Shaurya adjusted Siya's position before holding the door for Akansha to hop in and she did. Suraj knew his boss was always a gentleman but holding a door for a woman being a CM, that too in front of his staff instantly hinted about Akansha's importance in his life. Looking at the love Shaurya showered upon Siya, he already guessed about their relationship but didn't want to think about it as of now. But he for sure knew this could blow up into a major scandal if came out and it could threaten his boss's political career altogether but he didn't seem to care and that came as a shock to Suraj as Shaurya always saw his future in politics and took measures to keep thriving in the field.

Suraj held the door for Shaurya from the other side and after his boss hopped in, he closed the door and took the passenger seat. Siya was laying in between her parents who are sitting at the opposite corners in the back seat. Akansha kept moving to the corner as if she hated the proximity with Shaurya though there is enough distance with their daughter in between. Shaurya was pissed at her for acting like that.

"Thank your stars the doors are strong, otherwise you would be on the road with the kind of movements you are making", he taunted her.

"Excuse me?", Akansha fumed glaring at him.

"Sit comfortably, I don't bite", he said, this time toning down...

"I can never be comfortable in your presence", she said

"Akansha... You are...", Shaurya started but Akansha shushed him looking at Siya squirming.

"Don't shout... She is a very lite sleeper...", Akansha whispered and at that statement, Shaurya's lips twitched upwards and he lovingly caressed Siya's hair... Akansha's heart bubbled with happiness for a second seeing that peaceful and happy smile on his face after ages... This smile has completely disappeared from his life from the time he married her forcefully. And just like that all that he did which led to her suffering and her daughter's birth without a father ran in her head. Akansha swatted Shaurya's palm that was caressing Siya's hair startling him.

"Don't touch my daughter with your filthy hands", Akansha whisper-yelled with detest that pained Shaurya.

"She is mine too... Dare you stop me from seeing or being with my daughter Akansha...", he whispered glaring at her in the eye, the fury he was holding up till now is unleashing gradually. He so wanted to scream at her, ask her why she hid it from him but couldn't, he never raised his voice at her, he never would.

After his warning, she didn't say a word, she shut her eyes wanting some peace as her head is already filled with several disturbing thoughts, uncertainty filled her mind, now what? And Akash? What would Shaurya do to him for helping her escape?

Then she looked at her watch realizing the time, Siya woke up twice or thrice during their journey and Akansha fed her fruits once and cereal twice, luckily siya was both hungry and sleepy so she ate calmly in her half sleep and it's time for her morning cereal, she would wake up any time and if the food wasn't ready by then, she would wake up fully and starts throwing tantrums and with all the chaos in Akansha's head she didn't have the strength to handle that. So, she started looking into her daughter's bag where she packed all Siya's necessary things like food, diapers, hair and body accessories etc.

"What happened?", Shaurya whisper-asked when he saw Akansha juggling and taking out a few boxes from the bag.

"It's time for her cereal, she might wake up anytime, and if not fed in time, your daughter throws a lot of tantrums Shaurya, which I am in no mood to bear", Akansha said in worry, but her hands froze when she realized what she said.

Akansha was very embarrassed but not shocked, she keeps saying these kind of statements in her head whenever Siya becomes unbearable, but she didn't think, one day she would say this to him directly.

She turned to look at him, her face red but as soon as she looked at his face which is shining like a 1000 watt bulb, her referring Siya as his daughter fluttered him. Akansha shook her head to not let his charming face distract her.

Shaurya quickly opened the side table and front table which are in-built in his SUV as he had his meals there whenever he was travelling or during his campaigning. The in-built tables helped Akansha to freely place all the necessities on them, Shaurya helped her with it though she denied his help. The partition was shut, separating the driver seat from the back seat which gave enough privacy for the little family though dysfunctional.

"Damn... Not now...", Akansha murmured tasting the water in the flask.

"What happened?", Shaurya asked in confusion looking at Akansha's worry-filled face.

"I need hot water to mix her cereal but this isn't hot anymore", she said showing the flask in her hand. She thought she would reach the hotel by now. Their plan was to stop at a remote hotel after crossing the state border and take rest for a few hours before resuming the journey but Shaurya caught them even before they bypassed the state. It's all his fault. Akansha looked at Siya who is squirming, she can wake up anytime...

"Siyu... Please sleep for some more time", Akansha whispered patting her daughter worriedly...

"I'll arrange for it, don't worry", Shaurya said opening the partition before she could speak.

"Suraj, I need hot water... Immediately... Arrange for it", Shaurya said, he was tensed seeing Akansha's panic, was it so bad if Siya woke up in sleep and didn't get food on time? He was experiencing all this for the first time, he was worried, what if his baby cries because of hunger, what kind of a father was he? If he was incapable of tackling this simple issue, then how is he going to take up the responsibilities of a father, Akansha would get some more points to point out at him...

