PART - 47
"When did you come yesterday?", Akansha asked when she saw him walking inside the room with his mandatory morning coffee.
"M..Me?", he fumbled, he knew she was asking him about the time he came to bed last night, and he also knew she wouldn't like the answer he would give.
"You are the only other person in this room other than me and your daughter who is sleeping", Akansha said looking around, mocking his question. "Of course, I'm asking you Shaurya", she added
"I... I don't remember... I came around 1 I guess... I know it's late, I'll try to sleep early", he said but Akansha glared at him. He came around 3:30 AM, she had been half asleep the whole night, she couldn't sleep, no reason or maybe she was waiting for him but she didn't want to accept it.
"Sharam karle thoda (Aren't you ashamed?) You are lying being a CM... Actually! Not your fault, you are a politician, what can be expected from you, you people are pro liars?", Akansha taunted him.
"Hey... I'm not a liar, and I'm not a politician, you knew I only do politics during elections", Shaurya said
"And how many months are left for elections?", She asked folding her arms shutting him up.
"Fine! I'm a politician now and... Yeah! I did lie. Sorry!", he muttered, she shook her head and left to wake Siya up, resisting lecturing him on his sleep schedule as she didn't want him to think she was being a wife to him in real, not just on papers, or she cared for him still.
"Siya... Wake up, you are getting late for school", Akansha started waking her daughter up but since she slept late at night, she didn't want to wake up.
"Mama... No sskool(school), ninnee(I am sleepy)", Siya muttered clutching her unicorn duvet tightly.
"No Siya, you can't skip school, and that's why I told you to sleep early, but you didn't listen to me, you promised me that you would wake up without tantrums, that's why I allowed you to stay awake till Dadda came", Akansha said but Siya tried covering herself with her duvet, Shaurya was experiencing bliss, he imagined this a million times, he dreamt of such scenes constantly.
These were the things that kept him sane and alive all these years, the hope of meeting his wife, seeking her forgiveness and starting a family with her, and having a cute daughter just like her mother and now the reality just like that overwhelmed him with happiness.
He was lost in dreamland grinning at his wife whining daughter.
"Shaurya...", Akansha's stern tone brought him back.
"Haan? What happened?", he asked her. Akansha pushed her daughter's towel and other things into his hands glaring at him.
"Since you were the reason she slept late, it's your responsibility to wake her up, get her ready, and drop her at school. I will leave on my time...", Akansha said
"I... Akansha... Maybe she can skip school for today?", Shaurya asked but Akansha glared at him and he understood her answer.
"I'll get her ready, but don't leave, I'll drop you both together, on my way to my office", he said
"I will leave on time, with or without you and your daughter", Akansha said and walked away to pack their lunch boxes.
These days Shaurya too is taking his lunch box as Akansha started packing his lunch along with hers and Siya's, and he loved having every morsel of it.
Earlier he didn't like taking tiffin that's packed in the morning but he worships everything she gives him.
Shaurya shook his head and got to work, that's waking his daughter up.
"Siya... Bacha please, wake up, otherwise mama will get angry with both of us", Shaurya said but Siya wanted to sleep more so she ignored him. His constant nagging is irritating his little one as she is a light sleeper.
"Dadda... Go... Go... Let me sleep", she whined pushing his arm...
"Hawww... Akansha... It's okay, Siya isn't pushing me...", Shaurya acted, as he knew his daughter would wake up if she heard her mother saw her pushing him or misbehaving with him.
Siya woke up with a jerk, Shaurya laughed at his little one who is scared of her mother so much, Siya puffed at her father in anger understanding his prank. Let's say the next hour, she made it difficult for him to get her ready, getting him late for his work as well as her school.
"Siya... It won't be good if you miss the assembly, it's not good to be late for school baby.
.. Please let dadda help you with socks", Shaurya said softly.
He made her wear socks five times now but she pulled it off and threw them away showing how angry she was with him for pranking her.
"Dadda is sorry bacha...", Shaurya said and at last she gave him a smile making him sigh.
"You are also at fault for not waking up on time, so what should you do now?
", he asked gently, helping her wear socks.
"Sorry Dadda...", Siya said kissing his cheek making him smile at his cute daughter.
