Srishti looked around the luxurious room. Now beautifully decorated for the married couple. Even though the room looked like a fairy land. Srishti felt suffocated being inside. If she had a chance to run away from here. As far as possible. She would.

She looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her hairline filled with vermilion and. Wedding chain around her neck. Reminded her of the harsh reality. That she's married now.

She's married to jai. Her superstar.

There was nothing she could do. Even though she wished to do a lot. She wished. To undo everything. That forced her to remain herself to be calm. Her life had just turned upside down.

It was their wedding night. After the marriage ceremony. Kumari and shruthi took her upstairs. Without letting her get too much involved with the guests. Knowing it would only make her more uncomfortable. Srishti knew it. So she didn't say anything either. She didn't even bid a proper goodbye to her parents.

There was something in her hands. A small box, wrapped in gift paper. Bhoomi had given it to her. Just a minute before they left.

"This is a gift from arjun annaya. He gave it to me yesterday. Asking me to give it to you. On your wedding night. I didn't felt it right but. He deserves atleast this akka. You should open it and see"bhoomi had said to her.

Srishti never felt so terrible about anything. Hearing arjuns name. Broke her heart again and again. She knew. She had to see it. What he had for her. Bhoomi was right. He deserved it.

She gently pulled out the small ribbon. Around the gift box and pulled up the lid.

It was a ring. It was a beautiful heart shaped ring made with dark blue stone. Blue was her favourite colour.

Srishti gasped seeing it. Her eyes. Shed painfull tears. Her chest tightened in pain and she let herself feel it.

Under the ring, there was a small note.

Dear Srishti, I wish you all the love and happiness. Happy married life.
- Arjun

She pressed it closer to her chest and sobbed silently. She couldn't even imagine the pain he had now. Inside him. She wanted to see him. And talk to him again.

She wiped her tears and went ahead to grab her phone. But suddenly there was a knock on the door. That made her scared and startled. She covered her terrible state. Wiping her face. And hurriedly kept the ring inside. One of her bags.

Jai knocked on the door again. When there was no response. From the other side. He gently pushed the door. And it was open.

Srishtis breath hitched as Jai stepped inside. The room. He had changed his clothes after freshening up. And was now wearing. A casual tee shirt. And tracks.

Srishti kept looking at the ground. Without meeting his eyes. He watched her for few seconds and closed the door behind him. Her heart began thudding hard. As he walked closer to her.

"Srishti"he called her softly. Besides all the pain. She forgot herself in his voice. Her superstar. The one whom she admired the most.

"Can I talk to you for sometime?"he asked. She came back to her senses. And clenched her fists to keep her composure

"I know that you are in despair. And I wish I could ease you in any way. There's a reason for everything to happen srishti. If you would just let me explain....."he stopped as soon as she interrupted in between.

"Sorry to talk in between sir. I know this marriage means nothing to you. And you may have many irrelevant reasons. Justifying this. But none of this is right. This was a mistake. A very big mistake"srishti said. And tears rolled down her eyes. Jai kept mum. And let her continue. She needed to get it out of her. She didn't even stammer before him. That nervousness was no longer in her mind. There was only pain inside her.

"This is too much for me to take. I never wanted to force myself into your life. Because I respected you. But. No one even bothered to think about this. From my side. Not my parents. And neither your family"she said. He nodded his head. As she was right.

"But now. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. All I know is. I need to get out of this house. And your life. As soon as possible"she said leaving him shocked.

"Srishti. See I understand your situation. But. You have all the rights to be here"he said. She shook her head.

"I don't want to be here sir"he sighed. Understanding her situation. And decided not to stress her further. What if she leaves if he force her in any kind of way. He couldn't take any risk.

"I know you don't want this. Neither do I. But if you are not ready for an explanation. I'll give you time srishti. But you are my priority now. And I'm not gonna blow it. I promised your parents that. You'll be safe and happy here. And I'll make sure you will be upto it"he said. She kept mum without saying anything.

"You can use this room. I'll ask ma to...."

"No sir. This is your room. I should be the one...who has to leave"she said.

"But srishti.."

Before he could say anything. She quietly walked outside. Jai felt mixed emotions running through him. As he saw her walking outside. He sat on the bed and looked at all the decorations. Just like her. He was feeling suffocated as well.

Srishti took a deep sigh as she walked outside the room. She was feeling better. And relieved. Wiping her tears away. She wondered where to go. To disturb her thoughts. She felt someone pulling her saree stole. She looked down and saw Rishika standing there. All smiling. Looking at srishti.

She smiled back and kneeled down to reach her height.

"Hi"srishti said.

"Hi"rishika giggled.

"You didn't sleep yet?"srishti asked to her. Making her shake her head.

"Why so?"srishti asked.

"I fought with rishi. And he took my doll away"rishika complained. Srishti smiled. She was taken back to her childhood memories. Whenever she and viswank fought as kids. He always used to take her doll away. Her eyes welled up. She missed him so badly now.

"Don't fight with your brother okay? He loves you a lot"srishti said holding her little arms.

"But I hate him"rishika whined.

"You can never hate your brother. I'll come with you. And talk to him okay? But you should say sorry to him and I'll ask him to say sorry to you. Done?"srishti asked. And Rishika nodded in agreement.

Rishika grabbed her arm. And took her away to their room. Srishti walked in. Even the kids room was twice in size of the normal bedroom. She used to have. With cartoon posters. TV. Game room. Frames. Wardrobe and literally everything. So many toys and dolls lay scattered all over the floor.

Rishi was sitting in bed. With his toy car. He turned his face away when he saw Rishika.

"Hi..Rishi"Srishti said smiling.

"Hi" Rishi smiled back

"See....your sister is here to ask you sorry"

"I don't want to talk to her"rishi fumed. Srishti sighed and sat next to him on the bed.

