PART - 57
Shaurya was resting while Akansha kept waiting for him to wake up.
Every moment with him kept running in her head like a reel.
He was the gentlest with her, he always took care of her, if she eliminated a few situations where he had hurt her, the first and foremost being the moment when she got to know through Aakriti how he pulled an act of being in love with her which was a lie but still it hurt because his intentions were different with her.
The second being when he said she deserved the betrayal she got.
The third was the time when he threatened her to marry him.
These are the three most painful moments Shaurya gave her.
If she eliminated this, she barely found him speaking harshly to her or with the intention to hurt her.
He loved her from the day he saw her, long before the issue with Aakriti happened.
So he already developed feelings for her when he approached to deceive her, she wasn't defending his act but trying to acknowledge the facts that could balm her wounded heart.
There wasn't a single second where his love was false.
When Aakriti attempted suicide just after having a miraculous recovery, hearing her words about her character in the hospital, Shaurya was furious, but he distanced himself from her as he was scared he would hurt her badly for what she did to his sister.
But then to save her from marrying a man ten years older than her, he had to step in and marry her.
His furious self and Aakriti's miraculous recovery even at the thought of avenging Akansha's cruel words prompted him to make her believe that he was marrying her for revenge.
He thought of avenging his sister's suffering for that one night, but fate played a cruel game in the name of Virendar Shekhawat.
Was she whitewashing his sins? Maybe she is, but she is countering them with facts only. There's no justification for what he did, but was he the only reason they ended up like that?
Shaurya wouldn't have married her if her mother hadn't forced her to marry a much older man.
Aakriti, who had almost recovered, wouldn't have attempted suicide if her sister hadn't played that stupid act in her jealousy.
All this wouldn't have happened if Dilip hadn't played with Aakriti's feelings or manipulated her.
She and Shaurya would have sorted all their differences soon after their marriage, only if Virendar Shekhawat hadn't played his dirty game and tried to kill her and Aakriti with the help of his wife.
Shaurya wouldn't have agreed to deceive her if Dev wasn't so adamant to play the part if Shaurya refused.
He wouldn't have done it if Aakriti hadn't demanded it and threatened with her life.
Will she do the same if her brother or sister asked her to deceive a man, threatening to harm themselves?
Probably not. She would have slapped them and brought them to their senses, or so she thought.
Can she do that when the other person is actually suicidal and has attempted it multiple times?
She didn't know what she would do, but her conscience wouldn't have agreed to deceive anyone like that.
It was highly unlikely, maybe she would have hurt them in any other way, she didn't know, nor did she want to know.
What happened to her was wrong, Shaurya was wrong, but his love wasn't. It wasn't deception, and she had to agree to that.
That man, even on the verge of getting killed, tried to save her, does she have the courage to pull such a stunt for him?
Maybe yes or maybe no. She felt like giving her life for him; that's how much she loved him, but would she actually have the courage to take a stab for him?
She wouldn't know unless such a situation occurs; she dares to suffer hell for him, but dying?
Maybe not, considering the responsibilities she held.
But again, was love all about taking the pain of your significant other?
No, there are many other factors involved.
Understanding, trust, affection, and confidence.
Shaurya gave her all four, but then one day it came crashing down.
Now that she thought of everything, she couldn't see Shaurya as either black or white.
It's grey, for everything he did, he was either forced or was trying to act as a brother of an innocent and to some extent dumb sister, who was played by people who couldn't be kinder to her.
Yes, he had reasons, but did knowing those reasons lessen the pain she felt?
Maybe learning the truth soothed her wounded heart, but her sufferings wouldn't vanish.
Her pain of dealing with her pregnancy all alone, and giving birth to Siya under those terrible circumstances, was so hard.
What should she do? Will holding a grudge against Shaurya satisfy her aching heart?
No, it doesn't, but she couldn't get herself to forget the deception, or in this case, even the thought of deceiving her in Shaurya's mind.
Shaurya suffered too; his life wasn't a bed of roses like she had thought earlier.
He fought his parents right from when he was a child, but from the shadows.
He troubled his father, attacked him from behind for years, for trying to kill his sister.
He had to live under those people's roof whom he hated with his guts, but had to act otherwise.
