"Why are you keeping this with you if you doesn't like her at all?"kumari questioned jai. He sighed. Knowing his mother won't be convinced easily.

"I want to return this dupatta to her one day. I completely forgot about that yesterday. When she came for Pooja. You didn't even let me know that she was gonna come"he said.

"But what about the magazine's?"kumari narrowed her eyes.

"Ma i was just curious. I knew srishti even before she saved me from the accident. I had went to her college for a function and she just shouted my name....."

"She shouted your name?"kumari blinked.

"Yeah kind of. I have no idea why she did that though. Before I went to meet srishti in her college after my accident. I sort of had flashes of the girl who'd saved me. It was her. I just had an inner feeling that it would be her. And i was right. That's why I had marked her out in the pictures. I had no wrong intentions. Trust me"he said. Hoping that his mother would let it go.

"Fine. I agree that you didn't had any bad intentions. You're a good boy. Lets forget the marriage topic for now. But I'm just asking if you would like to get to know her more"she said. He fell silent for few seconds.

"Jai?"

"I don't know ma. I mean. She's great. But also so humble. I don't even think she's comfortable around me. Moreover. I don't have time for all these. I just have to get back to work"he looked at the ground. Kumari sighed and caressed his hairs.

"Fine. I'm not forcing you for anything. Take your time. I just want to see you happy"she said. Making him smile.

"I'm happy. And I'm sorry for keep disappointing you again. I promise if i like someone. You'll be the first one to know"he said. Making her smile.

"I hope whichever girl you choose would be the right one for you Raju"kumari said. Even though she couldn't brush away the idea of Srishti and jai.

"Sure ma. I love you. You have to take rest now"he put the laptop aside. And made her lay on the bed.

"Sleep well. Good night"he smiled. And kissed her cheek.

"Good night Raju"

He came to his room. With lots of thoughts. Srishti was special. And he knew it. But he barely knows her. Moreover they have only met a quite few times. He didn't wanted to get married to any girl in that way. He wanted to get to know her. Her likes. Dislikes. Hobbies. Everything about her. Getting to know her was a good option. But it didn't made sense to him. She's a normal girl. Happy in her own life. He didn't wanted to scare her off in any way. So he decided to ignore the thoughts.

He was startled. As he heard his phone ringing. It was Ganesh calling.

"Hi Ganesh"he said as he took the call.

"Hi sir. I just went through the appointments and..."

"Did you drop Srishti back home safe?"jai asked. Interrupting him.

"Yes sir. About an hour ago"Ganesh replied. Making him nod.

"You were saying?"

"I called to ask you whether you're comfortable in resuming the shoot. From tomorrow?"Ganesh asked.

"Tommorow? Why?"jai asked. Since he haven't returned to shoot after his accident. Facing camera had put a weight on him again.

"Sir...Did you forget? We asked for three more weeks and it's almost time. The production house has already contacted me three times today"Ganesh said. Making jai nod.

"That's okay. I can join by tomorrow. You call them and let them know"

"Are you sure sir?"

"Positive. I'm alright Ganesh. And I'm all ready to get back to work. I don't want to delay it anymore"jai smiled. He missed camera. But after the accident he had grown more concerned about his skills. Moreover. Everything seems to be changed in his life right now. He had no idea what was that.

"Okay sir. I'll let them know"

"Yep. Anything else ganesh?"

"No sir. I'll pick you up by eight in the morning"

"Okay. Good night ganesh"

"Good night sir"

Jai lay on bed. Recalling everything that happened today. Meeting her. The way she was around his family. Everything made him feel good within himself. There was no explanation to his feelings. But he knew it was too much for him to think about right now. So he gave rest to all his thoughts. And fell asleep.
.
.
"Bhoomi what the heck?"sristi yelled in frustration. Feeling wet towel on her face.

Bhoomi bursted out laughing. Seeing her face.

"Madam. Are you gonna sleep all day? Look at the time. You have College. Remember"she shrugged.

Srishti sat on the bed. Trying to calm herself down. Everything that happened yesterday crossed through her mind. Giving her the hardest time. She wished to sort it out. But was unsure about herself.

She lay on the bed again. And looked at the ceiling.

"Akka what happened to you?"Bhoomi was concerned about her now.

"Nothing. Just tell ma that I'm skipping college today. Im not in a mood to go"she pulled the sheets closer to her.

Bhoomi sat next to her and frowned.

