"Dadda... I lub you(I love you)", Siya squealed, as soon as they walked to the hall... The little girl was excited to see her father, she wasn't expecting him, not after how he told he couldn't be able to come as he was busy.

Akash stood stunned seeing his niece calling Shaurya 'Dadda'. When did this happen and how? Is this why his sister called him a few days back? He pinged her back saying he was busy and would call her back but couldn't due to work.

"Siya... You were sleeping? Weren't you?", Akash asked his niece...

"Mamu... Hehe... Dadda kissie me... I woke up... (I woke up because of Dadda's kiss) Magic kissie", Siya explained her uncle who wasn't too happy with the developments.

"Siyu... It's past your bed time... Mumma wouldn't like this, you know that right?", Akash said wanting his niece to go inside and sleep so that he get to talk to his brother-in-law, sorry ex-brother-in-law about how all this happened and how Siya handled the truth. Shaurya understood his brother-in-law's urgency but he didn't help him, he wanted to spend some time with his daughter, even though it's for a few minutes, after that he'll make sure to put her to sleep before leaving so that her routine wouldn't be affected.

"Mamu... Pwease... I bought giphts for papa... I want to give him then ninniee(I bought gifts for dad, I will give him those and then I'll sleep)", Siya said and before Akash could respond, Siya ran to her drawing table and brought the sun glasses and the greeting card she bought for Shaurya.

"Dadda... This is for you...", Siya handed the gifts to Shaurya who got so excited to receive his first gift from his daughter...

"You chose this baby?", Shaurya asked looking at the sun glasses his daughter got and the beautiful greeting card with it.

"Yes dadda... You like it?", Siya asked looking at her father curiously...

"This is so beautiful Siya... You made dadda so happy, thank you so much bacha... Dadda will wear it for you", Shaurya said and put on the glasses making his daughter clap in excitement and happiness.

"Dadda... You are pwetty(pretty)", Siya said making Shaurya laugh at his daughter's cute praises.

"Thank you my baby, but My siya is the prettiest", Shaurya said hugging his daughter who giggled happily.

After a little chat, Shaurya walked to and fro carrying his daughter in his arms slowly patting her to sleep, and after a few minutes, she fell asleep.

He slowly laid her beside Akansha, shut the door and walked towards the exit when Akash's words stopped him.

"When did this happen? My siyu was calling you 'Dadda'... She is MY niece...", Akash said, he couldn't digest the fact that Siya has accepted Shaurya. How did his sister let it happen? He knew it's their personal matter and in other cases he would have stayed away from this, but not when he saw his sister and his niece in the most vulnerable condition, he is scared till date to think about what would have happened if he didn't arrive there on time that day, and many more of those struggles, his sister bore alone and now Shaurya Singh Shekhawat suddenly appears and plays the 'father' role.

"I can understand your pain Akash, but I would like to remind you... Siya is MY DAUGHTER... And any daughter would call her father the same", Shaurya responded

"Yes but do you deserve it? Excuse my language sir but do you even know what all Siya and my sister has gone through during these years? How are you called a father when you weren't there for Siya ever?", Akash asked and Shaurya sighed but didn't say anything.

"I know Akash I don't deserve it, I gave the worst pain to your sister and I am guilty of it, and will be forever... You know, for a man who works 18-20 hours a day, keeps thinking about what more he could do to make others lives better, peace is the greatest reward for his mind & heart, and sleep is for his body, but my regrets have snatched both peace and sleep leaving me with nothing. I know I deserve more pain for hurting Akansha and my daughter, but unfortunately there's no bigger pain than this.", Shaurya said strongly. "All I have is my little one, I want to give the world to her, to take care of her, to share Akansha's responsibilities, doing these, I'm not trying to make up for what I have done to her, this is my responsibility and I will fulfil it... I know you think I don't deserve even a glimpse of Siya, I won't try to convince otherwise, because I don't have to... It's Akansha's decision to let me meet our daughter or stop me from. No one but her has a say in it, if you have any questions on why things have taken this turn, take up those with your sister", he added and walked away from there without waiting for Akash's response.

Akash decided to talk to his sister the next day, he slept for the day, though sleep hardly came to him.