They weren't much different if she thought so.
All her life, she struggled, faced hardships, but tried to shoulder all her family's responsibilities.
In return, she wanted genuine love, which she couldn't get.
Even then, she was so used to doing things for them that her mother's cruel words or her sister's pathetic acts couldn't stop her.
But after marrying Shaurya and facing all that, that pattern broke.
She started thinking about her life and started doing things for herself.
She had no one but Shaurya to credit for that.
If he didn't marry her, she would still be that stupid elder daughter of the house who sacrificed every minute of her life for her parents and siblings.
She gave almost three decades of her life to her family, but what did she get in return? Nothing.
But with Shaurya, she had gotten the love; she felt his love in his every gesture.
She was the rudest to him, to date, she treated him the worst, and yet he stayed.
Despite his sins, was she right in treating him the way she did?
She suffered a lot, true, but what did he gain in suffering her?
He suffered too. Where does this realization leave her?
What's the solution to their problem? Can she forgive him for his past deeds?
Can he forget that she was the same woman who spoke ill of his sister and prompted her to commit suicide?
She was sure of one thing: if they move on from their past, forgetting it, if she forgives him and starts afresh with him, they will be one of the happiest couples leading a happy life with Siya, but the question is, can they do it? Can she do it?
Her thoughts were disturbed by Dev, who walked in.
"I handed over the reports to Dr. Chauhan. Did you have your food?", Dev asked, settling beside Akansha.
"Yeah! Siya?", Akansha asked
"She is fine, playing with the kids. Don't worry, Rachna is looking after her", Dev said, and Akansha nodded.
"Are you okay?", Dev asked
"Yah! Was just thinking of ways to break your best friend's bones for neglecting his health. The next time I find him giving speeches about health, I'll be the first one to throw chappals on him, mark my words", Akansha said with anger, making Dev chuckle.
Health speeches are one of the best speeches of Shaurya. He always asks people to take care of their health, and he keeps promoting a healthy lifestyle on his social media handles as well.
"You know, you behave more like his mother than a wife.
One of my friends once said why he was so scared of getting hurt.
During childhood, he used to be so careful while playing, not because he was scared of getting hurt, but of the beating he would get from his mother for hurting himself.
I never understood that kind of love, but maybe now I can see it", Dev said, and Akansha shook her head at his attempt to shift her mood, and it did work.
"I don't know about that 'behaving like a mother' theory, but your 'this' friend does deserve a beating, scratch that thrashing", Akansha said, looking at Shaurya, who is sleeping unaware of his wife's thoughts.
Dev chuckled but couldn't agree more. He, too, was angry with Shaurya for neglecting his health, but seeing Akansha's anger, his anger turned to pity.
God save his best friend.
"Did Dr. Chauhan say anything after seeing the reports? ", Akansha asked
"No, I came here after handing over the reports to him personally. He wouldn't tell anything to anyone without your presence", Dev said, and she sighed.
Technically, Dev was the one who never left Shaurya's side ever; he was the most trustworthy person, but unfortunately, the public image these two best friends maintained didn't convince the doctor to reveal anything to Dev.
"How does Dr. Chauhan know about you and Shaurya being friends?", Akansha asked
"He doesn't. All he knew was Shaurya, and I were mere acquaintances, we met because of Aakriti, well, that's what he thinks", Dev clarified.
"The doctor who treated Aakriti recommended Dr. Chauhan to us, so we got Aakriti treated under him, and Shaurya, too, was suffering at that time.
It was just after you left, and he started taking Dr. Chauhan's help in coping up, that's how much I know.
Shaurya didn't share his health updates with me, he pretended to be fine, and due to the facade we both wear in front of people, I couldn't even go and check on him", Dev said, regretting this whole ordeal of pretending rivalry with his best friend.
"Good things take time, great things take sacrifices.
Which is what you both have been doing for the betterment of people.
Look at the unbelievable change this state has witnessed in every sector, and this remarkable change is not just because of Shaurya; you contribute to a major part of it.
Shaurya doesn't have to deal with a chaotic opposition that keeps discouraging the government or creating pseudo-problems for it, stopping it from reaching the actual problems, and he invested that time in state development.
