Akansha and Shaurya finished their breakfast and joined Siya expecting her to behave normally with Shaurya like earlier but its like she is drawn into her cocoon. She stayed aloof with Shaurya till an hour, she even avoided looking at him. Shaurya kept talking to Siya, engaging her in different activities, she responded meekly, she took crayons from his hands, she even let him help but didn't look over him or talked to him no matter what he tried.
Shaurya looked at Akansha with anxiety...
"Siya... bache... will you not look at me? Talk to me?", Shaurya asked after patiently waiting for 2 hours, his voice croaked, and he looked devastated, Akansha held his palm pressing it trying to console him but nothing could lessen his anxiety.
Shaurya received a call from Shweta, he disconnected it but when she called again, he had to pick up.
"Yes Mrs. Gupta... Is it urgent?", his voice steely, surprising Akansha and shocking Shweta.
"Y...Yes sir... Actually you have a meeting with the cabinet today... I called to remind you", Shweta said, Shaurya shut his eyes...
"Postpone it to tomorrow... I won't be available today... keep the team at high alert to manage anything in my absence, inform Mr. Sharma and do call me if anything urgent", Shaurya said and hung up...
Siya looked at Shaurya from her peripheral vision afraid he would leave and Akansha noticed it.
"Oh! you have to leave?", Akansha asked...
"No, I...", Shaurya started but Akansha pressed his palm and he understood what she was trying to convey. Siya wouldn't face such situations until forced to face it so they decided to force whatever is bothering out of her.
"Um... Yes, I had to leave... I'll come again...", Shaurya said expecting a reaction from Siya but she continued coloring.
"Yeah... You should leave, You are here for Siya but since she isn't in a mood to talk to you, you leave. I don't want you to upset my daughter", Akansha said sternly...
Siya raised her head and looked at her mother with disapproving looks as if she didn't like what she said to Shaurya. Shaurya hid his smile at his daughter's cute antics, though he was internally anxious about his little one's suffering.
Shaurya got up and pulled his bag and after acting for a minute as if he was packing his bag, he zipped it, and holding it, he walked towards the exit.
"Mamabear... Ask Sholya not to come here... I don't want to play with him", Siya said suddenly halting Shaurya's steps, her words also surprised Akansha, she thought her daughter would stop Shaurya like she would have always if put in such situations.
Shaurya put away his bag and rushed to his daughter, scared to lose her. He hugged her tightly ruffling her hair...
"Don't say that bacha... I love you so much... Dadda loves you so much Siya... Tell me what's bothering you baby... please", Shaurya pleaded hugging her... His tears wetting little Siya's neck and cheek... Akansha knew Siya was just saying for namesake as she was angry but who would make Shaurya understand, he was so scared even at the thought of not seeing his daughter that he dropped all his senses somewhere.
Siya moved back pushing Shaurya's arms away, but wiped his tears, kissing his cheek.
"You love me? Leally(really?)", she asked Shaurya, with her cute angry pout...
"Yes, a lot... I love you so much bacha...", Shaurya said
"Mumma says lying is bad", Siya told him strongly as if she didn't believe that he loved her.
"I'm not lying Siya... I really love you...", Shaurya told his daughter, trying to decode what's running in his little one's head.
"No, only mamabear loves Siyabear... Ammu's papa dlop(drop) her to school, he plays with hel(her), he give chocos(he gets her chocolates), he callys her like this(he carries her like this)", Siya said showing her arms... "You no love me(you don't love me)", Siya complained...
She continued listing all the things she saw Ammu's dad and her friends' dads doing, she even listed her favorite cartoons and how they lived with their fathers but he wasn't there for her.
Shaurya and Akansha understood their little girl's problem, and why she didn't believe when he told her he loved her, how to make her trust him again? He loved his daughter the most, she is as dear to him as her mother is, but unfortunately, both women didn't believe him and he was the cause, it made his heart bleed.