The next morning, he woke his sister up with a coffee... Akansha accepted it and walked to sit in the hall so that they don't disturb Siya. Her eyes widened when she realized how she would have reached her bedroom while asleep.

"Shaurya brought me in", she said, that wasn't a question, it's a statement and Akash didn't bother to respond. "Damn that man... Why couldn't he wake me up? How did I fall asleep in the first place", Akansha cursed herself.

"A person can fall asleep only when he has no fear in mind or heart", Akash said, taunting his sister, for trusting Shaurya and she got it.

"A person also falls asleep when he/she is extremely tired and that's what happened with me yesterday, don't worry about other things, Shaurya Singh Shekhawat is nothing but...", Akansha started but Akash cut her off...

"Yesterday, I heard Siya calling him 'Dadda' ", Akash said and Akansha sighed deeply.

"I know... And that's what I'm telling you Akash, he is just Siya's father to me", Akansha told

"That's what I'm asking di, why are you even letting him become Siya's father? He doesn't deserve it", Akash said

"He is Siya's father, Akash... And coming to deserving or undeserving, all I know is my daughter deserved a loving and caring father and she would get it, but don't worry, only Siya will get her father, I'm not getting back with him ever... He doesn't deserve to be in my life but Siya? She does... And I got to know recently that the thing that prompted me to leave him when I was pregnant wasn't true... I regret my decision after hearing to the other version that is the truth. I should have told Shaurya about my pregnancy... Hm... Anyway, let's not talk about this more... I'm already stressed enough", Akansha said, and got up with her coffee mug leaving Akash to think deeply.

His sister was always like this... Independent and strongly decisive. Also Akash couldn't completely form an opinion about the whole thing as Akansha never told him the reason why she left Shaurya abruptly. She was always like this, she never shared her problems or suffering with anyone, being the eldest child and courtesy her family conditions, she had to be like that.
Even the truth about Shaurya's primary intention to marry her wasn't shared with Akash till many days. He kept thinking that she was happy in her marriage though Shaurya kind of forced this marriage on her parents as they weren't ready to marry off Akansha especially their mother, though for financial reasons. Akash thought Shaurya loved Akansha and that's the only reason he married her, and would keep her very happy, he was in this illusion till many months, until one day it broke.

Akansha got ready, then made breakfast, tasking Akash to wake Siya up which the Dikshit sibling struggled to do, as handling Siya for half an hour after she wakes up is very tough. Akansha was happy that Shaurya handled Siya though it wasn't that easy, Siya's love and attachment with Shaurya helped him a lot, and the most important factor was Siya was just like him, so it wasn't that big of a challenge for him, with his high patience level he would soon master the skill of handling his daughter.

After finishing breakfast, Akansha helped Siya relieving Akash from his duties making him sigh in relief. Uff, handling kids is so damn difficult, thought Akash.

After breakfast, he dropped Akansha and Siya at their school before leaving for his work.

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

"Sir... You called me?", Mr. Sharma entered Shaurya's office.

"Yes, Mr. Sharma... Please have a seat", Shaurya politely said, Mr. Sharma took a seat with a neutral expression but he was tensed from inside. Whenever Shaurya asks him to sit, he knew the discussion was gonna be long and mostly he would be loaded with work and some tedious responsibilities.
"Don't worry, this isn't about work", Shaurya started reading Mr. Sharma's mind.
"I want your inputs about something...
You have been a Principle secretary for many years now... And your experience in this field is unmatched... Based on that, please help me analyse the challenges if I announce my marriage and my daughter to the world", Shaurya said shocking Mr. Sharma...

"Sir?", Mr. Sharma responded, expecting Shaurya to change his statement but when he remained unfazed waiting for his reaction, he understood how serious his boss was. "You are planning this announcement right after elections? If so, the time won't be enough to prepare sir... To lower the impact and blow to the people, it's better to drop subtle hints from time to time, it will prepare them for this news", Mr. Sharma started but is interrupted by Shaurya...

"Not after elections Mr. Sharma... Before elections... In fact as soon as possible", Shaurya said, giving a huge shock to his PS.

"What? Sir... You can't be serious", his tone was respectful but it also held the shock and disbelief he held.

"I'm serious Mr. Sharma, that's why we are having this discussion", Shaurya said, his tone polite yet held conviction.

