PART - 48
Days passed, and Akansha and Shaurya prepared for their upcoming visit to Prayagraj.
It was his first trip with his wife and daughter, and he wanted to make it memorable for them.
He asked Akansha multiple times if she could manage with Siya, taking the holy dip that early in the morning but Akansha assured him she would be fine.
Akansha though to finish her pending works before her trip.
They will be reaching Prayagraj the night before Mahashivratri.
On the day of their journey, Akansha came to the secretariat to submit her work so that her team can manage here on till she returned.
Shaurya planned to visit the Ayodhya temple on their way and Akansha readily agreed as she couldn't go there till now due to her busy schedule and looking after Siya, but she wanted to take Siya there.
Maybe it was written in her daughter's fate to visit with both her parents together, thought Akansha.
She went to the Secretariat in the morning, and thought of returning by evening as they would be starting to Prayagraj in the evening. She thought of informing Mrs. Arora about her leave for the next few days as well.
"This is the final draft. I have made all the necessary changes. I would like you all to go through it once," Akansha said, explaining the changes she had made to the model, incorporating all the input she had received from the team.
"Okay, this looks fine. Sit with Mr. Khan and get this tested on the whole data that's available.
We have 2 days, Sir is going out of the station, we will block some time as soon as he returns and will finalize everything.
Mr. Khan, Dr. Dikshit, I think 2 days is enough time?
", Mrs. Arora said, Akansha opened her mouth to tell her that she wouldn't be available for 2 days but she felt awkward to say she was accompanying her husband.
Seeing Akansha's hesitation, Mrs. Arora assumed she was trying to say 2 days weren't enough to finish the work.
"Take help from other resources, if you want.
Mr. Samuel, please ask everyone to cooperate with Dr. Dikshit and Mr. Khan, get them off all other work, this is our first priority", Mrs. Arora said, Akansha wanted to mentally slap herself for hesitating so much.
Why should she feel guilty to take a few days off from work?
Or for traveling with her husband and daughter?
It's not her fault that her husband is the chief minister right?
"Actually, Mrs. Arora, I won't be available for the next 2 days, I'm going outstation with my family, So, you will have to get this done without me, Don't worry, I have done everything I could, and I'll be available on call", Akansha said, shocking Mrs. Arora.
"No... No... This is very important, we have to get this done, postpone your trip, we have to get this done before CM sir returns", Mrs. Arora said.
Everyone looked at her weirdly. If Akansha postpones her trip, Shaurya should also do it and then, he would be available.
They won't even have 2 days then, he would ask them to present the next day only.
Moreover, everyone was shocked at how Mrs. Arora so casually asked her to postpone without thinking that she was also asking her boss to do it.
Mrs. Arora didn't realize what she said for a minute.
She forgot Akansha is CM's wife, they tend to forget this fact usually when they are working.
But seeing her team's weird and some shocking faces, she realized.
"Oh!", Somya said, she didn't know what to say anymore.
It's awkward for her and even more awkward for Akansha.
"Others... Get back to work, if needed, take Dr. Akansha on call", Somya instructed and left from there.
"Lady Hitler forgets the world when it comes to work", Mr. Khan commented and everyone laughed including Akansha.
"Good thing is even if she suffers from amnesia one day, work-related stuff is completely protected, 'Data always available'", Mr. Goel said, giving hi-fi to Mr. Khanna making others laugh.
"Okay Dr. Akansha, you have worked very hard till now, it's your time to enjoy yourself with your family.
You need this break, though you are going for a short spiritual tour, it still counts as an outing for a workaholic couple like you", Mr. Khanna said, Akansha so wanted to glare at him for his last statement but didn't, considering he is senior to her.
"She is still okay, she only becomes a workaholic when the deadlines are near, can't say the same for CM Saab(sir).
God! How much does he work? Doesn't he need any rest?
Like we never find him tired, he would be active and energetic even at 3 in the morning.
..", Mr. Goel said
"Mr. Khanna, you remember I told you an instance", Mr. Anjan Goel started, Mr. Khanna nodded with a smile remembering.
Mr. Goel turned to Akansha and started telling her "A few years ago, due to the floods, we had to relocate tens of thousands of people, had to arrange for food, and other basic necessities.
.. It was a mess then, We all worked for 5 days straight, without going home.
Shaurya sir didn't go home either, he kept visiting people during day time, he personally traveled to the affected areas and made sure everything was taken care of properly.
During nights he worked with us to get the situation under control and work on measures to be taken to stop things from getting messier.
He didn't sleep a wink for 5 days straight, we at least had short naps in between but he kept working, juggling between the places, not even for once did I see him tired or complaining.
We all thought he was a robot, definitely not a human, I have so many chief ministers in my service but never a CM like him who gets so personally connected to people's pain.
He works so tirelessly, even a robot stops when it's battery discharges but he is like go on and on.
..", Mr. Goel told his experience making Akansha smile.
"He is always like that, even I don't understand where he brings that energy from", Akansha said in a flow but suddenly shut up realizing what she had done.