"I am sorry Siya... Please forgive me... I had a very important work, that's why I couldn't come to meet you... But now that I'm here, I won't go anywhere", he said, Akansha stared at him with wide eyes... Is he crazy? he just told their daughter that he didn't meet her because he was busy in work, Siya would get even more upset and she wouldn't forgive him that easily...
"No... You ale(are) bad, vely vely bad(very very bad)", Siya said throwing tantrums...
Akansha sighed, her daughter recently started spelling 'r' correctly but in hurry, she made some mistakes, especially when she is angry which she is now.
"Dadda loves you Siya... A lot... Please trust me baby... and forgive me...", Shaurya said
"Siyabear... You trust Mama Bear, right? Papa really loves you, baby... Didn't I tell you that already?" Akansha tried her best to help Shaurya.
"No... Dadda no love Siya(Dadda doesn't love Siya)", Siya said, and Shaurya froze while Akansha hid her smile as it would piss her daughter off if she smiled when her little one was that furious.
But Shaurya couldn't hold himself. He hugged his daughter tightly. Tears escaped his eyes, and Siya again broke the hug and wiped his tears. Her little gesture warmed his heart. He knew his daughter loved him a lot; she was just upset.
"Okay if you think Dadda doesn't love you, why don't you test him? If he passes the test, you forgive him, if not, you stay angry?", Shaurya proposed, his little daughter looking at him confused.
"No...", Siya refused his offer after thinking for a while.
"Okay, why don't you treat him just as your best friend Shaurya?", Akansha proposed, that would be better than Siya not talking to him at all but what Siya said made their hearts flutter at the same time worried.
"But he is not my best friend, he is my dadda...", Siya said
"Yes that I'm, but I'm also your friend Siya... Your best friend", Shaurya said composing himself soon. Every time he heard 'dadda' from his daughter's mouth, his heart fluttered in happiness.
"No, I don't want to talk to you... You are bad", Siya said and Akansha sighed at her stubborn daughter, like father-like daughter.
"Okay... If that's what you want, but I will stay with you the whole day... I want to play with my daughter... my siyu...", Shaurya said kissing her hair, and Siya wiped the place he kissed, to show she is still angry, Shaurya couldn't stop himself from chuckling at her antics but quickly shut it seeing his daughter glaring at him.
"Sorry", he held his ears but she turned her head to the opposite side angrily.
The three of them spent some time with Siya still not talking to Shaurya and his daughter's anger and indifference were hurting Shaurya but what made it bearable was her addressing him 'Dadda' every time, as if she had already accepted it.
"Mamabear... It's dadda's turn now", Siya said, snatching the dice from Akansha who purposely took Shaurya's chance to make her daughter speak for Shaurya, every time her little girl addressed him 'dadda', his smile was unmatched and Akansha wanted to see it more frequently, especially after how he kept shedding tears from last night often. Shaurya sure was emotional but never a person who would cry, and when he did, she knew he was feeling extreme agony and she wanted to lessen it.
"Oh! My honey bunny, you protected my chance huh... thank you so much", Shaurya said but his daughter as usual didn't respond.
"Okay my favorite ladies... I'll now go and make lunch, you keep playing, okay?", Shaurya said getting up, after finishing the game.
Akansha glared at him for his 'favorite ladies' endearment and he cursed his tongue for the slip. Before she could stop him from cooking, he left to the kitchen leaving Akansha to sigh.
He finished cooking, Shaurya requested he would feed Siya and so Akansha and Shaurya tricked Siya. Akansha said she was hungry and so Siya agreed for Shaurya to feed her, otherwise she denied at first as she was angry with him. After they are done with the lunch, Akansha took Siya to the room for her mandatory afternoon nap.
"Mamabear...", Siya called, as Akansha patted her to sleep.
"Hm...?", she responded...
"Dadda no lunch ?(Dadda didn't have lunch, why ?)", the little one asked.