"Sir... This will have a major impact on elections, this is like standing unarmed in front of an enemy after arming them completely, opposition won't leave this chance and you know their media channel will not leave you capable to face the elections... It's a miracle that despite all the defamation they do in their channel regarding our party, it has a strong hold in the state and win is guaranteed and that's solely because of you and your reputation, you are the pillar that made the party stand tall, if the pillar starts cracking, it won't take much time for the building to collapse, so my advice is to not take such a decision", Mr. Sharma said

"Mr. Sharma... You are like a father figure to me... So I wanted to ask you one thing, in your almost one and half decade of knowing me as a person and half a decade of knowing me as a chief minister, have you ever seen me taking a wrong decision professionally? Please give me your honest opinion", Shaurya asked

"Rarely... You always take decisions after carefully considering the pros and cons... For me you are the best decision maker, but...", Mr. Sharma started but Shaurya cut him off... He was being honest when he talked about Shaurya's decision making skills. He took some of the best decisions for the state and they proved to be a boon in the state's current and future time. Shaurya was a visionary and Mr. Sharma always looked onto him.

"Professionally for the things I'm being appreciated are the things that are lacking in my personal life. Everyone see me as a definition of success, maybe I'm a success as a CM, a politician, a business leader, but I'm a failure as a husband, almost as a father, but there's still very little chance, and I don't want to lose it... My daughter deserves to be known by her father's name, she deserves that love, care, respect and most importantly time of her father... I maybe able to accept being a failure as a politician, as a Chief Minister, but not as a father... You still think this is bad decision?", Shaurya asked

"Not if you are just Shaurya singh Shekhawat, but you are also the Chief Minister of the state, and the CM candidate for the ruling party in the upcoming elections... You need to consider that as well sir, there are just a few more months for the elections, let's stay calm till then, you can announce after beginning your second term", Mr. Sharma tried to make Shaurya understand that he is putting everything at stake to become a good father to his daughter but Shaurya seemed to worry the least about his career.

"I have already taken the decision to announce, before elections, I have a few plans to lower the impact, please advice on what else we can do more... I wanted to hear your suggestions before discussing the whole thing with my advisors", Shaurya said, Mr. Sharma looked terribly worried for his political career but he also knew Shaurya is very stubborn and once he decides, no one could change his mind. "Suggest me something that could favor Akansha... I can't risk my wife's peace anymore, I don't want people or anyone for that matter to judge or trouble her...", he added and Mr. Sharma held his head in worry. Looked like Shaurya wasn't just planning to be a good father or husband but was also practicing to be a villian in his own political career.

The next one hour went with Shaurya detailing his strategies and how he is planning this revelation, but his every step, every plan included favoured Akansha and his daughter, indirectly making him the villian. He was taking every measure to protect Akansha but in turn he would be losing his biggest support, the women voters and also the educated men who liked and admired Shaurya's policies and sincere attempts to empower women.

"Sir... This is like a suicide mission to your political career", Mr. Sharma said

"I know the impact will be a bit harsher, but we'll take measures to control the damage", Shaurya said

Mr. Sharma started narrating all the problems he would be facing if he goes on with his plan, some has a few solutions with Shaurya but some had dire consequences which Shaurya can't afford but still he refused to budge. After an hour more of discussion, Mr. Sharma left to complete his works while Shaurya continued with his, planning to discuss it with his advisors, but he needs to make sure this news doesn't reach his father yet.

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

A few days passed, Shaurya has taken all the measures to stop this news from reaching his father before talking to the top advisors, which wasn't an easy job at all, considering his father's connections... He had to carefully curate those meetings holding them at his residence, the only place his father could never sabotage.

All their advice was not to make the announcement but since Shaurya already took the decision, their job was only to minimize the blow which they started. They decided to drop subtle hints, with increasing impacts every few days. Those tactics involved some source less posts in social media wondering about Shaurya's personal life, stuff like his love life, his college and then intensifying them to make posts of his secret marriage, then finally disclosing how Shaurya mentioned about his marriage while filing his nomination, but none knew about it as he requested the election committee for privacy, he also brought orders from court to stop this info from spreading in any way. Now Shaurya can take advantage of the same as he had done everything legally. He was thankful that he decided to proceed in a legal way rather than using his power to hide the news about his marriage.