She spoke about her husband for the first time to her colleagues. Till then, she just smiled at them whenever they talked about Shaurya not reacting much but now she said as if they are normal husband-wife.
"Even you don't know? We thought of asking you the secret of his unlimited energy", Mr. Rashid Khan joked making everyone laugh, Akansha too smiled unable to stop herself.
She liked the conversation and her giving input about her husband.
She liked the whole ordeal of being his wife and she rebuked herself for feeling so.
This is temporary, she shouldn't feel like that, she can't fall for him again, she can't love him again.
.. Damn! When did she unlove him to love him again?
"Okay! I'll leave now", Akansha said and everyone nodded.
"Yeah! Have a great time! Leave the rest of the work to us, we'll handle it, we'll try our best not to disturb you", Mr. Khanna said, and Akansha gave him a thankful smile while reiterating they could call her anytime if needed.
She reached home to see her daughter all ready, sitting on her small unicorn travel suitcase her father got her, trying to move but Shaurya held it tightly.
"Siya, baby please get down, you'll fall and hurt yourself", Shaurya said trying to get his daughter down from the suitcase.
"No Dadda... This is so good... Dadda, see these wheels... Zummm...", Siya said trying to make the trolley move as if it were her play car, Shaurya helped it move, simultaneously holding his daughter, preventing her from slipping.
"Siya... Sit on the car I got you, and play with it, this is a travel suitcase baby, not plaything", Shaurya said
"Then why this has my favorite unicon(unicorn)?", Siya asked.
"Siya... Please bacha... I have to pack mine and mumma's clothes too", Shaurya pleaded to his daughter.
"Not in my bag... Thch(this) is mine Dadda", Siya said holding her suitcase possessively without getting down.
"Thich(this) has unicorns here, it's for kids Dadda", Siya said
Shaurya chuckled at his cute daughter.
"Mama and I will pack in a different suitcase, but please get down, I am scared you'll get hurt baby, I can't leave and go... Listen to Dadda, bacha", Shaurya requested and finally, his daughter showed mercy on him.
Shaurya asked her to go downstairs and play, she nodded and walked towards the door, she greeted her mother and left downstairs with the helper.
"When should we leave?", Akansha asked entering in.
"Hey Hi, when did you come?", he asked and she huffed at him, he understood she was not in the mood for casual talk so he thought to answer her question before he got burnt by her anger.
"We'll leave in an hour, is that enough time for you to freshen up?", he asked
"Yes, more than enough since you already got Siya ready", she said
"I'll come and pack my bag", she said
"I have taken out some of your clothes, appropriate for the occasion and your comfort.
Check it once, they are on the bed, if you want something else, pick them, and I'll pack", he said and she nodded moving towards her wardrobe instead.
She knew he might have picked up the right clothes for her.
Shaurya Shekhawat knew about her the most, so she went to pick her inner wears and pack them but his answer shocked her and fueled her anger.
"They are already packed", he said referring to her innerwear.
She glared at him. How dare he invade her privacy.
"I... I'm sorry, I thought you would get late when I called Jasmeet half an hour ago, he said you were still at the Secretariat, so.
.. Didn't think traffic would be so less today", he defended his act.
"How dare you touch my personal stuff... Shameless creature... You are so disgusting Shaurya...", she started but he cut her off.
"I didn't touch them... I made Siya pick them up and put them in the bag.
.. I'm sorry", he said looking away, and that calmed her anger.
"I know you wouldn't like me touching them, so I made Siya do it.
I thought you would get late in reaching home and we'd be late for our plane, I was just worried you would forget to pack them in a hurry and will suffer there", he explained why he had to do it.
Luckily the traffic was less so she reached home early, otherwise, it would take at least an hour for her to reach his residence.
Damn! Why is he such a gentleman? She wasn't uncomfortable with him touching her stuff.
He did it a lot in the past, yes things changed but unfortunately her comfort level with him didn't when it came to intimate stuff like this, but she wanted to maintain that distance with him for her sanity, so she had to force herself to not flow in emotions and blur the line.
She nodded and walked towards the washroom to freshen up.
"Pack it, they are fine", Akansha said without even looking at the clothes he had taken out to pack and walked towards the washroom.
"You didn't even see", he trailed
"Pack it, Shaurya, don't irritate me", she said and entered the washroom, slapping the door harshly in anger for herself for always saying stuff to him which hurt him.
Yes, he had hurt her in a cruel way but he didn't deserve her hatred every single second of them in front of each other.
She could at least be civil with him right at least sometimes?
But, wasn't he the reason she became like that?
He smiled at her display of confidence in him rubbing his neck as he felt the blush forming in his cheeks, the only woman who could get him blushing with as simple act as showing confidence in his selection.
After freshening up, he packed their stuff, and Akansha got out of the closet getting ready. He carried the luggage outside, and Akansha followed him, trying to take their trolley from him, but it was futile. A helper took it from his hands after they walked out.
"Siya... come, let's go; it's time," Shaurya called to his daughter, who ran to him. He picked her up. Shaurya and Akansha informed Mrs. Sudha of their leaving. Siya, too, copied her parents, making Mrs. Sudha smile at the bundle of cuteness.