"It's okay my bacha, please don't get late from tomorrow, and also Dadda will be busy at work for a few days, please don't wait for me, we'll spend time together in the morning, okay?
", Shaurya asked, she pouted but agreed to him seeing his puppy face, he pouted his lips just like she does when she wants something from her dad.
He melts at that, but Akansha is resistant to all their daughter's cute antics.
-------------------
Akansha looked at Mr. Sharma and Shweta anxiously looking towards the staircase once in a while. She understood they were waiting for Shaurya.
"Aunty... Please go and tell them, their boss will take some time to get down as he is on duty", Akansha told Mrs. Sudha who looked at Akansha and seeing her smirk, Mrs. Sudha understood she was troubling Shaurya.
"What did he do now?", Mrs. Sudha asked stifling her laughter.
"He was looking at me as if I was torturing his daughter, while all I was doing was waking her up, so I got him to do the job", Akansha said packing their tiffins. Mrs. Sudha laughed followed by Akansha.
"I'll go and tell them", Mrs. Sudha said.
"Yeah, if it's urgent, I'll go and handle Siya, sending him downstairs, usually Siya gets ready fast, but today she must be cranky due to lack of proper sleep, so I am sure she is giving a tough time to her Dadda for waking her up", Akansha said
"You stay here, let him handle Siya... He should also know it's not easy to raise a child", Mrs. Sudha said and Akansha looked at her in surprise because Mrs. Sudha always came in support of Shaurya and never let him suffer.
"No matter how much Shaurya suffered, your sufferings break my heart more, Akansha.
I can only imagine what all you have gone through to give birth to Siya and raise her, all alone", Mrs. Sudha said caressing Akansha's cheek.
It got Akansha emotional as after a long time someone showed empathy for her pain and suffering and that someone was Mrs. Sudha who gave her motherly affection during all her time at Shekhawat's ancestral house.
She quickly composed herself, masking herself with the tough facade.
"I'll go, tell them", Mrs. Sudha said walking away, noticing Akansha's awkwardness. She knew Akansha didn't like to get weak in front of anyone. She is a tough woman, Shaurya was the only exception.
After waiting for half an hour more, Akansha was fed up, so she had her breakfast and left for her school to teach the Father-daughter a lesson.
Seeing Akansha walking out, Jasmeet opened the car door, Akansha told him multiple times not to open the door for her but he never listened, so she stopped telling him, deciding to talk to Shaurya.
She politely thanked him and they drove off.
"Raju... I've been noticing for a few days, that you are allowing students who are late, while the assembly is going on?
From today, you will not let them enter the gate, make the students stand outside along with their parents until the assembly is over.
Send the children to the discipline room along with their parents, only after a proper action, will the students be allowed to their classes", Akansha strictly instructed the school watchman.
She wanted to teach all the latecomers a lesson and it included her daughter and husband who pampers her a lot.
"After the first bell, students will start assembling for morning prayer, after the second bell, you will shut the school gates blocking entry, you will not allow anyone inside after that, ANYONE", Akansha stressed, Raju nodded at Akansha respectfully.
Since she is the head of the school disciplinary committee, she has the authority to ask him to do that and he is obliged to follow her orders but while nodding he didn't think he will have to shut the gates for even the chief minister of the state.
She will teach her husband and his daughter a lesson for life today, thought she.
Jasmeet stayed there as Suraj told him that they would be heading to the school too, so he could join them with his team to the secretariat without needing to come back to CM's residence.
The assembly started so the school gates were shut as per Akansha's instructions, and Shaurya's convoy made its way to the school gate.
He got down with Siya, with her bag and bottle in his hands.
He frowned at the crowd outside the gates.
He saw students and their parents standing with a worried look.
They are arguing with the watchman on why they are implementing these rules suddenly without any intimation.
Many of them have to go to work after dropping their kids in school and they are getting late.
Jasmeet walked to Shaurya and informed him of Akansha's strict orders to the watchman. Shaurya cursed himself for getting late, he understood his wife is full-on punishment mood.
He walked forward picking up his daughter in his arms. Suraj advised him not to go but he assured him and asked him to make sure no one took a video of him, even if they did, Siya's face shouldn't be cleared.
Everyone stood stunned seeing him there, they gave him the way as they are sure he would be allowed in.
