Note - A small request, don't be too quick to judge any of the characters, expressing your opinions are wholeheartedly welcomed, but not hate, please be mindful of what you say, it's a genuine request from my side.
*******************************
Akansha and Siya returned from the mall, Siya hardly enjoyed her time in game zone which happened for the first time, Akansha catching her daughter's mood brought her home, fed her dinner and made her asleep. Siya quietly slept leaving her mother in deep thoughts.
Now that Siya was asleep, Akansha thought to answer Shaurya's messages which kept popping occasionally. She knew he might be distraught right now so thought to talk to him over the phone instead of informing such a crucial matter over text. His impatience is clearly visible and she thought to put a break to it now.
"Akansha... What happened to my daughter?", Shaurya's questions popped up as soon as she dialed his number and he picked in half a ring. The rightfulness he displayed in his tone splashed her with the flood of memories...
-----------------------------------------------------
"You say you love me the most right?", she asked leaning her head on his shoulder...
"Koi shak(any doubt?)", he asked
"No... Stupid... I can doubt anything but not your love towards me and your loyalty...", she said and he smiled kissing her forehead...
"You are right, I love you truly... I can never look at any other woman... I may hurt you intentionally or unintentionally sometimes... and you can punish me in any way, but never doubt my love for you Akansha...", he pleaded and for a second she spotted guilt in his eyes and her brows frowned... He quickly covered it with a smile.
"Now ask me what you were about to ask", he asked and she dismissed the guilt she saw in his eyes...
"Will you love me any less after your daughter", she asked, the question that's eating her head from the time he expressed his desire to have a daughter and the love and adoration she saw for his future child. It sounded absurd as no mother would feel jealous of her daughter, but when it came to him, she was scared of losing his love, the only best thing in her life, she cherished him and their relationship more than anything. That's why the truth left a deep scar in her heart.
"No... I'll love you the same, but I'll love my daughter more...", he said and she glared at him but soon it turned into a small smile...
"What if you come back from work and find your daughter sad? Would you scold me or question me about it?", Akansha asked him...
"Scold you? Do you think I have the courage to say anything to you? But yes, I would definitely question you, seeing my daughter sad causes me dread, I can't bear to see her upset... and I would question you rightfully... Because...", he said and pulled her towards him, with his lips hovering over her... "By then you would have become my wife... Akansha Shaurya singh Shekhawat", he said kissing her...
-----------------------------------------------
This version of Shaurya was never seen by anyone, the impatient self, and looks like this personality comes out only for her daughter.
"I told Siya about you... Now she knows you are her father", Akansha told calmly as if it was the most common news while the ground beneath him snatched.
"You told her? I... I requested you to do that in my presence, didn't I? Then why...", he trailed softly, but his distress clearly visible...
"She is my daughter... my wish...", she answered in her usual rude tone, but they both knew why she did it. She didn't want Shaurya hurt seeing her daughter withdrawing herself from him.
"I... I can take it Akansha... You don't have to worry about me", he answered, his heart beating wildly at her concern despite everything.
She didn't deny like always as she knew it's futile, he knew why she did it.
"Siya needed some time to digest this... So, I thought she would have the whole Saturday before meeting you on Sunday", Akansha said
"What was her reaction?", Shaurya asked anxiously...
"She wasn't completely aversive of it Shaurya, but looks like she is confused and upset about something... She hasn't opened up yet, but I hope she will soon", Akansha shared her worries...
"She didn't tell you? and you left it like that? My daughter might be suffering from within thinking about it Akansha, you should have made her spill what's in her head", he said softly, but his words raised her temper.
"You really think I should have forced the words out of her? She is just 4 years old Shaurya if you don't realize already, she might be so confused right now and she herself wouldn't have known how to express what she is feeling. At such a time we should give her time to process the information, understand it, and then react to it. She also needs to frame her words on how she is feeling and if there's a problem with this fact, then she has to figure out the cause, I can't pressurize my daughter just because her father is impatient, impulsive and overly protective", Akansha blasted at him and he slowly understood what she was trying to say.
"I'm sorry, I was just worried for her... Akansha... Siya is a blend of you and me, but when it comes to things like this... she likes to push back thinking about things until and unless it becomes a necessity... and more the delay, more the pain and I don't want that for my daughter... I... I don't know if I'm making sense or not but.... you are getting me right...", Shaurya fumbled with words and Akansha smiled at his worry for his daughter.