The trio got to the airport and left for Prayagraj in state-owned Aircraft.
They reached there in the night, and after feeding Siya, Akansha changed her and made her sleep while Shaurya held a brief meeting with the state officials.
Akansha changed into her pajamas and slept, knowing Shaurya would be late.
In the wee hours, Shaurya came in, took a bath, and wore a white cotton kurta pajama, and then woke his wife up.
She woke up and gently tapped Siya as well who thankfully didn't get grumpy and woke up.
Both the mother and daughter went to the washroom, and finished their morning chores.
After helping Siya with the bath, Akansha sent her out, Shaurya dressed his daughter while Akansha washed her hair and took a refreshing bath.
She wore a plain yellow saree with a thin green line border for taking the holy dip.
She came out getting ready and took out her mangalsutra (nuptial chain) from the handbag she carried, shocking Shaurya.
"W...Where did you....", Shaurya trailed...
"It's a religious gathering right? I thought it would have a negative impact on you, elections are at the corner.
The constituency you are contesting from consists of people who care about all these things Shaurya.
You are not even contesting from any other place like many others, god forbid, if you lose it, then.
..", She started but he walked towards her.
He understood that it was Dev or Rachna who told her all this.
"Don't worry about all these... After everything I did to you, this piece of gold in your neck will be a punishment to your dignity and I can never let you bear it.
Wear it only when your heart agrees to it, not by punishing it.
Whatever the consequences, I'll handle it, don't worry.
And don't take Dev seriously", Shaurya said, taking the serum from her hands and applied on her hair gently, she stared at him with filled eyes.
Why did fate play such a cruel game with them?
There is so much love between them then why did he betray her like that?
Why the hell did he marry her for revenge?
He is right, their marriage has no meaning, it's only his revenge so she wouldn't wear it.
Akansha took a step back, pushing his hands away and placing the nuptial chain back in her bag.
She wore her gold chain with an 'S' pendant, indicating her daughter's name, 'S is for Shaurya too!
', her head screamed but she shut the voice.
Shaurya stared at his beautiful wife, she would look even more beautiful with a nuptial chain and vermilion but did he deserve it?
Those are the symbols of respectful marriage but in their case, he completely failed to provide that respect for her, then how can he expect she adorn it for him?
"Dadda... see here...", Siya called for her father, breaking the staring session of his.
Shaurya walked to his daughter and started played with her. Akansha started getting ready. Shaurya received a call from Suraj.
"I have received a call from Suraj, he has something important to discuss, I'll be back in 5 minutes, till then get ready", Shaurya said and left their cottage provided to them.
Akansha felt like wearing her wedding chain, it's a most pious occurrence, she was going to take a holy dip with her husband and daughter, though she didn't want to accept him as her husband, the truth is, he is.
They are still bound in marriage, and no matter how she behaved with him, all these days, he took care of her, he fulfilled his responsibilities without crossing his boundaries or making her uncomfortable.
Maybe it's not that difficult, she could wear it for some time thinking it to be a normal chain, and she would take it off as soon as they came inside their room, as simple as that!
she tried to convince herself. Maybe it would do good to him, these days the attacks on him are scaring her too much.
She remembered the discussion she had with her colleague a few days back.
-----------------------------------------
They all are sitting in the canteen during lunch break. Everyone is having their lunch while one of their colleagues is sitting there without eating.
"Savitri Ji, where is your lunch box?", Mr. Khan asked.
Akansha and Rashid Khan have their lunch with the non-core staff mostly, who report to Mrs. Arora.
Though they both belong to the core staff and directly report to the CM, they prefer to sit for breaks with the non-core staff as they feel more relevant to them.
They enjoy their break time having fun and jokes with them rather than with the oldies who has so many mood swings, well that's what Mr. Khan called them.
"I'm fasting for my husband today, he is not keeping well these days, I'm very worried about his health, so I'm doing a Vrat for him", she said, worry clearly visible in her, regarding his health.
"Yeah, you told us, I thought he was recovering well after his surgery?", Mr. Khan responded
"No sir, his health kept deteriorating, I don't know what to do... But I have belief in Mahadev, he will look after me and my family", she said
"What kind of a vrat is this?", Akansha asked curiously
"There's this vrat which Mata Parvati observed for Shiv ji, they say that whoever observes this, Mahadev grants a long and healthy life to their husbands, You have to fast every Monday for...", Savitri told all the rules to observe this fast.
"Oh! Now I understand why you're wearing your wedding chain and sindhoor (vermilion) these days", one lady commented.
"Yeah! Earlier I used to feel all these were just superstitions, I used to think how wives wearing mangalsutra and vermillion could keep husbands safe?
, but now I want to do everything for my husband, even if that doesn't make sense to me.
.. But I must tell you, from the day, I started wearing these marriage symbols, I felt a kind of positivity in me that my husband will get better.
That is what we all need at tough times, optimism, and I really feel this is working", she said gently touching her nuptial chain.