The car was stopped and Suraj got down, Shaurya too got down along with his whole security staff.

"Sir... Hot water?", Suraj trailed

"Yes Suraj, for drinking purposes...", he instructed, he was waiting pacing to and fro, his forehead marred with a deep frown, his security personnel are staring at him as if he was an alien, as they never saw him worried, he was always calm and composed but now he was getting worried about a flask of hot water?

Shaurya opened the door every 5 minutes to see if his daughter woke up.

"Don't open the door until you have hot water... She is getting disturbed, use your brain, Shaurya", Akansha whisper-yelled at him, irritation quite visible on her face. She thought of never taking his name because every time she called him by his name, he felt like her closest person, her man and she didn't want to feel those.

"Sorry...", he quickly closed the door, she is right, if he keeps opening the door, his daughter would get disturbed and would wake up... How did he not think of it... God, he is such a fool... He thought to himself holding his head.

He saw Suraj walking to him with the flask and Shaurya rushed to him, collecting the flask of water and hopped inside the car, sighing proudly.

"Here", he said handing over to Akansha, who quickly opened the lid only to fume in anger. The steam coming out of the flask touching her face indicated how hot the water is.

"Shaurya Singh Shekhawat, Don't you have brains? I need slightly hotter than lukewarm water, and this is steaming hot, how should I mix cereal with this? And even if I mix it, I should wait till it cools off before feeding Siya", Akansha said glaring at him, scaring Shaurya. He saw Siya squirming vigorously as if she would wake up now, his heartbeat fastened in fear, now his wife would kill him...

He quickly took Siya in his arms and patted her to sleep, her father's warmth immediately put her back to sleep and her parents sighed in relief.

"It's all Suraj's fault, I'll ask him to get lukewarm water...", Shaurya said, laying Siya beside him and got down. Akansha too got down knowing Shaurya will mess up again.

"Suraj... I asked for hot water, this is steaming hot... What are...", Shaurya started but Akansha glared at him which made him stop his ranting. Suraj walked away giving privacy to the couple.

"Why are you reprimanding him when it's your fault, you knew why hot water is for, he didn't, you should have told him you needed the water moderately hot", she said

"Okay, let's cool them, instead of arguing", he said and she nodded

"Do you have ice?", she asked, she didn't know why she asked but she tried her luck...

"Ice packs hai, chalega? (We have ice packs... Works?)", Shaurya said but immediately cursed himself for his loose tongue, what was she asking and what did he answer? but luckily she nodded. His staff maintained them since Shaurya once got his ankle sprained and he had to continue with his road show without tending to his ankle till he reached his camp office. From then his people always maintained it.

Akansha cooled the steaming hot water while Shaurya looked on at his wife, he was staring at how efficiently she is doing everything, she became a hands on mom doing everything perfectly. But she wasn't like this always, her mother never bothered to teach her household chores, though Akansha showed interest, her mother asked her to concentrate on making money for the family as that was more important, she was never given the opportunity to learn things and after marriage though her mother-in-law expected to do chores, Shaurya always came in between knowing her inability. When her mother-in-law put her in a spot to trouble her, Shaurya always sent Mrs. Sudha to help her without her knowledge.

Akansha hopped in the car with water, only to look at her daughter looking at her with open eyes, to her relief her eyes are still drowsy...

"Mumma...", Siya whispered...

Akansha hopped in, Shaurya was about to get in the car but Akansha shook her head as Siya would jump on him with excitement losing all her sleep which Akansha couldn't afford at the time. She held Siya in her arms and hid her face in her chest and then blinked her eyes, signaling Shaurya to hop in which he did. Akansha diverted her daughter with her words simultaneously mixing her cereal.

"Why did my Siya wake up so early? Bhuki lagi hai(Is my baby hungry?)", Akansha asked frisking the cereal with the spoon while rocking Siya with the help of her arms... Shaurya wanted to help but didn't know how to.

"Yech... Bhuki mumma(yes, I am hungry mumma)", Siya said sleepy...

"I am so sorry baby... Mumma is almost done... One minute", Akansha said checking the cereal, it's almost prepared, but she has to test if it's not too hot for her child but with Siya in her arms, it's impossible. She looked at Shaurya who raised his brows asking her what? She showed him the spoon full of cereal but he didn't understand anything at first then she mouthed him and he understood she was asking him to check the temperature of the cereal, she forwarded the spoon to him to hold and taste but he instead came forward opening his mouth, Akansha glared at him but having no option, she fed him.
He ate it, and gave her a nod signaling it's not too hot.

Then Akansha gently fed to Siya who winced. Akansha and Shaurya panicked.