"Dadda wanted to feed you first, now he will have it, don't worry", Akansha said and this little thing made Siya giggle in happiness. Her mother too never ate without feeding her first, if her father did the same thing, then he might have definitely loved her, then why didn't he come to meet her all these years? Just like that questions popped up in her little mind and soon with Akansha's patting, she fell into sleep, after which Akansha made her way to the hall. Instead of eating, she saw Shaurya in the kitchen.
"What are you doing there? had your lunch?", Akansha asked
"Yeah... Done...", Shaurya responded and Akansha saw him baking cupcakes.
"For Siya?", she asked and he nodded...
"then what's this for?", she asked seeing the sugar syrup
"Gulab jamun, your favorite", he answered displeasing her...
"What's all this Shaurya, just concentrate on your daughter... Don't try to revive old memories, they would never return", she condemned him strongly...
"Calm down Akansha... I just made it as Siya called me 'Dadda' for the first time, so, I wanted to celebrate it, you might have celebrated the day she called you 'Mumma' for the first time right?", he told and she felt guilty for shouting at him especially seeing his pale face and thought to give him a gift as compensation.
"We have already celebrated this day", Akansha said
"What do you mean?", Shaurya asked with a frown...
"Your daughter's first syllable was 'Pa', second one was 'Da' and her first word is 'Dada', and we have already celebrated that day", Akansha said shocking Shaurya...
"Her first word was 'Dada'?", he asked to himself but Akansha nodded nonetheless... He badly wanted to hug her tightly, expressing his happiness but he knew it would make her uncomfortable and he wanted to refrain from doing anything that would anger her...
"finish this fast, and come to the hall, I have to show you something", she said and left from there...
He plugged in his airpods and started dancing while making the desserts. He was too happy and he was in a place where no one would see him or judge him except for Akansha. Well, he didn't mind her seeing him dancing as he knew she wouldn't judge him. That woman had seen every angle of him, there's nothing to hide from her, well except the truth that would hurt or harm her, he reminded himself.
After finishing his work in the kitchen, he walked to the hall, and he saw Akansha changing some settings in the TV.
"What are you doing?", he asked looking at her...
"Hm...", she said pointing towards the TV.
Shaurya froze, seeing what was on the screen.
His 10-month-old daughter, wearing a purple frock, with a matching hairband, walking with the help of her pink walker towards Akansha... He could hear the background voice of Richa asking Siya to say 'Mama' but Siya kept saying syllables like 'Pa' and 'Da'.
"Say 'Mama', 'Mama'", Richa said from background, who is probably shooting the video...
"Come here, come to mama, Siya... come here", Akansha said extending her palms, Siya kept rushing towards her mother with her baby walker...
"Da.... Pa.... Dada...", Siya said, and Shaurya felt like his heartbeat paused, just to start beating wildly the next second.
The video ended with the shocked face of Akansha... Shaurya sat beside Akansha on the sofa... he took her palm in his and kissed the back of her palm and pressing it to his forehead in gratitude.
"You don't know what you have given me... by showing this to me... Thank you... Thank you so much", Shaurya expressed his gratitude and Akansha nodded.
It took him a while to compose himself and then ask her the most important question that's pinching his heart.
"Were you hurt? Siya's first word is 'Dada' and not 'Mama', were you hurt by this?", Shaurya asked
"You want me to be honest?", she asked and he nodded.
"I was a bit upset but not because Siya said 'Dada' first but because you weren't there to hear her say it, I felt a lot of anger and fury at that tine, I thought you didn't deserve her first word, but I composed myself as I didn't want my hatred for you to be a part of that important day, So, Richa and I celebrated her first word without any negative emotions", Akansha said and he nodded with a proud smile... This was the woman he chose, his woman. The woman he loved so much and still does, but sadly failed to keep her.