Yes, he is right... Siya has a tendency to delay thinking about things that are troubling her, she just pushes them to the back of her head until and unless someone or something makes it impossible for her to avoid it, just like her father. This habit of his became a bane in her life, ruining it forever.
"I get it, Shaurya... I'm not giving too much time to Siya to ignore this fact, but just enough for her to think about it clearly and express what's bothering her", Akansha explained softly
"Okay...", he sounded still worried for his daughter... "Can I see her?", he asked
"Hm... Wait", Akansha said and hung up, only to video call him in the next minute. He quickly picked up, to see his daughter sleeping, but he could see the distress on his little one's face.
"She might be shocked with all the revelation...", Shaurya sounded anxious...
"Shaurya... She will be fine... I'll talk to her tomorrow", Akansha assured and hung up but she knew it did nothing to calm him down... She knew he would be in distress till he saw his daughter on Sunday.
And she was so right, the next whole day, he kept texting her, asking about Siya.
Siya looked in better shape than the previous night but still she was silent about the whole ordeal, Akansha waited for her daughter to talk about it, ask about Shaurya but nothing came out of her mouth, so Akansha decided to raise the topic herself.
"Siya... After dinner, we'll pack our bags, okay?", Akansha softly asked
"Why mumma? Are we going picnic?", Siya asked, a little excited but not her usual self.
"No baby, tomorrow is Sunday, Did you forget? We have to go to Shaurya's home...", Akansha softly asked, and seeing her daughter's dull face, Akansha frowned...
"Mamabear... I don't want to go...", Siya said shocking Akansha...
"Why baby?", Akansha asked but Siya shook her head in denial and Akansha understood Siya figured out her problem but she slipped into that avoidance phase she and Shaurya were worried about.
"But, we have decided na? Mumma has promised we go to his place every other sunday...", Akansha tried...
"No... I don't want to go", Siya said stomping her feet adamantly, surprising her mother.
"Okay, we'll think about it... now come let's prepare dinner... what would my Siyabear have?", Akansha asked and Siya shrugged her shoulders avoiding replying, playing with the doll Shaurya got for her...
Akansha shook her head at her stubborn daughter and walked to the kitchen, she just thanked her stars that she didn't have to deal with the stubborn father along with the daughter, otherwise, it would be a nightmare for Akansha but looks like she expressed gratitude too early.
"How is Siya?", his message popped again... It would have been better if he had copied this message as he sent this same text a minimum of a hundred times that day.
"Shaurya... I just answered this question 10 minutes ago", she sent him...
"Yes... But I thought there might be a shift in her mood in these 10 minutes", he replied making her leave a deep sigh. She decided to tell him what happened in the past 10 minutes.
"Yes, there's a shift in your daughter's mood, but not favoring you",  Akansha sent
"Akansha... Don't talk in puzzles, I'm freaking out here", Shaurya replied...
"Siya doesn't want to come to your place tomorrow... I don't know what's running in your daughter's head, but yes, she has definitely started avoiding the topic now", Akansha texted... Soon her phone started buzzing, she sighed before picking up the call.
"Akansha...", he breathed into the phone as if he just run a marathon pausing her breath for a second... Damn, his tone... Akansha shut her eyes for a second to compose herself... 'He is worried for Siya, that's why the tone Akansha, shut your dirty thoughts' she chided herself.
"Shaurya... calm down... I'll talk to Siya and she will be normal soon...", Akansha tried to assure him but he was nowhere near calm...
"I'm coming to see my daughter", he said and hung up...
"What.... hello hello, Shaurya....", she started shouting in anger but he already hung up.
"You cannot come here..."
"do not come here Shaurya..."
"I will not open the door for you",
She kept sending messages but there was not one reply to her texts... When an hour passed, which is usually the time that takes from his residence to her place if there's no traffic, she sighed in relief, thinking he might have realized the complications involved in his move, but she was so wrong.
She lay beside her daughter to fall asleep but it was out of question now.
--------------------------------
"Suraj... Is everything ready?", Shaurya asked CSO again.
"Sir, 10 more minutes...", he answered in apprehension for the first time, he was never nervous around Shaurya as he always carried a calm aura around him, no matter the tension, he never thought Shaurya would lose calm or something like that but seeing his impatience and the agitation on his face, he was afraid.
"Suraj... It's been more than an hour I have asked you to arrange for it...", Shaurya said, holding his temper, which people thought he didn't have.