"Mumma hot...", Siya winced

"Sorry sorry... Have some water Siyu...", Akansha said giving water to her daughter, glaring at Shaurya who looked like a deer caught in headlight. It's not his fault this time because Siya can't eat hot food even if it's minutely hot, which most of her age children would do, and Akansha realized he didn't know that and she calmed herself down. After feeding her daughter and helping her have some water, she gave her medicines to which she threw hell lot of tantrums. Shaurya wanted to take Siya in his arms, and divert her with words and give her the medicine like he did before but he couldn't as Akansha denied to announce his presence.

"Siyakriti... Have it", Akansha said sternly, which was enough for the little girl who quickly sipped one after the other syrup for cold, cough and fever. Akansha wiped her mouth and started rocking her to sleep.

"Now sleep...", Akansha said softly

"Mumma angly? (Angry?)", Siya asked cutely...

"No baby... Mumma is not angry...", Akansha softly said, kissing her hair.

"I lub you(I love you) mumma", Siya said and Akansha smiled lovingly placing another kiss on her daughter's hair.

"Mamabear too loves babybear", Akansha whispered, covering her daughter with her scarf and rocking her to sleep, soon Siya fell asleep and that's when Akansha realized Shaurya's presence. She raised her head to look at him, it must be so awkward for him to watch them. She completely forgot about his existence for the past sometime, her  whole concentration was on making her daughter eat, have medicines and then rock her to sleep which is now done.

But she was taken aback by the raw emotions of love, pain, anger and also bliss in his eyes...

"Watching you and our daughter like this is heavenly, and the thought that I missed thousands of moments like this is killing me, Why Akansha? Why did you do it?", Shaurya asked, she wanted to say a lot of things in response, she wanted to scream, shout at him for all he had done but his eyes and the pain in him shut her mouth.

"We'll talk once we reach", Akansha said, trying to make Siya lie in between them but struggling to do it, so Shaurya helped her and this time, she didn't protest. He held his daughter's little palm placing a gentle kiss on her palms and then her feet. Akansha shut her eyes to control the ache in her heart. Was she wrong? Should she have confronted him then? The questions started running in her head and because of all the pressure, emotional drain, and thinking, her migraine was triggered, severely. She opened her handbag to search for her medicines.

"What's that for?", Shaurya asked but she didn't respond. He was worried, she was never in favor of taking medicines before, so when he saw her taking one, fear crept in, is she fine? "Akansha... Please tell me, what's that for?", he asked again, when she didn't answer, he snatched the pill from her pissing her.

"None of your business, Mr. Shekhawat... Give it back", she said, glaring at him.

"Answer me first", he was adamant and she knew it.

"Migraine", she answered

"You developed migraine? When?", he was surprised, she didn't have any problem related to her eyes or head. Despite studying or staring at the computer screen the whole day, Akansha barely had headaches or eye pain, but now her suffering from migraine was a shocker. She didn't answer and he didn't give her the pill, she was about to take one more pill from the strip but he snatched the whole strip angering her. "I asked when?", Shaurya repeated, she so wanted to bang his head to the window.

"Postpartum complications", she whispered, he kept staring at her, no words escaped his mouth. She snatched the strip and pill from him and took her medicine while he was lost in his thoughts.

His heart ached at the thought of her sufferings... He didn't know what all she had to go through, she was alone, completely alone? Was there anyone with her to take care of her? His head started pounding because of all the thoughts running in his head. He wanted to ask her but he knew its too early to seek those answers from her.

"Should I massage your head? It may relieve your ache?", he asked gently, she glared at him but didn't respond... She leaned her head to the window, Shaurya quickly pulled out a window insulation cushion and attached it to her window. She sighed but leaned on it as the ache intensified leaving no energy in her to argue and he could understand her increasing pain. "I'm serious, Akansha... I can mass...", he started but she cut him off...

"Stay within your limits... Don't you dare even think about putting your filthy hands on me... You have no idea how suffocating it is for me to even sit in this car with you beside... For god sake, leave me alone and let me be", she snapped at him, for a second he remained stupefied at the venom in her words and it stung deeply, but he knew he deserved it, he deserved much more. 

"Okay, I won't bother you... But please let me know if you need anything... I can get a doctor to see you if the pain is unbearable?", he asked and she shut her eyes in what he thought was irritation but she was feeling guilty... Damn! His patience and softness, it always charmed her, NO... But she won't let it into her head now. She cannot soften towards him, he destroyed her, DESTROYED her. She kept reminding herself. 

"Hm...", she hummed and leaned on the pillow. But she kept looking at her daughter and covering her properly every 5 minutes as Siya's body couldn't take too much AC. 

"I'll take care of Siya, take rest properly...", Shaurya said pulling Siya towards him so that Akansha could sit comfortably. Her head is throbbing badly and she can't refuse his offer, only if she rests can she get fine so she lets him take care of her daughter for now. 