"How did you love a man like me?", he asked her, her eyes narrowed at his statement. He was the best thing that happened to her, well people would think she is crazy to think that way but it's true, till date she felt the same... She had one of her best days with him, despite all the reasons he approached her for, he was the first man to make her feel that unconditional love. Her father too loved her, but more than love, she saw sympathy in his eyes, sympathy for the pain she went through because of his wife and daughter, her brother too loved her but underneath that love, there's gratefulness. But, Shaurya loved her unconditionally, despite all the reasons he had to hate her, he loved her, yes now she hated him, but she couldn't forget those days where Shaurya made sure only happiness was a part of her life, nothing else, and more than anything, he gave her Siya, her lifeline.
"I loved a good man, a man who deserved my love and much more... But then one day, he suddenly disappeared", she said staring into his eyes, the emptiness in her eyes scared him...
"Akansha...", he trailed
"Let's talk about Siya, how are you gonna convince her?", Akansha asked...
"I'll keep doing whatever is possible and will wait till my daughter forgives me", he answered
"Why did you tell her, you didn't come to meet her because of work? You know she would get more upset because of it, don't you?", she asked
"Then what should I say? I had to give a reason and this seemed the best one. Also I don't want her to know about the actual truth, at least not now, so this is for the best", He replied... She didn't have any words to say, he was ready to bear his daughter's anger, even hatred in future but didn't want Siya to get upset with her. This was the man she loved, a man who selflessly put himself behind always, for the sake of his woman's happiness, her happiness, but his thirst for retribution destroyed the beautiful life they could have had, thought she, but was retribution the only reason he gave her pain?
"Siya loves you a lot... She will soon forgive you", Akansha said and he smiled with hope.
The door bell rang, widening Shaurya's eyes...
"Damn it... Who is it at this time?", Shaurya asked, Akansha peeped through the hole and seeing Richa, she panicked.
She informed the same to Shaurya who looked tensed.
"Look! I know she is your best friend but I don't trust her at all, she could use anyone and anything to tarnish my image... I'll be in the room with Siya, send her away quickly", Shaurya said and Akansha nodded, as she couldn't deny what he said, yes Richa could do anything to defame Shaurya and she just can't let it happen in her home. Her best friend might spare her and her daughter, but she would find another way to defame Shaurya which she couldn't let happen.
Akansha calmed down and opened the door...
"Ansha... What took you so long... You better give me my keys back, I don't have to ring a bell like an outsider", Richa said settling on the sofa. Shaurya stood behind the bedroom door, hearing their conversation clearly.
"You do remember, I haven't forgiven you yet, so no... I am not handing over the keys to you anytime soon, now tell me why are you here?", Akansha asked Richa strictly, she so wanted to drive her best friend away, before she finds about Shaurya's presence.
"I am here to stay...", Richa said
"No you can't, I told you I need some time... Richa... Leave", Akansha said sternly...
"Okay... I'll leave but you sit with me for a while... I need to talk to you about something", Richa said pulling Akansha beside her. "Don't interrupt me, listen to me completely", Richa started and Akansha unwillingly nodded but that was her mistake.
"Ansha... I didn't know he is Siya's father, otherwise I would have never let Siya meet him, especially after knowing how much you despise Siya's father. I thought you just hate the CM because of what happened on the day Siya was born... That day...", Richa trailed but Akansha cut her off quickly but the damage was already done, Shaurya heard it all...
"Richa... Don't talk about it, leave now", Akansha coldly said, her heart beating wildly if Shaurya heard it all. She hoped he didn't, but she knew she is hoping against hope.
"No Ansha... Please let me explain... You almost lost Siya that day, because of him and his...", Richa started but Akansha held Richa's wrist pulling her to stand and then gently dragged her out of the door.
"I am very upset, didn't want to talk about anything... Go home now, we will talk tomorrow", Akansha said, coldly staring at her friend before shutting the door.
Richa stared at the shut door with shock and surprise at her best friend's fury. Richa cursed herself for unintentionally triggering Akansha's dreadful memories of that day. Richa left from there, thinking to talk to her friend when she is a bit better.
