After the demo, a few guests asked their queries and Mrs. Arora and her team handled all of it efficiently. Everyone was impressed by their research and the tweaks they did based on the Indian as well as global market, and according to the skills today's generation needed. Shaurya's research and knowledge about even the little details of the project impressed everyone present. During the event, the dignitaries praised the team's efforts and gave a few suggestions that could boost the project's performance, which the whole team took constructively. The ending speech was delivered by the governor virtually, he praised the CM's efforts and team's expertise in handling things, he also expressed his desire to personally visit the CR team's office to learn more about this project.
The event ended successfully and the guests left, Shaurya had a meeting with the DEOs, so he was still in the school building which was the venue for the event, Akansha, and her team stayed back to wrap up and also discuss a few things. They wanted to pick a few students who would be their alpha users, they wanted meritorious students with strong mind and flexibility to test their curriculum so that they could manage the challenges posed by simultaneously involving in this testing prodigy and their current prodigy. To test the same, Akansha and the team decided to select the students starting from today itself, they are picking students from all kinds of schools, so they thought to start from here. The school offered the projection room to the CR team to carry on with their selection procedure.
Akansha finished detailing the students about the project, the changes they would be encountering while following this and also the probable challenges, and now Mr. Khan took over, so Akansha came out of the room to make a call to Richa's parents to check on Siya.
Akansha after checking with Richa's parents about Siya, now was talking to her daughter who got busy in detailing about her day.
"Here... Here... Pass the ball...", she heard some kids shouting... She walked forward to see what's going on and the sight that welcomed her froze her feet there.
A group of school boys, probably hostlers were playing football. But what glued her eyes in that direction was Shaurya among them, with his formal shirt's sleeves folded till his forearm, playing with them as if he was one of them. His charming laughter and the enthusiasm in his tone made it it hard for everyone to separate him from the group of boys. It's as if he belonged there. And boy he played so well that even the best of the players stood astounded. This school is famous for offering best of the football players in the state and all the boys who were playing seemed very good at it, but what surprised everyone was Shaurya matching their level, sometimes exceeding them.
There are two types of celebrities or public figures, some who act down to earth to blend in with the crowd, as a part of PR. Second are those who genuinely belong to the crowd, they don't have to act in to blend in or create that belongingness among people, their acts every now and then prove how much they are into people. Most of the politicians belonged to the first category but Shaurya surprisingly belonged to the second one. Despite coming from a privileged background, it was never hard for him to relate with the common man, it's like money and status never got into his head, he never had to try all those PR stunts to blend in, he was so compassionate and outgoing that he never had difficulty in mingling with any kind of crowd, despite their age, gender, class, religion, caste or creed.
It's his attitude that made those boys play so freely with him despite him being the chief minister of the state. It's as if they forgot that fact and looking at his carefree self, she is sure even he forgot that he was the CM.
At that minute, all her hatred and complaints were forgotten. It's as if looking at the child in him, she was mesmerized enough to forget all his wrongdoings. Before she could realize, she found herself hanging up on her daughter who was asking about when can she meet her dadda again. Akansha started shooting a video of him playing with the boys, just like everyone else who are busy in shooting Shaurya's videos, all the while cheering for him.
Shaurya was playing well, scoring goal after goal but his foot halted when he saw his wife holding her phone shooting his video. With the little interest she showed towards him, she made this whole experience a beautiful memory for him. He stared at her lost in her eyes that once held love for him. She looked away for a second but looked at him again but the apprehension before has now changed into shock, her mouth widened, only then did he realize that they were about to lose because of his absent mindedness, damn how could he lose his senses, what if someone noticed him staring at her... how could he let his attraction for her overpower his sense of care and protectiveness for her.
He quickly diverted his attention stopping the other team from scoring the goal, handling the game as well as the situation with his wife. He kept playing for 2-3 hours untill the boys were tired and wanted to stop. He didn't play for PR, he did it for the connect he felt with the boys and how well they enjoyed playing with him, most importantly, he enjoyed teaching some tricks to them.
"S... Sir... You were just awesome", the head player praised Shaurya at his knowledge of the game and his perfection at the sport.