"CM saab?", the watchman saluted him and started opening the gate but Shaurya showed his palm.
"Allow all of us in... We didn't know of this rule, at least there should be proper intimation before implementing this. I know students should be on time but everyone deserves a chance", Shaurya asked politely.
"Maaf kijiye saab(please forgive me sir), I was ordered by madam not to allow anyone in who is late to assembly.
I will lose my job if I allow... This rule has been there for years saab, it's just that I'm not stopping latecomers these days, if you say I will open the gate.
..", Raju trailed looking down, afraid of the consequences.
"It's okay, I understand the school policy, we will wait", Shaurya said, shocking everyone.
When they saw him talk to the watchman, they got a hope that he would sort this but when he gave up, they stood stunned.
This might be happening for the first time in history that a state chief minister is stopped from entering the school premises just because he is late.
Everyone who was claiming about their important works and offices now stood calmly as their works can't be more important than his and if he could wait patiently, then they definitely could.
Even if they are important, it won't be nice to argue in front of him.
The parents stared at him with surprise and tried to talk to him but seeing his 'attention' gesture for the ongoing prayers, others too respected it.
Before the national anthem, he made his daughter stand in the right position, instructing her not to shift the position or relax until the national anthem ends.
Siya nodded and followed her father's instructions properly.
This awed the crowd and many took videos of them quietly but Suraj knew how to stop them.
After the prayer, assembled students were sent back to their classes, and then the watchman opened the gate, first Shaurya walked in with Siya followed by other parents with their children.
The watchman showed them the disciplinary committee room and Akansha sat in the middle chair with other committee members on either side of her.
All of the committed members stood up including Akansha seeing Shaurya walking in. They sat down after he settled on the chairs arranged for parents, other parents too settled there.
"I regret the inconvenience caused to you all, I know you must have some really important work but this is for the betterment of your children.
..", Akansha started and told them that they all were aware of this rule but since the school decided to allow late entries, both parents and students became laid back and completely forgot discipline which is very important to achieve things in life.
She said that from the following day, any latecomer without a valid reason would not be allowed to classes, she also asked the other fellow committee members to strictly implement this rule throughout classes.
"Since we didn't intimate you prior, today will be an exception.
If you think your children got late because of their negligence, their class teachers will be informed of it and a remark will be added for future reference, if they get late again, they will be punished.
But, if your children are late because of you, then please submit a fine of Rs.
500.", Akansha said in her polite yet stern tone.
Siya held her father's hand tightly. She was scared of the punishment, the little girl didn't understand much about remarks and all, she thought she would be punished since they got late because of her.
Shaurya cleared his throat and opened his mouth, he knew he would be hearing for it soon from his wife but he couldn't let anyone say his daughter was wrong.
"Those who wanted to pay the fine, please raise your hands, We'll get the form to you, this is a small donation to 'SkyEd' camp, our honorable CM and educational minister of the state launched.
You can track where your money is going, and which child it's helping to study", Shipra, another committee member said.
Shaurya stared at Akansha, he was embarrassed but he was happier to see this initiative getting adapted by popular schools too.
With his initiative 'SkyEd', he promoted higher education to many poor children who have dreams of pursuing higher studies but no one to finance it.
Through government, he provided free education till the 12th, but for further education, the government could provide scholarships for the top 1 or a maximum of 2%, but what about the rest?
Even an average student could have extraordinary skills and could excel in their relevant fields, they should be given a chance and government couldn't fund all of them but people can, that's why he started 'SkyEd' and to prevent the money from getting misused, he developed a transparent model where a person can track where their money is going.
Even if you donate a single rupee, you could see where it went.
In order to make the beneficiary students from feeling obligatory, student's identity is hidden but donors can see which student their money is helping and in which course he/she is enrolled in and other basic details.
People loved the transparency the model has and started donating to it.
Many schools adopted this method and donated all the fines collected from students to this visionary idea.
But some of the private institutions, especially financially driven educational institutions didn't follow it and as government, he couldn't impose this on them, it's a voluntary choice, and seeing his wife supporting his idea in this way overwhelmed him.
He came out of his thoughts with a ding on his personal mobile. He opened his phone to see Dev's message in their group which Akansha and Rachna were also a part of.
"Visionary CM's visionary wife. What would you do now? @Shaurya", Dev sent.