"See she's really sorry that you guys fought. And she's feeling so bad. Isn't it?"srishti asked to rishika. Who nodded her head.

"Please forgive your little sister rishi"

Rishi looked at Rishika who held her ears and pouted cutely. Rishi finally smiled and hugged her.

"I'm sorry"rishika said

"It's okay. I'm sorry too"rishi said.

Srishti smiled at them.

"You both are good babies. Now get into your bed and sleep. It's already late and past. Your bedtime"srishti said ruffling both their hairs.

"Can you be here with us today?"Rishika asked. And srishti hesitated.

"But this your room"she said.

"No..please don't go"rishika clung to srishti. Making her smile and took her in her arms.

"But your parents are here"

"They will sleep in their room only. Please don't go Akka"rishi said. Making her sigh.

"Please please please" they chanted together and finally she gave in

"Fine"

"Yay"the kids clapped their hands excitedly. Making her smile.

Srishti was already feeling better. Being with the kids. She felt peaceful. She didn't even realise that it was already late at night. The kids finally fell asleep after all the playing. Srishti felt heavy with the ornaments even though she had already got rid of most of them. She removed every ornament in her body. And kept it safely in one of the drawer.

Then she sat in the bed near the kids. Hugging her knees to her chest. Leaning herself to the headboard. She closed her eyes. Forcing herself not to think about him. Again. And like that. She fell into deep sleep.

Jai on the other side. Couldn't sleep a wink. He was sure that. As long as he is there around her. She would never consider this family. As her own. And she would be uncomfortable. He made up his mind. He should stay away from her. As for now.

Srishti squinted her eyes. And yawned as the sunrays fell on her face. She opened her eyes slowly. And it took her few seconds to come back to sense.

She looked at herself. Rishikas little arm was wrapped around her stomach. That made her smile. She was still in her wedding saree. That made her sigh. After getting up from the bed. Carefully. Not waking up the kids. She looked at the time. It was nearing seven in the morning

Srishti came out of the room and saw one woman cleaning the floor. Just outside.

"Akka"srishti called her.

The maid turned around. And smiled looking at srishti.

"Good morning madam. Do you need something?"she asked politely.

"Please...don't call me madam. If you don't mind. Can you please get my suitcases and bags from Jai sirs room?" She asked.

The Maid wondered why Srishti was addressing Jai as sir. And why she wanted her suitcases. But she didn't say anything. She walked to his room. To get the stuffs.

Srishti freshened up in the kids room itself. As she was rubbing her wet hairs. She prepared herself to face him. And his family. She could no longer keep hiding inside one room.

The kids were Asleep so she didn't wake them up. As she walked downstairs. Shruthi was sitting in the living room. With her MacBook. Shruthi noticed srishti coming down.

"Hey. Good morning srishti"shruthi wished her cheerfully. Making her smile back. She saw jais grandmother and uncle in the living room. Even though she couldn't accept it. She is the daughter in law of this house now. Srishti went ahead to take their blessings.

"Stay blessed"jais grandmother touched her hairs. Affectionately. Kumari walked in and saw srishti downstairs. That made her smile and relieve at the same time. That she didn't decide to stay inside the room itself.

"Srishti. So glad you came down. We were waiting for you only. Come let's have breakfast"kumari said. Making her hesitate.

"Where is Jai?"Kumari asked. And she didn't have an answer. Before she could say anything. She heard his voice.

"Yeah sure. Don't worry. Please talk to Ganesh about the schedule. Thank you so much"jai came downstairs. Busy with a phone call. He was all freshened up.

She looked up to him. He always looked so handsome. But this time. His face had lost its charm. His eyes looked damp. Kumari could easily understand. The uneasiness inside jai. Behind him. The servants carried his bags.

"Raju? Where are you going?" Kumari asked.

"I have outdoor shooting ma. Im leaving early" he took a quick glance of Srishti who kept her head down

"But why suddenly anna..you didn't say anything" shruthi said.

"I know but this month. There is a lot to finish off. As we are also planning to do pooja on dad's project. It's too hectic for me. The team called in Ganesh yesterday. And asked if I'm free. So I agreed"jai said and took his mother's blessings.

"But Raju. You should have stayed back for few more days right?"kumari asked disappointed

"I wish I could ma..but..I think it is the right time to leave" he said and looked at srishti. Who didn't even look at him. Kumari felt bad. Knowing he was just running away from srishti. She didn't feel like stopping him. Even though she wanted to. They both needed time.

Jai went ahead to take everyone's blessings.

"Where are they?"jai enquired about the kids. To priya.

"Sleeping I guess. Dont worry I'll tell them that you had to leave" priya replied hugging him. He nodded and hugged her back.

"I'll leave now"he said.

Srishti felt too uneasy even to stand there. As if he understood that. He hurried to leave.

"Have breakfast and go Raju"kumari insisted.

"No ma. I'll have it in the flight. Ganesh is waiting for me outside. I'll leave"he hugged His mother. And gave her an assuring smile.

He walked outside the house where Ganesh and his team was waiting for him. Everyone followed him upto the entrance. Kumari instructed Ganesh and asked him to take care of Jai. Jai got into the car and looked back at his family. His eyes searched for Srishti. She wasn't there. Somewhere deep inside he felt pain. That pain surprised him. Did she mean that much to him? He asked himself.

He bid bye to everyone and the car zoomed out of the entrance. Everyone walked back inside.

Kumari walked in. And searched for Srishti. But she wasn't there. She was standing in the balcony. Looking down at him. Getting into the car. And leaving. She felt immense relief that he left. But it also gave her pain somewhere. That he left because of her.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Precap : Srishti attempts to talk to Arjun, Jai returns back home

♡ Nila ♡