"Thanks... It's been years I last played football, but this was a better game than the last one", Shaurya said remembering his last game where he was playing with his office colleagues when he received a call from his father that changed the course of his life. Politics was in his mind always, that was the career he chose for the later part of his life, for the first 10 - 15 years of his career, he wanted to fulfil his thirst for numbers, finance was always his forte, he loved dealing with those stuff, he was believed as one of the best financial analysts and his same excellency and skill led him to reach top position in the company in just an year. His investment ideas have always proved to be a boon to the organization. The very same skill helped him turn his state into one of the best economically stable states in the country.
The call that he received from his father that day made him leave his career, the name he made for himself, his company, his friends, everything behind to join politics.
Shaurya came out of the bitterness even the thought of that call with his father left in his mouth. He gave some tips to the students and when asked how he acquired so much knowledge about the sport, his answer stunned them. Shaurya was once a football player and he was even selected for the national football team but his passion for numbers made him leave the sport and pursue his further education in Harvard.
After this revelation, everyone was impressed with Shaurya's talent, he knew this part of his life would now become viral.
"We thought your life is an open book, but looks like it's not", A student asked with a smile.
"Well it is an open book, but some pages are yet to be read", he said glancing at Akansha briefly before shifting his gaze away.
Akansha's phone buzzed with Richa's mother's number. She knew it's her daughter so she quickly picked the call.
"Mumma... Dadda come home or not? (Will dadda be home today or not?)", Siya asked... Richa's parents just know that Siya's father is back but just in Siya's life. But they have no idea who he is.
"No baby, not today, Dadda is busy, some other day", Akansha said and Siya started throwing tantrums... "Siyabear calm down... If you be a good girl now, Mumma will show you a video of your dadda, which you will enjoy a lot", Akansha proposed a deal and little Siya who is excited about everything related to her father quickly accepted.
After talking to her daughter for a minute more, Akansha gave Shaurya a final look and walked inside. After the game, Shaurya conducted his meetings in the open ground as after a long time, he is experiencing peace with his wife just a few meters away and his daughter just a call away.
"Sir...", Suraj walked to Shaurya showing his personal phone and a small smile formed on Shaurya's face. He just thought about his daughter and here she is calling him. Sometimes he thinks the magical power stories he tells to his daughter are all real, there is really some magical connection between him and his Siya.
Shaurya excused himself and walked a few meters away before accepting his daughter's call.
"Dadda...", he heard his daughter's loud squeal filled with excitement, as soon as he picked up his call...
"Ohooo... What made my Siyu so happy?", Shaurya asked with a wide smile, his little daughter really has some magical powers, just a word from her and he is all smiles.
"Mumma said suppise(surprise)... Your Video...", Siya told him in her gibberish language but Shaurya understood everything... "Yayyy... I'm exchiited(excited)", He heard his daughter say.
Shaurya understood that Akansha shot his video to show to his daughter, not for him... Yes, that stung but he had to accept it. After he brutally broke her heart and gave years of pain to her, he could not expect her to love him, it would be a sin even if he expected her to talk gently with him. He was ready to bear her hatred, detest, and everything she threw at him for life, for the pain he gave her. He could do anything just to make her feel better, but can anything he does could ever make her feel better?
"Dadda, you come here today? (Will you come here today?)", Siya asked her father... How could he answer that question when he didn't know what his wife wanted, he didn't want to overwhelm her with his presence.
"Siya, have you asked your mumma about this?", Shaurya asked Siya softly...
"Yes Dadda... Mumma said you are busy", Siya said giving him his answer...
"Um... Yes... Actually Dadda is very busy, My unicorn will understand her dadda na? I'll soon come to see you baby... and I'll video call you once I reach home, okay?", Shaurya said, his heart clenched, he is never busy for his wife or daughter, but if Akansha told he was busy, he would obey it.
"Okay, Dadda... Bye...", Siya said and hung up, he knew his daughter was upset but he couldn't go there without his wife's permission. He had to find another way to cheer up his daughter.
After completing his meetings with the DEOs and some education department staff, he was about to leave but found out the CR team was still in the campus, so he walked to the projection room where the whole team was gathered. Mr. Sharma, Suraj, Shweta and his immediate staff following him...