You are the best example of the wonders a state or country can do if the opposition does exactly what is expected from it.
Fight with the government for people's rights, not against them", Akansha said. Dev looked surprised at her.
"You know this is the first time I have heard praises for myself and Shaurya as well from your mouth. What happened to you, woman?", Dev aske,d earning a glare from her.
"Shut up", Akansha said, rolling her eyes.
They discussed some other things. After some time, Akash made his way inside.
The trio discussed other issues; they were exploring options and how to put the news in the media.
Shaurya had to stay in the hospital for the next 3-4 days at least, and his absence in the office and outside the office would spark confusion if not properly addressed, but they also couldn't reveal his actual condition.
They were thinking of keeping the statement simple.
Akansha thought to decide after discussing with Mr. Sharma and Shaurya's team of advisors, who are currently in the secretariat handling a meeting that's supposed to be chaired by Shaurya.
Akansha didn't want the right to make a decision about what statements to give or anything of that sort, but as a chief minister's wife and immediate family, she is expected to do so, and she didn't want to back down at a time when he needed her.
She informed Mr. Sharma of the situation briefly and requested him to handle things in the office first before heading to the hospital to see Shaurya and discuss further procedures to be followed.
"When do you think he will wake up?", Dev said, looking at Shaurya every two seconds.
"Oh! I thought you might have figured that out by now, especially by how frequently you kept staring at him like a creep", Akansha countered. Dev glared at her.
"Have you ever given a straight answer to a question?", Dev asked, irked
"To you? No", she answered without a pause, and Dev glared at her.
"Usually in cases like his, it takes a few minutes to a few hours since the bleeding is minimal, but if it's heavy, it'll take 2-3 days, he should be waking up in the next few hours, but again, I'm no doctor", she answered, unable to bear Dev's stupid face with that glare.
"Hm... It's been more than just a few hours, I'll go, ask Dr. Chauhan to check him", Dev said, standing up.
"Dev, calm down. He should rest. As soon as he comes to his senses, he would again start thinking about things he shouldn't be thinking now", Akansha said, she is scared it would trigger his second attack.
"Hm...", Dev sat back and both of them started talking.
"Di... I have paid the bill till now. Here is your card. They said they will do the billing during discharge but I requested for the amount that was charged till now", Akash said, handing the receipts and Akansha's card to her.
"You paid the bill? Why would you?", Dev asked, utterly shocked by her act.
"Then who would?", Akansha asked in an 'obvious' tone. Dev tried so hard not to grin at that. His friend would have jumped in happiness if he had heard her. Her simple yet meaningful gesture made him overwhelmingly happy. He looked at Shaurya, who opened his eyes slowly.
"Shaurya...", Dev walked to him, followed by Akansha and Akash.
"Akash, get the doctor here", Akansha said, walking to the other side of Shaurya's bed.
"Do you feel any heaviness?", she asked him softly.
"A bit", he said, and she nodded.
The doctor came and checked him. After declaring he was fine but needed observation, he left from there.
Dr. Chauhan was left surprised when Shaurya didn't refute or insist on an immediate discharge.
He though, noticed Shaurya looking at his wife once in a while, maybe to see if she is in a condition to get convinced.
"Siya... She must be upset...", Shaurya trailed, remembering how he promised her he would be there to pick her up from school.
"Yeah! She said she wouldn't come out of school if her Dadda didn't come to pick her up.
So after 3 days, when you get discharged, pick your daughter from her school and come home", Akansha mocked, rolling her eyes at his 'priorities'.
He suffered a brain stroke and just woke up, but all he could think about was his daughter being upset.
"You promised my little munchkin and broke it? You could have collapsed after bringing her back from school", Dev said, earning a slap on his shoulder from Akansha for trying to stress Shaurya more.
Dev and Akash informed Shaurya that they still haven't given any official statement and told him Mr. Sharma and team are on their way, and Shaurya can decide what statement to give, but what Shaurya said shocked Dev, Akash, and Akansha.
"No need to give any official statement about my health. I'm completely alright, just wanted to work from the comfort of my home for a while, that's how it should be perceived", Shaurya said
"Ask the doctor if his brain is affected, by any chance?", Dev asked, staring at Shaurya as if he had gone crazy. "This is the time you gain sympathy. This is something you should be informing the public of this state, it's their right as well", he added, but Shaurya stayed silent.
