"Sir... Opposition leader, Mr. Dev Bisht wanted to meet you but he has no appointment, should we allow him ?", his secretary asked through the intercom.

Dev Bisht... If it was anyone else, his secretary would have bluntly refused, since she knew he hated if someone came without a proper appointment, he is a very systematic man and he liked to have things that way but it was not anyone but his friend, in fact best friend Dev.

Sure, he was the leader of the opposition and they both sit on opposite sides in the assembly and parliament but that didn't change his equation with his best friend. He knew it never would.

"Let him in", Shaurya said, his secretary nodded and left. A couple of minutes later, Dev made his way inside the CM's office.

Dev Bisht was a young man in his mid-thirties, his father was a businessman and also an ex-Rajya Sabha member, but he was never into politics but that changed when his best friend Shaurya decided to take over his father's political party, the largest and most popular one in the state and one of the largest in the entire nation.

He along with Shaurya worked for social welfare right from their youth days. So it wasn't a difficult decision to make, both the best friends we're inseparable and had similar plans always. So Dev took an instant decision to enter politics, but Shaurya's father was always against Dev's father, so he couldn't join his party, that was a big no. Dev wanted to contest independently but Shaurya was the one who suggested him to join the opposition. At first, Dev was surprised to hear his friend's suggestion but soon got the motive under his friend's idea.

Shaurya knew most of the corruption in the country happened in politics. He might not be able to eradicate it completely but even if he gets succeeded in keeping it under control, it would do wonders for the state development. By having his friend in the opposition he could be assured that things stay under control, if not he would at least be aware of the situation. In no way Shaurya decides Dev's decisions or controls his moves neither would Dev allow it. By standing on the opposite sides, their only motive was to do best for the people.

They both never hesitate to support each other or go against each other, there are several instances where both of them got into a verbal fight in the assembly, both had people's best interests in mind. Dev without any hesitation stood against some bills Shaurya proposed for he believed they sure would be beneficial for the people but not right now. Not many people had an idea of them being best friends but it wasn't their intention to hide. It just happened that way and now they couldn't openly disclose it as it would be blown up as a scandal so they continued to keep their friendship low key.

"Yes Mr. Bisht, what brings you here ?", Shaurya asked professionally.

"Abbe chup kar ja (just shut up) don't force me to hit you in your office, it would cause unnecessary trouble for the both of us", Dev muttered angrily... Shaurya left a heavy sigh... He understood he was here as his best friend not as an opposition leader.

"Dev... This is my workplace, I discuss only work here... We'll talk later about personal things", Shaurya said keeping his calm...

"Shaurya... If you use that robotic tone with me again, I would bang your head to the table I swear... And I am aware this is your workplace, I wouldn't have come here but your actions forced me to... Idiot it's been more than a year you hang out with me, leave about hanging out with me, when was the last time you took an off for yourself  ?", Dev said angrily

"I do talk to you frequently... And coming to taking an off, I am the chief minister of the state, I don't have holidays or leaves Dev", Shaurya said

"Sure... I am a member of legislative Assembly myself and technically I shouldn't have holidays either, but for me I am Dev first, only when I take care of myself can I take care of my people. The same applies for you, you haven't taken a single off from the time you have taken office, that's not how things work Shaurya... You need to take care of your health first, not just physical but mental health as well. By not doing that, you are compromising with yours as well as the people of this state's future", Dev said

"I am taking care of myself Dev, don't make it a big issue... Just because I don't take offs doesn't mean I am ignoring myself, I am happy with what I am doing", Shaurya said angering dev

"Happy  ? And you  ? Your wife took your happiness with her, the moment she stepped out of your life, I knew it very well... So stop this happiness sh*t with me at least", Dev said

"Dev, mind that language, you are in the Secretariat", Shaurya warned deliberately ignoring his friend's comment about his wife though hearing that did squeezed his heart.

"Ignore that topic as much as you want, but you and I both know what Akansha means to you and how lost are you without her", Dev said but Shaurya refused to answer that. His friend knew he was suffering but all these years, Shaurya never accepted that he was suffering without his wife, not because he was ashamed to accept that he was crazy for his wife and was completely lost without her, but he was afraid he wouldn't be able to control his pain if his resolve breaks once and Dev knows this.