"When you were aware that you were the presenter, then how can you be so irresponsible, this is such a big event, there are politicians, scholars, and business leaders from across the country, more than everything, our Chief Minister placed his trust on us and this is how you payback? Why were late for the demonstration Dr. Dixit?", Mrs. Arora questioned, her tone is anything but polite, fortunately, or unfortunately, Shaurya heard each and every word of it. He fisted his palms to control his fury, he could not lose his temper, if he did, he would be giving unnecessary gossip to people and his wife would never forgive him.
Technically Mrs. Arora has a right to question Akansha, she was right about the event being a big one, but Akansha is responsible enough, she would never get late for such an important event, and she didn't. She just wasn't early like them, she was on time. Mrs. Arora has no right to talk to her in that tone...
"If you realize Mrs. Arora, I was hired on a contract basis by the state government for this project, I am a full-time employee at a school, and it was my duty to handle both my responsibilities and I was just trying to balance them. And let me clear two things here Mrs. Arora, First, and foremost thing, I did not hide any details about my full-time employment, I have clearly mentioned I would be fulfilling my responsibilities towards it. Second, I was never late for the demo in the first place, So, I don't think this conversation has any place here", Akansha replied confidently, her reply stunned the whole team including Mr. Khanna as not even he dared to speak to Mrs. Arora in that tone ever. She is the most knowledgeable asset they have in the team and she was always respected. But it's time she understood that Akansha is not someone she could dominate or control.
"You are right. You clearly mentioned it, but when you have two places to be there at the same time, you need to prioritize. You are not God to be omnipresent, and I didn't think you are stupid enough to prioritize things wrongly, but I guess I made a mistake here," Mrs. Arora said, and her statement was the limit for Shaurya. Shweta, Suraj, and Mr. Sharma were shocked to hear Mrs. Arora talk in that tone and those words to a CM's wife. Shaurya walked in and Somya, Akansha and everyone stood surprised at Shaurya and his staff. They thought he already left.
"Is this how you talk to your colleagues Mrs. Arora?", Shaurya asked calmly, though his blood was boiling at 200 degrees centigrade, he held his temper, he could not lose it.
"Sir... The meeting was important and the least Dr. Dixit could have done is inform us in prior...", Somya defended her action.
"Yes, the meeting was important and Dr. Akansha was on time, and coming to her informing in prior, she informed me...", Shaurya said, Somya looked stunned at his revelation, though Shaurya is their boss, he is also the chief minister and they don't normally go and inform him if they were going to be late or some other petty issues but Akansha informing him directly raised brows... "Why are you surprised Mrs. Arora? I'm her boss, she reports to me just like you do... To be honest you disappointed me today", Shaurya said in his soft yet clipped tone. "This is definitely not the way to talk to your colleagues, definitely not outperforming colleagues like Dr. Dixit. I came here today to congratulate all of you for this success, to celebrate this with you. I wanted to appreciate the team, especially, Dr. Akansha, Mr. Khan and Mr. Khanna for their extraordinary efforts and hard work in making this event a huge success, and I expected you would be doing the same, but looks like I made a mistake here", Shaurya said, repeating Mrs. Arora's dialogue... Mrs. Arora's face paled. Shweta, Mr. Sharma and Suraj understood Shaurya is taking revenge.
He was polite and soft but his discontent and displeasure is clearly visible.
"I appreciate Dr. Dixit's contributions to the project sir... But I'm not okay with her way of dealing with things, but like you said, this may not be the way to deal with this situation, I should have first congratulated her exemplary work before flagging my concerns", Mrs. Arora said
"Good. I trust you ladies will sort this out among yourself. Now let's move. I have arranged a team dinner for everyone," Shaurya said, and the team smiled gratefully at his thoughtful gesture. All of them moved out where Shaurya's team guided them for dinner...
"I appreciate your kind gesture Sir, but I need to leave, my son is here to pick me up and I can't keep him waiting", Mr. Khanna said
"Your son?", Shaurya asked with a raised brow...
"Um... The elder one... Neil Khanna... Since I have retired completely, he has taken the reins of the company...", Mr. Khanna said
"Oh! Neil? The last time I met him was 2 years ago, in a global summit, Call him in Mr. Khanna, Please ask him to join the dinner, I mean if he is available", Shaurya said and Mr. Khanna smiled...