----------------------------------
Akansha's thoughts were disturbed by her phone ringing. Akash? Why is he calling at this time, it's still very early in the morning.
"Hello... Ak...", Akansha started but she was cut off by Akash's panic-filled tone.
"Di... Where's Jiju... he isn't picking up my call... Di... it's urgent... Inform Suraj... Even he isn't picking up my call... Jasmeet... No one is picking up...", He panicked. Jiju? He never addressed Shaurya as 'Jiju'(brother-in-law) after he got to know the truth of Shaurya's betrayal.
"Akash... What's wrong? What happened? he went out with Suraj...", she trailed
"Di... His life is in danger, there's an attack...", Akash trailed but he received another call... "Di... I'll call you back, wait", he said and hung up. Akansha went numb for a second... Attack? Shuarya...
"Siya... Stay here, baby... Mama will be back soon", Akansha said and ran towards the door to look for her husband.
She is scared, hell scared. No... No... nothing can happen to Shaurya.
She ran back, took her wedding chain and wore it hastily, took a pinch of vermilion, applied to her hair partition, and rushed out.
She didn't know why she did it, her brain stopped working, and all she thought was about his safety.
She opened the door only to see Shaurya standing in front of her, with his left hand holding a white handkerchief on his right arm which was now soaked in blood, and he was surrounded by Suraj and team.
"Wh...What happened to you?", Akansha questioned, her legs felt like jelly but she stood strong.
"I'm fine... Calm down, a minor injury, that's all", Shaurya said, blinking his eyes assuring her, though she looked all calm to everyone, he can see her panic.
"Sir... we need to get inside", Suraj said, Shaurya nodded and walked in with his team, holding Akansha with his right palm, he knew she was worried and he needed to calm her, and only his touch could assure her that he is safe.
"Ak..Akash called me... What happened... how did you get hurt?", she asked, and the doctor started dressing up his wound while Akansha sat beside him in their cottage hall.
"It's nothing, situation is under control now... I'm fine, and this won't happen again... don't worry. Trust me...", Shaurya trailed but Akansha cut him off angrily.
"No ma'am, it's not Mr. Shekhawat... we have our eyes on all the potential people that could harm sir, but this was someone else...", Suraj told Akansha
"Someone else? What is he talking about, Shaurya?
", Akansha asked him, trying to control her emotions.
.. Shaurya fell into deep thinking, if Akash had called him to warn, then he knew who was behind this but he couldn't let anyone know about it.
It was a secret mission they were carrying and he couldn't let anyone know about it, well, Suraj was an exception.
"Sir, it's a miracle that you got saved today, You know it too.
.. It's as if the Mahakaal himself came to save you.
..", Suraj said, seriously looking at Shaurya, who looked at him in surprise.
It's rare for Suraj speak about god and spirituality.
Akansha remained stunned at the statement, too numb to respond, her eyes went to her nuptial chain unintentionally.
She shut her eyes in relief and something else that she didn't want to name.
"Sir, it's time we take action, this is getting too much now", Suraj added, Shaurya understood what he was talking about, but he couldn't allow Suraj to act on it.
"We aborted the operations till elections and covered everything properly, their attack now doesn't add up, coordinate with Akash and get to the bottom of it, but nothing official, Suraj... I want this to remain under covers at any cost", Shaurya ordered.
"Sir...", Suraj trailed but Shaurya looked at him sternly, giving him a nod which meant he was not going to change his decision. Suraj nodded and went out.
"What's happening, tell me, you madman", Akansha said, sounding frustrated.
Shaurya explained how someone threw a sharp knife at him, the sharp edge of the knife had a powerful drug that could paralyze him permanently, but Suraj pushed him in time and he fell down, injuring his arm with a sharp edge.
"They are investigating more into the drug, the man who threw the knife was caught, let's see if we get some lead", he said, Akansha hid her palms with her saree pallu as she felt the shivering.
what if the knife pierced Shaurya? Is that miracle because of her wearing a nuptial chain?
She couldn't help but connect the dots. In situations like this, she tends to overthink and that's what is happening now.
Without her knowledge, tears slipped from her eyes, but she wiped before his palm could touch her cheeks.
It took her a while to cope with what happened.
He convinced her, assured her for half an hour and then she agreed to go out.
She didn't want to miss taking the holy dip, especially after how God saved Shaurya, her daughter's father.
After Suraj and others ensured safety outside, Shaurya and Akansha along with their daughter stepped out.
Shaurya noticed the nuptial chain and vermillion, his heartbeat rose to an abnormal rate, he wanted to tell her to take them off because he didn't want her to do something unwillingly, but he knew she would literally slap him if he said something like that now, so he preferred to shut his mouth as he can't afford another injury now.
Shaurya took a holy dip at the sacred 'Triveni Sangam' with his daughter and wife, the trio together performed the pujas in the holy water while the priests guided them with the procedure.
The media covered them, the first glimpse of Akansha and Siya as the CM's wife and daughter were caught by the camera after they rose from water after taking the holy dip.