"Leave all that, tell me how is Rachna  ? And the kids  ?", Shaurya asked, Dev sighed at his friend's dodging but he gave in knowing Shaurya wouldn't want to talk about his wife.

"Yeah they are fine... Kids wanted to see you... But like always, Rachna and I made up some lies... But they are growing up, they will realize soon that we are just making up excuses to hide the truth that their Uncle Shaurya is too busy to meet them", Dev taunted his friend.

"It's not like that...", Shaurya tried to justify but Dev had enough of his friend's excuses to not enjoy his life.

"Two weeks after, It's Rachna's birthday, kids and I have planned a surprise for her, you are coming, or else I'll permanently disown you Shaurya... I am serious this time", Dev said getting up from the chair...

"Dev... Understand... My responsibilities wouldn't let me take an off", Shaurya tried

"It's sunday Shaurya, and you very well knew you could plan the work accordingly, I am not asking you to completely detatch from your work, you could be available on phone and the farmhouse is hardly two hours distance from your office, so stop giving lame excuses, you are coming, I am not hearing anything", Dev said and walked away leaving Shaurya in dilemma.

Dev and his family were the only people he had in the name of family. Rachna was his close friend, he couldn't manage to upset her and the kids. He decided to attend the party but not stay longer.

Dev always wanted to normalise taking holidays even for a chief minister. If everyone else could have a holiday then why can't he? And it's not like it was prohibited or something, even the government suggests it and they could take it but it's Shaurya's personal choice to not take an off. He didn't mind working 7 days a week. He knew he had a demanding job and he was more than okay to devote his time to it, moreover, it's not like he had a wife or kids to devote his time to, like his friend, and he knew now it was too late to think about having a loving wife or kids, as he lost his wife long back and kids? He couldn't even imagine someone else as a mother to his children other than Akansha... The woman he had brutally hurt and broke her heart. 

A few memories surfaced and his heart started beating wildly with regret... he hated his past self for hurting his love... 

"Do you know what your shameless wife has done ?", His mother started as soon as he entered his home... Shaurya was too tired with the strenuous activities he had done that day, he was campaigning for the upcoming election, the whole day he was walking in the scorching sun with hardly any food as he didn't have time for that. Meeting people and knowing their issues took most of his time, there was still more than a year before the election but that didn't mean he would ignore his constituency people, the opposition called it an election campaign but Shaurya knew it wasn't, it was more of an outreach for his people to tell him their problems and all of it tired him to hell. Fatigue was visible on his face but his mother saw nothing in front of her hatred for his wife. 

"Ma...", Shaurya rubbed his forehead with frustration, he looked at Akansha, his eyes softened for a second before they hardened and signature coldness settled in his eyes that welled up her eyes... She was a very tough woman, all her mother-in-law's accusations couldn't scare her but his one cold look tore her apart. "What did you now ?", he asked rather harshly... She stared at him, no words left her mouth because she knew it was useless...

"She stole money, the money I saved in the kitchen...", Her mother-in-law accused her... It wasn't new to her to face accusations, her mother-in-law found new ways to humiliate her... Servants are all around the house and everyone could hear them...

"Ma... It wasn't a big deal, and what do you mean by 'she stole', she is the daughter-in-law of this house, she could take whatever she wants", Shaurya responded, sure he hated her, he married her to give her the same pain she once gave his sister but that doesn't mean he would ignore the facts or let his family humiliate his wife in front of all the house staff. 

Akansha looked at him with surprise. Her husband defending her sure shocked her. 

"It is called Stealing Shaurya because she took it without asking and the money was mine, but how would you understand it, you are so into her, don't know what black magic she did", His mother said, he rubbed his forehead... 

"Fine, Stealing it is... How much did she steal ?", he asked, Akansha looked at him at how he without even confirming with her if it was true, decided his mother was right. But what was she even expecting from the man who only gave her pain? 

"Twenty thousand", his mother said 

"Sure... Here... I'm repaying it, forget it now ma and please next time don't create a scene in front of everyone, she is my wife", he said handing a bunch of notes to his mother and was about to walk away when she stopped him. 

"At least ask her Shaurya, why she needed so much money ?" his mother said 

"I will ma...", he said and started to walk away...