"You know you can talk to me right"

Srishti paused. Looking at her sister. Wondering if she could actually share her feelings to Bhoomi. But she knew that no one would believe her. Bhoomi would definitely take it as a joke.

"There is nothing to talk about. I'm just tired"she said.

"Okay then see you in the evening. Bye akka"Bhoomi left the room.

"Bye"

Srishti sighed. And pulled the sheets above her head.
.
.
Jai was sitting in front of the mirror. Doing his final touch ups. He was getting back to work. And he was feeling an usual restlessness. He still wasn't sure if he was prepared enough to get back to work.

"It's done sir"his makeup artist and friend, shravan was there. Accompanying him.

"I look good don't I?"jai asked making Shravan smile.

"Ofcourse sir. Why are you even asking this? You know girls are going crazy after you"shravan said. Jai smiled at him.

"It's nothing shravan. I just feel so odd. It's been a while right?"

"I know sir. But trust me you'll do great"

"I hope so"

"Excuse me sir"ganesh walked inside the caravan. Making jai look at him. Shravan walked outside.

"Tell me ganesh"

"Shruti madam has left this package for you. Asked me to give it to you when you're free"ganesh said.

"What's it?"jai asked. Confused.

"No idea sir"

Jai sighed and took the packet from ganesh. Just then he heard some chaos outside the caravan.

"Whats happening over there?" Jai asked.

"Sir..Actually a journalist is here from the morning to take your interview. I told him that you are busy right now. But he is just not ready to leave"Ganesh said.

"Is he having his ID?"

"Yes I think so"

"Then let him come in"

"But sir the shoot.."

"Ganesh. I'm not gonna give him an interview. I will make him understand. Don't dissapoint him. Let him in"jai said. Making ganesh nod.

"Okay sir"

Ganesh walked outside. Jai looked at the package. Wondering what was inside. Shruti never sends him gifts. He felt it extremely odd.

He opened the cover. It was the pictures taken during the pooja. Jai smiled as he went through them. He saw srishti. Who was standing next to kumari. Talking. He saw pictures of him with his grandmother and the kids. In the last his heart almost skipped a beat when he came across the last set of pics.

His pictures with sristi.

Pictures taken when they were sitting together. Jai was staring at her in every pic. Which made his heart pound. Then came the pictures of them talking. Taken from the garden. Jai didnt knew why exactly he was staring at her. In each and every pic. There was admiration. And intensity in his eyes. Anyone could notice it so easily.

He quickly grabbed his phone and called Shruthi. Who picked up the call real quick. As if she was expecting his call.

"Hello annaya?"

"Shruthi? What's all this? Do you think this a joke?"jai was angry. At the same time he worried about his own feelings.

"Calm down..what happened now? Why are you yelling?"

"You don't know?"

"Is it srishti?"Shruthi asked. Giggling.

"Yes"

"Anna I just wanted to sent you the pictures. Why are you so concerned about them?"

"Shruthi I very well know what you meant by sending these to me. You were the one who corrupted maa right. I knew it. For god's sake brush that idea off your head. As soon as possible"

Shruthi pouted from the other end.

"Fine and sorry. But just look at those pictures again. The way you're staring at her. I've never seen you looking at a woman like that. Except your Loverboy roles in the movies. Anna...you like srishti a bit don't you?"

Jai massaged his head. All the thoughts have been driving him crazy enough.

"Bullshit. We're not talking about this anymore"jai said.

"But annaya..."

"I made myself clear. I'm not gonna fall in love with srishti. Nor with somebody else okay"

"You're shouting at me"Shruthi said making him. Calm himself down.

"Shruthi this is not a joke. I have no intention to drag srishti into this. She just happened to save me. From the accident. And attended a pooja in our house. But that doesn't mean I'll just jump into her life. And marriage. God. I can't even think about that. She's a normal girl living her life. And I'm an actor who have plenty of works and projects to finish off. Marriage is not something on my list and i have no plans to work on it. So. Get that inside your head. And also ask maa to wipe this idea off. I'm not getting married to srishti. That's it"

"Okay okay. You made yourself clear I get that. May be you're right. Srishti is a normal girl and she deserve to spend her life with a normal person. I get that anna. Sorry for messing you up in between your work. Bye gotta go. Love you"Shruthi dropped the call. Even though her last words kept ringing. Inside his head.

Did he care when he imagined her spending her life with someone else?

We never know.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Precap : Jai finds Srishtis phone

♡ Nila ♡