"Sir... Due to festivities, people were on roads till late at night, so it's taking a while to clear everything, and as you ordered, your visit would be strictly private, no one would know about it...", Suraj answered and Shaurya nodded believing Suraj's abilities.
After another 15 minutes, Shaurya finally started his journey to see his daughter... to his wife's place. He was nervous, scared of Akansha's reaction, but his worry for his daughter overpowered everything.
He reached her place in an hour and called her...
Akansha who fell asleep just half an hour ago, after a lot of tossing and turning woke up with a jerk when her phone started ringing.
"What the hell do you want, Shaurya", she snapped into the phone...
"Open the door before your neighbors find out who is there to visit you", he said, he knew what would make her open the door in a snap. She hung up and quickly rushed to the main door, all the way cursing him, if anyone noticed his presence she would kill him...
She opened the door only to see him wearing his tracks and a hoodie, with goggles and a mask, if she didn't know him well, she wouldn't have recognized him. She sighed in relief, he at least tried to be secretive. She knew he would be careful but she was scared of his love for his daughter, when it's about Siya, he wouldn't seem to use much of his brain, his presence at her home proved it.
She shut the door as soon as he entered her home. He called to instruct Suraj.
"You can leave, don't park the vehicle anywhere near, I'll call you when required", he instructed Suraj and hung up only to face his wife's narrowed eyes that held irritation...
"Hi... Um... Don't worry no one will get suspicious about it, I have asked Suraj to leave, um... You know people might get suspicious about what's a bullet proof vehicle doing in the neighborhood... You relax... I have taken care of things...", Shaurya blabbered in nervousness...
"I told you not to come... Why are you here?", she asked glaring at him... He tried hard not to look at her crop t-shirt, where he can see her slender waist sneaking and the pale stretch marks that amplified her beauty, a testament to her love and pain she went through to bring their daughter to the world, the sneak peak made him want to touch it, caress it with his fingers, ones she appreciated the most but he controlled his hormones remembering the purpose of his visit.
"I'm here for Siya", Shaurya responded, trying to be confident but all his confidence is evaporating with her scrutinizing gaze.
"Siya is sleeping... Now what?", Akansha asked, folding her hands below her chest.
"I'll wait...", he said, walking to the couch and settling on it as if it's his own place. Akansha frowned at him but followed him to the sofa. She knew he settled down to send her a subtle message that he wasn't leaving anytime soon.
"Shaurya, you are not supposed to be here", she said, controlling her fury.
"But I am here, so please accept it and let me handle this in my way... I want to try... Try for my daughter, I can't sit and work there when my daughter is suffering here... I just can't... Please understand, Akansha", Shaurya pleaded making her huff... His distress is clearly visible, and now she didn't has the heart to deny him.
"Fine... Suit yourself", she said and about to get up when he held her wrist. He looked around, the homely touch made the place so beautiful, a happy home. He could see the crayon drawings on the wall, but every drawing is developed into a cute one, he is sure Akansha might have changed Siya's scribbles into actual drawings...
The photo frames on the wall, mostly consisting of Siya, Akansha and Richa, followed by Akash and Richa's parents. Every picture has Siya in it, except for the two pictures, one consisted of the Brother-sister while the other one has Akansha and Richa. The frames indicated how close Richa is to them, and how hurt Akansha might have felt with her betrayal. He knew his deception had made her vulnerable and it might have pinched the wound again.
Seeing Shaurya looking at the frames, Akansha pulled the curtain down covering them all. She believed in the concept of 'nazar'(evil eye), so she arranged a curtain over the frames, whenever unwanted people visited her home, she always pulled the curtain down hiding their happy faces.
"I was seeing them, why did you pull the curtain down?", he asked
"Isn't it obvious?", she counter questioned. No, she didn't feel he would caste an evil eye, but she didn't like him seeing their pictures... The fact that he wasn't there with her in those pictures pinched her heart, they would have been happy with Siya, if only he hadn't messed up. So, now she wanted to hurt him. She didn't understand her heart, the tendency to hurt him is huge at the same time it's she who gets affected by his pain the most. Looks like nothing has changed, Shaurya singh Shekhawat has always messed with her heart. He is doing it again.
"Akansha... I want to see Siya's pictures... Right from the time she was born... I don't have the courage to face her right now even if she is sleeping, so please let me spend this night with my daughter's initial years, the time of her life I wasn't a part of...", Shaurya pleaded, his distress slowly dominated her hatred.