"Well... He would always make time if it's for a dinner with you, he personally appreciates your work a lot and you as a person too, and moreover today I asked him to come here, taking out some time as I want him to meet Dr. Akansha", Mr. Khanna said and Shaurya's gentle smile till then suddenly wiped out... "I'll just call him inside", he added and left aside excusing himself...
Shaurya looked at Akansha who had a confused face but she didn't think anything else, as Mr. Khanna kept saying that he liked her a lot and the way she dealt with things, and he would definitely want his elder son to meet her and learn something from her... but now the grin on Mr.Khanna's face was clear and Shaurya was sure of it, it was as if he was proud to play a matchmaker and even the thought alarmed him.
Everyone started the dinner, except for Shaurya and Akansha who waited for Mr. Khanna. The tension was clearly visible on his face, at least she could sense it but didn't understand why.
"You were fine till now, what suddenly got into you?", she asked in a low tone, audible to only him.
"Why did Mr. Khanna want his son to meet you?", he didn't hide his jealousy or his tension...
"Give your stupid brain a break, Shaurya... Mr. Khanna always respected me as an individual and liked my way of dealing with things quite well, he wanted me to meet his son for a long time now", Akansha cleared but that only intensified his tension.
What if she starts liking him? Damn... No... She loved omly him... But he broke her heart and morally she has all the right to move on, but she is still married to him... But she has no idea about it. How would she react to the news? Would she hate him? Or seek divorce now? Can he bear her going away from him again? This time forever? What if she marries again after their divorce, his daughter, his little Siya would have a step father... What if she starts calling Akansha's new husband 'dadda'... New husband? No... He is the only husband Akansha would ever have. No one else...
"Shaurya, wipe your forehead, you are sweating in chilly winter night", Akansha slowly whispered to him...
"Siya wouldn't call anyone dadda except for me... Please make sure of it", he said and Akansha looked at him as if he has completely lost it. Then the jealousy on his face gave her a clear view of what's going on in his head. She just shook her head at his stupid thoughts. He ruined her for any other man and that included him as well. It's like the Shaurya she fell in love with was a fictional man and now even he wouldn't be able to reach the expectations, because now she lost trust in him completely.
"Say something Akansha...", Shaurya asked, he expected her to say anything that could give him hope that she isn't considering moving on with another man, though he gave her every reason to. He knew he was a selfish ba***rd but he could do nothing about it. When it's about her he can be selfish to any extent.
Akansha didn't say a word, she knew he was dying with anxiety but why should she clear his misconceptions? If he was suffering thinking she would move on with another man, if he was suffocating even with the thought of her with someone else, then let him die for all she cared.
"Sir... Akansha...", She turned, hearing Mr. Khanna's tone, Shaurya's face hardened seeing the man beside Mr. Khanna. He cursed himself for inviting him in. Neil quickly greeted Shaurya who responded with a polite smile, despite his contradictory feelings towards the man internally.
Akansha looked at the man in front of her, he is a handsome man but her eyes failed to admire him, her eyes are always set on only one man and in front of him, anyone looked pale to her heart and she hated that piece of her heart which admired Shaurya Singh Shekhawat even today.
"This is my son... Neil... And this is Dr. Akansha Dixit I was talking about", Mr. Khanna introduced his son and Akansha to each other.
"Hi... I have heard a lot about you from Dad...", Neil said and Akansha smiled
"All the good things I suppose", Akansha asked with a smile, Shaurya's jealousy heightened, she never smiled at him like that when she first saw him... Instead, there was a frown on her face as if she wanted to beat him to a pulp...
"Yes of course, he had all the good things to say about you and I was waiting to meet you, Dr. Dixit", Neil said
"Same here Neil and you can call me Akansha...", she said with a smile fuming Shaurya...
"Excuse me...", Shaurya excused and walked away, Akansha knew what happened to him but she least cared about his feelings, because she knew he deserved it.
The whole dinner, Shaurya's glances kept shifting towards his wife, he observed how she enjoyed her time with Neil, Mr. Khanna, and Mr. Khan... He also noticed how Neil looked at Akansha like he was interested in her, and even the thought fueled his anger. When the dinner came to an end, Shaurya gave a small parting speech and after that, everyone thanked him and started departing but looked like Neil and Akansha forgot the time and even home.
