Srishti walked to the dining table. A bowl of steaming breakfast in her hands. The aroma wafted through the air. Mingling with the morning light that spilled through the windows. Everyone was gathered around, laughter and chatter filling the space. Except for Jai, who was still upstairs. Srishti served them all happily. Which made kumari notice her. She was glowing differently today. A smile never left her lips. She had also chosen to wear a saree today. Kumari made a mental note to discuss it with Srishti. But she was happy that Srishti was happy.

"Srishti...where's Jai?"Kumari asked.

Srishti hesitated. Her heart racing at the thought of facing him after their intimate moment. She couldn't believe that he kissed her. Everything that happened was still like a dream to her.

"Maa..He. is.. Achoo"she sneezed covering her mouth with her palms

"Are you okay?"Pallavi asked, concern etching her features as she passed Srishti a glass of water.

"I'm...fine"Srishti said.

"I think it's probably because of the weather. Did you get caught in the rain or something?"Pallavi asked and srishti couldn't help but smile at the memory of standing close to Jai under the downpour. She smiled to herself and shook her head innocently.

Jai walked downstairs. With the brightest smile across his face.

"Good morning"he greeted cheerfully. Kumari noticed a similar glow on his face and wondered what had transpired between them overnight. Srishti felt her heart skip a beat at his presence but quickly looked away as he caught her eye. He dragged out a chair and sat comfortably.

"Raju...why this late?"Kumari raised an eyebrow at him.

"I couldn't sleep well yesterday night Maa"he said and looked at Srishti. He saw her cheeks turning pink. She quickly diverted herself and served him food.

He smiled to himself. Seeing her blush.

"Srishti....sit with him and have your breakfast" Kumari insisted.

"No...maa. I'll have it later with the kids"Srishti said.

"They'll be waking up late. Come sit with raju now"kumari said again.

"It's okay ma"

"Leave it maa. She's just so stubborn. She will...achoo" Jai sneezed next suddenly, making Srishti widen her eyes in surprise.

"Raju? Are you okay?"Kumari asked, patting his hair affectionately. He nodded but sneezed again.

"Let's call the doctor"Kumari suggested worriedly.

"No Maa... see, I'm completely alright. And I'll take the medicine. I promise""he said.

"Srishti was also sneezing a few minutes ago. Did you both get caught in the rain yesterday?"shalini asked. Making both of them freeze in shock.

"Wow..Rain Romance" shruthi giggled

"Shut up. It's probably because of the weather. I'll make sure Srishti takes the medicine too. Right?"Jai looked at Srishti with a smile. She bit the insides of her cheek. Trying hard not to smile.

"Excuse me"srishti said, walking back to the kitchen.

She paused in midway and looked back at him. He met her eyes at the same time and winked at her slowly. Making her widen her eyes and run back to the kitchen. Jai started eating suppressing his laughter as Srishti leaned to the wall in the kitchen, with a smile. Her heart continued to flutter, thinking about him.

The day passed in a blur for Jai as he immersed himself in work with his team at the guest house. Meanwhile. Srishti kept herself occupied with the kids and helping Pallavi and Shruthi around the house.

It was evening and Srishti was busy cleaning their wardrobe. As she arranged jais suitcases on a high rack, one tumbled down unexpectedly. Spilling its contents across the floor. With a sigh of frustration. She knelt to gather everything when her eyes fell upon her dupatta. A smile crept onto her face as she picked it up delicately.

"What are you doing?"jai's voice startled her from behind. She quickly hid the dupatta behind her back and stood up straight. Trying to appear nonchalant.

"N-nothing. When did you come?"she stammered as she looked up at him. He stepped closer and she stepped back until she found herself pressed against the wall. A chuckle escaped him as he observed her flustered state.

"Where did you get this from?"he asked playfully, reaching for her hand and snatching the dupatta from her grasp. She bit her lower lip nervously as he held it up between them.

"From...your wardrobe"she replied.

He sighed.

"You knew it was there?"he asked. She nodded slowly, a smile dancing on her lips.

"Why didn't you throw it away?"he asked curiously.

"I don't know why. When I knew it belonged to the girl who saved my life, I didn't wanted to just throw it away. It felt special. It was special"he admitted softly, his gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart race. She lowered her head shyly.