Shaurya felt the flash but he knew he couldn't do much at that time, he would maybe do the damage control later, but for now, he concentrated on the sacred pujas that were going on.
He felt the divinity while doing all the puja procedures with his wife and daughter.
After the rituals, they went to change their clothes.
Akansha wore a blue saree and Shaurya unintentionally wore the same color kurta.
Siya who got readied by her mother in a pink frock now started throwing tantrums because she wanted to match clothes like her mama-dadda.
Shaurya, after getting a nod from Akansha, made Siya wear a powder blue frock, while Akansha got ready.
The trio walked out after changing and carried the rest of the prayers.
They returned to their cottage after finishing the prayers.
"Siya... Shall I change you into that pink frock? it's prettier...", Akansha asked her daughter when they were getting ready to meet the honorable prime minister.
"Will you and Dadda also weal(wear) pink?", She asked making Akansha sigh.
"Siya... Your pink frock is so beautiful, it has so many flowers and pearls on it, look at the blue one, it has no design", Akansha told her daughter to convince her but she shook her head refusing to change, without her parents too changing.
"No... I want to match with you and dadda", she said adamantly.
"It's okay... Let her be, anyway this frock is soft and not suffocating, so she will be good", Shaurya suggested earning a glare from his wife.
"By any chance, did you plan this?", she asked getting suspicious of him.
"No... No... I packed other color sarees and suits of yours which don't match with my kurtas Or Siya's frocks.
.. It's a coincidence", he said and Akansha nodded while setting her hair and the light makeup she wore.
"We will wait in the hall for you", Shaurya said, picking up his daughter and walking to the hall, as he didn't want to get grilled by his wife more.
"Dadda... Hi-fi", Siya said raising her palm, which Shaurya gently hi-fied, asking her to stay silent about this.
"Dadda how you know mumma wears this only? (Dadda how do you know that mumma will choose to wear only this?)", his smart daughter asked.
"Well, a calculated guess. The rest of her sarees, though are suitable for the occasion, their pallus keep slipping away due to the soft material, and during puja, she has to cover her head, so I thought your mumma would choose this if she chooses to wear a saree.
..", Shaurya whispered, more than half of the things he said went over her head but Siya nodded her head just for the feel of secret. Shaurya laughed at her cute attempts.
Akansha walked out and the trio then left for the PM's cottage, after they were informed that the PM is now available to meet them.
Shaurya greeted him respectfully with a 'Namaste' while he hugged Shaurya patting his shoulder.
He liked Shaurya a lot and the innovative approach he has towards his state, Shaurya's intellectual is highly appreciated by him but he is sad that Shaurya was not in his party but he is thankful that he is not in the opposition as well.
Akansha folded her hands in a 'Namaste' which he reciprocated.
Akansha and Shaurya asked Siya to touch his feet and the little one did as said, the PM lifted Siya in his arms and kissed her chubby cheeks, adoring her.
They talked about general things, the PM expressed concern over the attack on Shaurya, he promised full support to him in investigating the matter and Shaurya thanked him for his concern.
They talked about various other topics.
Shaurya proudly flaunted his wife's achievements, briefing the PM on the education model and curriculum revision they are working on.
Akansha was embarrassed at how Shaurya was proudly bragging about her intellect and the excellent work she did more than he talked about his caliber and thousand other things he is doing.
The PM praised her efforts and told her he would closely monitor the performance of the model after it's launched in the state and if it reached expectations, he would soon form a committee to implement it on a national level and he wanted Akansha to work on it as well, which is a huge honor for her.
After some other talks, they left from there after the mandatory photograph.
------------------
The national and state media actively covered Shaurya's visit to Prayagraj with his family as he was the most followed Chief Minister in the country.
His popularity isn't limited to just his state, it reached the whole country and even crossed borders, so the media's attention was a bit more.
Moreover, he visited on the same day as the PM and political enthusiasts concentrated on this more, revealing theories of a probable alliance for the upcoming elections but Shaurya's party refused all the claims.
Vasant Dikshit is sitting on the sofa changing channels disinterested. He is disinterested in everything, even living life started feeling like a burden to him from the time his elder daughter left him getting married. She was never the same with him after that fateful night.
When Shaurya Shekhawat came to ask for his elder daughter's hand in marriage, Vasant didn't understand what was going on for some time then his son Akash filled him with the details of how Shaurya and Akansha had been dating for quite some time.
Shaurya spoke to him and in a very short time, he saw the love and respect he held for Akansha, so he agreed quickly.
Because his wife was forcing Akansha to marry a man who was 10 years older than her and completely undeserving of her.
Every day, he saw his daughter giving up herself bit by bit to her mother, she stopped fighting and he got extremely worried for her, so without asking Akansha, he agreed to the wedding and that was his biggest mistake.
He and his elder daughter had an ugly fight that night on why he agreed to marriage.
That night she got so mad with him that she promised not to come to him again for anything or even call him.
She broke ties with him and he understood later that she might have felt betrayed by him as well.
He unknowingly helped Shaurya take revenge on his daughter.