--------------------------
It's sunday soon and Shaurya decided to stay at home waiting for his daughter and wife to arrive. He wanted to spend as much time as possible as he would be leaving for his campaigning on Monday and would return only after a week. He knew he would miss his daughter and wife terribly, also he had to take his daughter's permission, that's what the agreement says.

He smiled thinking about the incident that took place two days back when he visited his daughter at night. His wife shot the video, he watched it for at least 100 times till now. He shook his head and opened it again to re-watch it. The video started with his daughter's cute tone.

"Dadda... I am angly...", Siya told as soon he came back from the kitchen with the cup cakes he made for her.

"Dadda is sorry baby... I had meetings the whole night, that's why I couldn't come to meet you... Dadda is really very sorry", Shaurya apologized for the nth time... "Have these tasty tasty cup cakes and forgive dadda", Shaurya added forwarding the cupcakes tray but she turned the other way, pouting angrily.
"At least see what dadda has made for you", he pleaded but his daughter was equally stubborn. He stared at his wife who is busy stifling her laughter at the duo. Shaurya mouthed 'help' to her and she blinked her eyes.

"Wow... These are some really pretty cup cakes, I'll have one", Akansha said moving forward to pick one.

"Mumma... No...", Siya said and took the tray away in possessiveness, that's when she saw the beautiful designs on the cup cakes with each letter of sorry written on each piece. The cute micky and unicorn designs along with the 'Sorry' melted her heart.

"Dadda... I fo... fol... Mumma what is that wod(word)", Siya asked not remembering what to say...

"Forgive", Akansha helped

"Yes... I forgive you but do not lepear(repeat) it", Siya said making her mother laugh... She was trying to imitate Akansha, who says the same thing when Siya does some naughtiness.

"It's repeat, Siyabear", Akansha corrected her daughter.

"Yes mumma... Lepeat", Siya said

"Okay, I promise, I won't repeat it", Shaurya said and Siya looked at him as if he did a crime, he looked at Akansha not understanding what to do.

"Mumma, dadda doesn't know to promise", Siya complained to her mother.

"Ha baby, that's mumma and Siya's secret na, how would dadda know if you don't tell him?", Akansha came to Shaurya's rescue.

"You tell him", Siya said adamantly, Akansha sighed before turning to Shaurya.

"Put your one hand on your heart and with the other hold your ear and repeat after me...", Akansha guided Shaurya... He did as she told and looked at her for further instructions.

"Repeat after me", Akansha said, she is hesitant to share this pledge with him, what if he laughed at the funny words... But she soon shook away all her thoughts, she would break his teeth if he laughed.
"I, Siya ke dadda (Siya's father), am very very sorry to disappoint the world's cutest baby, my baby Siya... I promise not to repeat it ever, I will come to meet her every other day", Akansha said, Shaurya smiled widely at the cute pledge, he repeated after Akansha, but still Siya's angry face was intact.

"Now what baby? Dadda ne bol toh diya? (Dadda took the pledge right?)", Akansha asked her daughter.

"Mumma... Dadda... Promise... Per... Per...michion(permission)", Siya struggled to say, Akansha opened her mouth widely at her daughter's wish. She was about to refuse her but Shaurya started continuing his pledge.

"If at all I wouldn't be able to meet my sweetest, cutest and the best daughter in the world due to any work, I will take her permission before leaving for work", Shaurya said and Siya finally smiled widely, and jumped on Shaurya hugging him tightly.

"Mamabear... Lecord kiya(have you recorded?)", Siya asked and Akansha nodded with a smile.

"Acha... So this is mother-daughter's plan against me huh?", he teased his daughter tickling her with his beard making her giggle loudly.

Shaurya smiled widely at the bliss he felt everytime he heard his daughter's giggles.

The video ended making Shaurya miss his daughter.

He called his wife to see if he can talk to his daughter during the lunch break, but he didn't expect the rise in heartbeat when he heard her words and the soft tone of her.

"Shaurya... Bacha... One more time I see you pulling Ronit's hair, I'll give you homework", Akansha said before looking  at her phone which she picked up to put it in silent as it started ringing, but just as she took a look at it, she realized she mistakenly answered the call that too Shaurya's...