"She can't take too much cooling, so if the AC gets too much, either switch it off or cover her with another shawl...", Akansha instructs but stops seeing his surprised form and she understands why... 'Yes, she completely went on you', Akansha thought but didn't say anything, she shut her eyes and soon fell asleep. 

Shaurya's body too didn't support AC or any artificial cooling much, he is extremely tolerant to low temperatures but it's just that his body hates artificial cooling, that environment makes him sick, looks like his daughter went on him completely. What must be his wife doing now? Compromising for their daughter or she is still the same? Shaurya thought and just like every other time, he was reminded of their past.

Shaurya entered the room and the whole environment changed, his room was extremely cool, compared to the rest of the house, despite his house being centrally air-conditioned. It's been 5 months since he was married to his wife, Akansha Shaurya Singh Shekhawat, and this has been the case every day since then but he hasn't said a word. He knew Akansha needed AC always. She couldn't sleep without it. 

He quickly changed and settled on the bed covering himself with his blanket, and soon Akansha walked in from the balcony shutting the glass doors. 

"You could have switched off the AC at least when you were in the balcony", Shaurya said covering himself properly, he hated the environment, he never liked the AC on except with her in his arms... 

"Why? The Shekhawats don't have enough money to pay the power bill?", Akansha replied sassily... This was an everyday thing since they got married, or should he say he blackmailed her for marriage. But, he loved her sassy replies every second, at least she wasn't silent, he hoped she always stayed like this, talking to him, fighting with him, and staying with him, but one by one all his hopes were shattered, the next few months, first her fights stopped, then her talks and then she herself disappeared. 

"It's not about bill, it's that...", Shaurya started softly but she dismissed him... 

"I know... You hate this, but I'm sure your thick blanket keeps you warm...", she said...

"Hm... it does...", he said and turned to the other side shutting his eyes. She sighed deeply, one more failed attempt.

From the time they married, she tried to revive that old Shaurya, who loved her unconditionally, she knew for sure he betrayed her, he had ulterior motives to pursue her, but his love wasn't a betrayal, he truly loved her, she could see it in everything he did for her and her family. And she loved him more than he did, she wouldn't want to lose him, so she tried everything possible to bring out some emotions in him, to make him quit his retribution. She started picking fights with him intentionally, to bring a reaction from him, but every time he disappointed her, and every failed attempt broke her heart a little. She just hoped he realized before she broke completely. 

"Shaurya... Should I switch off the AC ?", She asked him...

"Will you if I say 'yes' ", he asked hopefully...

"No, it's warmer in the balcony, I can arrange a spare cot there if you want", she told him, she expected him to turn to face her, at least to glare at her, but he just sighed and slept... She shut her eyes to sleep as she had no energy to face anymore disappointments for the day. After her breathing labored, he kissed her forehead, he didn't know when his anger would cool down and he would be able to live a normal, happy marriage with his wife. Every time he decides to take a step toward Akansha, his sister's lifeless form in that hospital gown stops him and miraculously her condition worsens at the same time, she suffers a panic attack as if she doesn't want him to forgive his wife or love her. He sighed deeply staring at his wife's sleeping form... In the wee hours, she started shivering, so he covered her with his blanket too, and like every other day, in the morning, she started sweating, so he pulled off his blanket from her and neatly folded it, before starting his day with a kiss on his sleeping wife's forehead. 

------------------------------------------------

"Sir... We'll reach in an hour...", Suraj informed Shaurya when he rolled the partition down...

"Okay... Inform Mr. Sharma to summon Akash Dikshit in the evening...", Shaurya told Suraj

"Mr. Dikshit is already waiting for you at your residence, sir...", Suraj informed Shaurya generating rage in him but he kept his calm. 

"Ask him to leave, immediately", Shaurya whisper-commanded, looking at the sleeping forms of his daughter & and wife. 

"Yes sir...", Suraj obliged and Shaurya rolled up the partition closing the space. 

It's been 4 hours since Akansha fell asleep, he wanted to wake her up for food since she didn't have anything but she looked like she needed sleep more than anything, so he didn't disturb her. Siya slowly squirmed, Shaurya tried to pat her to sleep but this time she was in no mood to sleep, she had slept for a long time and now she wanted to wake up, and play with her mumma...

She opened her eyes and saw Shaurya in front of her eyes, she rubbed her eyes cutely as she thought she was in a dream... Shaurya chuckled at his cutest of the cute daughter... Damn! she is his daughter, he and Akansha created this adorable product, he chided himself for calling his daughter 'product'. 

"Sho....", Siya started screaming but Shaurya shut her mouth, looking at Akansha who is sleeping still. 

"Siya bache... Mumma is sleeping, we don't want to disturb her, right?", Shaurya asked, turning Siya and showing her mumma who was sleeping, leaning her head back.  

