Jai broke the hug and looked at Pallavi with a wide smile.

"What's with the sudden surprise. You didn't tell me that you're coming"he asked

"Why? You're not the only one who get to give surprises all the time okay"pallavi said. Punching his stomach playfully.

"I'm so glad you came. And it's been a long time"he said.

"Yeah. God....jai time just flies. Do you remember the last time we met?"she asked.

"Two years back in Paris. How can I forget?"he smiled

"That was the best day"

"Tell me how you are here. And you came this late?"he asked.

"I'm here for work. My flight got delayed. And I haven't checked into hotel yet. So I thought it will be nice to visit you"she said.

"Great...amma has been insisting to meet you"

"Aww...I missed her food so much"

"Come inside"he said.

Both Jai and Pallavi turned towards the door. To see Srishti standing still. She quickly dropped her head and wondered if she should stand there. Or just go inside.

"Hey! Srishti right?"pallavi asked to Jai and he nodded with a smile. Pallavi walked towards her. Followed by Jai.

"Hey. It's nice to finally meet you Srishti"pallavi said and pulled srishti for a hug. Srishti hugged her back.

"I still feel terrible that I couldn't make it to your wedding. I did get your invitation but it clashed with my dates. I didn't even get time to call you both and congratulate"pallavi said. Turning towards Jai. Once she broke the hug.

"Its okay..and it doesn't Matter"he said looking at Srishti. She knew that he's still feeling bad.

"Jai come on now. Introduce me to your wife"pallavi said. Srishti gave her an awkward smile. And looked at Jai.

"Srishti...this is the great Pallavi prabhu. My schoolmate. And also My best friend. She is a model turned actress"jai introduced pallavi to srishti.

Srishti knew that she had seen jais childhood pictures with pallavi in the internet. But she didn't knew that they were best friends.

"What's with all the hype man? I'm so humble okay"pallavi giggled.

"I know that"jai said. With a grin.

"You still make fun of me right. You used to call me PP back in college" pallavi said pouting and Jai chuckled.

"Anyway. How are you Sristi?"Pallavi asked turning towards her.

"Im good"Srishti gave her a fake smile. For some reason she hasn't been liking the way pallavi was close to Jai.

"Hello madam. Are you gonna do all the talking here. Come inside" Jai said and Pallavi nodded with a smile.
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Kumari hugged Pallavi and caressed her hairs.

"How have you been?"

"I'm great aunty"

"Do you remember when was the last time you visited us?"Kumari asked. Glaring at Pallavi playfully.

"I know aunty and I feel horrible. I was just telling Jai and Srishti that I couldn't even turn up for their wedding. But now I'm here know"pallavi said.

"But you should have called and informed us that you were coming pallavi. I would have made your favorite pulav"shalini said

"Oh stop. My mouth is already watering"pallavi said. Making everyone chuckle.

"I know I should have called. But our team informed the dates two days before. I didn't have much time. Then I called Ganesh anna and came to know that Jai is currently shooting here in the city. So I thought it will be great to have him around"she said looking at Jai and he smiled. Srishti kept looking between Jai and Pallavi. Struggling to supress the weird feeling which crept inside her.

"Ofcourse you care only about your best friend pallavi"shruthi said. Joining everyone in the living room.

"Aww how do I not miss my bbg?"pallavi rushed to hug shruthi. Who laughed and hugged her back.

"How are you?"

"Never been better"

"Studies?"

"Please don't ask"shruthi pulled up a face. Pallavi chuckled.

"So when were you planning to tell us that you are debuting in south?"shruthi asked. Once they settled back in the couch.

Pallavi gasped. And looked at Jai as if she was betrayed.

"You traitor. You just ruined my surprise do you know that?"pallavi asked. Jai laughed hearing her.

"I just told her. I swear"jai said pointing at shruthi.

"Really Raju? You told a secret to someone who is a walking newspaper"kumari said as she served juices to everyone.

"Haha good joke"shruthi mocked.

"Wow you're debuting in south Pallavi?"Shalini asked. Making her nod excitedly.

"It's an amazing script aunty. And I couldn't miss it. I'm done with modelling. And also with the small roles in Bollywood. This project is something else and I really wanna do my best"pallavi said.

"When do you start with the shoot?"Kumari asked.

"Tomorrow"pallavi grinned.

"How long are you here for the shoot dear?"Krishna asked.

"Fifteen days uncle. That's what I was told. I don't know if they will extend the dates"pallavi answered.

"Oh....in which hotel are you staying?"shruthi asked her.

"Trident Hotels"she replied

"You'll travel from Trident Hotels to the sets everyday?"Jai raised his eyebrows.

"Yeah I have to. Our team is staying here in some other apartments. But it's already full"pallavi said.