Hearing her words, his heartbeat paced at an unrealistic speed, it's been more than half a decade he heard her say his name with such softness... The last time was when she wasn't aware of the truth about his motive. After hearing her whole sentence, he realized that wasn't for him but it did nothing to lower his pacing heart. The only woman who could create havoc inside him just by a glance is her, Akansha...

Akansha cursed herself sensing his labored breathing, she knew what caused it. She controlled her own emotions before speaking into the phone.

"I was in class, something urgent?", she asked, her usual coldness returning, bringing him out of his reverie, steadying his heartbeats.

"Um... No... I just wanted to talk to Siya... I'm missing her...", he said and Akansha sighed.

"Your daughter is studying in a school, this isn't any picnic... You can talk to her but only after her school ends, just because I teach in the same school doesn't mean you take advantage of it, wait till evening to see your daughter like any other father does", Akansha told harshly... He was hurt but his tone was soft like always with her.

"Other fathers haven't missed 4 years of their daughter's life, other fathers don't stay away from their daughters, neither do they carry the burden of the state, so please... Try to understand my plead", Shaurya requested.

"No Shaurya... And I'm busy, so do not disturb me", she said and hung up.

"Akansha ma'am, kabhi toh kaam kar liya karo (work at least sometimes, if not every time)", Bharti, Akansha's colleague who taught higher sections passed a taunt on her, seeing Akansha outside the class answering a phone.

"Excuse me?", Akansha asked sternly.

"I wish I could excuse you... Tell me one thing... Despite taking so many offs in the past few months, you still dare to waste your time during your class time using phone instead of teaching the kids? I don't understand how Mr. Joshi is sanctioning your leaves in the first place", Bharti told Akansha...

"You tell me one thing Bharti ma'am, why should I answer all your nonsense? You are neither my boss nor my superior, I am in no way answerable to you. But yeah I definitely have a suggestion for you, usually I don't give suggestions or advices but looks like you are in a dire need of one... 'Mind your business' hm?", Akansha said before walking back inside,  fuming Bharti...

Bharti and Akansha didn't like each other much... Bharti despite being a senior teacher handling higher classes, having a higher qualifications than Akansha (according to her), despite having higher pay, wasn't given much importance or responsibilities during the crucial events of school. Mr. Joshi always trusted Akansha with that which never went well with Bharti. She always taunted Akansha and Akansha never was the woman to tolerate sh*t from people, she always have given back, the only time she held back was with her ex-mother-in-law but that too out of love for her husband... Ex- husband, her mind corrected. With that she remembered to collect the documents regarding their divorce from Shaurya which she hasn't till now. She decided to talk to him later.

With that, she remembered how she spoke to him, all he asked was to talk to his daughter, why did she react so harshly...

When the bell rang, she went to her daughter's class, usually she wouldn't visit her class during school hours. She trained her to have her food just like her classmates did, with the help of caretakers. So, Siya got excited to see her mother.

"Mumma...", Siya hugged Akansha who stroked her daughter's hair before detaching herself softly.

"Had your tiffin?", Akansha asked to which Siya nodded with a proud grin, Akansha appreciated her daughter which made the little girl happy. "Okay Siyu... Dadda has called... He wanted to...", Akansha started but his daughter's excited squeal cut her words...

"Dadda!! I want to talk to him", Siya squealed happily... Siya's teacher, Rashi gave a surprised look to Siya and then to Akansha...

"Okay... But before that, have some water, you didn't have your water after lunch", Akansha said looking at her daughter's fully filled water bottle. Siya nodded and rushed to have water so that she could go talk to her father.

"Siya's father? I'm sorry to ask but were you talking about her real dad or you are into a relationship...", Rashi softly asked, Akansha frowned at her question, who is she to ask about her personal life? "I'm sorry for stepping into your personal space but Siya has been talking about her 'dadda' alot these days but she didn't tell his name, so...", Rashi trailed, Akansha mentally appreciated her daughter's maturity and Shaurya's way of making his daughter understand.

"Siya's real father", Akansha answered crisply, her daughter deserved to claim her real father after all the time without one so Akansha answered.