Akansha walked in, dropped herself on the sofa, holding her head. Her friend has messed up, totally. The thing that she wanted to hide from Shaurya forever is now out, though not completely, but after knowing the context, Shaurya would definitely dig the truth.
----------------------------
"Please... I am pregnant, let me go... Please... Don't do this"
"We don't care... Until and unless things go in our favor we won't stop this"
"Ah... Please admit me in the hospital... My water broke... P.. Please", she screamed in pain...
-----------------------------
"What was she talking about?", Shaurya's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Nothing...", Akansha said wiping her sweat, remembering that day still sent shivers to her...
"What happened when Siya was born? I deserve to know Akansha, please tell me", Shaurya begged.
"No you don't, you don't deserve anything... Just get lost from my sight, I don't want to see you now... Go", Akansha shouted...
"I will, but please calm down", he said, she sat on the sofa holding her head tightly as it started aching badly... He poured some water and she took slow sips of it. He quickly brought her medicine bag which he saw her putting in the shelf this morning. She took a pill for her headache to calm herself down.
Shaurya left to sit with his daughter as his presence is distressing his wife more, he could see clearly.
----------------------------
Shaurya already ordered Dev's PI Ashwini to investigate the whole info about Akansha. He pinged him again, asking to concentrate on what happened on the day Siya was born and collect the whole information as soon as possible.
He worked, handled some virtual meets till Siya was asleep. Though he told he was unavailable for the day, there are some crucial things that needed his immediate attention. But he shut his work as soon as he felt his daughter's movements.
He rushed to Akansha to let her know about Siya waking up but she was resting after taking the medicine, he didn't want to disturb her, so he came back and tried to handle his daughter himself. Thankfully she forgot about her anger for the time being, as she is still in her sleep.
"Siya... You woke up?", he gently asked ruffling her hair.
"Yes Dadda... Mumma?", Siya asked rubbing her eyes... His heart fluttered at how she called him 'Dadda'
"Mumma is having slight headache, so let her rest hm?", he asked softly, kissing her hair...
"Okay...", Siya said hugging Shaurya, leaning her head on his chest. He carefully carried her in his arms, helped her freshen up, and changed her clothes. He picked her up in his arms again and took her to the kitchen to feed her the juice he made as by now he knew a bit of his daughter's timetable.
"Ewwww... Dadda... No...", Siya pushed the spoon away with which he is feeding her. She didn't like the taste, so refused having it anymore.
"Okay... Okay... Mumma will make the juice again for you after she wakes up... Till then, let's eat something else", Shaurya said.
"What?", she asked meekly, slowly coming back to her angry self.
"Well, dadda made cupcakes for his little unicorn... Wanna try?", Shaurya asked...
Siya's eyes lit up hearing about cup cakes and how her dadda called her 'unicorn'
"Am I unicorn?", Siya asked him
"Of course you are", he replied, taking out the cup cakes and handing her one, which she excitedly took it from him and had it...
"Yummy... Dadda... Very yummy...", Siya said taking another big bite...
"I am happy you liked it, I'll make more flavors for you but eat slowly bache... You will choke yourself... Take small bites", he said softly rubbing her neck afraid the food would get stuck. "And chew properly", he softly instructed his daughter which she followed much to his relief.
"Dadda... You said I'm unicorn?", Siya asked him and he nodded making her smile... "But I no have(don't have) magical horn like unicorn, I also no magical powers(I don't have magical powers too)", little Siya questioned.
"True... You don't have magical horn but that's because my Siya's pretty hair will get spoiled because of the horn, so God didn't give you horn, but you have magical powers", he said and Siya got excited.
"I have? Whele(where) what power?", Siya asked him excitedly...
"You have the magical power to make anyone smile, especially dadda and mumma... Whatever tension we have, it will disappear with your kissie and we will start smiling", Shaurya said and, Siya grinned imagining her power.
"Leally?(really)", Siya asked
"Yes... If you want you can try... Dadda is sad na, try giving a kissie to him and see for yourself", Shaurya said acting sad.