"I never thought I would show you these albums one day, but I guess now is the time... Cry this whole night imagining how much you lost Shaurya... The precious memories of your daughter's birth, her first word, her first step, to see her growing... You have missed everything and the fact that you could never experience them is killing you... I could see it, and I feel so good seeing you like this", Akansha said though that's not the truth... The hatred she developed for him made her spit this venom, though she felt the extreme opposite of what she just told and he knew it, yet her words hurt him.
Akansha walked to her room, took out the albums, but removing the photos she didn't want him to see ever. That pain and hatred is just for her to nurture. She wouldn't let him know ever what happened that day, she wouldn't tell him how much hatred took birth in her heart for him on the day her daughter was born too... This was his punishment, he would stay unaware of it forever.
She walked back, dropping the albums gently on the teapoy table.
Shaurya picked the Album named 'Siyakriti 1' with shivering hands, Akansha's heart clenched at the sight of him. She cursed her heart for still feeling for this man.
On the right side of page 1, He saw his daughter who might be days old, his little Siya with Akansha... He saw the first page left side empty...
"This...", he asked her, still staring at the empty space. He felt as if there were photos that held most significance to him, and Akansha deliberately removed them and his suspicions were proven right with her response.
"Those pictures are not for your eyes... That was the picture when Siya was born, and I took her in my arms for the first time... I would never let you see those pictures Shaurya, be happy with what you are getting", Akansha said...
He nodded calmly, caressing Siya's picture. He didn't have the energy to fight Akansha, and he could see the pain behind her mask of hatred and anger, so he let her spit it. If that would make her feel better, then he would endure it, all of it she has to offer because in front of her sufferings, his were nothing.
"How old is she?", he asked showing a picture.
"3 weeks... I went to hospital to get her check up, she suffered jaundice a few days after birth, it took some time to recover, this picture was after she recovered", Akansha softly said, reminiscing those days...
Shaurya's heart clenched at how his wife tackled all those challenges alone. His little daughter suffered from jaundice, and he wasn't there to support them, to take care of them... He felt as if someone was killing him and then getting him alive only to kill him again.
His eyes welled up but he controlled his tears, unlike his heart which is crying blood tears. Akansha could see through his facade, the pain he was hiding with a gentle smile, she wanted to console him and she couldn't handle these ambiguous feelings.
"This picture was when Siya turned 1 month...", Akansha said turning the page, showing him another picture where his daughter is found wearing a pale pink baby jumper with matching mittens and baby cap. She looked so adorable that Shaurya wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her forehead and cheeks but he couldn't, unfortunately the time has passed and it would never come back.
He kept seeing the pictures and Akansha explained about each picture, he smiled imagining the situation his wife was explaining, at the same time his heart was aching remembering his absence in that moment. He shut the album after a while, unable to hold his tears anymore.
He sat on the floor near Akansha's feet.
"I am sorry... I'm so sorry, I wasn't there for you when you and our daughter needed me the most... I am sorry Akansha... So sorry", he whispered holding her right foot and pressing it with his palm expressing how sorry he was. He was breaking, piece by piece and instead of feeling glad, she felt her heart constricting at his devastated form. His tears kept falling on her feet, she imagined this hundreds of times and the satisfaction she felt then while imagining this was no where present when it was actually happening. Instead she wanted to stop his tears... Yes, he committed numerous mistakes, but he wasn't at fault for not being with Siya, he didn't know about her and she thought he at least deserved to be at peace with this fact.
She cupped his face, wiping his tears shocking him with her gentle gesture.
"You weren't there with Siya because you didn't know about her... Again, that wasn't your fault entirely, your mother played her sick game and we became victims... Don't blame yourself, I know the pain of not able to hold your daughter all these years would pinch you for life, but push that to a corner, instead fill the rest of your heart with wonderful memories you are going to make with her, your daughter is now with you Shaurya, she is a part of your life from now on... Isn't that a news to celebrate?", Akansha asked and he nodded with a smile.
Seeing his charming smile, a wide smile appeared on her face, and she felt like kissing him, and that thought brought her out of her world. She quickly jerked her palms which were cupping his face till then... She moved back leaning her head on the sofa but he didn't stop staring at her. He loved how only she could handle him, and reduce his distress like it's a piece of cake for her.
"Go and take some rest... I am sorry, I woke you up at this time...", he said still holding her foot. She gently moved her feet away and sat cross legged putting her feet on the sofa.