"I'll bring you...coffee..."she murmured, attempting to escape his gaze when he gently held her wrist.

"Srishti...we need to talk first"

"Freshen up first and then do whatever you want to..." she said hastily as she turned away from him to regain composure.

"Seriously? Whatever I want to?"he smirked naughtily. She understood it came out all wrong and he saw struggling with embarrassment. He laughed.

"Relax. I'm just jocking. I'll freshen up"he said making her nod. He walked inside the washroom while she rushed outside the room and tried to pacify her heart.

When he emerged later and found only coffee waiting for him on the table, deliciously brewed by Srishti. He savored every sip while thinking about how much he had grown accustomed to her magic in the kitchen over these months. After finishing his cup, he made his way downstairs where pallavi, shruthi, Srishti and kumari was gathered in the hall, along with the kids.

"Hey! Jai is here"pallavi exclaimed brightly as he settled onto the couch beside them. Srishti sat amidst the kids who were clamoring for attention and climbing onto her lap with playful giggles.

"What's up?"Jai asked to pallavi.

"My shoot ended today so I'll be leaving by the day after"pallavi said

"What? Really?"Jai asked making her nod.

"Yeah. I was just saying how much fun I had while I was here. I'm truly gonna miss you all"pallavi said.

"I'm gonna miss you more pallavi"shruthi said faking a sniff making everyone chuckle.

"So i was saying. Before I go, I want to do something memorable. Something exciting. Any ideas?"Pallavi asked

"How about a day full of shopping? It will be so much fun"Shruthi suggested enthusiastically.

"NO"everyone said in unison making her sigh.

"No one in this house loves me"she said.

"Then what else...?"

"We have an idea"shouted the kids in unison. "Let's play hide and seek!"

Laughter erupted around them at their enthusiasm.

"Oh hello. Sir and madam. We aren't small kids like you guys anymore to play hide and seek"shruthi said.

"We know that shruthi aunty"rishi giggled making her gasp.

"How dare you call me that you little brat"she said.

"Actually....that's not a bad idea at all. It'll be fun!"Pallavi chimed in excitedly.

"Are you serious?"shruthi asked.

"Come on shru. It will be so much fun. I want to feel like a kid again..please"Pallavi insisted.

"Agh.Fine. Let's do it"Shruthi agreed reluctantly while Kumari shook her head with an amused smile at their antics.

"Come on sir...let's play" pallavi said to Jai.

"Me? If anyone came to know that Superstar Jai Prakash Raj is playing hide and seek with girls....."

"Yeah..it will be the headlines of tomorrows newspaper. Come on annaya its just a game" shruthi said and chuckled. Jai nodded smilingly.

"Fine. Okay"he said.

"Srishti what about you?"shruthi asked making her hesitate.

"I....actually have some work in the kitchen and...."

"Srishti. Go play with them no. See even Raju agreed to do this for pallavi"kumari insisted. Srishti looked at Jai who only smiled softly at her.

"Okay"she said slowly making the kids excited.

"Yay. Okay. So who's gonna count?"Pallavi asked.

"Shruthi akka" the kids shouted in unison making shruthi sigh.

"Fine devils"

Kumari walked back to her room. While Shruti closed her eyes and started counting

"1...2...3...4...5..."She opened her right eye and saw the hall empty.

Everyone scattered throughout the mansion. Pallavi raced upstairs. The kids ran together to the gym area while shruthi hid herself near the park. Srishti dashed toward the expansive garden outside. She hid behind a large tree, panting slightly from all the running but exhilarated by the thrill of it all. She slowly peeped outside. There was silence all around.

Then suddenly out of nowhere. Came jais voice.

"Caught you" Jai shouted making her scare. Before she could scream he covered her mouth with his palms making her widen her eyes. He smiled at her. She took a deep sigh When she saw him and glared at him

"What are you doing here?"she whispered when he removed his hand from her mouth but remained close enough that she could feel his warmth radiating toward her.

"I wanted to talk to you"he said earnestly, leaning closer so only she could hear him over the sounds of laughter echoing from their family playing nearby.

"What..."

But before she could finish asking him anything further, he interrupted gently

"First tell me something...Did you feel bad when I behaved like that yesterday?"