"Oh! I thought he passed away...", Rashi said, Akansha glared at her, she didn't know why she got upset but the thought of Shaurya dead made her heart bleed and herself very angry.

"No he didn't, you better don't imagine things without proper confirmation Rashi ma'am", Akansha said gaining a nod from her.

"I'm sorry, you never mentioned, so I thought... I didn't know you are together", Rashi apologized sensing Akansha's anger.

"No, we live separately...", Akansha said...
'Live separately?' Why didn't she say they were separated not just live separately... She sounded as if they live separately due to work purposes. Akansha cursed herself but didn't correct as not to make a fool out of herself.

"Oh! I hope he is coming for the father's Day celebrations next month, Siya must be very excited right? Last time she was so sad", Rashi said and Akansha's face turned cold. How can Shaurya attend it? But Siya would be very disappointed if he didn't, all her friends's fathers would be attending but hers wouldn't, it would get hard for her to convince this time, last time it was easy as Siya did not have much expectations, but this time she will want her father to attend and if she asks, Shaurya would definitely come for his daughter without thinking the consequences, his daughter can make him dance on her finger tips. So Akansha decided not to inform Shaurya about it.

"No he won't be able to make it, he is travelling on work front", Akansha said

"Mumma... Call dadda... I drank water too", Siya said rushing to her mother showing her now half empty bunny bottle.

"Good, let's go", Akansha said, holding her daughter's hand and taking her to the staff room... She saw some staff are still having their lunch, all got excited to see Siya there, the little girl is a star in everyone's eyes... She filled everyone around with smiles on their faces and drew a lot of attention just like her father. Akansha thanked her stars that her daughter went on her father in this, not on her, if she did, she would be ignored all her life just like people ignored her presence. Now she didn't mind it but there was a time it used to pinch her heart.

"Omg! My little star, you are here? Come here..."

"Siya darling, you made our day with your visit"

"Akansha ma'am, keep bringing Siya here... She is such a cutie"

Akansha heard different voices and she just gave a small nod in response. Siya walked to all of them enjoying the attention forgetting her call with her dadda for a minute but soon she remembered. She couldn't forget about her dad for long.

"Can I play with you latel(later), My dadda will call now... I have to talk to him fist(first)", Siya said...

Bharti, Shalini and other teachers in the staff room looked surprised at the little girl's claim. They all thought Siya's father is dead. Akansha sighed deeply, she silently shook her head at them as she didn't want them to ask their stupid questions in front of Siya which could hurt her. Some doesn't even have the decency to not ask some questions in front of a child.

"Siya... Why don't we talk to your dad after going home?", Akansha tried, though she knew it's futile.
She can't let Siya video call Shaurya in front of so many people, there are no empty classrooms as well, usually the staff room would be empty in the second half of the lunch hour as all the staff would go to a mandatory walk down stairs after lunch, but looks like today they got late. Akansha sighed at her luck.

"No... I talk to Dadda... Now", Siya said adamantly surprising everyone as Siya was usually very sweet, they didn't think she could be stubborn too, little they knew she can be the most stubborn child when wanted, just like her dad.

"Fine... But no video call", Akansha slowly said, making her sit on her chair to a side.

Though the teachers seemed to mind their own business but she knew better, their ears are all here to hear Siya talk to her father, but she doesn't want to disappoint her daughter just because they are hearing their conversation.

"Here..." Akansha dialed Shaurya and gave the phone to Siya.

"Dadda...", Siya squealed, looks like he picked the call in a ring.

"Yes my gulab jamun... How is my baby... Is school tiring you...", Shaurya asked which is audible only for Siya's and Akansha's ears though...

"No... I like hele(here)", Siya replied and then started narrating about her day, starting from how her friend took her pencil to how her mother made her drink half bottle of water, before making her talk to him. And looks like Shaurya's reactions and responses satisfied the little one as her face is all smiles.

"Okay now say bye to dadda, he is busy, you can see him at night", Akansha said and Siya pouted but one stern look from her mother made her give up.

"Bye dadda... See you night(tonight)", Siya said and after receiving a proper response from her father and his promise to see her at night got the little one grinning.

Akansha took the phone and went to a side to tell Shaurya on how Siya told about her father in the school but hid his name and identity. Shaurya would be proud of his daughter's maturity.

