Chapter 75 #5
"Well, to make your parents proud, you actually need to do something worth being proud of," Akansha shot back.
"You shut up! Rude woman," Dev retorted, and just like that, another argument began.
"Dev, one more time you call my wife rude, muh tod dunga (I'll break your face)," Shaurya warned.
"Are you happy now? You turned my only best friend against me," Dev complained to Akansha, who simply gave him a victorious smile.
"Okay, stop it. We have a lot of activities planned. When we run out of those, you two can resume your fight and entertain us," Rachna said, and both Dev and Akansha shot her a glare.
"Well, today I am proud of both my sons.
Dev, you did a great job in helping pass the UCC bill.
I am very proud of you," Rajnath said, pulling Dev into a hug.
"All those women who were denied their rights will finally be able to claim them.
If your mother were alive, she would have been so proud of you, Dev. "
At the mention of her mother, Aakriti's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly masked her emotions.
Dev grew emotional and hugged his father tightly. Rajnath then pulled Shaurya into the embrace as well.
"Okay... enough of this emotional drama. Let's start the activities we planned," Aakriti said, breaking the moment. Suman immediately stepped in, bringing out the activity cards, chits, and everything they had prepared.
"Yaar... these look like house party games. I don't want to play these kids' games," Dev whined.
"So, you want to play adult games, huh?" Shaurya whispered in his ear, and Dev smirked, muttering, "I wish."
"Haw... Rachna, do you know what your husband wants?" Shaurya teased, and Dev shot him a warning glare.
"What?" Rachna asked, busy organizing the game items.
Shaurya gave Dev a look—either play, or I'll expose you.
"Bl**dy blackmailer," Dev muttered under his breath and reluctantly agreed.
Soon, everyone got into the games, and ironically, Dev ended up enjoying them the most—shouting in excitement every time he won.
After hours of playing, they finally decided to wind down and just sit and talk.
"Siya... Ishaan, Ivaan, Harsh... time for bed," Akansha called out.
"Mamabear... pwease..." Siya pleaded, but Akansha shook her head firmly.
"Mausi... can we play a little longer?" Harsh asked, but Akansha didn't budge.
"Aunty... please, please, please..." Ishaan and Ivaan joined in, and Akansha looked at Shaurya.
"Arre, let the kids play, yaar. Akansha, don't be a devil," Dev chimed in.
"Shut up," Shaurya cut him off, then looked at Akansha.
He gave her a small nod, silently asking her to allow them a little more time.
"Okay... only for half an hour," Akansha finally said.
The kids cheered in excitement and ran back to their games.
"Now everything is good except for one thing, yaar Shaurya... you need to complete your family, man. Give Siya a brother and complete the family photo," Dev said.
Shaurya immediately glared at him. Akansha looked uncomfortable, and he noticed it right away.
"Aur tu mohalle wali aunty kab se ban gaya? (Since when did you become one of those neighborhood aunties?)" Shaurya asked, holding Akansha's hand.
"You deserve a devil to keep you on your toes always. Your first child is an angel—I'm hoping your second at least takes after Akansha," Dev said.
Akansha picked up the phone charger and threw it at him. Dev ducked.
"We are more than happy with Siya. We don't want another child. And honestly, neither of us has the time or capacity for it. We are focused on our professional lives, and we want to give our full attention to Siya and to each other. Whatever time we have is for her," Shaurya said firmly.
"Don't worry about work, yaar. Till the child grows up, I'll handle your CM seat. I can even sacrifice my four trips a year for you," Dev said casually.
"Why are you so desperate for me to have a second child? And that too a boy?" Shaurya asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I just want you to suffer like I'm suffering with my two little pigs," Dev said, glancing at his sons playing with Siya and Harsh at a distance. "Don't worry, I'll make sure your work runs like it always has."
"Really? What do you think my work is? Planning to run my government on autopilot? Like you run your bars?" Shaurya shot back.
Rachna looked at Dev in shock. She had forced him to sell all his bars, and he had said he did.
"Dev, you told me you sold all of them... did you lie to me?" she asked.
Dev looked around awkwardly.
"He sold most of them. He was still trying to sell the remaining ones but was waiting for the right buyers. Your husband may be a bad politician, but he's a very good businessman. He doesn't want to sell at a loss," Shaurya stepped in to save him.
Rachna relaxed slightly, but Dev knew this wasn't over.
"I'm going to make coffee. Anyone else wants some?" Shaurya asked, getting up.
Everyone except Akash raised their hands—they were planning a night out and still had a lot to talk about since they barely got time together these days.
"I'll help you," Akansha said.
"He doesn't need help. He can single-handedly cause my divorce," Dev muttered.
Shaurya chuckled, and Akansha shook her head at Dev before walking with Shaurya into the kitchen.
They both began making coffee. After a few minutes of silence, Akansha finally asked what had been bothering her.
"Did you mean what you said out there?" she asked softly.
"Yes," Shaurya said without hesitation. Then he exhaled.
"I'm sorry, I didn't ask you. I... I never properly asked you, but I kind of knew you don't want another child.
You don't want our attention to shift away from Siya.
And honestly, neither do I. We're both work-driven, ambitious.
.. I don't want us—or our kids—to ever feel like we didn't give enough. That's how I see it."
He paused, then continued more quietly, "Akansha... you know I'm okay with whatever you want. It's just that... Siya..."
He stopped mid-sentence.
Akansha understood the rest without him saying it. Siya wasn't just their daughter—she was his anchor. He was trying to make up for every moment he had missed in her early years by giving her all of him now.
And she understood that too well.
She had made peace with this decision long ago. In fact, after Siya's birth itself, she had already decided she didn't want another child.
But there was something she had never told him.
Doctors had informed her back then that due to the injuries she had suffered, she wouldn't be able to conceive again.
Only Richa knew.
And she had chosen silence.
Not out of fear—but out of protection. Because she knew Shaurya. She knew the guilt would destroy him if he ever found out. So she decided to carry it alone.
He had protected her for years without letting her even realize the dangers around her. Now it was her turn to protect him—from a truth that would only break him unnecessarily.
And right now, there was no need to say it. Not when they were already on the same page.
She just needed to make sure Richa stayed quiet.