"What's running in your head, Shaurya?", Akansha asked him, folding her arms.
"Will let you know soon", he answered softly, averting his gaze, and she knew why he was unable to meet her eye. She remembered what happened that morning that triggered his stroke.
"Take some rest", Akansha said and turned to leave.
"What rest? Didn't you hear what he said? He didn't want anyone to know about his ill health", Dev said, frowned in irritation, unable to figure out his best friend's moves.
"Dev... Play politics - politics after he recovers, for now let him do whatever keeps him away from stress", Akansha said and left from there to talk to the doctor.
"What happened to her? She is fine till now, we even discussed about what statement to go to the press", Dev wondered.
"She is upset with me...", Shaurya said
"Yup, that I know", Dev said as a matter of fact, "I was asking about the reason behind her behavior", he added, and Shaurya glared at him with a look 'idiot-that-was-the-reason.'
"She didn't want to shout at me, so she walked away from here", Shaurya said, and Dev made an 'O' in realization.
When Dev found out that Mr. Sharma would be there in a while, he left from there as his presence might raise unwanted questions.
Mr. Sharma, Akash, and Shaurya discussed a few things.
Shaurya remained adamant about not informing the public about his ill health, and his team unwillingly complied.
After the necessary discussion, Mr. Sharma and team left, taking Shaurya's orders while Shaurya went to sleep on his wife's orders.
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Akansha went to Dev's place, making Akash stay in the hospital with Shaurya for some time.
"Mama bear... When are we going home?", Siya asked, having dinner that her mother was feeding her.
"Why? Don't you like it here?", Rachna asked, ruffling Siya's hair.
"I liked it here a lot. But I want to go home, sleep with mumma and Dadda", Siya said
"Acha? I thought you were angry with your Dadda", Akansha asked her daughter.
"Yes, I'm very angry. Dadda broke his promise, Siya is katti(friendship cut off) with Dadda", Siya said, pouting angrily.
"Siya... Did you ask why Dadda broke his promise? Why didn't he come to pick you up?", Akansha asked her daughter softly.
"No, because Siya is angry", Siya said, folding her arms, puffing her cheeks.
"Well, you should think about it, no? Did Dadda ever break a promise given to you?
", Akansha asked, and Siya thought for a while and shook her head.
"Then, if he broke it now, something urgent might have come up, right?
Dadda loves you so much and gets you everything you ask for, plays with you despite his busy schedule, so don't you think you should be a little understanding when he can't fulfill his promises?
Dadda is very sorry for not being able to come and pick you up, you know?
", Akansha slowly yet softly made her daughter understand things.
Shaurya is already upset that he couldn't pick his daughter up, and now if Siya stays angry with him, he will keep thinking about it as well, and she didn't want any kind of stress for him.
So she convinced her daughter; otherwise, she usually lets the father and daughter solve the issues between them.
Siya understood her mother's words and forgave her father for this once. She asked her mother the reason for Shaurya's absence then.
"Well, Dadda is a bit sick, and he is in the hospital now.
Doctor uncle asked Dadda to rest, that's why he couldn't come home.
Mumma takes care of you when you get sick, right?
The same way, mumma has to take care of Dadda now, so will you stay with Rachna aunty and Dev uncle for a few days?
", Akansha asked, making her daughter understand.
She didn't believe in lying to his daughter.
She believed in simplifying the truth and making the kids understand rather than lying to them.
"Dadda has a fever?", Siya asked with tear-filled eyes and wobbling lips.
"Yes, but nothing to worry. Doctor Uncle is giving medicines to Dadda; he will be home in a few days, and you can play with him then.
Don't cry, my bacha... Mumma will take care of Dadda, okay?
", Akansha told her daughter, who looked broken at the thought of her father in pain.
She never cried like this for her? And she says she loves her more than her Dadda, huh!
It's all father and daughter's scam to fool her, thought she.
Akansha slightly felt jealous of Siya's love for Shaurya.
When Akansha suffered a fever, her little girl instead acted brave and helped Richa in taking care of her.