Shaurya walked to them, Neil stopped talking to Akansha as soon as he noticed Shaurya proceeding towards them.
"Sir... Thank you for inviting me in, it feels great to be a part of this dinner", Neil thanked Shaurya who gave a polite nod to him before turning to Akansha.
"Your daughter must be waiting for you Dr. Akansha, Suraj will drop you home...", Shaurya said intentionally mentioning their daughter, he thought Neil would be surprised hearing about Siya but he took it so casually that it pissed Shaurya more, Mr. Khanna and Neil smiled at how Shaurya took care of his staff, but only Akansha knew why he said that.
"That's okay sir... I'll go", Akansha denied politely.
"I'll drop her sir... That's on my way", Neil said, Shaurya looked at Akansha with narrowed eyes, she also shared her address with him?
"We'll drop her, but what do you mean by it's on your way? You are not coming home?", Mr. Khanna asked his son.
"Oh! Not again Dad... I told you I'll be staying at my penthouse this whole month, I can't have Mom taunt me every time I return home late or leave for the office early", Neil said and Akansha smiled at the sweet bickering of the father-daughter and her reaction sparked even more jealousy in Shaurya.
"Okay, if you have decided, I won't be able to stop you", Mr. Khanna sighed deeply before turning to Akansha... "He was handling a project with Singapore Airlines, it's a prestigious project for the company so he was stretching himself for it... Well, I can't even blame this project as this was the reason he returned to India in the first place", Mr. Khanna explained to Akansha and Shaurya.
"Yeah, you have told me about it Mr. Khanna, the project seemed very interesting, I would like to know more about it, of course, if you have some time", Akansha said, the later part to Neil.
"Sure... Dr. Dixit, it's my pleasure... I mean Akansha...", Neil said with a smile, Akansha was genuinely interested in knowing about the project as she heard a lot about it from Mr. Khanna, also she liked how passionate Neil was about his work.
"Mr. Khanna, I appreciate your concern for her, but as I said, Suraj will drop her, on our way to my residence, Suraj...", Shaurya said, calling for Suraj who walked towards them quickly... "Escort Dr. Dixit to the car", Shaurya ordered and left from there, walking towards his car.
When he referred her as 'Dr. Dixit' and not Dr. Akansha, she understood how mad he was but did she care? No. She greeted Mr. Khanna and Neil before walking with Suraj.
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Akansha got into the car, after which Suraj got in... Shaurya for the first time shut the partition between the driving seat and the back one.
"What was that Akansha?", Shaurya asked, his tone still composed, though she can see the agitation and anguish in his eyes. She didn't care to respond... "Akansha... Don't do this, please", he requested.
"Shaurya, mind your business", she answered him.
"You were never friendly with anyone in your first meet, then what's so special about Neil Khanna?", Shaurya asked
"I wasn't the same Akansha you once knew, Shaurya Singh Shekhawat", She told coldly.
"Yeah, you were more rigid, more careful and ruder than before, but Why is Neil an exception?", Shaurya asked... she didn't answer, instead she turned her head and leaned on the seat and shut her eyes.
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"Shaurya... It's time you come back and join politics", His father said as soon as picked up the call...
"Papa... I was in the middle of a football match, Let me call back after the match, Okay?", Shaurya said, he couldn't ignore the seriousness in his father's tone and he understood he meant what he said, but he wasn't okay to leave his finance career yet to join politics.
"Shaurya... I wouldn't have asked your assistant to say it was urgent if it wasn't, right?", Virendar Singh Shekhawat said in his frustrated tone. Shaurya sighed before walking back to a secluded place to have this conversation with his father.
