“I know you must be confused ki mai ye ab kyu bata raha hu and why did I lie about my identity when we first met. I was surprised that someone in today’s time of the internet doesn’t know who I was. But the way you treated me, like I was a normal person. Tumhare saath mai sirf Dev tha. Not the cricketer Dev Kapoor.”

He went on to explain and she nodded not knowing what else to say.

“I hope you’ll forgive me for lying to you.”

His lie wasn’t even that big. Atleast he told her that he was famous. She hid about her profession and the motive she approached him for. She nodded and clutched his hand tighter. She too wanted to confess before it was too late. But before she could even open her mouth to speak, he continued.

“I’ll be gone for a month. I know you have no interest in sports but I want you to watch me play. And wait for me because once I come back…I am proposing, Sakshi.”

He said and her eyes widened. No! She had to tell him the truth before that.

“Tumhe ek mahine ka time de dia prepare hone ka. I have to leave now. I have a flight to catch. But before I go…”

He whispered and leaned in. Before she could process what was happening, his lips were on hers. Her eyes widened and she clutched his shoulder. She had intended to push him and tell him the truth but the moment he clutched her hair and pulled her into his body, she lost herself.

She kissed him back with every feeling she harboured for him and all the love she carried for him. She felt the kiss in every fibre of her bones. He left her lips with a last tug and she looked at him dazed.

“I love you.”

He whispered and with one last peck, he was gone. As quickly as he had come, he was gone. Sakshi walked to the couch and slumped down as if all her energy was drained. She couldn’t think straight.

She could feel his lips on hers still. His fresh minty breath and the taste of morning coffee on his tongue. He just confessed his love to her. She wanted to do the same. But before that she had to tell him the truth. Just like he did.

The entire month, Sakshi felt empty. It was then she realised how terribly addicted she had gotten to his weekly visits. Seeing him play after knowing he loves her did something to her heart.

Every time he scored a half century or a century, he would blow a flying kiss over his bat looking directly at the camera, as if it was for her. And she knew it was for her. It left her blushing each time. But then each night, she was left thinking about the moment she tells him the truth and about his reaction.

The matches were over. She knew Dev was returning, but she had no idea when he would visit. But she had to prepare herself. He might lose his cool. She had concealed a big thing from him. He might doubt her love for him. But she had to be resolute and explain it to him.

Sakshi was not surprised when Dev visited that night. But she was definitely surprised when he took her into his arms as soon as he entered.

“Did you see me play?”

He asked with a wide grin. She couldn’t help but smile herself as she nodded. His happiness was contagious. His grin widened and then, without any warning, he took her lips into a passionate kiss.

He kissed her so passionately that she felt it pierce her soul. He clutched her nape and she moaned when his tongue invaded her mouth. 

“I love you. I love you so much.”

He whispered after pulling back. Placing a few more pecks on her lips, he took a step back and put his hand inside his jacket that he wore. He took out a small box and Sakshi’s eyes widened when she realised what he was doing.

No! She had to tell him the truth first. She held his hand and looked at him wide eyed.

“I told you to prepare yourself. You still think it's too soon? Do you even like me, Sakshi?”

He teased and took a step closer. She stuttered and gulped.

“I…I have to tell you something first.”

The way she spoke the words, made Dev realise that it was something serious.

“What’s wrong, love?”

She wanted to cry. She desperately hoped that he forgave her after knowing the truth. She knew it was too much to ask from him but she loved him too much to lose him.

“I…I lied to you…about my job.”

He frowned but kept silent prompting her to continue.

“I don’t work in an MNC. I…”

She took a deep breath before continuing.

“I am a journalist.”

Silence. Painful silence followed as Dev processed the new information.

“You’re a…journalist? How? Didn’t you say you didn’t know who I was when we first met? How can you not know who I was if you’re a journalist?”

“I…I lied. I knew who you were.”

She bowed her head. The wheels in his head were turning as he started to realise what was happening.

“Why did you lie then?”

He hoped that her answer would be different than he had thought it to be. That she didn’t have any ulterior motive of approaching him.

“I…I…pehle please yaha baitho aur please aaram se meri baat sunna.”

She held his hand. He looked at her with a betrayed expression and it broke her heart. She made him sit and sat before him on her knees while holding her hand.

“You remember tumhare baare mai wo rumour chala tha about you being seen with four girls in one single night. Your cousins. But people assumed that you’re a playboy?”

Dev nodded. His expression changing each moment as he made sense of everything slowly.

“Wo rumour aur tumhari taraf se koi statement nhi thi. Sab media houses pagal ho gye the. You’re the star Dev! They wanted some dirt on you. But the media house that I work for, uske founder is a big fan of yours and he wanted to clear your image. Isliye he decided…he decided to conduct a…a sting operation on you.”

Dev slumped back on the couch as if he had lost all his energy. A tear fell from her eye and Sakshi panicked.