Jai lay on his bed. Staring blankly at the ceiling. His mind in turmoil. He tried to close his eyes and get some sleep, but it felt impossible. All he could think about was the need to escape. Escape from Srishti and escape from the overwhelming feelings inside him.

Arjun's words replayed in his mind. Each one digging deeper into his heart. The thought of losing Srishti to someone else hurt more than he could have imagined. It was a pain he had never experienced before. A real heartbreak that felt too intense to ignore. Unlike the characters in the movies he did, he couldn't just act his way through this.

He had always believed he could handle tough situations, but this was different. He was helpless. Knowing that only srishti get to make a choice. Either him or Arjun. She gets to decide.

The restlessness didn't let him stay in the bed for so long. He walked towards the balcony and stood there for sometime. Staring into nothing. The car horn outside distracted his mind. He looked down to see his family. Getting down from the car. One by one. They were back from the temple.

Jai knew if he stayed inside the room. He would go insane. So he decided to go downstairs.

Kumari walked inside the living with jais grandmother. Followed by Shruthi and Pallavi. Krishna and Shalini came behind them. Srishti walked inside with both the kids clinging to her from both her sides. Jai paused in his steps as soon as he saw her. She looked breathtakingly gorgeous.

She wore a beautiful white cotton saree that draped perfectly around her. With delicate white embroidery that added a touch of charm. Her matching white blouse complemented the saree beautifully. Long silver earrings sparkled as they dangled from her ears, and silver bangles adorned her delicate wrists, creating a soft jingling sound. Around her neck, she only wore her wedding chain. The kohl around her lovely doe eyes made them even more captivating. The vermilion gave her an ethereal glow.

She looked perfect.

Her smile was something which could make anyone's day better. Even with all the turmoil that had been going around jais head. He knew he had felt better just by the sight of her.

"Raju....what are you doing there? Come down"kumaris voice took him back to sense. Srishtis eyes fell on him as he walked towards them.

"When did you come?"kumari asked

"An hour ago"he replied. Taking a seat in the couch.

"How was the temple visit?"he asked.

"Oh it was perfect. I truly missed being here"pallavi said. Jai smiled at her.

"How did the shoot go for you?"Pallavi asked.

"Good. We wrapped up today"jai said.

"Oh that's a news. By the way I forgot to tell you Jai. I'll be going back in two days. My schedule is also almost complete"pallavi said.

"But why suddenly? You can stay back for few more days right?"Jai asked

"I wish I could, but before going back to UK, I want to spend some time with my parents"pallavi said.

"Thats a good thing pallavi"kumari said with a smile.

"But we will miss you if you go Pallavi akka"rishika said, climbing into pallavis lap.

"Aww I'll miss you too my princess. Don't worry I'll be here for two more days. I promise we will play and we will have lots of fun. Okay?"pallavi asked. The kids nodded excitedly.

"But I'm gonna miss you the most pallavi. Now who is gonna rate all my makeup and outfits?"shruthi asked sadly, with a sigh

"Don't worry. Even if pallavi isn't here, we will give you a solid ten on ten because we don't want to hurt your feelings shruthi"krishna said. And everyone bursted out laughing.

"Haha very funny pedananna"shruthi rolled her eyes.

Srishti looked at Jai. Who wasn't even sparing her a glance. He kept talking to pallavi. Ignoring her. It made her feel odd. That he didn't even smile looking at her. But then she brushed it off thinking that. He might have had a hard day.

By evening seven. Srishti walked towards their room with a radiant smile. Feeling that this was one of the best days of her life. After visiting the temple. She felt better than ever. A sense of peace consumed her. In her heart, she felt truly blessed to have someone like jai in her life. Someone she cherished deeply. If only she had a little courage to tell him about her feelings. To tell him how much he means to her. And how she haven't felt like this to anyone else but him.

Her Superstar

Srishti paused as she entered the room. Her eyes fell on Jai. Who was stuffing his suitcases with his clothes. She looked at him. Confused. Jai always had the maids or Srishti herself pack his luggage.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

Jai didn't respond. He kept packing without saying anything. As if he didn't hear her.

Srishti stood there, puzzled by his behavior.

"Are you going somewhere?"she asked again, hoping for an explanation.

Jai stopped and looked at her. His expression was unreadable. Srishti was taken aback by the coldness in his eyes. The silence that followed was deafening, leaving Srishti with a growing sense of uneasiness. Something had changed and she could feel it. He was curt and cold. A emotion which she never saw in him.