"What's the matter papa ?", Shaurya asked
"The youth leader in the party was accused of drugs smuggling... and the case would be proven soon... This case has damaged our party's reputation a lot, we need a young and dynamic leader to regain the lost trust among people, the opposition's media channels have completely crushed our party's credibility", Virendar said, sounding in distress
"Yeh toh hona hi tha Papa(This was bound to happen, Papa) I told you Sachin was not a right candidate, You were aware of his twisted ways, yet you let him in the party and play with its reputation, I don't want to be at a place where my opinions aren't valued, I'm sorry, I can't help you", Shaurya said
"Shaurya... Sachin's father was very important for the party, people love him, despite him passing away more than 7 years ago, people voted for Sachin, just because of his father, we couldn't have expelled him from the party... But now that's not the case, the party has already suspended him, and now the party needs you... Please come back... My years of hard work would be wasted, Please Shaurya... This is the last thing I'm asking from you", Virendar requested.
Shaurya sighed deeply, he didn't want to leave his job right now but the situation is worse in India and he could understand it by how his father pleaded him, that man had never done that before. Shaurya wanted to leave his father to bear the consequences of his own decisions but it was also about his future in politics and also the things he wanted to do for the people. Till now, he was indirectly helping the state, implementing a few good policies for the people through his father, but if the power and the party won't be there in the state, he couldn't do it anymore. He sighed deeply...
"I'll call you in a while Papa", Shaurya hung up and quickly dialed his best friend Dev, who joined politics just a while back, that too in the opposition party.
"Dev... I heard about it... What's the situation, if my father's government collapses, is your party ready to take over? You'll be the chief minister candidate right?", Shaurya asked
"No Shaurya, the situation is worse here... These aren't people but leeches... this is not right Shaurya, power transfer at this time would destroy the state", Dev said
"Who is the CM candidate?", Shaurya asked, not getting a good feeling about it.
"Mahesh Khandelwal...", Dev said and Shaurya's eyes widened...
"What the f**k? That bas***d? That bl**dy 55-year-old a**h*le has 345 cases on him, and 3 of them are r*pe cases, What the f**k is going on there Dev? Why are you letting this happen?", Shaurya asked in frustration
"Shaurya... You think I have that power in the party yet? I am here in the party just because I have money, it will take time to gain that power, but right now, this isn't the time for power transfer, do something, you very well know what would happen to the state if Mahesh becomes the CM... This state and its people don't deserve this...", Dev said...
The best friends talked for an hour, exploring many options but the only solution Shaurya found was he himself. After an hour more he called his father.
"I'm coming to India... I have mailed my resignation to the chairman and board, the procedures will take at least a week, by then prepare for my arrival Papa", Shaurya said and hung up, without hearing his father, he knew his old man would be very happy but he wasn't in a situation to hear it. His dreams were shattered, his plans were disrupted, he needed at least some time to cope up with the loss.
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Shaurya did return in a week and handled the issue very well, his grand launch to politics wasn't that welcomed by people after the scam one of his party members was stuck in, but within a few months, Shaurya made a name for himself in the party and party activists, when a MLA of his party suddenly passed away due to heart attack, he contested the bi-elections and won from the constituency, fortunately, the constituency wasn't near to the capital city, so he stayed away from his parents, he was happy that he would be staying in the same city as Akriti and Dev now and by coincidence it was where Akansha lived with her family too.
Though Shaurya was successful in stopping his father's government from collapsing, he couldn't help Virendar Shekhawat win the next election, their party lost and the opposition party came into power, but Shaurya and Dev together worked to make Mahesh Khandelwal leave the politics. So, for now Shaurya was assured that the state wasn't in danger.
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"Shaurya... You are back?", Akriti hugged him tightly as soon as she saw him at her home...
"How many times should I tell you to call him bhai?", Dev said, hitting her on her head with the dairy he is carrying...
"Stop it Dev... Have I ever called you 'bhai', that I will call Shaurya one...", Akriti said to Dev with irritation...
"That's okay, Dev. Don't irritate my sister. It doesn't matter how she addresses us. We are her brothers and will do anything to make her happy," Shaurya said, side-hugging her.
"You know... You are the best brother, Shaurya... Why didn't God make you my real brother instead of this duffer?" Akriti said, and Shaurya's smile faded for a second before returning again.
"How does it matter? What matters is how important you are to me and how I handle all my responsibilities as your brother", Shaurya said ruffling her hair...