"I can't sleep once I am awake", she said softly surprising him... He looked at her in surprise as Akansha never had a problem with sleep. "After Siya, I had a lot of changes physically, hair loss, thyroid, migraine and some other things as well. Due to migraine I couldn't fall asleep once I wake up, and lack of sleep triggers it, both are interdependent, fortunately, I am fine today, till now", she said with a casual smile but looking at his face, she understood it triggered his regrets and guilt again.
"Shaurya, you need to come out of your guilt, only then can you enjoy this phase completely with your daughter", Akansha said softly...
"These regrets are there to stay, but don't worry, I won't allow it to spoil my daughter's fun... I'll handle this...", he told her. "Since I'm the one who spoiled your sleep, let me help you fall asleep again", Shaurya added and Akansha's eyes widened at his words remembering what he used to do in the past.
---------------------------------
"Why are you not asleep?", he asked with his steely tone... The usual tone he used at her after marriage. Usually she would be asleep by the time he returns as it would be quite late due to his frequent meetings with people and party activists.
"My wish...", she answered curtly
"Are you not feeling well? Should I call a doctor?", he asked her again, she gave him a look but didn't answer his question. She was fed up of her husband, he clearly loved her, cared for her, then why can't he express it fully, why is he stuck in his stupid retribution and hurting her with his indifferent behavior. Why is he ruining her as well as his life?
He walked to her and checked her temperature with the back of his palm.
"No fever... Then? Any ache anywhere? periods?", he questioned her.
"Why do you bother Shaurya, leave me alone, like you always do", she shouted at him...
"I would have, if you have slept in time", Shaurya said, he walked to their closet before returning with oil bottle. He sat on the bed beside her feet and started massaging her feet...
"Shaurya... What are you doing?", Akansha asked but he didn't answer...
"Shaurya..."
"Answer me Shaurya"
"What the hell? You don't want to talk to me but you do all this huh?",
She kept blasting at him but he didn't say a word, kept massaging her feet. After an hour of proper massage, he left her feet.
"Now try sleeping", he said gently and walked inside, he came back after freshening up but she wasn't asleep even then.
"What happened Akansha? You never had trouble sleeping? Are you not fine?", he asked, she could see his fatigue, his feet were swollen due to extensive walking he had been doing as a part of campaigning, yet he was here worried about her. She wanted to help him but she knew he wouldn't let her tend to his pain.
"I slept in the afternoon, so not feeling sleepy", she said and he sighed in relief knowing she is fine...
"But you have to sleep now, otherwise your sleep cycle would be disturbed, you will have to wake up early and the whole day will...", he started but she interrupted him...
"Will you shut up and sleep? I don't want to talk to you, neither hear your fake concern", she snapped
"Fake concern?", he frowned
"If this is real, then was you seeking revenge an act?", she asked and he shook his head at her, and slipped into covers beside her instead of answering her.
He pulled her closer to him, holding her waist making her hover him...
"Tiredness will always get you to sleep", he whispered moving closer... She took a deep breath to control her hormones, but it's been a month they were this close and she wanted him, she could see the same desire in fact more in his eyes, so without wasting a minute, she placed her lips on his...
"Sleep", he said gently kissing her forehead, after making love to her...
She snuggled closer, hugging him tightly, and soon fell asleep. He too slept after kissing her head again...
------------------------------
"N... No... I'm fine", she stuttered and looking at her face he understood what she was thinking, both of them knew he was talking about her foot massage but their later actions after the foot massage in the past now had them flushed.
"Tomorrow is gonna be a lot tiring, physically and mentally, so you should be healthy to handle Siya, what if your migraine triggers due to lack of sleep?", he asked and started searching for oil and she gave up, he is right, she could feel her migraine shooting up, it's better she slept now.
Shaurya brought the oil and stood behind her, she frowned at him. She thought he would be massaging her legs and though the feel of his artistic hands on her feet excited her, she was about to deny him but when he never approached her feet, she was left confused, but the very next minute, her confusion was cleared when she felt his fingers in her hair.
"Shaurya...", she called in protest, holding his palms but he gently jerked her hold.
"Let me... I know your head started aching... Before the pain escalated, let me tend to it... And I am doing it for my daughter, I want my daughter's mom completely healthy to handle the issues tomorrow. Moreover I was the reason for this, so it's my responsibility to treat it", he said softly, and she sighed helpless. She didn't have the energy to fight back, so thought to give in, just for the night.