"Mumma is pwetty... vely pwetty(Pretty... Very Pretty)", Siya giggled to herself before placing a kiss on her mother's forehead and then her cheek... On feeling Akansha's soft cheeks, she started rubbing her cheek... "cho choft choft(so soft soft)", Siya said rubbing Akansha's cheeks, but Shaurya pulled her to him, afraid she would wake Akansha up. 

"Mumma is sleeping, don't disturb her...", Shaurya said and Siya nodded

"Sholya, Whele ale we going? (Where are we going?)", Siya asked, and as if she suddenly remembered something she started talking, slapping her head... "Sholya, go and hide... Mumma will beat you if she sees you...", the little girl added as she knew her mother disliked Shaurya for some reason.

"Oh! yes... your mumma doesn't like me, so will you stop being my friend?", he asked, he wanted to see how far the little girl, his little girl would go for him. 

"No, Mumma says we shouldn't leave good fliends(friends)", Siya replied and Shaurya nodded.

"What if your mumma doesn't agree? Will you come with me? to stay with me in my big house? I'll buy you so many toys, I'll play with you... I'll...", He started saying but Siya interrupted him angrily...

"NO... I won't come with you... I want mumma... I lub mumma(I love mumma), Mamabear and Siyabear, alwaych together(always together)", Siya replied and Shaurya smiled proudly... His daughter loved her mother too much, a lot and she would never leave her, no matter the circumstances. 

"I was kidding bacha... Mumma knows I'm here... and I'm taking you both to our... my place", Shaurya said, wishing he would be able to call it their place one day. 

"Oh! So you and mumma became fliends?(Friends?)", she asked and he sighed deeply...

"Hm... We have a lot to talk about but we'll soon become friends", he answered her and Siya bobbled her head excitedly and from then till they reached, both kept talking about anything and everything.

They reached his residence, he first sent Suraj to check if there were any unwanted, uninvited, or unexpected guests at his place or suspicious people around the place, Suraj and his team after thoroughly checking the premises, gave a 'All Clear' to Shaurya and that's when he woke Akansha up. 

Akansha's headache got much better now, thanks to the sound sleep she got. But when she realized her daughter woke up and is in Shaurya's arms, she was scared that Shaurya might have already told her the truth to her... Looking at the panic on her face, Shaurya shook his head calming her. He was taken aback when she didn't trust him, he wouldn't have taken that step nor the liberty, it's she who should tell their daughter the truth, it's her right and her responsibility alone. He wouldn't do that to her, that's not him, he thought she knew him, but again after what he did to her, how dare he expect her to trust him?

"Mumma...", Siya jumped on Akansha who held her, patting her back softly. "This is my fliend Sholya's home, he is vely good", Siya said and Akansha just nodded, seeing the little acknowledgment from her mother instead of rebuke, Siya got excited and happy, and she kissed her mother's cheeks. Akansha gave her a small smile, already worrying at her attachment to Shaurya who is her father and who is furious with her for hiding his daughter from him all these years. 

"Siya bacha... Come here, we'll together welcome your mother here, okay?", Shaurya asked and Siya jumped on him excited about his idea... Shaurya quickly came to Akansha's side to open her door, but before he could reach the door, she stepped out, she sighed looking at her daughter's disappointed face but looking at Shaurya's upset face, she was glad, if he thought he could use her daughter to get her, he is very wrong and she needs to tell it to him in her every action. 

They walked in with Siya in Akansha's arms though Shaurya insisted on carrying her. They were about to step in, but Shaurya held Akansha's hand earning a glare from her. 

"Mrs. Sudha...", Shaurya called...

"Will be there in 1 minute, Shaurya", They heard Mrs. Sudha's voice and Akansha's eyes teared up, it's as if she was meeting the kindest part of her marriage, that was Mrs. Sudha, who was with her supporting at every step in her 'full of thorns' marriage. She was almost kicked out of the house taking a stand for her once if Shaurya didn't come on that time. 

"How dare you go to the hospital and see Akriti? Do you want to kill her? Tell me why did you go?", Shaurya's mother asked holding Akansha's forearms tightly. 

"Please leave me, it's hurting", Akansha tried to loosen her mother-in-law's grip but she dug her nails causing more hurt to her. If she didn't care for Shaurya, Akansha would have given back to this woman long back. 

"Mrs. Shekhawat... What are you doing? I took her there, it's not Akansha's fault", Mrs. Sudha like always came to Akansha's rescue though she didn't know anything about her visit to Akriti. 

"You? Out of all, You Mrs. Sudha?", Shaurya's mother was shocked but then fury took over... "How dare you go against me and my family? especially Shaurya?", Shaurya's mother's grip on Akansha loosened, as her concentration shifted to Mrs. Sudha, who has become a constant hindrance foiling all her plans to torture Akansha. This is the time she could kick Mrs. Sudha, Akansha's angel out of the house, and she was sure Shaurya wouldn't stop her as he would be furious to know she took Akansha to visit Akriti in the hospital. 