His elder daughter's thoughts were interrupted by none other than her on the TV screen.
"Jaya... Jaya... JAYA", Vasant shouted for his wife who rushed there hearing him.
She is rooted to her place seeing her daughter on the TV screen along with her husband, who is the Chief Minister, and wait! Is that their daughter? Akansha has a daughter? Her eyes welled up seeing her after more than 5 years.
Some unwanted memories made their way even though she wanted to block them.
"Marry him... What's wrong with him? He has his own shop. Has an own house, what more do you want?", Jaya asked her elder daughter.
"A fancy shop, And 10 people living in a 3-bedroom house", Akash said
"You shut up, at least they are better than us financially, we can't bring a better match for her", Jaya said
"Are you serious ma? Di is doing her Ph. D. After she completes it, she would earn 3-5 times more than he does", Akash argued
"And when will she do it?", Jaya mocked
"When you let her do it, without putting the whole world's responsibility on her head", Akash said
"Akash... Enough... Don't talk in matters that don't concern you", Jaya warned
"Ma... I will talk, this man is not suitable for Di, look at her she is so pretty, intelligent, well educated and young. That man is 10 years older than her, he is 12th pass ma, and did you look at his face? God! No, Di deserves better", Akash fought
"Shut up, nothing is kept in external beauty. And what age gap, your father and I have an age gap of 8 years, so it's no big deal", Jaya said and turned to Akansha... "Akansha will you marry him or not", Jaya asked sternly
"No ma... He is not the right match for me", Akansha said trying to control her emotions mentally chanting 'I deserve better' and every second of it, Shaurya passed in her mind and it hurt her even more.
"What?", Jaya asked with anger.
"I will not marry him, I deserve better", Akansha finally said it.
"Better? How much better? What do you think of yourself?", Jaya stared at her daughter in disbelief.
"He is no match for me, ma. I deserve better, that's all", Akansha told her mother sternly.
"Yeah better! Chief Minister will be here to marry you!
Talking as if you are a princess. We are middle-class people, we can't give so much dowry, and you know our financial condition.
We have sold everything we have for Suman's wedding, We have no choice Akansha, and what's bad in the guy, he is a good man", Jaya said
"No need to rush my marriage, I'll get married when we have enough money", Akansha said
"When will we have money? By that time, you will be in your thirties and who will marry you then? Listen to me, this is the right time...", Jaya said
"Ma... I'll call papa, you can't torture di like this", Akash said, walking to the bedroom where Vasant was sleeping.
"Akash, no... Let him rest, so much tension is not good for his health", Akansha told her brother and turned to her mother. "Ma, I can marry when the time is wrong but never to a wrong man", Akansha said, these days her mother's words don't even surprise her.
"Till then you want us to take society's taunts for getting our younger daughter married before the elder one?
It won't be good for your sister either", Jaya said, Akansha's heart broke a little more seeing her own mother discriminating between her children, but she didn't show it.
Every other man in the world is wrong for her, except for Shaurya but now, the timing is wrong.
She had to cope up with his betrayal and bring herself to forgive him when she felt he deserved her forgiveness.
Till then, she couldn't marry Shaurya but she knew he would immediately marry her if he knew about how her mother was forcing her to marry a man 10 years older than her, but she didn't want that.
She wanted to marry him only after forgiving him, so she strictly warned her brother not to tell Shaurya.
When Shaurya came to Akansha's family to ask her hand, Jaya outright rejected shocking Vasant and Akash.
They thought all she wanted was Akansha to get married but at that moment they realized she had false prestige too.
She said she didn't want society to refer to them as golddigger's parents.
She was ready to get her daughter married to a man who may not be right for her but she isn't ready to give her daughter to someone who loves her, just because he is rich?
Shaurya was furious at the woman for not thinking even an ounce for Akansha.
"By any chance, Is she your second wife Sir? Akansha is her step daughter?", Shaurya questioned, he was feeling the blood boiling anger seeing Jaya who didn't want good for her own daughter.
"MLA saab, how can you say that?", Jaya said
"Why shouldn't I say that? The way you treated Akansha is enough proof", Shaurya said before calming himself and turning to Vasant asking for Akansha's hand for marriage.
Vasant agreed fuming his wife but he can't do anything except wishing his daughter goes away from his home, only then will she get some peace in life because he is sure his wife would never let her live in peace.
Vasant knew why his wife wanted Akansha to marry that shopkeeper, she already had an agreement with their family that Akansha will support them(Dikshit family) even after marriage with the money she is earning and they agreed.
She knew Akansha didn't have to work after marriage if she married Shaurya and then she couldn't support them financially.
His wife wouldn't take anyone else's money other than her children's.
Vasant hated that woman for her step-motherly treatment towards their own daughter, so he agreed wanting to send Akansha away from the hell as soon as possible.
---------------------------
Jaya cried seeing her daughter and granddaughter.
She realized Akansha's value after she left.
Dilip lost his job and they lost their generational wealth due to his addiction to gambling.
He was frequently caught up in such acts and many times was arrested.