Srishti fell silent for a moment. Words eluded her as memories flooded back-the warmth of his body against hers under the rain had ignited something deep within her heart that was hard to articulate.

"Srishti....see I'm really sorry if you felt uncomfortable in any way. But I just want you to be free and happy whenever you're with me. We love each other. It's important we break any ice between us"he paused and looked into her eyes.

"I told you we will start anew. We should spend more time together. I want you to love me as your husband, not just as your superstar"

A tender smile broke across Srishti's face at those words.

"So....Im sorry if you..."

"I didn't say anything right? Why are you overthinking this?"She cut him off

"No Srishti...it is..."

"I understand everything you said and I wasn't uncomfortable in any way. But..."She hesitated again briefly before continuing softly.

"I'm..."

"What?"He leaned closer still until their noses almost brushed against one another's skin. His breath warm against hers sending shivers racing down spine making pulse quicken even more than before.

"You know...I adore and respect you so much. I loved you from the beginning. From first moment I saw your face on screen" She paused briefly.

"And not even in my dreams did I think you'd become my..."Her voice trailed off shyly unable finish sentence fully without feeling overwhelmed by emotions.

"Your?"He stepped even closer closing distance between them until mere inches separated their bodies now. He rested his palms on the tree , locking her in between his arms.

"Your?"he asked again. Huskily.

"Husband"she replied , blushing. He kept his fingers under her chin and made her look straight.

"And..? Did you feel bad when I kissed you yesterday?"he asked. She lowered head shyly feeling heat rise in her cheeks.

"Answer me Srishti"he demanded.

She shook her head.

"What? Say it"he asked playfully.

"I didn't......feel bad"she said, without meeting his eyes. He smiled and bit his lips.

"But I think you did"he teased her.

"No....I mean..I....you..."she stammered making him laugh.

She closed her eyes and looked at the ground.

Suddenly they heard voices approaching nearby. The sound of Shruthi calling out playfully followed by giggles from children running around. Jai quickly grabbed hold of Srishti pulling toward pool area nearby where they could talk freely without interruption.

She looked upto him. As he pulled her behind a large plant. He smiled watching her breath heavily.

"Sorry. I just wanted to make sure that you didn't feel bad. I couldn't stop myself yesterday srishti. It was everything I ever wanted. Thank you for showing me this day"he confessed making her smile.

"Also....Tomorrow we can go and meet Arjun if you want. Im free"he said making her come back to her sense. She sighed inwardly. And nodded her head.

"But only if you're sure"he added.

"No. I'm sure"she said. He smiled and tucked the strand of her hair. Which fell near her eyes. She blushed hard as he did that. Feeling herself melting.

"And one more thing....don't wear sarees from today"he said seriously. She raised her head and looked at him confused

"Why?"

"Because you look breathtaking. And youre a complete distraction for me"he said pinching her nose making her blush heavily.

She hid herself in his chest. He laughed and wrapped his hands around her. She hugged him back without any hesitation. They stood in each others embrace until she broke the hug , halfly. He still had his arms around her. She looked at him and raised her eyebrows playfully.

"I love you"he mouthed. With no sound coming out from his mouth. She smiled in response. His intense gaze was killing her inside. He cupped her right cheek with his palm. She shivered feeling his touch.

He gently cupped both her cheeks. He wanted to kiss her. It felt hard to hold himself back. She made him feel things that he had never felt before. It felt like he had so much love and he just wanted to show it to her. How much she meant to him.

Srishti closed her eyes as he gently pulled her closer and pressed his lips against her forehead. She crushed his shirt in between her palms. Overwhelmed by feelings.

"Oops....we swear that we didn't see anything" shrieked shruthi and Pallavi covering their eyes with their palms.

"We didn't see anything too"the kids did the same making Jai and Srishti break apart from each other.

Srishti was almost red by now. She just wanted to run away and hide somewhere. Jai was embarrassed too but he didn't show it outside.

"Stop there you two" Jai shouted and ran behind shruthi and pallavi. Who giggled and ran for their life

Sristis eyes moistened as she stared at him running around like a kid. Everything still felt like a dream to her. She felt blessed to have a person like him in her life. She just couldn't believe it was real. But it was.

And it was only a beginning of their journey.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Precap : Srishti and Jai meets Arjun

♡ Nila ♡