Siya nodded her head frantically and kissed him tightly on his cheek, which made him grin widely... She looked at him and the natural wide grin on his face made Siya clap loudly at discovering her magical power.
"Yayyy.... Yayyy", Siya jumped and just then Akansha came there. Siya ran to her mother hugging her legs.
"Mamabear, dadda said I am unicorn and I have magic powers", Siya shared excitedly...
"Yeah I have seen... Had your cupcake?", She asked
"Yes, yummy", Siya answered
"Okay, go and play with your toys, mumma and dadda have something to talk", Akansha said, she said it casually but that simple statement, specially the use of 'mumma' & 'dadda' in the same sentence made his heart flip... He only dreamt about such things till now.
"Okay...", Siya said, running to the hall and sat down, playing with her toys.
"Shaurya... Do something about her anger, you do know she is just avoiding her anger and that's why she is behaving normal with you... This isn't permanent... Think about a solution to make her anger disappear forever", Akansha said...
"I know... But I have no idea how to make her believe I love her more than anything and anyone...", Shaurya confessed.
"For that... You have to keep reminding her about the cause, and keep telling her that you love her...", Akansha adviced.
"How can I? She would stop talking to me...", Shaurya replied, scared.
"But this is the only permanent solution, stop running away from the problem like your daughter, face it and solve it from the root", she adviced and he nodded, though he was unwilling, that would be the only option they are left with.
"By the way, Siya didn't like this juice, I don't know where I went wrong... I prepared it exactly like I saw you doing", he asked.
"Let me taste it", Akansha said, and he brought the spoon to her mouth and she had it as a reflex action but only after a second, she understood what they did. She glared at him and he muttered a sorry.
"Have you added honey?", she asked
"Honey?", he questioned and she nodded. He shook his head.
"That's the issue, add a spoon of honey and feed her, she will have it", Akansha said and he nodded, and just like that, his daughter had the juice quickly while playing with her doll set.
The whole day, three of them spent time together but Siya soon remembered why she is angry with her father and she resumed her silence which became unbearably painful to Shaurya but he practiced patience. He kept talking to her, playing with her despite her lack of response.
After dinner, Siya sat on the sofa, with her crayons and color book, while Akansha just stepped out of the kitchen after finishing the chores. Shaurya wanted to help her but she denied citing he was the one who took care of everything from morning, so she got this.
"Siya... You just had food baby... Play for sometime, before laying like that...", Akansha said, looking at Shaurya who was staring at his daughter with longing and love.
"I don't want to play", Siya said.
"Play with dadda baby, he will leave for his place soon", Akansha said and Siya raised her head from her color books to look at her mother and then at her father.
Siya angrily pushed all her color books, crayons, sketches and all the stationery on the sofa, glaring at Shaurya.
"You don't love me... Go... You won't stay with me... Dadda go... You are bad, you are very bad", Siya said crying and hugged Akansha's legs, hiding herself from Shaurya.
His heart broke seeing his daughter in tears...
"Dadda really loves you Siya... Please try and understand baby... I can stay here if you want... Just don't cry Siya... Dadda can't see you in tears... You are right, I am very bad...", Shaurya said kneeling in front of Akansha, trying to make Siya look at him but she tightly hugged her mother's legs hiding her face in her kurti.
Akansha kneeled down to her level and Siya nuzzled her head in her mother's neck, who ruffled her hair softly.
"Siya... Papa loves you a lot baby... Say bye to him properly, he would come to meet you soon... Don't be upset... Siya...", Akansha tried to console her daughter but she was inconsolable... Shaurya showed his palm asking Akansha to stop trying. He didn't want to force his daughter into forgiving him.
"Siya... Bacha... Dadda is very sorry... Please stop crying", Shaurya tried, ruffling her hair but she jerked his palm.
Akansha consoled his daughter and she stopped crying much to Shaurya's relief but she still refused to look at him.