"Bl**dy thief", he heard his mother taunting his wife but he was too tired to respond... 

"Akansha... come to the room", he said loudly while walking away... 

His mother smirked at the impending fight between him and Akansha. 

Akansha entered their room and locked it, that was their routine, they never let the doors unlocked, as Shaurya didn't want anyone to know the reality of their marriage. She stood there waiting for him to say the harsh words which he always uttered. 

"Don't take my words seriously... I had to defend you since unfortunately, your respect was my respect...", Shaurya said "I hated every time I call you my wife but I had to", his words were daggers to her heart but she hid her tears looking down...

"Anything else ?", She asked him... No, she wouldn't break in front of him... She was stronger than that... 

"No", he said and walked towards the washroom to freshen up, he purposely called her into the room as he didn't want her to stay downstairs and hear his mother's taunts but he couldn't let her know that. 

"Won't you ask me if I really took the money and if I did, then why ?", Akansha asked him, with hope... She knew his answer yet she asked him, hopeful that he would give an answer that could soothe her wounded heart but he like always shattered her hope. 

"I don't care", he said and walked to the washroom slapping the door shut. She hated herself for loving him so much that now her heart kept forcing her to do things against her self-respect. Expecting love or caring words or gestures from a man who married her for retribution was a slap on her dignity and she despised herself but she couldn't help. She loved him too much, too much for her own good. 

And no, she didn't steal that money, one of the servants did, she saw it, she informed her mother-in-law but that woman believed in the servant's version than hers. And it didn't take even a second for her husband to accept that his wife actually stole... 

Shaurya came out of the washroom, changed into his night clothes and settled on the bed. He saw the untouched dinner on the table, he assumed a servant might have given while he was in shower. 

He saw his wife laying on the couch staring blankly at the wall. 

He sighed and had his dinner, he couldn't afford to fall sick, he so wanted to ask her for dinner but he couldn't let her think he cared. He waited for her to have it by herself, he walked to his study and got back to his work. After a few hours, he walked back to his room, he saw the food untouched, and she was staring at the wall laying the same way when he left her. Something broke in him seeing her face blank devoid of emotions. 

"Get up and eat", he said as if he didn't care for her but he knew he did. She didn't respond, he sighed, put the food on the plate, and slammed the plate on the table in front of the couch she was lying on... 

"Huh...", She was startled by the sound and looked at her husband and understood he was the one who slammed the food plate on the teapoy glass.

"Eat... Don't create a scene...", He said and he expected her to say something, a sarcastic remark she gave him most of the time when he was rude to her but nothing came out from her. She sat up and silently ate the food. 

After she had her food, she again lay on the couch and he frowned... She sleeps on the bed with him every day. That was the only few peaceful hours of his, what he didn't know was it was the same for her. She hated to admit but the time in his arms was like solace for her. 

He tossed and turned on the bed but couldn't sleep... He couldn't help himself but ask her...

"Come here and sleep", he said finally...

"Sorry, I didn't have the mood to be your sl*t today Mr. Shekhawat", ouch! That stung badly but Shaurya didn't say a word... His blood boiled at her choice of words, how could she use such a degrading word for herself. He so wanted to hold her tightly in his arms and shake her slamming his lips on hers but he wouldn't, that's so not him... He would never manhandle a woman, he would prefer to stay away from her instead of physically abusing a woman and later blame it on his anger. But the thought that he was the reason behind his wife using such a word for herself burnt him and he was so sure that it would burn the same even after years and he was so right.

He regretted doing that once, just once, when he asked her to marry him, he held her forearms in his vice grip, but as soon as he realized he left her but that thought never left him. He couldn't forgive himself for it till date.

Before he drowned in self-loathing, his secretary Mrs. Shweta Gupta entered followed by Mr. Naveen Sharma, his principal Advisor and soon Shaurya indulged himself in official works, pushing back those memories that caused him immense pain and regret. At the same time, his wife's memories soothed his soul.

"Sir... Everything is set for the meeting, shall we  ?", Mr. Sharma asked Shaurya politely... He nodded and got up from his place.

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

"Why are you so stressed ?", Akansha asked handing the coffee cup to her best friend Richa. 

