) home na? Dadda you come hele(here)", Siya told her father... Shaurya looked troubled, now how would he refuse her?
"Siya bear... Listen to me", Akansha started, taking her daughter's little palm in hers... "Dadda's friends too come and stay with Dadda, that includes Suraj uncle, Sudha aunty, and all the uncles who take care of Dadda... So if Dadda stayed here, where will they all live? Right?", Akansha told
"Hele(here)... They sleep hele", Siya said showing the hall and sofa making Shaurya chuckle and Akansha glare at her.
"Oh! So you have to sleep inside on the bed and they have to sleep on sofa and floor? Let's do one thing, you, Dadda and I will sleep on the floor here, actually no, we'll sleep in the kitchen, giving hall and room to them, what's say?", Akansha asked her daughter.
"No... Mumma... Floor? Thandi... (It's so cold?)", Siya said acting like she is shivering making her mother roll her eyes at her drama and Shaurya joined his daughter's act.
"Yeah, only you and your dadda will feel cold, everyone else has skin made of wool", Akansha taunted the father-daughter.
"Siya... Actually you saw Dadda's study right? It's filled with big big files and If I have to shift here I have to bring all my files and then keep it here... It occupies the whole house then we won't have any place to sleep or talk about unicorn magical stories...", Shaurya explained
After a little more push from her parents Siya finally agreed to shift to her father's place.
Shaurya just hoped his daughter likes it there, he decided to work with his wife on the changes according to his daughter.
He already built his house based on Akansha's preferences, so he didn't have to worry about it for now, but if needed he would change anything she doesn't like.
He knew they are there only until things cool down but he wanted to give the best experience to them, especially to his wife.
He failed to look after her well before, he would be guilty about it till his last breath. He didn't want to repeat the same now.
Siya wanted to play for a while so he and Siya played, they started with chor police and went on to play all kinds of board games, then Siya wanted her father to do push ups carrying her as she saw in a movie, so Shaurya did that as well.
Akansha started their packing meanwhile.
Siya got tired and eventually fell asleep, Shaurya made her sleep on the bed, covered with her unicorn duvet before walking to his wife to help her with the packing.
-------------------
"I have hired an interior designer, let me know when you'll be home in the coming week, I'll call her home, we can make changes according to Siya", Shaurya said helping her pack Siya's clothes.
"Not needed Shaurya, she just needs some personalized touch, she would be happy even if you decorate it along with her in your free time", Akansha said
"I know... I'll do that as well, but I hired interior designer because...", he started but she cut him off.
"Not needed Shaurya", Akansha said sternly.
"Okay... I'll cancel the appointment", Shaurya quickly agreed. When he knew he is not gonna win the argument, it's better to surrender and in front of his wife, he would surrender always.
Both of them packed the stuff that was necessary while cracking a small conversation.
Shaurya asked about a few memories related to Siya's stuff and Akansha told him, the attention with which he listened to her caused a slight ache for him in her heart.
He would never be able to re-live those memories.
Will there be any bigger pain than this for a father, especially for a father who dreamt of having kids almost every day.
The couple slept in the wee hours after getting all the packing done. Akansha packed all the photo albums, Siya's clothes right from when she was a baby, as she didn't want anything to get spoiled in their absence. She would again shift them back when they would be shifting back, she thought.
"Things are a bit better with Siya... Now no one would bully or question her in school regarding her father, I know your fears but you have always faced them, try to send Siya to school without you once.
.. She will also get used to it... I... I know you know better.
.. This is just a suggestion", Shaurya said, trying hard not to fumble, he was afraid she would taunt him for being an irresponsible father to leaving his daughter vulnerable to getting hurt.
"Shaurya... Siya is your daughter, and you have an equal right to decide for her, it's true that I don't trust you to let you take decisions for her yet but you can at least state your opinions freely, you will obviously think about her well-being and I will definitely consider your opinion before deciding something for her.
Regarding sending her to school without me, maybe you are right.
.. I'll help you get your daughter ready for school today", Akansha said making him grin. ..
"One more request... Can I take Siya to my office in the afternoon after her school ends? Suraj will get her to me when he goes to drop you... I'll send her home by the time you come home?", Shaurya asked.
"Sure... If you don't get disturbed with her presence, you can take her to your office", Akansha said making him smile widely.
"Thank you so much", Shaurya said and rest of the time, they spent in silence. After having coffee, Shaurya got ready for his work while Akansha started with her unpacking.
"There's a lot of space for your clothes in the closet, let Mrs. Sudha know if you need any help Or anything else for that matter", Shaurya said.
.. He cleared the closet a few days ago, which was previously occupied by her stuff.
Yes, he arranged her clothes in his closet when he shifted to his residence.
If not her, he wanted to at least have the experience of living with her.
He knew she wasn't comfortable living in the same room with him but the good part is even Siya is with them.
He would have given a separate room for them but his residence has a lot of visitors on a daily basis.