"Why don't you stay here then? Jai will accompany you to the studio's" kumari said.

"Oh no aunty. That's so sweet of you. But thank you I can manage" pallavi smiled.

"This is your home too Pallavi. And also you are visiting us after this long. You can stay here as long as you want. Right?"Kumari asked and everyone agreed.

"No aunty actually....."

"No more excuses. Raju....make her understand"kumari said. Pallavi looked at Jai for an answer

"Stay here madam. I'll gladly bear you"jai winked at Pallavi. Who pinched his arm playfully with a laugh.

Srishti clenched her fist feeling uncomfortable. She wanted to walk away but at the same time. She was scared to move away from Jai.

"Yay then we can play daily pallavi akka"rishika said excitedly

"Aww sure princess. We can play together everyday"pallavi said scooping her. In her arms.

Everyone was so happy and excited to have Pallavi. Including the kids. Srishti stood silently in a corner. Her eyes were continously shifting between Jai and Pallavi. She felt odd and restless for some reason. Yet she couldn't figure out what was wrong.

"I'll ask the helpers to get your luggages. Shruthi will show you the room"kumari said to pallavi.

"No aunty. I want my best friend to show me around. He promised to bear me as long as I'm here. Come on. Show me around darling"pallavi got up and grabbed jais arm. Who groaned with a huff.

"Fine"

Srishti kept looking at Jai and Pallavi. As they walked away together. Towards the lift. Pallavi still had her arms around jai. And they kept talking.

She decided to distract herself and went to get dinner for jais grandmother. But she couldn't stop thinking about the concept of Jai and Pallavi together. Here in the same house for half a month.

Two hours later. Everyone settled in the dining room for dinner. Srishti kept looking around for Jai and Pallavi. They were nowhere to be seen. She served the food to the kids. While her eyes were fixed towards the lift.

"Too much curry srishti akka"rishi said.

She came back to sense. Realising that she had been serving him too much curry.

"Oops sorry"

Suddenly the lift door opened. Jai and Pallavi walked inside the dining room. Busy talking and laughing.

Jai pulled out a chair for pallavi besides him. Before he got seated.

"Such a gentleman"srishti mocked him inside her head.

He didn't even notice her. Which made her feel terrible.

"Srishti sit know?"shruthi said.

Jai looked at Srishti. Who was still standing near the kids. She didn't have any appetite left to eat.

"Yes srishti come sit"pallavi called her next.

"Um...actually I'm not that hungry....."Before she made an excuse. Jai got up from his chair and grabbed her arm. Everyone looked up at them when he swiftly pulled a chair next to him and made her sit.

"Don't dare to give that excuse again"he said and took a plate. He started serving her while she sat open mouthed. Everyone stared at them in awe. Kumari was on cloud nine seeing them talking to each other after a very long time.

"Eat"he said and sat next to her.

Srishti looked at her plate and bit the insides of her cheek. To stop herself from smiling. Everyone had their dinner. And dispersed back to their rooms.

Srishti came back to their room. Jai was still outside. She paced around restlessly. Wondering if he would still bother to listen to her. Pallavis arrival had changed something inside her. A feeling that she never felt. She paused when he walked inside the room. Startling her.

Jai was surprised seeing srishti. Ever since he arrived. And they started ignoring each other. Srishti always spent the night with the kids in their room. Seeing her. He sensed that she wanted to talk.

He quietly walked towards the washroom. Ignoring her. To see if she would take the initiative to talk to him. But she stood there. Just looking at him. After brushing up his teeth and washing his face. He came back to the room to see her missing. He sighed as he realised that she was gone. What did he expect from her?

He was angry but at the same time. He was hurt. After dimming the lights. He lay on his side and closed his eyes to sleep. He opened his eyes again and looked at the empty other half of the bed.

"I wish you would talk to me srishti"he said and pulled the duvet to himself.

The alarm rang at five in the morning. Jai yawned and stretched his hand to switch it off. He didn't wanted to get up from the bed. But he had to workout and he couldn't skip it.

After freshening up. He walked towards the balcony to feel the morning. He always loved to start his mornings in peace. The minute he stepped in. He was surprised. Seeing srishti sleeping in the couch nearby. She was shivering feeling the cold morning air against her. He quickly rushed back inside the room. And grabbed a duvet.

Coming back to her. He lay the blanket over her comfortably. Srishti clutched it. Closer to her chest. Her body relaxed and she fell back into deep sleep. He
sighed seeing her relaxed face.

He saw the fringes of her hair. Falling over her face. Disturbing her sleep. He sat on his knees besides her. Observing her. She looked elegant. Even in sleep. He raised his hand and gently. Tucked her hair fringes to the back to her ear. The side of her mouth curled into a small smile. And then back to normal.