"Your services are no longer needed Mrs. Sudha, you can leave", Shaurya's mother spoke

"Mrs. Shekhawat?", Mrs. Sudha is shocked, she didn't expect that...

"Ma?", Shaurya called, walking in... He glared at all the staff for watching the drama unfold leaving all their work, he dispersed them. "What is it today?", he said, he is used to his mother creating a scene regarding his wife every day, but today, he was really upset, he got furious when Mrs. Sudha called him to tell Akansha went to visit Akriti and his mother is making a big issue out of it. He didn't like Akansha visiting Akriti, after what his sister had gone through because of her but all his fury vaporized when he saw his wife in distress, her eyes welled up, which never happened before. By that one look, he could understand his mother might have created a very big scene today. 

"I'm right Shaurya, Mrs. Sudha is no longer our well-wisher, she started shifting her loyalties, so it's better she leaves from here...", his mother spoke glaring at Mrs. Sudha.

"Speak about yourself Ma... Mrs. Sudha is still a well-wisher of me, she will always be... if she took my wife to meet Akriti, then what's wrong in it? Akansha asked me before going there", Shaurya said surprising Akansha and Mrs. Sudha... Akansha thought he would get furious, but here he is, defending them, offending his mother which he never did before. 

"Now you are lying too? I know you would never allow this woman who is responsible for...", His mother started...

"You have no right to speak about it... No effing right...", Shaurya raised his tone which he rarely does, his mother's eyes widened which made him calm down a bit...

"Shaurya... Don't forget you are talking to your mother...", She screamed angrily...

"I will remember it, until you remember how to treat my wife right, Listen to me carefully Ma... We are not discussing this topic ever again...", Shaurya said and took Akansha to the room, and Mrs. Sudha followed to calm him down so that he wouldn't blast at Akansha as she is already shaken up with all that his mother did today but what she saw made her surprised. 

"Shaurya... I...I'm sorry... I went there to...", Akansha started but he shook his head. She thought he wouldn't even let her explain, he would be that furious but he didn't say a thing. 

"It's fine, but next time, let me know first... now let's not talk about it... Okay?", He asked her softly holding her chin, this was the first time he spoke with so much affection after their marriage. Mrs. Sudha smiled and left from there. 

Akansha hugged Shaurya and he hugged her back, ruffling her hair with one hand... 

"I was so scared, I thought you would be furious... trust me Shaurya, I can never upset you... I went there because...", she started speaking...

"Sh... it's okay, now let's leave it... calm down... hm?", he said softly and she calmed down in his arms... 

----------------------------

After dinner, Mrs. Sudha took Shaurya aside...

"Don't leave Akansha's side today, she is a strong girl but today she is shaken up, your mother humiliated her a lot, she hit on her worst spot, she said how her parents never cared about her and got her married to you despite knowing your reasons for marrying her... and no one cares about her... she also accused her of visiting Akriti only to kill her so that you get a closure and accept Akansha and your marriage. Your mother really crossed her limits today, Shaurya", Mrs. Sudha said and Shaurya fisted his palms, he so wanted to confront his mother but Mrs. Sudha held his hand.

"Don't stop me Mrs. Sudha... Ma should know her boundaries... and after today, she will learn them...", Shaurya said, furious at how his mother treated his wife. 

"It will not change anything Shaurya... Every time you warn her to be respectful to Akansha, she starts hating her some more, and it gets difficult for Akansha, I can stop your mother only to some extent and after today, I can't even do that as she got against me too... And you won't be at home 24*7 to safeguard Akansha, so it would be better if you don't say anything to your mother, instead, take care of your wife, poor child, she is shaken up today...", Mrs. Sudha said, Shaurya nodded and left for his room with his wife's dinner plate. He asked her to take some rest in the room and not come to the dining hall for dinner that night which she happily obliged as she was in no mood to face his family members. 

---------------------------------------------------

"I don't know why you asked me to make all these preparations but everything is ready, Shaurya", Mrs. Sudha walked out with Aarti Thali to welcome his family. Akansha's thoughts were interrupted by hearing Mrs. Sudha's tone and then seeing her in front of her. Mrs. Sudha is stunned looking at Akansha, and Siya in her arms, she took a minute to join the dots and when she did, she turned to Shaurya with teary eyes to confirm, and he nodded. 

"Akansha...", Mrs. Sudha said, taking Akansha in her arms, squeezing Siya in between. "I can't believe Siya is Shau... your daughter...", she quickly corrected guessing the complications... 

"How are you Sudha aunty?", Akansha asked with a small smile, breaking the hug.

"I'm very fine... how are you Akansha?", She asked her to which Akansha nodded with a small smile. 