There are politicians to celebrities to central ministers to big people in the party etc.
.. who make uninvited and uninformed visits there.
He didn't want anyone to notice the separate room arrangement.
He couldn't even trust his house help so this is the best arrangement and he explained it to Akansha who understood the situation.
Shaurya got Siya ready... Akansha got indulged in unpacking while Shaurya made Siya ready for school. Shaurya got Siya inside the closet to get her hair done. Siya gasped cupping her mouth cutely seeing her mother still in pajamas, not ready for school.
"Dadda... What's the time?", Siya asked angrily thinking her father woke her up much earlier than her usual time.
"8:20 bacha...", Shaurya answered getting his daughter's anger.
"Hawww... Mama bear, you ale(are) late for skool(school)... What ale(are) you doing here?", Siya started getting tensed.
"Siya... Mumma doesn't have classes in the morning so she isn't going to school, today Dadda will get you ready for school and drop you off...", Shaurya said and started combing her hair...
"Yayy... Dadda will drop me?", Siya asked and Shaurya and Akansha nodded making her jump in happiness messing her hair and mixing up her hair partition making it hard for Shaurya to make her pigtails.
"Akansha... Can you...", Shaurya asked forwarding the comb towards his wife who chuckled at his inability to draw hair partition.
"No... Dadda... Today Dadda will do my hair", Siya said stomping her foot.
"Yeah, he will do your hair, I am just combing...", Akansha said and divided the hair into two sets and then gave the comb back to Shaurya who made his daughter's pigtails and then adorned her hair with cute unicorn side clips he got for her.
Akansha shook her head at the father and daughter's obsession with unicorns.
Shaurya and Siya left for school after bidding bye to Akansha. Shaurya once again requested Akansha to let Mrs. Sudha know if she needed anything. He knew she wouldn't ask him for anything but she has a good rapport with Mrs. Sudha, she could at least take her help.
Shaurya dropped Siya in her school, he got down and held his daughter's hand in one palm, her school bag and water bottle in another.
"Dadda... Will you come in the afternoon (to take me home)?", She asked him.
"No baby, Suraj uncle will be here, he will drop mumma and pick you up, don't worry, I'll meet you in the afternoon, bye...", Shaurya said kissing her cheek, which her daughter reciprocated with kisses on both his cheeks.
He saw his daughter's teacher walking towards them, she took the school bag and water bottle from him and then took Siya inside. For him this was his first experience of dropping his daughter to the school, he felt as if it was his daughter's first day in school. He got so emotional.
The other parents, teachers, and nonteaching staff stared at him at the father-daughter exchange not bothering that their stares could discomfort him. On realizing the situation, he quickly got into his car and his convoy proceeded towards the Secretariat.
"Such a gentleman he is... I will never be switching my jobs despite any percentage of the hike if I get to see this family man image of our chief minister", Rashi said still replaying the scene she just witnessed.
"Rashi ma'am, stop thinking about CM sir and concentrate on his daughter and her classmates for now", Shipra said, showing the watch indicating she is already late for the class
---------------------
After reaching his office and attending a meeting, Shaurya called Mrs. Sudha to find out if Akansha was fine. Just then Akansha walked downstairs to ask Mrs. Sudha about the key to the terrace as she had to dry some clothes.
"Mrs. Sudha... Hope Akansha is fine... Please check on her, if she needs any help.
.. You know she won't like to ask for help, she was separating the clothes and was planning to wash some when I left in the morning, ask someone to help her wash and dry them, she won't let anyone help her, keep insisting and yes, make sure she has her lunch.
.. Don't tell her I cooked", Shaurya said everything in a go making Mrs. Sudha laugh a bit.
"Shaurya... Calm down... She is fine, I just went to give her breakfast, and yes I already asked someone to help her with the clothes, and I'll make sure she has her lunch before leaving for school.
You haven't changed a bit Shaurya, I still remember how you used to instruct me the same in the past too.
.. You always made sure she was fine", Sudha said
"I thought I made sure she was fine Mrs. Sudha, but the reality is I failed, I don't want to fail this time", Shaurya said and hung up. The lady can hear the agony in his tone.
"Shaurya used to call you about me?", Akansha asked Mrs. Sudha startling the lady, bringing her out of her thoughts.
"Um... Yes, he used to tell me to take care of you every day before leaving for work. But that's not it, he used to call me once every few hours to remind me about you... He also used to ask me to let him know whenever his mother sent me out on work...", Mrs. Sudha said.
Sudha didn't understand why Shaurya had to hide his love, care, and affection for Akansha in the past, or maybe she has a subtle idea about it, but she knew now she could openly tell Akansha about it as Shaurya now held the power to threaten his parents from even thinking about harming Akansha's hair strand.
Akansha stood still, it took her a few minutes to digest this information.
So, that explains, Shaurya's arrival before his time whenever his mother sent Mrs. Sudha out.