Feeling his stare. She lowered her head to the ground. But she knew something is seriously wrong.

"Why are you behaving like this?"she asked. Her eyes still on the ground

"Why? Do you think only you know the ignoring game"he snapped and continued his work.

"Is....is everything okay?"she asked.

"Why do you want to know? Can you just let it be?"

"Are you leaving because of me?"she asked.

"To be frank. Yes"he replied and walked inside the dressing room

She stood there. Hurt. Her last meeting with him in the morning went well. She didn't knew if she'd done something wrong. But she could see that he's hurt too.

He came outside a minute later. With his blazer.

"I'll help you"she said taking the blazer from him. He grabbed it back from her hands.

"I can do my job alone. I don't need anyone's help"he said.

She had tears in her eyes now. She'd never seen him behaving like this. Her heart pounded wondering. What went wrong.

"I'm sorry if I've done something wrong. But please don't behave like this"Srishti said softly, lowering her head.

Jai paused. His heart felt heavy as he noticed the tears streaming down her cheeks. It made his anger fade away, replaced by a wave of concern. He wanted to hug her tight and confess his feelings. To express how much she meant to him. How much he admired her. In that moment, he realized how much her pain affected him. He felt the urge to bridge the distance that had suddenly grown between them.

He walked towards her. So close to her and raised her chin with his forefinger. Making their eyes meet. She looked at him , teary eyed

"Who is Arjun?"He asked sending chills all over her. She was shocked and surprised. Feeling her body had suddenly gone numb. Out of everything she wasn't expecting Jai. To ask her about Arjun. Lots of thoughts clouded inside her head. Making it hard for her to breath.

"Answer me Srishti"jai demanded. Moving closer. Closing the distance between them.

"He.....he is....my...."Srishti stammered. Her throat felt too dry. And she couldn't stop her tears.

He stepped back and gave her a sad smile.

"You know what Srishti. I lost it. I truly lost it"he said and continued packing his suitcase. Srishti composed herself. Closing her eyes. She took a deep breath and decided to talk.

"Arjun is....my friend"

"Friend?"he paused and looked at her. She nodded her head.

"If he's just a friend. Why do you have his ring on your finger?"

Srishti gasped as soon as she heard it. Everything was collapsing around her mind. She didn't knew how he got to know about it. Did Arjun meet Jai?

"Wh...what?"she asked.

"I won't blame you for hiding this from me Srishti. But I thought we were friends. I thought we were just giving time to make this work between us. Whatever it is. But it doesn't change the truth. This marriage was a forced one. And it doesn't mean anything. To you. And me. Isn't it?"he asked. She shaked her head.

"No. Please don't say like this"she said.

"Then what the hell I'm supposed to say?"he shouted. She moved back in fear. For the first time he'd raised his voice over her. He was so hurt. And so was she.

He quickly regretted for shouting at her.

"I'm sorry Srishti. I need some space. Please leave me alone for sometime"he said and walked inside the washroom. She sat on the bed. Broken.

Her mind was lost and she didn't knew what to do. But she knew that Jai deserved to know. The truth. It was not right to hide anything from him. She closed her eyes and took few deep breaths to calm herself. Deciding to open up everything to him.

When he came outside the washroom. She stood up from the bed. He walked towards her and picked up the suitcases from the bed.

"I need to...."she started to speak but he ignored her and walked towards the table. Keeping the suitcases there. Then he moved towards the balcony. Without saying anything.

Srishti sighed and followed him. To the balcony. She came to a stop right behind him, close enough to feel the tension radiating from his body. Jai stood there, his eyes on the dark sky which threatened to rain again. Srishti could feel her heart pounding in her chest. A loud thunder bolted in the sky. Making her shiver.

"Can we....talk for a minute?"she asked.

"There's nothing I wanna talk about. Please srishti. My mind is a mess. Please go away from here"he said without facing her. Tears rolled down her eyes again. She couldn't bear the thought of staying away from him again.

"Please....just for a minute?"she asked. He sighed and turned to face her. Making their eyes meet again.

The pain in her eyes. Made him hurt.

He stepped closer, gently wiping away the tears that streamed down her cheeks with his thumb. Srishti closed her eyes tightly. Feeling his touch. Suddenly she felt like hugging him.

"Why are you crying srishti? You shouldn't be the one shedding tears. If anyone has a right to feel bad and cry, it should be me. Even after knowing that you don't see me as more than a friend, I..." His voice trailed off.

Srishti's eyes flew open, her heart racing.

"It's not like that"she insisted. Desperate to let him know the truth.