Suman came back home unable to live with him, and since then staying with them only.
Akash looked after the family, he was emotionally connected to only his father, but fulfilled his responsibilities towards his mother and Suman as well as an obligation.
Jaya regretted everything she did to her elder daughter, maybe their sufferings are because of those sins.
Suman realized her mistakes and her sister's love for her, but it was too late now.
Shaurya so wanted to destroy Dilip for manipulating Akriti, instilling hatred for Akansha in Akriti's head, and now playing with Akansha's sister's life but before he could do anything, his habits, arrogance, and cunning nature destroyed him.
Jaya sobbed seeing Akansha and Siya...
"We have a granddaughter? She is so pretty, what's her name?
", Jaya asked Vasant, he didn't respond, just stared at the TV screen until his daughter was displayed, all the sounds of what the reporter is saying about the CM and his family meeting the PM and other things didn't reach his ears, seeing his daughter after 5 years filled his eyes.
He knew about Akansha and Siya. Akash kept updating him about their life but he couldn't dare to ask him to show his daughter or granddaughter.
He was immersed in his guilt of pushing his daughter from one hell to another.
He didn't know much about what Shaurya did but Akash only told him that he married Akansha for revenge but Vasant couldn't believe it. He knew Shaurya loved her then why?
"Not our... She is my granddaughter, that is if my daughter accepts me back, you and Suman will stay out of Akansha's life now", Vasant sternly said after the news was shifted to another topic. Before Jaya could say something, he got up and walked to his room with the help of his walker.
"Please don't lock the door, I won't come in if you don't want to see me", Jaya pleaded with her husband, he is a heart patient, he already suffered a major heart attack once.
"Okay, but don't show me your face", Vasant said, Jaya cried about how aversive her husband and children became of her, and no one but her was to blame for it.
-----------------------------------
Shaurya, Akansha, and Siya visited the Ayodhya Ram temple and returned home. Akansha proposed they return home from Prayagraj directly worried about Shaurya's security but he assured her.
Akash, Suraj team with the help of PM's top security advisor's team started their investigation on attacks on Shaurya.
Akash came to Shaurya's residence knowing they were back.
The trio is sitting in the hall with Shaurya feeding Siya and Akansha taking a small nap on the sofa.
She waited there till Mrs. Sudha got food so that she could feed her daughter but she was so tired that she fell asleep.
"I didn't know you are so poor to even provide a room for my sister", Akash said walking in.
"Sh... she is tired", Shaurya said but before he could stop his daughter, she screamed, jumping on Akash.
"Mamu...", Siya jumped, making Akansha woke up with a jerk...
"It's nothing, get back to sleep...", Shaurya said, ruffling her hair, as she looked scared and startled while waking up. She pushed his hand and set her hair, glaring at Akash and Siya for disturbing her sleep.
"Sorry di...", Akash whispered, well he is guilty less, afraid more.
"What Sorry? I was so tired and now you triggered my migraine, idiot...", Akansha scolded Akash.
"Go upstairs and sleep, I'll feed Siya", Shaurya said softly, he was worried a lot about her sufferings, especially the migraine she developed after giving birth to their daughter. He is consulting a number of doctors to find a permanent cure to her problem.
"Hm... Feed her and get her to nap for some time, she needs rest", Akansha said and Shaurya nodded. Akansha turned to leave as her head is throbbing but suddenly stopped.
"What are you doing here, by the way?", she asked her brother, who is now ruffling his niece's hair.
"I came to talk to j... Sir regarding...", Akash started but Shaurya cut him off.
"Akash, are you here to discuss what happened in Prayagraj?", Akansha asked, not directly mentioning the word 'attack' as Siya would get scared hearing it.
"Yes di", Akash said, well he couldn't take the blow by lying to his sister who is older than him and who wouldn't hesitate to even slap him, so he decided to stay away from trouble, leaving his boss to take the brunt, at least he wouldn't be physically harmed, he hoped his sister wouldn't be slapping her husband?
Only if he knew he had got more slaps from Akansha then Akash.
Akansha who was going to rest settled there to hear them. Shaurya and Akash looked at each other asking the other to take the bait. They knew whoever would tell her that she couldn't hear their conversation since it's confidential would face the brunt of her anger.
"He wants to say something... Don't be afraid Akash", Shaurya said, Akash glared at him for making him the scapegoat.
"Di... Actually... it's confidential... So...", Akash trailed... Shaurya finished feeding his daughter, so he sent Siya with Mrs. Sudha to her playroom.
"A wife has the right to learn about her husband when his life is in danger... I'm his legal wife, so you can't put me out of this conversation. Unless and until you give me the information about who is behind Shaurya's attack, I'm not going to move from here", Akansha said sternly.
"Di... What wife? Don't you remember the past? I don't want you anywhere near him after all this chaos is sorted", Akash said, suddenly getting angry, he may respect Shaurya a lot but he would never accept him as a husband to his sister. Akansha glared at her brother.
"I can decide what is right for me... And If you recollect my words, I said 'Legal wife'.
