She opened the door with the protection latch still attached and eyed him cautiously.

“Yes?”

She asked and the man pulled the scarf down with a wide grin.

Sakshi’s eyes widened and she shut the door with bang and leaned against it. She heard his laughter from the other side.

“Not the reaction I was expecting.”

His voice held amusement. She quickly corrected her appearance because it was 10 at night and she looked homeless. She looked down to see her cotton shorts and mentally grimaced. She didn't have time to change and quickly opened the door for him before someone recognised him.

She ushered him inside and continued looking at him wide eyed.

“What are you doing here?”

“I told you I'd see you soon.”

He whispered placing a soft kiss on her cheeks making her go mum.

“You…I…”

She blushed and he laughed.

“You look cute by the way.”

He winked and she hit his arm lightly. He then looked around and smiled.

“I like your place. Cozy and homey.”

She smiled and rubbed her foot on the other, feeling nervous around him. 

“Should I make myself comfortable ya tum mujhe house tour dene wali ho?”

She rolled her eyes at his suggestive tone and motioned him to follow her.

“It's not much but chalo.”

And then she spent the next 10 minutes showing him her place.

“Bedroom?”

He asked and she narrowed her eyes at him.

“Not today.”

“Kyu?”

He asked, stepping dangerously close to her and she gulped. Because she had all her work stuff opened up in her room. 

“Because I was not expecting anyone and it's a mess.”

“Fine with me.”

“There's personal stuff lying around.”

She whispered and he nodded mischievously. His gaze made her feel timid. She pushed him playfully and walked towards the living room.

He chuckled and followed.

“I really like your home. It could be my new go to place. Yaha aake apna sukoon dhund skta hu.”

She froze mid step but couldn't find the courage to turn. At least until he held her hand and made her face him.

“I've always heard people say that home is not a place but a person. I want you to be that person Sakshi. I know it might be too soon, but I want this. Tumhe apna sukoon aur tumhari bahon ko apna ghar banana chahta hu. Will you give me a chance?”

She felt tears sting her eyes. Her heart and mind still at conflict. What if it was just a trap that he used with every other woman?

“Aur kitni ladkio pr ye line use kr chuke ho?”

She asked, turning around trying to hide her conflicted feelings from him.

“Tum pehli ho. You know about my past and struggles. I was never this privileged that I am today. And girls like boys who could give them something. I never had anything Sakshi. Aur mere maa baba ne mujhe aise nhi paala hai. Baba ke life mai sirf maa thi. Unhone kabhi kisi aur ko nhi dekha. Iss mamle mai bhi thoda orthodox hu. Ye sab one night stand aur flings are not my thing.”

He said and she didn't know what to think anymore. What about those four girls then? She wanted to ask but couldn't. 

“Uss din mai dhyan bhi nhi deta tumpe for suggesting a one night stand. But something about you is different, Sakshi. Aaj tak ye line bhut cliche lagti thi. But knowing what I feel for you is different, I know what I mean when I say that you're different.”

He said it all with so much sincerity that she felt the sane part of herself shut down. 

“Girlfriend nhi toh atleast friends ban skte hai right? We'll figure out the rest slowly.”

She nodded involuntarily and he sighed in relief. He rested his forehead against hers and sighed in content.

After that night, Sakshi had denied from doing the sting operation. It didn't feel right. Things with Dev felt too real and she too didn't want to hurt his feelings. But she had no guts to accept this in front of Dev that she had approached him initially for this purpose.

Dev, on the other hand, was pretty serious about Sakshi. He was at her place every week for the past one month. They spent their time making dinner together, which was more of Dev teasing Sakshi while she tried to focus session.

Then they had a water war while doing the dishes. All in all, Sakshi enjoyed herself the most when he was with her.

Even right now, the two were cosied up on her couch in the living room. Dev had his arm around her as he peeked into her phone where she showed him her family photos.

“And that's me. I was 3 years old here.”

She said grinning while showing him her childhood picture. Her dimples matched the grinning girl's in the picture and he bit his lip controlling himself from kissing her senseless.

“You were cute.”

Her grin fell and she frowned.

“Were? Ab nhi hu?”

She pouted and tried to make a cute face making him chuckle.

Dev squished her cheek between his thumb and fingers making her lips pucker. He started leaning in mischievously and her eyes widened.

She pushed his chest and he burst out laughing.

“Cute ho! Definitely ho!”

She bit her lip blushing and hit his chest trying to act intimidating.

“Par ab cuteness ko hotness overpower kr leti hai.”

He whispered huskily and she gasped. He did that sometimes. Flirt with her using that husky tone. He had a hot voice and he knew that she found his voice hot and took good advantage of that information.

“I'll show my pictures now. Waise I'm surprised tumne abhi tak mujhe Google nhi kia.”

He teased. He hadn't planned on keeping it a secret forever because it was possible but he wanted to enjoy the un celebrity-like behavior with her for as long as he could. He feared that she might see him in a different light if she knew who he really was.

“I don't want to know about you from Google. Tum khud mujhe bta do apne baare mai.”

She said honestly and he smiled, kissing her head. He then opened his phone gallery and showed her his childhood pictures and family pictures.