Jai nodded, a sad smile playing on his lips.

"I know"he said.

"But let's leave all of this behind, shall we? If you want to start afresh. May be we should reconsider things again. Perhaps a divorce?"he asked.

Srishti's eyes widened in shock. The mere mention of the word sent a chill down her spine. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat, leaving her speechless. Jai watched her reaction. His heart sinking. He had always known that their marriage was built on misunderstandings. But the thought of letting go of the only woman he loved more than anything in the world was almost too much to bear.

But her heart didn't need him. He forced himself to control his feelings.

Srishti and I love each now sir.

Arjuns words still ringed in his ears. So he pulled back and stepped away from her.

"What....what are you saying?"Srishti asked. Her tears had gone and now she was angry. Why was he not trying to understand her?

"I don't know. May be we need to part ways. It's good for you and me"he said.

Srishti shook her head. Unable to believe that he was considering a divorce.

"I don't understand why you're acting like this. You're talking about something I've never imagined" she said, turning her face away.

"And do you think I do?"he asked.

"Then....why are you talking like this? Why are you just....trying to slip away?"she asked.

"I'm slipping away? Srishti you know very well how much I tried to make things work. I was being a good friend to you. But all you wanted was to go away. Run away. Thinking that this is not what you deserve. I'm I wrong?"he asked. She shook her head.

"Now you're...giving up? Just like that?"she asked. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hairs.

"Srishti, from here on. I can't just be a normal friend to you. I just can't"he admitted.

"But why?"she asked.

"Don't force me to say it"he replied, turning on to his back. The silence that followed was thick with unspoken words.

She stood right in front of him. Facing him. And wiped her tears

"Answer me. I want to know"srishti insisted.

"Srishti...."Jai began. But she cut him off.

"I said I want to know. Why can't you be my friend anymore? Why are you so concerned about Arjun, even after saying that he's just a friend? And why are you even considering a divorce now when we both are willing to make this work?"Srishti asked. Her voice raised than usual.

In a sudden rush of emotion. Jai grabbed her and pulled her close. Making their bodies collide.

"Because I Love you Damn it!" he shouted or just blurted out making her freeze.

At that moment, the clouds burst open, and rain began to pour. Drenching the world outside. The sound of raindrops hitting the ground mixed with the rustling leaves. Creating a symphony of nature that mirrored the storm of emotions between them. The earth seemed to come alive. Witnessing the raw intensity of their moment.

Srishti's heart raced as she processed his confession. Jai stood there, hands firmly around her waist, while her palms rested against his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart. The air thickened with tension.

Jai stared at Srishti. His expression blank, as if he had just realized the gravity of his own words. Tears gushed down her cheeks, and he suddenly panicked. Regret gripping him. He shouldn't have said it, not like this.

He released his hold on her waist and stepped back. Without a second thought, he turned and walked out of the room. Leaving Srishti alone.

"What did he say? Was it my imagination?"Her body trembling with a mix of emotions.

"He loves me?" The words echoed in her mind, sending shivers down her spine.

A sudden thunder outside made her come back to her sense. When she recovered, she grabbed her phone and rushed downstairs. Determined to find him. Outside the house, she saw his car speeding into the night. Her knees went weak with worry. He had gone outside without his guards. The thought of Sanjay attacking him again filled her with dread.

She took her phone and dialed his number. Her heart pounding in her chest. The call disconnected, and she tried again, only to find his phone switched off. Panic gripped her.

"Please don't do this. Don't punish me again"she whispered heavily. Her tears didn't stop.

Without thinking twice she rushed outside the house.
The rain poured down, soaking her to the bone. But she didn't care.

"I need my scooter keys. It's urgent"She approached the watchman, her voice trembling with urgency. The watchman looked at her worriedly.

"Srishti madam? Is everything okay?"he asked.

"My keys. Please its very urgent"she said desperately. The watchman rushed inside and handed her the keys without hesitation.

"Thank you. And please don't tell this to anyone. They will be worried. I'll be back soon"she said to the watchman.

"You look worried madam. Is everything okay?"the watchman asked.

"Yes. It will be"

Srishti rushed to her scooter. As she rode through the rain, the water gushed around her, making her completely wet. She blinked away her tears, determined to keep her eyes on the road. Pushing her scooter to its limits, praying that she would find him safe. She couldn't bear the thought of losing him. Not after everything they had been through. She would find him, no matter what it took, and she would tell him the truth about her heart. After all, love was worth fighting for, and she was determined to prove it.