.. Don't forget you were also a reason for my marriage to him", Akansha said, staring at her brother.
If not for Akash who told their father that she and Shaurya loved each other and that Shaurya is a good person, her father wouldn't have agreed to her wedding without asking her.
"Di... I didn't know the truth, you didn't tell me the reason for your breakup and I was fooled seeing the love in his eyes", Akash said, Shaurya shut his eyes feeling the raw pain altogether and Akansha didn't like it a bit, she didn't know why, but she started feeling him as more than just her legal husband and she knew it was stupid on her part but who would make her heart understand that?
"Talk about why you are here...", Akansha said but Shaurya stood up.
"Akash... Give the clarity she needs and meet me in my study", Shaurya told Akash sternly making the blurred boundaries between them clear, as a chief minister.
"Yes sir", Akash said respectfully. Though he is confused about why would he ask him to tell to Akansha, Akash knows what to reveal and what to keep confidential.
"Take rest after that, if pain persists, have some food and take medicine", Shaurya softly told Akansha and walked away.
"I still don't understand why you agreed to come here with Siya...", Akash said
"You heard only one side of the story till now, I got to know something which he hid for years, that's what made me come here, to him", Akansha said and Akash frowned.
Akansha told what Dev told her about how Shaurya protected her in the past and his almost-death experience.
"My God!", Akash held his head. Things are made clear to him now, so this is why there's so much bad blood between the father and son.
Shaurya hates his father because he tried to harm Akansha, well, one among the many reasons.
Akash kept thinking about everything now, in a different angle.
He had seen Shaurya's suffering for years now.
His love can't be fake, and he can't get to believe he married Akansha for revenge.
But, Akash didn't know much, and neither did Shaurya tell him anything nor Akansha.
"Di... Can I ask you one thing?", Akash asked his sister.
"What is it?", Akansha asked him.
"Why did he come to meet you just before Suman's wedding? Why did you send me away?", Akash asked and Akansha sighed at her fault for not believing Shaurya that day.
"He came to tell me how he found Dilip's texts in Akriti's phone, he wanted me to stop this wedding as he felt Dilip wasn't right for Suman, but my trust in him by then ended with the revelation of his betrayal. So, I thought he wanted to stop Suman's marriage for his sister", Akansha said
"You know he isn't that kind of person... I think he was genuinely trying to help", Akash said
"Yes... Shaurya is not that kind of person, but I thought Akriti wanted Dilip so she was making baseless allegations to stop the wedding, but only after a few months did I get to know the truth.
I took Suman to the hospital for her check-up when she was in her final trimester, there she saw Akriti and you know what happened after that.
That day, after coming home, when I confronted her on why she did that to Aakriti, Suman confessed how she found messages in Dilip's phone, and she was jealous.
Aakriti wasn't at fault, she didn't pursue Dilip after learning about his engagement with Suman.
Dilip was the main culprit, I couldn't even do anything to him then as he was Suman's husband and my nephew's father", Akansha said
"Marriage with Dilip was Suman's biggest mistake, di, I think we should have listened to Sir...", Akash said.
"What can we do now? Hope Dilip is behaving better now", Akansha asked, she always thought about her family, her father, her sister, and her nephew, but never asked Akash about them as she didn't dare to confront all the bitter memories but she hoped they are fine, she believed her brother would be taking care of things now.
"Well! Let's just say he got worse, Suman applied for Divorce, she is living with ma-papa with her son", Akash said
"What? Divorce? Akash tell me what happened, and when did it happen? Why didn't you tell me?", Akansha asked getting worried.
"P..Papa?", Akansha asked, after years, she gathered her courage to ask about her father now. How did he cope up with all this?
"He is living...", Akash said, controlling himself on not telling about his condition as he knew how much Akansha loved their father.
"Akash... Tell me", Akansha asked knowing her brother is hiding something from her.
"Papa suffered a major heart attack a few years ago, and had acoronary angioplasty, he is doing okay now, but couldn't walk without the help of a walker due to the weakness he feels.
.. He doesn't take care of his health properly, he doesn't talk to anyone except a bit to Harsh (Suman's son) and me, whenever I go, but most of the time, he stays in his room looking at your picture or writing journal.
Whenever I visit him, I keep telling him about you and Siya, he listens with so much attention as if he is living only to hear about you people, but not for once did he ask to show a picture of either you or Siya.
Once I asked him if he didn't feel like seeing Siya's picture, you know what he said?
He was scared he would spoil Siya's life too just like he did yours", Akash said, and Akansha sobbed with pain, guilt, and regret.
Many people in her life treated her badly right from the start, like her mother, her sister, etc.
But, she forgave them every time till she was completely fed up but in her father's case, she couldn't tolerate his one mistake and punished him so badly? Was she right in doing so?
Precap - Akash and Akansha talk. Shaurya tells the whole truth to Akansha, including the truth that he didn't marry her for retribution and this shocks her. Akansha shares about her father which she learnt from Akash to Shaurya.
"Shaurya... I want to see papa...", she says
"We'll go together, with Siya", he said and she nodded with a smile.