"Srishti?"jai muttured under his breath. Looking at her picture in his phone screen.

He couldn't believe that his mother chose srishti and wanted him to get married to her. His heart was thudding faster than ever. Somewhere deep inside he couldn't blame his mother as he knew how much she liked srishti. But it also terrified him. He haven't seen her in that way. But he always felt that she's special. And that's what kept dragging him towards her all the time.

Jai quickly came out of the bed. His tiredness was long gone. He walked towards his mother's room. Downstairs. He very well knew he won't be able to sleep until he gets to know. Everything that's in his mother's mind.

When he walked in. Kumari was sitting in the bed. Going through some documents in her laptop.

"Raju? Didn't sleep yet?"she asked. Putting the laptop aside. Jai came towards her and sat next to her. Taking a deep sigh.

"I...I looked at the picture you've sent to me"he said after a pause. Making kumari smile.

"And? What do you think?"she asked.

"Maa? Stop messing around. Seriously srishti? What's wrong with you? And does she have any idea about all this?"he frowned.

"Jai..I just wanted to know how you feel about her. I told you there's no rush. See I like srishti very much. She'd saved your life. And she's different from all the other girls I've met. Your stardom and popularity hasn't moved her in any way. You saw that right?"she asked and he kept mum without saying anything.

"Jai she's a real gem. I don't think I can find anyone like her ever again for you. She's so perfect"she said making him sigh.

"I know she's good. And she's different from all other girls I've met. And she'd saved my life. But...maa marriage?"he rolled his eyes.

"Do you like her? That's what I'm asking"

"I like her. For the person she is. She's amazing ma. But let's not further discuss about that marriage topic anymore. Its too much for me right now. I cannot believe you're dragging srishti into this"he shook his head and sighed.

"I'm sorry if I did a mistake by choosing the right girl for you"Kumari said turning her face away.

"Please stop making things complicated ma. I cannot even believe that I'm having this conversation with you. I respect srishti so much and so do I with the decisions you take for me. But I don't want to talk about this anymore. Can you just let it be?"he asked.

"Fine..but before putting an end to this topic I want you to explain something to me"Kumari got up and walked to her wadrobe. She took srishtis stole and the magazine's she found in jais room. And came back to him.

Jai sat dumbfounded. He couldn't believe that his mom had found out something. Which was so personal to him. He was shocked to his core. But also kind of embarrassed.

"Why do you have her things with you. And marking her out in every picture. Does that sound right to you jai?"his mom asked.

He was flushed and he didn't knew what to do. But being an actor he very well covered his emotions. He quickly composed himself and got up.

"Its...nothing ma..I was just curious you know"

"Seriously?"Kumari chuckled seeing his face.

"Okay so now you've decided just because I've kept her stole and pictures. That I like her?"he asked throwing his hands in air.

"Yes Raju. That's exactly what I'm thinking. I'm your mother. And I would definitely understand if there is a slight change in our children. And I could feel that. You were different in Srishtis presence. Sristi and you have a connection. I don't want to spoil that by coming in between you both and...if you're really sure that you don't want srishti as your life partner. Then let me just throw away all these things"Kumari said. Taking them away.

"No..maa what are you doing. Just give those to me"he snatched it from her. Making her surprised and also shocked.
.
.
"Mam we are here"Ganeshs voice took Srishti back to sense. She had reached her house. A sigh left her mouth. She'd been lost ever since she heard his mother. Talking about his marriage. It made her feel so heavy.

"Thank you so much sir"she said. Coming out of the car. Ganesh smiled at her.

"Take care madam. Good night"

"Good night"srishti smiled.

The car zoomed out into the nights darkness. Srishti stood there for few seconds. Trying to put herself back together. She was so lost. And she knew that.

She walked inside her house quietly. Bhoomi saw Srishti coming inside. With blankness in her face.

"Amma..Akka is here"she called out.

Srishti came back to sense. She plonked herself in the couch and sighed.

"Akka how was the Pooja?"bhoomi asked.

"Huh what?"Srishti asked. Still dazed.

"How was the pooja woman. What happened to you?"

"Nothing I guess I'm just tired"srishti said. Massaging her forehead.

"Are you okay? Did you had your dinner?"Radhika asked. Coming outside the kitchen. Srishti recalled the dinner with jai and his family. Her lips widened into a smile. Bhoomi furrowed her brows. Seeing that.

"Yes I'm fine ma. I had my dinner. The pooja took a bit long to finish and I'm exhausted. I just want to sleep"she said still dazed.

"Oh wow. Chocolates? Dresses? From where did you get these?"bhoomi asked. Snatching the packets from srishtis hands. She froze. She couldn't say kumaris name. Her mind triggered to search for explanations.

"Akka? Did you get these for me?"bhoomi asked again.

"Um..nidhi. yeah. Nidhis parents gave them. They gave it to all of us. Who'd attended the pooja"srishti lied.

"That's weird"bhoomi looked amused.

"I'm so tired. Let me take a shower"srishti rushed upstairs. Before bhoomi could shoot anymore questions.

Bhoomi could sense that something had gone wrong with srishti. She decided to ask her directly about this.

Srishti on the other side. Was recalling kumaris conversation about jais marriage. It had disturbed her to the core. Her favourite actor getting married. She was jealous. But she knew what she was thinking was wrong. Afterall she's just his fan and nothing else.

Srishti forced herself to push the thoughts away from her head. After taking a quick shower. She lay on the bed recalling everything that happened. Bhoomi climbed onto the bed. With laptop in her hands.

"Are you going to sleep?"she asked. Srishti frowned. Looking at her.

"No I'm gardening. Go away Bhoomi and turn off the lights"srishti said.

"Come on akka. I don't know what had gone wrong with you. But I know what exactly will lift your mood up"Bhoomi said and started playing one of Jais movies which was srishtis favorite. In her laptop

"Can't you see that I'm trying to sleep. just turn it off and sleep"srishti shouted making Bhoomi shocked.

"But it's Jais movie"Bhoomi pouted.

"I don't care okay? I don't care about him at all. Why should I care? He's a big star. I'm just his fan. Why should I bother if he gets married to somebody else? I really don't"srishti yelled. Switching the lights off. Making the room dim.

"Marriage? As far as I remember there's no marriage scene in this movie"Bhoomi slapped her head and turned off the laptop. She lay next to srishti. Who was shifting uncomfortably in the bed. Covering herself with the sheets.

"Akka?"Bhoomi called her softly after few seconds.

"What?"srishti asked

"Something is seriously wrong with you. Better get out of it soon before you get into trouble. I'm sleepy. Good night"Bhoomi turned to the other side and slept peacefully. Leaving behind a wide awake srishti.

And she knew she was already in trouble.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Precap : Jai resumes shoot, Srishtis dilemma

♡ Nila ♡