Srishti tried to focus, her mind racing as she considered where Jai might have gone. Then it struck her.

His farmhouse.

It was his favorite escape place. Without wasting another moment, she revved up her scooter and sped off.

In just fifteen minutes, she arrived at the farmhouse. Her heart pounding with a mix of hope and anxiety. To her immense relief, she spotted his car parked outside. She quickly parked her scooter and dashed inside. Her heart raced as she searched for him. She checked the living room, then his bedroom, and even the pool area, but he was nowhere to be found. Just as despair began to creep in. She caught sight of him standing alone in the rain by the garden.

Srishti's breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight of him. Drenched and lost in thought. She stood there for a moment, gasping for breath. Her heart was thudding hard. Gathering her courage, she ran towards him. Without any hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him from behind, hugging him tightly.

Jai stood frozen, surprised by her sudden embrace. He could feel her sobs against his back as she clung to him. Her warmth contrasting with the cold rain pouring down. Slowly, he reached to touch her palms.

As he turned, their eyes met, and in that moment, everything else faded away. The rain continued to fall around them. But all that mattered was them. Srishti's eyes were filled with tears. She looked up at him, her heart racing, and he could see the love and desperation in her gaze.

"Srishti?"Jai cupped Srishti's cheeks tenderly. She closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of his hands on her face.

"Look at me" he whispered.

Srishti opened her eyes, her gaze locking with his.

"You said I'm your superstar, and you're my biggest fan. But in real life, I'm a terrible actor. I can't hide my feelings anymore, Srishti. I've never felt this way about any other girl. When I said I love you, I meant it from the depths of my heart"he confessed.

Srishti smiled through her tears.

"From the moment I met you. The way you walked into my life. Every moment with you was so freaking perfect. When I was away from you. I couldn't stop thinking about you You're loving, caring, passionate and moreover. You have a very good heart. You are everything I ever wanted in my life. And I consider myself lucky that I fell in love with a woman like you for the first time in my life. You just don't know this srishti. But you makes me so happy"he whispered.

Srishti cried, holding on tightly to him.

"Srishti, I don't care about your past. Or if you ever had any feelings for someone else. But right now, you belong to me. And im not ready to let you go" he said.

She reached up and placed her hands over his, her fingers intertwining with his.

Jai knelt down before her. Making her gasp and take a step back.

"I may not know how to propose in the most romantic way. But I've laid bare my heart to you. I want to be with you, Srishti, for the rest of my life. For the rest of our lives. I want to fall in love with you everyday. Adore and cherish you everyday. I want to be your perfect husband and a much better friend. I want to have a family with you. Have kids with you and grow old with you. I want to have a complete happy ending rom-com with you"he said.

Srishti didn't knew what to say. Her heart was swelling with emotions. She couldn't help but to shed tears. He said he didn't knew how to propose in the most romantic way. But this was all she wanted. And it couldn't get better than this.

"Just one chance..I'll keep you in my heart forever"

She kneeled down and sat on the ground as well , crying. Facing him. He cupped her cheeks tenderly again. She held his hand and smiled looking at him.

"Will you give me a chance bangaram?"he asked. His voice was a bare whisper. She smiled wide. And nodded her head as a yes.

"Huh?"he asked surprised.

"I may not be able to express my feelings as good as you. But I have one thing to say. I swear I'll love you with all my heart"she whispered. He smiled wide hearing her.

"I've never felt like this before. I've tried to deny it, to push it away, but I can't anymore. I was scared.....when you came into my life. You've always been my favorite actor. But somewhere along the way, you became so much more to me. I never thought you could see me as anything other than a fan. But this.....was everything I could feel"she said. He didn't wanted to hear anymore.

Within a moment she was in his embrace. Water pouring through them. Making them smile. He hugged her tightly. Lifting her up from the ground to his height. Srishti nestled her face into the crook of his neck. She wrapped her arms around him, holding on as if he were her lifeline.

In that embrace, time seemed to stand still. The world around them faded away, leaving only the two of them. They clung to each other, their hearts beating in perfect harmony, as if they were two pieces of a puzzle finally fitting together.

She pulled back while he was still lifting her up by her waist. Her lips curved into a smile as their eyes met. And so did his. He joined their heads as she touched her palms to his cheeks. Breathing heavily. Letting them feel each others love.

As they held each other close, the rain continued to fall. But all they felt was the warmth of their love.

A love that promised to weather any storm.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Precap - " I said..call my name" he whispered in her ears. She clutched his shoulders

♡ Nila ♡