Akansha too saw this message but rolled her eyes at Dev's teasing.
He never leaves a chance to irritate Shaurya and her as well but luckily she is not his target for now.
Akansha knew it was Siya's fault so they didn't need to pay the fine.
She was about to write a remark for her daughter when she saw her stupid husband raising his palm.
Very few people other than Shaurya raised their hands.
Who would take such an embarrassment for their kid's reputation, they are kids it's okay for them to get late or punished, but as elders, it would be embarrassing to get fined so most of them didn't raise their hands.
Very few people were honest and some like Shaurya wanted to save their four-year-old's reputation so took the blame on their heads.
The teachers and parents were shocked alike. Akansha so wanted to cut his hand for embarrassing her and himself to save their 4 year old's reputation. Like seriously?
Shipra went to Shaurya with the form for him and when he opened his wallet, he could find only his cards, he remembered how his daughter the other day took notes one by one from his wallet to fill her piggy bank as it felt so empty to her.
Shaurya looked at his daughter who looked down understanding why her father was looking at her and muttered a low 'Sorry'.
Shaurya slowly turned to his wife for money, who controlled her anger and went to the desk, got money from her ,handbag and gave it to him.
He took it with a small smile and passed it to Shipra who collected the money and thanked him, before going to another parent, trying hard to not show the amusement she felt witnessing the exchange between the state CM and his wife, and their cute daughter.
Akansha took a few more notes and gave them to him seeing his empty wallet.
He keeps visiting different areas and he had a plan to visit a few underdeveloped places that evening as well.
Cash is necessary even in today's digital world there, how embarrassing it will be to know that state CM has empty pockets?
thought she, cursing him in her head. He took it holding his wide grin at his wife's meaningful gesture.
"Aur khelo (Keep playing) 'peppa pig and fill it's tummy' with your daughter (that's the slogan Shaurya and Siya were using while filling Piggy's tummy with currency notes)", Akansha whispered in his ears, both he and his daughter looked away at her taunt.
"?????? Poor Akansha... You thought of teaching them a lesson by fining them but look at you... You paid the fine??????
@Shaurya Yaar, I'm so satisfied to see this", Dev texted in the group
Both Akansha and Shaurya who saw the message looked around, only to find Dev and his son standing in the corner. Wah! He came so late that even the chairs arranged for parents were completely occupied by the time he reached school.
"What's going on there? What fine are you talking about? Stop irritating Akansha and Shaurya, instead concentrate on your son. Because of you, Ishan got so late to school. Request them to excuse him for today", Rachna texted
Shaurya and Akansha glared at Dev, here he was laughing at them as if he was Mr. Perfectionist but he is worst than Shaurya, he came 20 minutes after the assembly is concluded.
"Woman, shut up, you don't know what to talk where ???♂????♂?", Dev said tagging his wife's message.
"Shut up and pay the fine idiot", Shaurya said
"Shipra ma'am, Ask someone to get a chair for Mr. Bisht and please see if he needs a form too", Akansha said
Till then none noticed Dev as he came much later and was standing in the corner. He thought of getting away without anyone noticing but how could that be possible in the Devil's presence? he thought.
The school authorities provided a chair and asked for water or tea or coffee for Dev, just like they did for Shaurya but he politely refused.
Shipra asked if he needed a form but he denied making Shaurya and Akansha glare at him.
"Um... No... It was Ishan's fault, give him a remark", Dev told Shipra who nodded at him and walked ahead.
Ishan glared at his father but he bribed him with chocolates, shutting the little boy up.
"Shameless creature... On one side your stupid friend took blame on his head to save his daughter from punishment and you are pushing your innocent son to it to save yourself @Dev Bisht, Sharam karlo thoda sa(Be ashamed of your act)", Akansha said
"I would have done the same if I had such a cute daughter... Anything for my Siya baby", Dev said tagging Akansha's message.
"She is my daughter, my baby girl", Shaurya texted possessively, tagging his message. Akansha rolled her eyes at these two and walked to Ishan and took him with her before taking out his dairy.
Akansha wrote the remark for Ishan as Dev wasn't ready to pay the fine. But she wrote a sweet remark which didn't have much negative impact as she didn't want to punish the child without his mistake.
