“Abhi na meri cousin ki shaadi thi, uski pictures dikhata hu.”

He searched for the pictures and started showing her his family. Sakshi's eyes widened when her gaze fell on some familiar faces. Those girls! The four girls he was seen with! The ones that created a question mark on his image!

“Who are these?”

She asked, trying to be nonchalant.

“These are all my cousins. I have a big family. Do bua, ek chacha, ek mausi and ek mama. Toh un sabke bacche hai.”

Those girls were his cousins! Why did he never clear anything? Why let people think about him as a playboy?

“You told me you are not a one night stand or a fling kind of a man, par kabhi girlfriend bhi nhi thi?”

He was surprised at her sudden question but answered truthfully.

“I told you that I was not always this privileged and rich. I have struggled, Sakshi. And I have struggled a lot. Before this, whatever I am today, I was nothing. Financially toh mai exist hi nhi krta tha. I belonged to what people call the lower class. And nobody would want to be the girlfriend of someone like that. And uske baad time hi nhi tha. Plus koi aisi mili nhi jiske saath lage ki life spend kr skta hu.”

She smiled and melted against him, making him chuckle and hold her tight.

A few days later, another news spread like fire.

Dev Kapoor: Not a Playboy, but an amazing Brother!

And the article explained how Dev Kapoor’s image was being tarnished while labelling him as a Playboy while in reality, the girls he was clicked with were his sisters.

Dev was surprised to see the article. How did the media come to know about it? But he shrugged it off, because media! They have their sources.

Sakshi had resigned from the sting operation but when she got to know the truth, she wanted to clear up Dev’s image. Maybe his fans didn’t care but she did. He had become important to her.

Sakshi was waiting for Dev. It was time for his weekly visit but he wasn’t there yet. The doorbell rang and she went to open it rather enthusiastically.

But when she saw him, her smile faltered. He entered in and didn’t kiss her cheek as usual. He removed his mask and slumped on the couch with his eyes closed. He looked upset.

“What’s wrong? You look upset.”

She asked walking towards him. She stopped before him and peered down at him trying to gauge the reason of his upset mood. But he surprised her but holding her wrist and pulling her down.

The sudden tug made her fall into his lap. She gasped but he held her close and hid his face in her neck. Her heart ran wild. She gulped trying to control her breathing. His proximity affected her. A lot.

He must have sensed her shiver because he rubbed her back and spoke in a soft whisper.

“I know this might be too much for you. But just give me 5 minutes. I had a rough day. I need this.”

“What happened?”

“I…I was given some tasks. At work. And I couldn’t perform well.”

She realised that he must have had a bad day on the field. Even the best of players have bad game days. She held him tighter and moved her fingers in his hair. The effect was instant. He melted against the couch while still holding her and she slowly felt his tension melt away.

After what felt like eternity, they finally pulled back. He looked much better now. She smiled and placed a soft kiss on his forehead and he smiled dropping his forehead against hers.

His stomach growled and she laughed while getting off his lap.

“Come on! Dinner’s ready!”

“Aaj mere bina hi?”

He asked and she held his hand while dragging him towards the dining table.

“Hmm! Tum late ho na aaj.”

Sakshi had been nervous since the last week. The previous week, when Dev came to visit. He was different. More carefree and more vocal about his feelings for her. And she had an inkling that he was going to propose soon enough. 

But she didn’t want to keep hiding the truth from him. She knew it would break him and he might not even talk to her ever. But she needed to do this. She couldn’t keep him in the dark anymore.

Not after realising how much she had started to love him.

She was fast asleep when she heard her phone ring. Groaning, she picked her phone up and squinted open an eye to see who was calling. Her sleep shooed away when she saw Dev’s call. Her first thought was that he wasn’t fine. Why else would he call her at 4 in the morning.

“Dev? What happened? Tum thik ho?”

“Easy woman! Calm down!”

She heard his amused chuckle.

“You’re calling me at 4 in the morning. You’ve never done that before and you want me to calm down?”

She asked and he chuckled again.

“Gate kholo.”

He said shocking her.

“Huh?!”

“I’m outside your door. Gate kholo. Fast! I don’t have much time.”

Sakshi got out of the bed and rushed out of her room not bothering about her appearance. She had to open the door before someone recognised him.

She ushered him inside and panted heavily due to rushing.

“What are you doing here so early? And why are you wearing this jersey?”

She frowned but he only smiled and walked closer to her. He held her hand and placed a soft kiss on her wrist before kissing her cheek.

“I hid something from you, Sakshi. And I am so sorry about that. I am not a commentator. I am a cricketer. I play for India.”

Sakshi froze as she processed what was happening. He was telling her about his true identity. She knew but according to him she didn’t. But why was he telling this to her at 4 in the morning.

“Dev?”

She was confused.