Seeing Akansha going aside, Bharti and Shalini walked towards Siya to get any information about Siya's father.

"So... Siya has got dadda huh?", Bharti asked with a smile patting Siya's cheeks

"Yes... Dadda lubs(loves) me a lot...", Siya claimed extending her arms to show how much her dad loves her.

"Oh! Can we meet him?", Shalini asked

"No... Dadda is very buzzy(busy), he has time only for me and my mumma", Siya said getting angry... Her dadda is only hers and her mumma's.

"Does he stay in your house?", Bharti asked this time...

"No dadda has a big house... He stays there... Because he has lots of work... Big big guards also...", Siya said and Bharti's eyes widened.

Is Akansha seeing someone? Someone from affluent background? This is some news... She smirked but Akansha who came there noticed her expressions and understood what's running in her colleague's cunning head.

"What's his name?", Bharti asked again...

"Why do you want to know MY dadda's name?", Siya asked folding her arms sternly... Akansha wanted to kiss her daughter's cheek tightly for her answer, it was a slap on their faces. But looks like it wasn't enough.

"Answer her Bharti ma'am, why are you so interested in knowing her father's name?", Akansha asked, their faces paled at Akansha's stern look.

"Just like that", Bharti shrugged.

Before Akansha could say anything, Siya started talking...

"Mama bear... Dadda said he will bling his small photos(dadda said he would bring his childhood photos), he said I look the same", Siya said and Akansha smiled picking up her daughter in her arms.

"Yes you look just like him, you are a mini copy of your dadda", Akansha said kissing her cheek, her answer gave a clarity to Bharti that Siya was talking to her real father but where was he all these years, Akansha glared at them silently warning them not to try throwing dirt on her or her daughter.

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

At night, Shaurya visited his daughter and wife. As soon as he entered, Siya ran to his father, jumping on him...

"My baby didn't sleep today?", Shaurya asked in surprise, Siya shrugged, hugging him tightly, nuzzling her head in his neck. Shaurya looked at Akansha for answers, as he didn't want his daughter to suffer lack of sleep.

Usually, Siya would have her dinner early and sleep, so that she could wake up when he arrives and play with him.

"She slept in the afternoon, more than her usual time, so she isn't sleepy now", Akansha replied

"Oh! I got to know from mumma that my Siya followed dadda's request... So Dadda has a surprise for you", Shaurya said and Siya squealed in excitement.

"Suppise (Surprise?) Yayyy", she jumped, hugging her father again, kissing his cheeks making him chuckle.

"Here... Dadda got this for his little princess... A unicorn for another unicorn", Shaurya said taking out the jewelry box from his pocket.

It's a small necklace chain for children with unicorn shaped locket, filled with stones.

He is about to make his daughter wear but Akansha stopped him.

"She's allergic to artificial jewelry", Akansha said

"This is gold, relax...", Shaurya said with a smile... Of course he knew his daughter is allergic to artificial jewelry just like her mother. This is one of the very few things she got from her mother.

"Dadda.... This is soooo sooo pwetty, thank you....", Siya said, running inside to see in the mirror.

"Here... These are for Siya... I got them made for her...", Shaurya said, handing over the bag he brought with him that has all the jewelry he got for his kid.

"What's all these?", she said looking at all the jewelry he brought.

"These are some occasional wear, these fancy unicorn and other cartoon sets are for daily wear, she would love wearing them...", Shaurya said, staring at his daughter with a grin, who is admiring her unicorn chain with a wide smile...

"You want your 4-year daughter to wear gold jewelry everyday? Where is your brain? Left it at home? She can hardly take care of herself, how do you think she would be careful of this? God gave you brain, please use it at least sometimes Shaurya, that would save a lot of energy for me", Akansha scolded him.

"She would be careful... Relax", he answered cooly.

"Dadda... I will weal(wear) it to skool(school)", Siya didn't ask, but declared.

"Of course baby... Whatever you want", he answered... Akansha rolled her eyes at the father-daughter...

Siya turned to her mother to show her but when she saw no smile on Akansha's face, Siya thought her mother didn't like it.

"Dadda... I don't want it", Siya said with almost tears in her eyes... She loved the gift her father brought, but at the same time, she didn't want to accept something which her mother didn't like.