Richa Upadhyay, A journalist by profession, though she had a stressful job, she loved what she did, but at times like this, she felt she shouldn't have taken such a tedious job. And at these times, Siya acted as a stress buster for her. It was 3 hours since Richa came to Akansha's place but didn't speak a word, she kept working on her laptop with Siya sleeping on her lap. Akansha too didn't disturb her best friend knowing this wasn't the first time it had happened. Every time she was stressed, she came there and silently worked, peaceful heaven, that's how Richa liked to address Akansha's home. 

Though it's just the two of them that lived there, Akansha made sure to decorate their home mixing both herself and her daughter's taste and making it lively and homely. She spent a lot of time and effort on home decor to make home a peaceful place, a safe haven for her daughter but her efforts had a bonus effect that was now her best friend too felt the same for their home and spent all her stressful days in her home which was 3 weeks in a month at least. 

"Don't even ask babe", Richa said taking the coffee mug and rubbing the cup over her forehead making the heat seep into her skin expecting it to reduce her headache. 

"I have a hot bag if you need", Akansha said 

"Yeah, I know... but I don't need it now", Richa said and Akansha rolled her eyes, of course, her friend knew everything existing in her home. 

"I think it's high time you should consider shifting with us", Akansha said sarcastically...

"I think so too, but my parents wouldn't let me especially my father", Richa said taking a sip of coffee

Akansha rolled her eyes at her friend's answer... 

"I'll make her sleep comfortably in the bedroom, hope your 'therapy' is done for today", Akansha said taking Siya in her arms... Yes, Siya is her friend's therapy...

"Yeah yeah done for today, I would be broke by now spending all my money on counseling and therapy if not for my Siyu baby...", Richa said kissing Siya's head, Akansha shook her head at her friend and walked to their bedroom and placed her daughter on their bed, covered her with duvet and placed pillows beside her before walking to the hall and settled beside her best friend. 

"Okay now... Out with it...", Akansha asked, she knew now it would be the time her friend let her frustration out and as expected, she burst out but the topic was what Akansha detested the most. 

"I'm sick of people naming me as a biased journalist, yes I do work in a channel where the opposition party former leader owns a major stake but that doesn't mean my news is always biased...", Richa said and Akansha left a deep sigh... She hated politics and all the topics related to it but unfortunately, she had not much choice other than listening to her best friend's rant. "I know you hate it but I only have you to let my frustration out so you have no option but to listen to me", Richa added and Akansha nodded helplessly. "the current opposition leader Dev Bisht is a wonderful human, I love covering him, but that doesn't mean I'm degrading Shaurya Singh Shekhawat", Richa said and a shiver ran through Akansha's spine hearing his name after so many days... 

She always avoided the news channels as every channel had him covering. She stayed away from watching the news as well, the last time she watched a broadcast was more than 3 years ago, it was Richa's debut and she couldn't miss it for anything otherwise her best friend would kill her. But, other than that, she consciously stayed away from anything and everything related to him except for her daughter who was a female version of him but nonetheless, she heard about him here and there since he was the chief minister and she couldn't completely desert any news about him. The sad part was the state people old and young equally were crazy for him.

"I need to go... Siya must be awake", Akansha said trying to get up but Richa held her wrist and pulled her to sit beside her again...

"You just put her to sleep, she won't be awake in the next one hour... sit and listen to me...", Richa said and Akansha nodded... "Many think I'm hyping Dev since I work for his party which is absolute bullsh*t, Dev is an excellent leader, he is a very influential person, yet he is very humble and his people too love him... and if I really want to degrade the Chief Minister and highlight Mr. Dev, I have many ways to do it, it's not like I have no news against the CM, I do, but I was stopped several times from broadcasting it by none other than Mr. Bisht, I seriously don't understand why? Both these men are a big mystery, I've been trying to figure that out for years but couldn't", Richa said in distress and Akansha sighed...

She knew why... Of course, Dev wouldn't let anyone degrade his best friend, both of them loved each other and cherished their friendship more than anything. But, it's not like she could tell this to her best friend, the first question she would pose was How would she know all this ? and she wasn't ready to answer that question any sooner... She wanted to stay as far from Shaurya Singh Shekhawat, if possible even from his thoughts but her best friend and her daughter keep reminding her about him, one by talking about him while the other by behaving like him. 