"Don't worry, we will see him later", Akansha whispered in Ishan's ears, to which he smiled brightly and kissed her cheek which made her smile widely at him. She already started loving this kid so much, he is Dev and Rachna's son, how could she not love him?
After that, Shaurya and Dev politely greeted each other before leaving from there to their respective workplaces.
----------------------------
At night, Shaurya decided it was high time he told the truth to Akansha so he tried to get free early but couldn't. Meera requested a meeting with him and sent the mail with high priority but he very well knew what she wanted to talk about so he asked Shweta not to give an appointment as he was busy and asked his respective staff to talk to her and ask if everything was fine with her. He planned to ignore her completely.
He walked inside and seeing the silent home, he understood his wife and daughter might be asleep.
He went to freshen up but seeing Akansha nowhere in the room and his daughter wrapped in her dupatta and her unicorn duvet, he understood she might be working in another room as his daughter is the same as him, and wakes up by slightest of the disturbances.
He freshened up and went in search of his wife and found her in his study, sitting on the floor surrounded by opened books, her hair tied in a messy bun, with the highlighter in her fingers and its cap in between her lips.
He kept staring at her, leaning on the door for God knows how much time.
His eyes teared up at the bliss his heart was experiencing at that particular moment.
Only he knew how much he yearned for her one glimpse, and now he could stare at her for hours, he is living in the same room as her and he could even touch her hair when she was asleep.
Shaurya didn't know if there was any bigger privilege than this.
In these 5 years, he searched for peace everywhere, visited a number of Ashrams, spiritual places to calm his restless heart despite knowing it's impossible to get it without her, and after 5 years the moment his eyes fell on her, his peace returned.
His daze was broken by his ringing phone. He looked at Akansha with a startled expression who gave him a knowing glare. She understood what was he doing.
It's Mr. Sharma's call, he picked it up and after a brief talk, he hung up and made his way inside.
"What are you doing here? Need to work?", she asked
"No... What about you? Why didn't you sleep till now?", he asked her.
"There's a mock presentation regarding our progress till now, so working on that, you have something to talk?", she asked
"Yeah... Regarding our visit to Prayagraj, I have confirmed it with my team, there will be arrangements made for us on Mahashivratri, but we have to go there early in the morning, there is a ghaat only for VVIPs, but the same day, the Prime Minister is also paying a visit, so we have to go there early in the morning", Shaurya told her.
"PM? The same day? You will be having a talk with him as well?", Akansha asked, knowing his answer already.
"It won't be nice to leave without greeting him, but it would be a brief meeting, I have already informed Mr. Sharma to convey this to PM's internal team, don't worry it will be like a short talk", he said, by looking at her face, he understood her question.
"Yes, since you and Siya will be there, you will have to accompany me, it won't be nice otherwise", he added and she sighed deeply.
"Maybe we can go on some other day?", Akansha pitched in, trying to tie a bun with her flucker properly.
"But you wanted to go there on Maha Shivratri? Akansha, it will be fine, please trust me on this", Shaurya pleaded and Akansha agreed after his assurance.
"Sleep now, it's late, you have four free lectures tomorrow, you can complete the work then", he said and she glared at him.
"Did you see my timetable? How many times did I tell you not to touch my stuff?", she said, throwing her hair flucker at him angrily.
"I didn't touch your stuff, I saw on the notice board in school today, timetables for all classes were available there", he cleared, picking up the hair plucker, she turned to a side for a second in embarrassment for wrongly accusing him.
He gathered her hair properly, tied it in a tight high bun, and clutched it with the flucker.
He had been observing her failed attempts for the past 5 minutes and understood she still struggled to tie a tight bun, so he helped her.
She stared at him with inexplainable feelings remembering a memory.
"Shaurya...", Akansha said, struggling to tie her hair, he took the clip from her and tied her hair into a high bun tightly, making her sigh in relief. She hated if her hair fell on her face while working.
She got up and settled in his lap, pulling him close.
"How do you tie it so perfectly", she asked, kissing his cheek.
"Learnt for you madam...", he said kissing her hair, holding her close.
His warmth and the little gestures are the world to her then.
-----------------------
She felt her raised heartbeats at his gesture. She hated that he still had the same effect on her. She immediately turned her face away resisting herself from feeling the warmth, his love, and all those stupid feelings she used to feel once upon a time.