"My little unicorn, dadda is going, please shower your magic on him... Dadda is very sad bacha... Please", Shaurya tried, so that she at least looks at him but she ran to her room without seeing him breaking his heart.
"Its okay, She will come around", Akansha said, as he looked very worried.
"I don't know... My daughter doesn't want to see me and I have no one to blame but me, she is crying badly, that too because of me... You are right in not telling me about her, I think I'm a terrible father, I made her cry... I'm sorry", Shaurya said, his voice hoarse. Akansha looked at him, her eyes softened at his words, she knew he is questioning himself as a father and needed her assurance.
"Kids cry when things don't go their way... Siya cried because of me too, that doesn't mean I'm a bad mother... Stop hitting yourself with all these things... She wanted you to stay with her, like a family, just like how her friends' families live. When she heard you are leaving, her dreams crashed and she was upset about it, but eventually she will come around, she had to accept the fact that her parents are separated and they can never live under the same roof", Akansha said and his hopes came crashing down. Though he knew this is her opinion, hearing the same from her mouth gave him a harsher blow.
"She is not old enough to understand all this Akansha", Shaurya said softly...
"We'll tell her in a way she understands just like we told about not revealing you to be her father, for now", Akansha said and Shaurya sighed.
They told Siya that if Shaurya's bosses knew that he is being with family, they will again call him back to work because of which he couldn't meet her all these years. This excuse perfectly worked for her and they knew she wouldn't reveal anyone about him being her father untill he finds a way out of all these chaos.
"That was necessary... We don't have an option", Shaurya tried
"We don't have an option here too, Shaurya... Siya had to live with separated parents", Akansha said, and at that moment he wanted to reveal her the truth. About their divorce which was never filed. But if he tells her that, she would freak out, then blame him and would hate him more than she already does. Then he had to tell her everything why he had to give her the divorce papers. He did everything to protect her but the sad part was he couldn't be able to express it in time.
"Let's not talk about it now... We'll see what the future holds... For now take care of Siya and yourself too... I'll leave now. I'll call tomorrow to talk to her, if her anger subsides, I'll come to meet her during midnight", Shaurya said and Akansha nodded. She knew that was the only time he could come there without anyone spotting him.
"Suraj... Have you reached?", Shaurya asked, as soon as he picked up the phone.
"No sir, will be there in an hour, due to festivities, people are still on the roads and I don't think it's safe for you to get out of ma'am place now", Suraj told.
"Okay... Take your time, but do not take any risk, come here only when you are confident that no one's watching", Shaurya ordered and hung up.
"I'll be your guest for one more hour", Shaurya said and Akansha nodded without saying a word, though she wanted to tell him that he behaved far from how a guest behaves.
Akansha walked to the room to make Siya sleep but she found her daughter already asleep. She kissed her little one's hair, wiped her dried tears and quietly closed the door after covering her with her duvet properly.
"How is she?", Shaurya asked as soon his wife stepped out.
"She slept... Must be very tired", Akansha said and he nodded.
They passed an hour talking about Siya and Shaurya left in his hoodie and tracks when Suraj called him to inform he was here. Akansha wanted to assure him once again as he looked quite in distress regarding his daughter but she didn't want him to think that she cares for him so she let him go.
-------------------------
Three days passed and Akansha had an approval meeting with Shaurya on Thursday so she reached his office. Just then she saw Shweta on phone with Shaurya.
"Mrs. Sudha has sent your lunch sir... Should I send it in?", Shweta asked.
"No...", Shaurya said and hung up. Shweta sighed, rubbing her forehead.
"Is everything alright? You look tensed", Akansha asked Shweta...
Shweta at first hesitated but she decided to share it with her nonetheless, maybe Akansha could help her boss.
"Sir didn't have a single morsel from the past 3 days... Don't know what happened, this is the 4th day with him going without food. This has never happened in the past 4.5 years ma'am, he is very particular about his health but this time his behavior has left all of us surprised...", Shweta said shocking Akansha...