But why? So, he hid his love and affection to protect her from her parents?
Dev told her in detail how Shaurya's father threatened her life and even attempted multiple times to kill her just because Shaurya chose to take a stand for her when he introduced her to Meera as a mere caretaker.
But what was the use of doing all this when the basis of their relationship was a lie?
His intention to approach her was a lie.
It was all to give her the same pain as she once gave to his sister.
She wasn't even his real sister, she was Dev's sister, but Akansha knew Shaurya loved her more than anything.
------------------------------
"Why are you behind me? I already warned you not to follow me, didn't I?
I don't care if you are an MLA Or MP. I don't like you, period.
", Akansha said when she spotted Shaurya outside her university just 2 days after she warned him outside the hospital where she was there to get her father's checkup done.
"I like you Akansha Dikshit... I am not gonna back out until you give me a chance", Shaurya said.
"You have gone crazy... You said your sister studies in the classes I teach.
Tell me who is she? I'll deduct her marks and fail her, maybe then you'll stop following me", Akansha threatened.
His carefree smile disappeared remembering his sister's condition and the reason he was here to avenge her pain just like his sister wanted.
Whenever he sees Akansha, he forgets his real motive and starts flirting with her for real, expressing his inner feelings for that woman.
He couldn't take his eyes off her as if she was the only woman for him.
Now when she reminded him of his sister, he fumed in anger at her.
If only Akansha calmly dealt with Aakriti instead of being so harsh and mean to her.
Akansha should have realized not everyone is as strong as her, so she needs to think before speaking harshly to anyone.
She should have gotten her facts checked before rushing to the hospital and accusing his sister of creating drama to stop her sister's wedding.
Aakriti has always been a sensitive kid and their past and how her own biological parents tried to kill her and what all he had to do to keep her alive, got him terribly worrying for her constantly.
Dev and Rajnath too pampered her. She was too good and pure, and didn't understand when her friends were taking advantage of her kindness and polite nature to fulfill their materialistic desires.
She has lots of money but she needs friends, genuine friends, but they ignored her after getting money or things from her.
When she saw Akansha for the first time and attended her class for two semesters continuously, she started admiring her deeply, her strength, her powerful attitude, her knowledge, her beauty, confidence, and self-worth, everything about her made Aakriti's admiration double.
Akansha saw how Aakriti used to pay for her friends, clear their dues in the canteen, Or give them rides to their homes often.
She also saw how they ignored her after they got what they wanted.
Akansha warned Aakriti to be aware of them, she also told her she doesn't need such friends.
She is self-sufficient and can take care of herself alone.
Akansha's little care and lecture to take care of herself reminded Aakriti of the mother she never had, maybe her mother would have encouraged her the same way Akansha did, if she was alive.
Aakriti gave Akansha the importance of her mother and when she treated her like trash, she couldn't survive the pain, above all that her love failure and the way she got cheated by the person she loved so much and the person she admired the most caused her deep ache.
Shaurya knew his sister was wrong in being weak and harming herself like that. But Akansha Dikshit was also at fault for blurting utter nonsense in front of a person who already attempted suicide once and was on hospital bed.
"My sister discontinued studies in this college, I have sent her abroad", Shaurya said seriously making Akansha frown.
"So, your threats don't work, see you tomorrow", Shaurya's flirty tone was back. He gave her a smile and walked to his car...
"What a nut case?", Akansha thought to herself and walked inside her college not knowing she would soon fall for this nut case insanely.
She quickly finished her classes and packed her stuff to catch the city bus to reach her home. She mostly travels in city buses to save money, so that she can provide better for her family. That's what she is, a provider for her family.
"Akansha... Have you got the skin care products Suman asked for?", Her mother asked before Akansha could even step inside the house.
"I didn't ma... I don't think they are necessary, she already has many products, she can use them right?", Akansha told her mother, though she knew what she would hear next.
"Akansha... How could you say that? Her wedding is in a few months, a girl needs to take care of her skin at this time... Wedding is once in a life event", Jaya said
"Exactly ma... A wedding is once in a life event, I want to save money to book a good hall for the wedding", Akansha detailed, hoping her mother would understand her but who is she kidding?
"You can't afford a good hall with the amount of money you earn... So forget about it, at least get those skincare products so that you can at least save some money on the makeup artist", Jaya said harshly.
"Ma... How can you say that? I'm trying to do everything in my capacity to do the best for Suman", Akansha argued
"Doesn't look like it though, tell me one thing? Are you feeling bad that your younger sister is getting married before you? See it's not wrong to feel that way, but...", Jaya started slowly but Akansha cut her off.
"You think I'll feel bad or jealous over my own sister's happiness? Ma, I am your daughter too, don't you know me? And whether you believe or not, I'm doing my best for this family, maybe my best isn't enough for you", Akansha said and left to bring skin care products for her sister.
Precap - Past continues.