"Sorry", he said, moving away. He understood what she was thinking.
"Thanks", she said at the same time, surprising him. For the first time after he met her again, he heard her soft tone at him. Not just a soft tone, there are some feelings for him other than anger and hate now.
"I... I need to tell you something", he started, gaining courage after witnessing that little emotion in her tone.
He wanted to tell her everything, how he was made helpless, he didn't marry her for revenge but out of love.
That was momentary anger he felt towards her.
.. He wanted to narrate every incident to her.
"I need to ask you something, first", she said in all her serious tone, gone was the softness.
"What is it Akansha?", he asked her, with concern.
"What's the story behind your stab scars, Shaurya?", she asked making him gulp his anger. His blood boiled remembering how his father tried to harm Akansha multiple times and that scar was a result of that.
He hesitated to tell her about it. He didn't want to make her worried by telling her everything.
He knew no matter her complaints against him, she couldn't digest the fact that he got those wounds trying to save her, she would feel guilty and he didn't want that.
Well, not just guilty, she would be furious at him for hiding it.
He has a fair idea that Dev might have told about the attacks on him but he didn't think his friend would tell facts that could hurt Akansha but only if he knew.
"When did you see them?", he questioned in response
"When you were playing chor police yesterday morning, with your daughter, in just a towel.
Seriously! Who plays an outdoor game in the bedroom?
That too when you both are getting late for school office respectively.
You both would have gotten late yesterday too if I didn't yell at you two", she said glaring at him.
"Yep, that's why you got the gate shut today, to teach us a lesson", he didn't ask, but stated.
"Don't divert the topic, spill the beans now", she asked sternly. She already gave him an earful in the morning, calling him in her free lecture.
"As Dev might have told you... My father planned an attack on us, I was taking Aakriti to hospital and his hired goons thought Aakriti to be you and attacked us and while saving her, I got injured, not something major...", he trailed but she interrupted him.
"Yeah, You got bedridden for a few months, that's all, nothing major, thank god", Akansha said, looking at him coldly.
No! Dev wouldn't have told her the whole truth. Shaurya gulped in fear and anxiety.
"I want to hear the whole truth, don't hide anything from me thinking I would feel guilty because I was the reason behind...", she started but he cut him off.
"It wasn't you, it was me... It happened because of me, despite knowing my father's cruelty, I confronted him when he insulted you in front of Meera.
I openly threatened to leave him and his party if he disrespected you again, which was a huge mistake on my part, I shouldn't have taken that step but I couldn't take your disrespect, I know I sound like a hypocrite for fighting against your disrespect when I couldn't respect your feelings, you are not wrong in thinking so.
.. I am sorry Akansha", he apologized holding her palm in his.
"What happened that day, tell me clearly", she asked, ignoring the warmth she felt with his hold on her. He narrated everything.
He told her everything right from how he fought with his father to how he got attacked, him admitted to the hospital, and the reason for shifting her to Dev's house.
"I'm sorry but I didn't have any other way to keep you safe, I know I was hurting you and trust me I was dying every second of it, but unfortunately I had a tough choice, I chose to keep you safe physically but in all that, I gave you irreparable wounds, I'm so so sorry Jaan", he said cupping her face.
He knew she would break his bones for touching her and calling her 'Jaan' but he couldn't resist. She jerked his hands off her and glared at him sternly.
"Are you not sorry for hiding this from me, Shaurya?", she asked passing a death glare to him, her eyes red with fury.
"I was...Akansha", he trailed unable to see her pain masked with her fury.
"No, you were not sorry. You were in a feeling that you were making a huge sacrifice by hiding it from me, you thought you were saving me from the misery of helping you in the hospital, you thought you didn't deserve my kindness but what about me Shaurya?
Did you think how would I feel once I got to know about this?
My husband was lying in a hospital ward in another state for months like an orphan at the mercy of doctors and nurses, despite having a wife.
No matter the circumstances or problems between us, we were husband wife, I would and should have been with you then.
.. It's my duty and my right as well which you mercilessly snatched from me.
I hate you...", she yelled at him, wiping her tears furiously.
"Please don't cry... I'm sorry I hurt you...", he trailed, trying to hold her but she kept jerking his hands.