"Okay... I'm getting late for college... Bye guys, see you in the evening", Akriti said walking away
"Akriti... bacha Shaurya was here after almost a month, stay at home and spend time with him for today", Dev said
"I'm so Sorry Dev, I couldn't miss today's lecture... I have my favorite professor's lecture today, couldn't miss it for anything", Akriti said
"Don't tell me its her again...", Dev said
"Who?", Shaurya asked
"Akansha Dikshit", Dev said rolling her eyes...
"Oh hello... Don't take her name so lightly. She is the Akansha Dikshit... my favorite professor... I just love her... Okay... bye... I will see you in the evening, Shaurya," Akriti said and ran away.
Shaurya rushed behind her to see if she carefully got into the car... The driver nodded at Shaurya assuring him that he would take care of Akriti. Her driver, her guards, her personal maids, everyone was a loyalists to Shaurya, he couldn't risk anything bad happening to Akriti, she and Dev were the only family he could call genuinely his.
"Akansha Dikshit?", Shaurya repeated the name, the person his sister liked so much...
"Shaurya.... Come inside", Dev called from inside and Shaurya walked in, they both talked for a while and Dev patted his shoulder...
"I think it's high time you tell the truth to her...", Dev said
"No... Not now... it will hurt her and anything that hurts her will stay away from her, let things be as they are", Shaurya said and Dev nodded, even though he didn't want his sister hurt it was better they told her before she got to know on her own...
"Tell me about this Akansha Dikshit", Shaurya asked and Dev sighed, shaking his head.
"God! Don't start it... I'm fed up of hearing that name... Akriti is obsessed with this woman... She is just her professor but Akriti treats her like a celebrity, I mean who loves their professor so much... she is literally obsessed with everything this woman is, the way she spoke, the way she dressed up, everything", Dev said
"Hm.... Interesting... I have to meet this woman once", Shaurya said
"Interesting? I'm bored of hearing about her...", Dev complained.
And it's after a few months that Akriti expressed her desire to have Akansha tutor her personally and Shaurya decided that its high time he met this woman, who his sister is so obsessed with...
He was invited to a charity event organized by Akriti's college, he was a youth wing leader and an MLA then. He prepared so many things to tell her, ask her, to know her as he wanted to know what made his sister like this woman so much, but when he saw her, his words stuck in his mouth, despite her tired appearance and sticky and sweaty face, she looked the prettiest woman to him but she didn't even look at him... Not even a glance, she royally ignored him after saying she had to leave.
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It took her 3 months to even notice him, know his existence, to realize that he was stalking her. It took her even more time to start talking to him, then how can she get so friendly with Neil in just a few hours? Did she do that on purpose to irritate him? 'Nah... you weren't that important' his brain answered frustrating him even more...
"Sir... We are here...", Suraj's tone brought him out of his thoughts... He sighed and looked at his wife who fell asleep... If he woke her up, her migraine would shoot up again and he didn't want her to suffer... She is a deep sleeper so he is sure she wouldn't wake up even if he carried her to her place...
"Suraj, make sure the surroundings are clear", Shaurya ordered and after getting clearance from Suraj, he got down with Akansha in his arms. He knew Akash is with Siya now, Richa's parents had already left.
Suraj already rang the bell and Akash opened it... Akash was about to ask about what happened to his sister that Shaurya had to carry her, but Shaurya's one look stopped him. By the calmness in his face, Akash understood that his sister is absolutely fine, because if there was even a slight issue for Akansha, Shaurya would have panicked and by now he would have woken up the whole capital city...
Shaurya made Akansha sleep on the bed, and slightly kissed her forehead, before walking towards his daughter and kissing her forehead lightly, but since Siya wasn't asleep completely, she woke up...
"Dadda...", she squealed in happiness, hugging Shaurya.
"Sh... Mumma is sleeping... You too, get back to sleep", Shaurya said softly...
"No... Dadda...", Siya clinged to Shaurya's arms and Shaurya sighed, before picking his daughter up in his arms and taking her to the hall, after shutting the bedroom door silently.
Precap - Siya gives her gifts to Shaurya, more past, Mr. Khanna tells Akansha about Neil's past and asks her if they could give each other a chance? Shaurya carefully plans to reveal about his daughter, but before that he needs to let Akansha know about their marriage which is still valid.
Note - Parts - 33-42 are now available in stck.me. Links are available on my message board and Instagram.