"Now say something", Richa asked

"I thought you just wanted me to listen", Akansha said earning a glare from her friend. 

"I really wanted to broadcast everything I have against the CM but damn Mr. Bisht, I couldn't, Maybe he is waiting for the right time to do so", Richa expressed... 

She has news that could work against Shaurya, but that wasn't against him directly, but his party members, who were known as his father's close allies. They were the oldest members of the party and also held critical portfolios in the government, and any news leak about them could be very risky. If they were proven guilty and convicted, there are high chances the government would collapse, of course, the people of the state would re-elect Shaurya Singh Ranawat anytime. The state didn't have a strong opposition from the time Shaurya took charge of his party. Very few among the opposition leaders are very popular and Dev holds the top position among them and he was trying his best to strengthen his party presence and influence in the state. This is what Shaurya also desired, he believed a stronger opposition lead to good governance and keep the government on their toes always. 

"Hm...", Akansha said nodding her head as if she was listening to her carefully...

"Oh God! I don't know why you hate this topic so much... You are not any help Ansha...", Richa said getting up from her seat walking into the kitchen. 

Akansha closed her eyes praying to god for strength... She wouldn't want to participate in any conversation related to that man but in this, she keeps upsetting her best friend whose job was to cover politics. She knew if her best friend had an inkling of her past, she would have never raised that topic but Akansha didn't want to reveal it to anyone... Not that she didn't trust Richa, she did but she couldn't bring herself to remember everything she faced... Even thinking about him was difficult for her, and she knew talking about him might kill her so she avoided it. 

Richa used to ask Akansha about Siya's father in the start but Akansha remained silent, she didn't say a word. Not a word at all and this continued for an year, and when her best friend asked her sternly, Akansha tried to tell her but even uttering about him, panic aroused, breathing quickened and it took hours for Richa to calm Akansha, so from then she didn't raise that topic and Akansha was thankful for it. It's not like the friends never discussed Siya's father or what would happen when Siya grows older and starts questioning about her father. They discuss all that but without talking about that particular person. 

All Richa knew about Siya's father was that the man married Akansha because he hated her and to show her hell. So Akansha escaped from him. 

Akansha felt bad and walked to the kitchen to make up for her nonchalant attitude...

"I'm sorry darling...", Akansha said hugging Richa from behind while her friend was chopping vegetables... "Let me help you", Akansha said taking the chopping board from her, and Richa gave her a wide smile...

"Chop nicely... I don't want to disappoint my therapist", Richa said, Akansha laughed at her friend's nickname for her daughter... Yes, she is truly a therapist, not just for Richa and Akansha, but for everyone, her calm nature, breathtaking smile, and peaceful face can calm anyone same as her father... perks of having genes of a handsome father who possesses all the good qualities in the world. He was good to everyone, except for her, thought Akansha bitterly. 

"You won't... you would never disappoint anyone", Akansha said and Richa took a deep breath...

"I do... these days, all I'm doing is disappointing people, especially the man I adore and respect so much, Mr. Dev Bisht...", Richa said and Akansha understood why, Richa kept telling Dev that they would reveal all the ruling party's secrets but Dev stopped her every time.

"You work so closely with the opposition leader, why don't you ask him yourself about revealing stuff about the... the CM", Akansha said with difficulty... 

"You think I haven't ?", Richa said and Akansha sighed... That's it she couldn't tolerate this particular topic for more time now...

"Okay okay... For now... stop thinking about all that, I'm sure you'll figure out something", Akansha said hugging Richa and Richa smiled at her best friend who always believed in her abilities despite what the world said. 

For Richa, Akansha and Siya are her family, same as her parents. She loved them a lot and she knew they reciprocated her love. She knew she wasn't aware of her best friend's past but she no more minded it, she knew it was not because Akansha didn't trust her, but because she hated talking about him, Siya's father and Akansha is grateful for understanding her. 

They finished cooking, Akansha woke Siya up, and the trio had their dinner, with Siya's nonstop questions pouring in, keeping them entertained for the entire time...

Precap - Annual function preparations... Richa sees Shaurya from nearby and feels the familiarity. Siya meets Shaurya.