And his lips curved into a smile too.
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Srishti woke up in the morning and realised that she slept on the couch. In balcony. She looked at herself. Surprised to see the duvet on her. She sat up holding it closer to her. Realising that he might have done it. She quickly came out of the balcony with a wide smile. But it soon dropped when she saw the room empty.

"He must have left early"she sighed in disappointment.

After freshening up herself. She walked downstairs to the kitchen. As soon as she walked in. She saw a maid pouring two glasses of green juice and keeping them on a tray. Srishti wondered for whom it might be

"Where are you taking this akka?" Srishti asked. Curiously. As long as she knew only Jai drank the green juice post his workout. Shruthi always preferred smoothies after her workout.

"To the gym area madam"the maid replied

"For whom?"

"For Jai sir and Pallavi Madam"

Sristi froze as soon as she heard. Jai and Pallavi working out together felt like a nightmare to her.

"I'll give it" she forcefully took the tray from the maid and walked towards the garden , where the gym equipments had been set up. Jai has been on strict diet to fit into the shape of his character.

All the way she couldn't help thinking about anything else. Jai and Pallavi kept roaming around in her head.
When she reached there the sight. Almost gave her a mini heart attack.

Jai was wearing a vest and gym shorts. Pallavi was next to him in her shorts and sport's bra. Jai held pallavis waist. To support while she was doing her stretchings. Srishti stood there frozen.

She felt her blood boiling. She wanted to take the juice in her hand's and throw it on her face

"Yeah. This is perfect"jai said to pallavi. Srishti clutched hard on the tray. She didn't wanted to stay there anymore. So she turned to leave.

"Hey sishti"pallavi called her from behind. When she saw her. Srishti closed her eyes tight. And reluctantly turned towards them. Jai got startled seeing srishti there. He helped pallavi to stand and they parted away.

"Come"pallavi gestured her with her palms.

Srishti took a deep breath before walking towards them. She kept the tray on the nearby table.

"Why are you doing all these stuffs when the maids are here?"Jai asked and she looked at him

"Sorry for disturbing you both in between"she said. He looked at her. Shocked.

"God. I didn't mean it"jais mind voice said

"Hey that's cool. And we were almost done with the workout. It was just stretchings"pallavi said. Sweating and panting. Srishti forced herself to give a smile. And also a nod.

"Pallavi we need to leave by ten. Can we stop?"Jai asked.

"Yeah sure"pallavi said

"Fine then. " Jai took his towel and wiped the sweat off his neck and face. He noticed Sristis stare on him and smiled inwardly.

"Bye"he said. And looked at srishti once again before walking away. Leaving behind both of them.

" Srishti.. youre quite silent type I guess"pallavi said smiling.

Srishti came back to her sense. Turning towards pallavi.

"Nothing like that"she forced herself to smile.

"I'm sorry I couldn't talk to you much yesterday. I was just so excited to be back here after a long time. And Ofcourse Jai and I had two year long updates. To give each other"pallavi said.

"That's okay pallavi. Shruthi told me that you both are. Meeting after so long"srishti said.

"Two years to be exact. We were in touch but when you are in a profession like this. You get too busy for your personal life"pallavi said. Making srishti nod.

"Youre so lucky to have him in your life srishti..Jai is a man with a golden heart and you know what...from childhood i had little crush on him. Hehe" pallavi giggled while srishti gritted her teeth inwardly.

"Just a small crush I must say. But he's indeed very sweet"Pallavi said.

"How long do you both know each other?"Srishti asked. Curious to know more about their relationship.

"I'm hurt he didn't tell you anything about me yet"pallavi faked sadness. Srishti bit her lips feeling bad. But relaxed seeing pallavis chuckle.

"Just kidding. We know each other from childhood. We were schoolmates. And we even joined the same college too. But in between the semesters my parents shifted abroad and I had to go with them. We were in touch with each other. But later he got busy with acting and I got busy with modelling. We used to catch up whenever we got time. Last time we hung out in Paris. When he came there for a shooting of his movie. It was super fun. We spent the entire day together"pallavi said. Smiling widely.

All these were just adding fuel to the fire. Srishti struggled to keep her face straight.

"Anyway...I'll talk to you later. I have to leave now. See you in the evening Srishti. Bye"

"Bye"srishti forced herself to smile again. As Pallavi walked away.

"What's happening with you srishti..why are you affected this much? Theyre just good friends. And if not so..why do you care. U wanted to walk out of this marriage right? Yeah...that's it"she took a deep breath and composed herself. Yet deep inside she knew that she cared.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Precap - Jai - Srishti conversation.

♡ Nila ♡