Shaurya gave her a head massage giving pressure to the points that are aching the most. He already researched about migraine and how to relieve the pain a bit by massages. He observed her face carefully to see her response when his fingers touched certain points, and through it, he gained knowledge about where it's hurting the most. Slowly she drifted to sleep, he slowly untangled her hair and made a high bun, before taking her to the room and made her lay beside his daughter.
The familiar ache returned seeing his daughter. His eyes teared up at her sight and there's no one to witness, so he let them flow freely. He washed his hands and settled on the other side of his daughter.
"Papa is so sorry my bacha... He is really sorry", he whispered to Siya...
"Dadda...", Siya whispered gently in sleep, freezing her father... Shaurya kissed her forehead, his smile widened at his daughter's address... Siya sensed him, the connection between them gave enough strength to Shaurya to face what's coming the following day.
The whole night he sat beside his daughter, seeing her albums and her simultaneously. He decided to see these albums again with Akansha, he wanted to know about the story behind every picture. And he wanted a copy of every image, he would like to frame every single picture in his room if possible.
In the morning, he freshened up and stared making breakfast for his wife and daughter. It wasn't difficult to find the ingredients as his wife marked every jar sticking names on it. Looks like she wasn't familiar with kitchen chores even after all these years, he decided to take on that department if she ever gave him a chance and they stayed in the same house ever. And just like that, his mood got sour as Akansha forgiving him seemed a distant dream. Because of his foolish mistakes, his daughter had to grow up with separated parents. Only if he had done things differently, today Siya would have had the best childhood and the best circumstances to grow up with both parents and a loving family. This guilt would kill him one day.
Siya woke up and seeing her mother sleeping and the oil in her hair, the little girl understood that her mother was suffering from headache, so she silently sneaked out of the bed without disturbing her mother.
She walked out and spotted Shaurya in the kitchen. The little one got excited seeing Shaurya, she ran to him calling his name leaving Shaurya all smiles.
"Sholya...", she hugged his legs, and Shaurya lifted her in his arms, siya nuzzled her head in his neck wounding his arms tightly around his shoulders.
"Awe... My Siya woke up so early? That's great... I have made breakfast for you... Your favorite pancakes... Will you have it?", Shaurya asked...
"Yes... Pal(par/but) no brushy... (I haven't brushed yet)", Siya told him still feeling a bit sleepy...
"No problem... Let me help you", he said and she didn't protest... Slowly her mother's words about Shaurya made into her head but she kept pushing them behind, just like her father does whenever something would be bothering him emotionally. Usually Shaurya tackles every problem bravely, faces it with courage, but when it comes to the people he loves the most, he tries to ignore anything that bothers him or pushes him away from his loved ones. That's what he did with his thought of getting retribution from Akansha. He behaved lika a coward and it costed him his wife.
He approached her with the motive of getting retribution, but when he fell in love with her truly, his intentions took a U-turn, he wanted to seek explanation from Akansha, ask her about it and also tell her about his initial intentions but things took a drastic turn later and he had to give in to the situations. He kept pushing back confronting his emotions and what he would be doing when the time came, he just wanted to live in the moment avoiding the drastic consequences this truth would bring in. His this habit caused a lot of pain in his life as well as to his wife and daughter, he wouldn't let his daughter down the same path.
He helped Siya freshen up; every moment felt like bliss to him. He then fed her breakfast, which she relished, enjoying every bit of it.
"Sholya... This is yummy than Licha Aunty food(This is tastier than Richa aunty's handmade food)", Siya said and Shaurya frowned at it. When he asked, he got to know that Siya liked the food made by Richa a lot, since Akansha is a moderate cook, Siya enjoyed it whenever Richa made something, but having tasted Shaurya's handmade food, looks like his daughter wasn't gonna praise Richa anymore.
"I'm glad you liked it. I'll cook more for you, tell me all your favorites", Shaurya said feeding her another morsel making her giggle with excitement.
After breakfast, Shaurya gave Siya a bath, since it's his first time, his daughter played with him taking advantage of the fact that he was unaware of her routine. They came out of the washroom after half an hour, with Siya wrapped in her fluffy unicorn towel while Shaurya's clothes were drenched from top to bottom.
"What's this?", Akansha questioned frowning at the father-daughter...
"You woke up? When?", Shaurya questioned back...