"Mumma... You know aunty?", Siya asked, she expected this question from her daughter, knowing how smart she is. 

"Yep... Now sh...", Akansha said

"Mrs. Sudha...", Shaurya called...

"Yes... one minute", Mrs. Sudha said arranging the Aarti Thali to welcome but Akansha takes a step back but Shaurya holds her hand.

"You can't deny Siya's right", Shaurya says, so that she for Siya's sake lets Mrs. Sudha do the rituals but she shook her head, she wouldn't comprimise on her dignity, not even for her daughter, if she did, she would be setting a wrong example for her daughter, Shaurya had hurt her deeply, broken her, and in no way she would give in to his demands now... If she ever gives in, that is only for herself, not for anyone else. 

"Here...", Akansha handed Siya to Shaurya and stepped back. Mrs. Sudha gave a small sad smile and performed Aarti for Siya in Shaurya's arms while Akansha stood afar like she has nothing to do with them, or to be precise with him. 

"Done now?", Akansha asked stepping forward after Mrs. Sudha is done... 

"One minute...", Shaurya stopped, and then Mrs. Sudha brought a large bowl filled with special clay. Shaurya slowly made Siya step on it, to record his daughter's first step into his house as well as into his life and make it memorable. 

'Welcome to Dadda's life, Princess, I just hope your mumma too enters my life one day like this', Shaurya told in his heart kissing Siya's head tightly. 

After that, all three walked inside. 

"Mrs. Sudha, ask Suraj to hand it over to the studio guy for the casting & sculpting", Shaurya said and Mrs. Sudha nods, leaving them. 

"Mumma... bhuki(hungry)...", Siya asked and Akansha nodded.

"Give me 10 minutes, okay?", Akansha asked and Siya nodded, Akansha quickly walked into the kitchen, prepared Siya's dinner with the help of Mrs. Sudha, fed her daughter, freshened her up and made her asleep as she can talk to Shaurya, and finish this up, so that she could go to her home. This place and staying with Shaurya is suffocating her, but there is a tiny piece of her heart which is bubbling with happiness for living the life she imagined thousands of times in all these years but she chided that part and kept reminding all her miseries to it throughout.

"Can we talk now?", Akansha asked, as soon as Shaurya walked back inside his room, and seeing his wife and daughter in his room, the room in which he spent numerous sleepless nights thinking about his wife and his probable family with her if he hadn't messed up made him very happy... 

He can feel her rush and that ached him. He nodded in yes. Akansha looked around to cover her daughter and he understood what she was searching for. 

"There is a fresh blanket in the closet inside... last drawer...", he said, he wanted his wife to go and get it, as that would give him the feeling that she is in her own place, moving around freely but she broke all his hopes. 

"I'm your guest Mr. Shekhawat... Please get it", Akansha said, Shaurya marched to her, pulling her to him softly...

"You are not... You are my wife, You can never be my guest, this place is yours as much as its mine", Shaurya said looking into her eyes, she jerked his grip and stepped back. 

"Stop wasting my time with your nonsense and get me the blanket before my daughter wakes up", Akansha spoke turning her head away, damn this man, his musky scent distracted her even today, she hated herself for getting attracted to the man who broke her heart brutally. 

"OUR daughter...", Shaurya said and Akansha glared but couldn't refute. Akansha huffed and tried to cover her daughter with the duvet that's on the bed but Shaurya stopped her...

"That's mine... I don't like anyone using my duvet other than my wife...", Shaurya said and though his statement fluttered her heart, she wanted to rile him up, she wanted to hurt him every second for what he did to her...

"And You wanted to claim your daughter when you can't even share your blanket with her... I haven't seen a man like you ever...", Akansha spoke with venom...

"She is My daughter, I know she might be hating to use other's duvet... hence my statement", Shaurya said and walked to his closet to bring a fresh one for his daughter. As soon as he got to know about Siya being his daughter, he ordered unicorn toys, duvets and all the necessary things for her. He also spoke to an interior designer to get her room designed. 

Akansha shut her eyes to compose herself, what has she become? In her urge to hurt him, she even forgot her daughter's habits? Yes, Siya hated sharing her duvet, she like her father only shared her duvet with Akansha but no one else. 

Shaurya came back with the unicorn duvet and covered his daughter, increasing the AC temperature to make it comfortable for his daughter. 

"How do you know unicorn is Siya's favorite?", Akansha asked

"Siya told me...", Shaurya answered...

"And looks like you knew a lot more than that...", Akansha added scrutinizing the toys and drawing books, arts and crafts, everything according to Siya's taste. 

"Yeah She told me", Shaurya replied.

"You guys hardly met for 3-4 times, how did you know so much about her ?", Akansha asked narrowing her eyes... Shaurya didn't want to take Richa's name but he wanted to be honest with Akansha now. 