"What did you mean?", he asked, with worry.
What did she mean by she knew that pain?
Was she in that situation? What happened to her?
Was she talking about her time during Siya's birth?
or there is something else? It's been months since he asked his PIs to get that info, why is there no info on that yet? Numerous questions clouded his brain.
He wiped her tears gently, while she kept jerking his hands off her.
"You were right, I was selfish, I only thought about my feelings.
I was happy that I saved you, I thought of keeping you away from this and not letting you know about my condition because I didn't want to suffer you, after all the pain I caused you, I didn't deserve your care, but I know you will not leave my side until I get back on my own two feet, that's why I didn't let you know but I didn't think in your point of view.
I only thought what's best for you from my POV but failed to consider yours and for that, I am extremely sorry.
You don't have to worry thinking I suffered there, yes there's physical pain but mentally I was relieved that you were in safe hands, if you would have been with me, every minute I would be worried about someone trying to harm you and I won't be capable enough to save you.
My biggest fear is seeing you hurt and not able to do anything, I have lived that fear, it's horrible, compared to that, lying on a hospital bed relieved that you were safe is preferable anytime, so please don't feel guilty.
Whatever happened was because of me", he told her
"We both know the attack was possible only because I rebelled and went to meet Akash, yes I rebelled because of you but still I did and that's what gave a chance to your father", she said, he shook his head, and was about to say something but she cut him off.
"You should have told me, Shaurya", she said, wiping her tears.
"I just didn't want to involve you in my mess again.
I already did that once by marrying you.
Trust me, If I had known about my parents' cruelty before our marriage, I wouldn't have married you and brought you to that hell of a house.
I'll regret it till my last breath", he said making her frown in confusion.
"What did you mean by that, Shaurya?", Akansha asked him seriously.
"We'll talk about it after we return from Prayagraj.
Come let's sleep, it's late", he said, and she nodded trying to be civil with him.
She wanted to yell at him, slap him but that would feel like she was owning him, which she didn't want to make him feel.
No matter their feelings, she decided to maintain some distance from him, they cannot go back to how they were in the past. It was just not possible for her, they were just Siya's parents.
It pinched her to think like that but her wounds were too deep to reconsider, but without her knowledge, Shaurya started healing her from within, his attention, love and care towards her, and the way he bowed to her without any ego is making her alive from within.
He helped her pack her things and then got up, and forwarded his palm for support, which she took unwillingly, her feet felt numb due to sitting in the same position for long so she couldn't get up without holding him.
He took her things and carried them to their room, and neatly placed them on the couch table.
"Should I put them in your bag?", he asked, pointing to her work bag.
"No need, I can do it myself, do you think I am handicapped?", She snapped.
"No... You are perfectly fine, touchwood. Stop saying things like that even for fun, you are mad at me, then you should say things like that for me, not for yourself", he said and she didn't even hesitate.
"Fare enough, if you dare to irritate me now, I'll break your limbs, Shaurya Shekhawat, get to sleep", she said in her low tone but the underlying seriousness made Shaurya quickly settle beside his daughter and pulled Akansha's dupatta on him, which was held closely by his daughter.
Siya whined in sleep at his sudden pull and loss of her mother's scent, Akansha glared at him, before pulling Siya to her, who snuggled her mother, inhaling her scent, and fell back to sleep.
Shaurya could sacrifice anything for his daughter but gives a tough fight when it comes to her mother and her clothes.
Shaurya gave a small smile to Akansha with a good night but he got only a glare in return.
He understood her anger has a valid point, he needs to try harder to get her back to normal.
And that could only happen when she knows the whole truth which she has a right to.
In the past he couldn't tell her because of her safety concerns, if he delayed even now, it would be unfair to her.
He didn't expect her to forgive knowing the past, he knew her hurt and pain were justified and no matter his reasons he was at fault, he couldn't even expect her to soften towards him hearing the past, but she should be told because it's her right.
In the past, he never gave her rights because of their vulnerable situation, now he didn't want to do that anymore.
Precap - Kumbh, Another attack on Shaurya. Little change in Akansha. Akash finds out the reason for the constant attacks and he is shocked to know the cause.
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ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!
Check out my new story 'Amidst Chaos' , it's published in and Wattpad.