"How is he managing then?", Akansha asked, not trying to hide her worry...
"He is surviving on vitamins, ma'am", Shweta responded leaving Akansha astounded. Shaurya always took care of his health as he knew he cannot afford to fall sick, he used to say, his profession wasn't advantageous when it came regarding taking offs, so he had to be fit to keep working.
No matter his worries, he always looked after his physical health.
She should have realized earlier about something like this happening... He called to talk to Siya everyday but Siya was the same, angry with him and denied to even say 'hi' to him. His tone sounded low and she asked him numerous times if he was fine and he said he was, now she knew he was far from okay.
Shaurya's nightmares returned with double force. This time it wasn't just about Akansha, it's also about Siya, and the facts he got to know, like Siya suffering from jaundice when she was born and the things that Akansha hid from him, which made her hate him more, all the things clubbed and exemplified into nightmares making it difficult for him to even breathe. He tried to calm himself, assure himself that they were both fine now but nothing calmed his senses. He had no appetite and once he tried to eat forcefully but he threw up all the food, even some blood, and after that experience, he avoided food intake, even fluids didn't make sense to him so he just survived on vitamins for now. He knew once his daughter talked to him, everything would fall into place as his mental health would get better with it.
He knew Siya was temporarily upset with him but the pain of being the reason for his daughter's tears left him devastated.
"I'm here to request a pre-ponement of my appointment which is initially at 5 in the evening, is he available now?", Akansha asked pulling the cold mask again. Shweta was taken aback by how Akansha could be indifferent towards Shaurya, people care for even a stranger in such situations and here it's her husband yet she acted as if it didn't matter to her. On the other hand, Shaurya looked like he could even give his life for her, but Shweta refrained from judging Akansha as she didn't know the dynamics between the couple.
"Yes ma'am, sir is available for half an hour before his next meeting starts", Shweta said
"That's more than enough, I just need his signatures in this form, thank you Shweta", Akansha said politely and walked in, while Shweta called him to inform about Akansha's visit though she knew he would never stop his wife from entering his cabin. That man is clean-bowled for her. Akansha knocked and when she heard his 'come-in', she walked in.
"Hi... Sorry, I came at this time, while my appointment was initially at 5, I have some work at that time, I completely forgot about it before", Akansha said
"It's okay, You don't have to explain... You can visit me anytime, I'll have time for you always", he said gently, she could see the weakness in him, not physically but definitely in other terms, he looked worn out as if something or someone had snatched his peace, sleep, and harmony.
"I need your signatures on this... We are almost at the end of Phase-1, with your permission, we'll start making the demo, the final results are mentioned in here, after your approval, we'll go forward", Akansha said
"That's great, it's moving ahead of the deadline, I appreciate it...", Shaurya said, looking at the files she brought, she explained everything to make it easy for him and after all the clearances, he too signed, and handed over the file to her. He thought she would take it and leave but she kept it aside, got up, and walked over to him.
"Why did you lie to Siya, that you know about her but still didn't come to meet her all these years, you do know she is upset because of it right?", Akansha asked folding her arms, leaning on his table. She looked like the woman, the professor he met years ago... the woman he fell in love with... He shook his thoughts away, concentrating on her words first.
"Don't worry, I am not gonna take this blame all my life, when she gets mature enough to understand why you had to hide it from me, we will tell her and we both will trouble you for this", Shaurya replied with a tinge of humor...
"Shaurya, Siya thinks you don't love her which is so not true", Akansha said, worried lines on her forehead...
"Exactly, that's not true, if not today, she will understand my love soon...", Shaurya argued
"Can you afford her anger till then?", Akansha asked looking at Shaurya in the eye... He looked away as he couldn't answer it honestly looking in her eyes...
Precap - Siya - Shaurya - Akansha... The demo... Past simultaneously...
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Note - Parts 31-38 are available in stck.me. Links are available in my message board.