"I have met her more than 4 times, Akansha", he said looking at her... Akansha's eyes widened, realizing what all might have happened behind her back...

"Is it Richa who helped you?", Akansha asked, fuming in rage, Shaurya felt bad for Richa but nodded making her rage double... She started feeling bad for what she did to her best friend but now... no more... She trusted her with her daughter and this is what she does? and Shaurya? how could he?

Akansha held Shaurya's collar furiously...

"Don't you have shame? You call yourself a responsible citizen and chief minister? The so-called people's man don't have the decency to take a mother's permission before meeting her child? How dare you secretly meet my child behind my back? Actually, I'm expecting decency from a wrong man, you are not even a human, an animal...", Akansha started speaking staring into his eyes... 

"Don't lose yourself in your hatred, Akansha... You know I'm not such a man...", Shaurya interrupted her softly, the deep hurt in his eyes made her calm down but not completely. "I didn't know Richa was bringing Siya without her mother's permission, in fact I have asked her for Siya's mother's number many times to talk to her myself and know if she is okay with her daughter spending some time with me, but Richa said that wasn't needed, also Siya told me Richa stayed with you people and when Siya talked about her 'Mamu'(maternal uncle), I assumed, Siya stayed with her mother and grandparents, and Richa is related to her by relation... I'm sorry, I should have been more careful, but if I had known about Siya's mother's disapproval, I wouldn't have met Siya without her mother's permission, but it's good I didn't know, I got my daughter, I got to know about my daughter whom my wife hid from me for the past 5 years?", Shaurya's tone completely changed from soft to hard in his last statement, causing shivers to her... 

Akansha loosened her grip on his collar and stepped back. 

"Let's talk somewhere else... Siya will wake up", Akansha said and Shaurya nodded, composing his fury. 

He left a gentle kiss on his daughter's forehead, and adjusted her duvet before walking out of the room, and Akansha followed him, taking a deep sigh. Time to confront one of the darkest nights of her life.

She followed him behind, she never stepped inside this place as Shaurya bought this mansion after he became the Chief Minister. He had many pent houses and a few buildings in the capital city but they were either in the commercial district of the city or in the crowded places, he needed a place in the centre of the city, closest to his work place and also offers privacy and security as well, and this place ticked all the boxes.

Akansha observed how the interiors of his bedroom were exactly like how they would be if they both have together chosen them. Did he want to live with her here? Was he dreaming about a life with her all these years? But why now? After all that he did?

Shaurya stepped inside his study and after she entered he locked the door.

"What do you want to talk?", Akansha asked as soon as he took a step towards her after locking the door, as if all she wanted was to get the hell out of here quickly finishing off the discussion.

"Tell me something, were you ever going to tell me about my daughter?", Shaurya asked, she was taken aback, she never thought he would ask that, she expected him to question her about why she didn't tell him about Siya but not this, never this, now what would she tell him? Her answer would shatter him, and she is not ready to see him like that... It will also make him furious.

"Now you know, so stop bothering me with these questions and come to the point", Akansha said and that got him mad.

"This is my point and you would answer my questions, Akansha... You hid my daughter for all these years, I have no fu**ing idea about her existence until a week before when I got to know about her accidentally... It's important for me to know if my wife ever considered telling about my child", Shaurya asked, he was fisting his palms so that he wouldn't hold her in his tight grip. He would never manhandle her, no matter how much furious he is...

Akansha shuddered hearing his slightly raised tone which he barely used at her, she never saw him this mad before, not even in the past when he claimed to hate her.
She ignored the word 'wife' for now, though she badly wanted to correct him. She was curious to know about their divorce proceedings as well. She was 90 percent sure they were now legally separated but still she needs to confirm from Shaurya, only he could tell the status but that discussion is for another day.

"Answer me Akansha, were you ever going to tell me about our daughter?", Shaurya asked her again and this time no matter the consequences, she decided to tell him the truth.

"Siya is mine alone... And to answer your question, No, I have no intentions to let you know about Siya, she is better off without a father like you", she spat venom, punching his heart. He then understood how bitter he made her with his betrayal. She wasn't like this before.

"Why damn it? Why don't I deserve to be her father? I was a terrible husband, I accept, but how did you decide I would be a terrible father too? You know how much I loved kids and how much I dreamt of our kids, then why?", He questioned, holding her forearms, trying hard not to hold her in his vice grip.

"Until one day, when you suddenly changed, transpired into a man I could hardly recognize... What did you ask? How did I decide you will be terrible father, Hm? You didn't give me chance to decide anything, you yourself confessed how much you loathed even the idea of having kids with me", she screamed, raging at him... All those memories of how he spoke those vile words of hit her, raging her fury.

His grip loosened... Her words stunned him. Was she there that night? But she was with Akriti that night, in the hospital... No?

Precap - The truth about that night.