"Why baby? You liked it, didn't you?", Shaurya asked

"Mumma not like it", Siya replied making Akansha smiled at her daughter's thinking...

Shaurya hugged his daughter at how much she valued her mother's opinion. 

"Very good... You made Dadda so proud today, Mumma always comes first...", Shaurya said kissing her forehead. 

"But who told you, mumma didn't like it?", Akansha asked sitting beside Siya and pulling her to her lap, from Shaurya's arms. 

"I know my mumma", Siya said making Akansha chuckle at her daughter. 

"But Siya bear, mama bear liked it a lot, but I don't want you to wear it for school", Akansha said

"Why mama bear... I like it so much... Pwease... I weal it for skool(Please, I'll wear it to school)", Siya told

"Look at this, it's so beautiful now, but if you wear it daily, it won't shine anymore, and soon this will break, you want it?", Akansha asked and Siya shook her head rapidly... "Exactly, so wear it only for special occasions", Akansha said and Siya agreed after a lot of persuasion. 

"Siya... Go and put Dadda's phone in the room, this time is only for my Siya", Shaurya said handing his personal phone to his daughter to send her inside, so that he could talk to his wife as he had something important to share. 

"Okeyyyy dadda.... yayyy", Siya said and ran inside. 

"Akansha... Make her wear at least one of these chains daily, um... maybe you can safely pin it so Siya wouldn't lose... but make her wear it at any cost, I got a tracker installed...", Shaurya started but Akansha was furious...

"How dare you?, I'll throw all these out right away", she said furiously

"Will you calm down? I did it for her own safety, Siya is my daughter, whether its made public or not, it wouldn't take much time for my enemies to figure it out, for her safety, this is much needed... You don't know how far they could go to bring me to my knees, and only Siya or you... I mean for Siya I would go to any lengths", Shaurya said quickly correcting and Akansha calmed down. "If I wanted to keep a track of you, I wouldn't have told you in the first place", Shaurya said and Akansha nodded.

"I will do Anything for Siya's safety, but if you try to do things without my knowledge, I will not even let you near my daughter. Everything related to my daughter should be known to me", Akansha said, and Shaurya nodded. 

Siya returned, and all three spent some time together. Shaurya took permission from his daughter to leave for campaigning for a week. It wasn't an easy task; he had to promise lots of things to get his leave sanctioned. Akansha was surprised as Shaurya took his daughter's 'permission' word seriously. 

After that Siya fell asleep in her father's arms. He carried Siya to the room and made her sleep before returning to the hall but frowned seeing Akansha on call, but soon his frown turned to fury hearing her talk and knowing with whom she was talking. 

"Neil... You, at this time? Everything okay?", Akansha asked

"Yeah! Sorry, I didn't realize the time, actually, the other day I discussed a project with you, are you available tomorrow, so that we can discuss this further?", Neil asked

"Can't we talk on the phone? I am busy with my school work as well with the CR project", Akansha said

"Yeah, sure...  I want to hire you as a consultant, this project and the people involved in this project's mental health are very important to me, I want you to take care of it, counseling, motivation, whatever you call it, you have full freedom to decide what's better for their mental health. You know due to high stakes involved in this project, I can't even hire any well-known psychologists due to trust issues. Dad said you are trustworthy and suggested I talk to you", Neil said

"Neil... I'm a child psychologist, and, I have never practiced it, so I don't think I'm the right person for this, and regarding Mr. Khanna recommending my name, we both knew why he wants us to meet, but neither you nor I'm okay with this... I'm content with my life with Siya, I haven't thought about a relationship neither do I want to", Akansha said

"Hm... I think you are right, but still think about this, I trust dad's choice, if he thought you were best for this project then he definitely trusts your work, so please consider... Let me know if you change your decision", he said and after 'byes', he hung up... 

Akansha sighed and put her phone aside, and walked towards kitchen to fetch some water, that's when she saw Shaurya, who is fuming in anger.

Precap - Past cont. Dev informing Shaurya about father's day celebration at Siya's school. Siya and Shaurya...

Note - Parts 34-42 are now available in stck.me. Links are on my message board in wattpad, and highlights in Instagram.

Instagram account - introverts world_17