"Just a while back... But tell me... What happened to you? Is this how you bathe a child?", Akansha asked, Siya giggled at her mother grilling Shaurya... Akansha narrowed her eyes at her monster child.
"Siya... What did you do?", Akansha asked her daughter knowing she tricked Shaurya...
"Mamabear..." Siya giggled, explaining how she told Shaurya that Akansha makes her bathe in the shower and lets her play with water. Shaurya looked at his daughter with his mouth agape. His 4-year-old daughter tricked him, a task no one had achieved until now, well, except for his evil mother, his brain reminded him.
"I'll dress her up... Go and freshen up", Akansha told Shaurya...
"Yeah", he responds and starts walking out but she stops him...
"Where are you going?", Akansha asked with a frown
"To get my clothes, my bag is in the hall", he replied...
"I'll get it, you'll wet the floor", she said and he nodded, walking back to the washroom to take a shower.
Akansha dressed up her daughter scolding her gently for tricking Shaurya, though she is relieved internally as Siya behaved normally with Shaurya. At the same time, Akansha understood Siya was avoiding the fact that Shaurya was her father.
"Go and play with your toys, I'll give clothes to Shaurya and join you", Akansha said and Siya nodded rushing out to play with her toys. Akansha knocked on the bathroom door and Shaurya opened it after a few minutes and stepped out with only a towel hanging loosely to his waist, his upper body naked.
"What the hell Shaurya... I was about to give you your clothes", Akansha said glaring at him hard, trying hard not to look at his chest. "And that's my towel", she added.
"I know, I recognized by the scent... and that's why I used, You know I don't like to wear my clothes in the washroom", he said and she rolled her eyes...
"I'm so sorry, I don't have a walk-in closet for you", she taunted him, implying his home and his ancestral home as well has it...
"I prefer your home any day than those lifeless roofs", he said, his eyes indicating how serious he is. He stepped closer to her making her heart beat wildly... She thought his proximity wouldn't affect her anymore, but at the moment she realized how wrong she was... She still feels the same looking at him just in a towel.
"Shaurya... Don't forget your limits...", she warned him harshly, but quickly paused when he took his towel in her hands to cover his upper body and moved back.
"I wouldn't dare to...", he replied with a small smile... She dropped his clothes on the bed and walked away shutting her bedroom door making him chuckle. She is still affected by him and is terrible at hiding her crimson cheeks.
He dressed up and walked out to see his wife and daughter immersed in drawing. He went and sat in front of Siya who was coloring her book.
"Um... I want to color too", Shaurya said picking up a crayon...
"No...", Siya said adamantly snatching the crayon, Shaurya pouted making his daughter laugh, and she adorably handed the crayon to him, kissing his cheek. Akansha smiled at the both of them.
"Siyabear... Why don't you show Shaurya the drawing you made", Akansha tried to make her daughter open up... she drew her family tree which has Akansha, herself, and a man but she drew him a bit far from them but Akansha wanted her to show it to Shaurya nonetheless to make Siya see the truth which she is so busy in avoiding.
Siya's giggles slowly disappeared and she picked up her color book, and crayons and walked to her drawing table. Akansha sighed deeply, leaving Shaurya puzzled
"Okay, baby... You keep coloring, Shaurya and I will have breakfast", Akansha tried to normalize her daughter but she just got a meek 'okay' in return
"What was that? Why did she get so quiet again?", Shaurya asked Akansha after they settled on the breakfast table...
"She made a drawing when she was made to draw 'family' by her teacher. It consisted of her and me, but also you, but standing a bit far away...", Akansha said
"Me as in Shaurya or her father?", Shaurya asked puzzled by everything.
"Her father, the drawing was before she met you... I already told her about her father, though a little... I told her he would meet her in a few years", Akansha said
"Didn't she ask why didn't I meet her already?", Shaurya asked and Akansha looked away.
"She did, I didn't tell her anything... I always avoided that question... I didn't have the courage to tell her that it was her mother who didn't let her father know about her existence", Akansha said, feeling guilty...
"Sh... It's okay... Don't talk about it again, especially when Siya is around", Shaurya said and Akansha looked at him in surprise. "Let me handle our daughter", he added and Akansha nodded trusting him this time, even she didn't know why...
Precap - Siya-Shaurya's conversation. Shaurya takes the whole blame and Siya gets upset with Shaurya. Family moments.
Note - Chapters 30-36 are available in stck.me. Links are on my message board.
*****************************
Also Check out my New story 'Amidst Chaos'.