“Initially maine tumhe approach isiliye kia tha because I wanted to know ki wo news sahi thi ya nhi? Whether you’re a playboy or not. But then, the first day that you came to my place, tumne wo sab cheeze boli, mai tumhe dokha nhi de skti thi Dev. I denied. Maine mana kr dia tha iss kaam ke liye. My feelings with you have been true and genuine after that point.”

She explained quickly only to hear him chuckle humourlessly. He looked at her coldly and said.

“True? Genuine feelings? Mera, meri feelings ka mazak bana dia tumne and you had genuine feelings? Mana kr dia tha na tumne? Phir wo article kaise aaya? How did they get to know wo ladkia meri kya lagti hai? Mana krne ke baad bhi kaam pura kia tumne. Faayda pura uthaya.”

She shook her head as tears fell from both of their eyes.

“Aisa nhi hai. Maine give up kr dia tha sachme. Mujhe nhi farak padta tha ki wo kaun hai Dev because I trusted you. But when you told me who they were to you, I wanted to clear your image in the world’s eyes also. I didn’t want people to tag you as a playboy. Bas isliye maine wo-Dev? Kaha jaa rhe ho?”

She asked when he jerked her hand off his and marched towards the door.

“Aaj ek bhut badi galti krne wala tha mai. Uss galti se dur jaa raha hu. Koi aur news chahiye tumhe?”

He taunted and she rushed behind him. She held his hand and cried.

“Nhi! Please don’t leave. I love you Dev! I really do. Please give me one more chance. Please don’t leave. Please Dev!”

She cried but he was too angry and hurt to understand anything. Jerking her away from him, he marched out of her house, leaving her crying behind.

Sakshi cried the entire night, cursing herself for hurting him. But she had to win his trust and heart again. She didn’t want to lose him.

So, from the next day onwards, she started visiting his academy. She waited outside his academy all day in hope to talk to him.

But each time, he came out with the other players and she couldn't gain courage to talk to him with them around.

When the third day in a row, she couldn't get him alone, she realised that he had seen her and was deliberately not letting himself alone.

She steeled herself and took a deep breath.

“Who's that girl? Peeche teen din se yaha dikh rhi hai? Is she some fan or something?”

One of the players asked Dev when they stepped out of the academy. Dev knew who they were talking about and didn't bother.

“She's coming here. Must be a fan.”

Dev whipped his head towards her approaching form. He hadn't expected her to come to him when he was with the others.

She stopped directly before him and looked into his eyes. His jaw clenched as he took her form in, after so long. He hated the distance between them but she had hurt him a lot.

“May I have your autograph?”

She asked forwarding a pen towards him. He looked at her with narrowed eyes trying to figure out what she was trying to do and she smiled.

He took the pen while still looking at her suspiciously.

“Where do you want me to sign? On your face?”

His tone was sarcastic but cold. She bit her lip and leaned closer so that she could whisper the words only for him.

“Dil pr krdo.”

He pushed the pen back to her and she hurriedly forwarded her wrist. He held it delicately and unconsciously his thumb stroked the skin before he signed his name on her wrist. She smiled seeing his name on her skin.

Looking into his eyes with a smile on her lips, she whispered.

“Please give me one chance Dev. I promise I'm not lying. I really do love you.”

He pushed her hand off and marched away leaving her sighing. But she wasn't one to give up. She kept showing up at his academy at the time of his dispersal. 

It was hectic to manage because of work but she wasn't going to lose him. 

“I think she's some stalker. Roz roz yaha aa jaati hai. Maybe we should call the security.”

One of the players said one day when they saw Sakshi grinning wide and waving at them, well, Dev specifically, which he ignored as usual.

“She's just a fan. Let it be.”

He mumbled and looked at her for a second longer before going back to ignoring her.

“Why do I sense some story here?”

“Nothing like that. Don't overthink.”

Dev said in a defensive tone which earned him eyebrow raises from everyone.

It had been two weeks since this routine was being followed. Sakshi was tired now. She wanted to be in his arms. Wanted him to be back to how he was with her.

This time, when he ignored her before the academy, she followed him to his house in a cab. 

“Dev! Dev please ruko na! Dev!”

She ran behind him but he was faster and as soon as his car entered the house premises, the gates were shut on her face. He parked his car and gave her a fleeting look before going inside his house. She huffed and panted heavily because of running.

“Bhaiya! Bhaiya gate kholo na! Wo jaanta hai mujhe. Naaraz hai bas. Please mujhe andar jaane do.”

She pleaded with the guard who looked at her like she was mad. Dev came to the balcony of his room. He saw her talking to the guard and went back to his room to bring the intercom.

He dialled the guard house which made the guard rush inside his guard house.

“Sahab!”

“Uss ladki ko bolo wapas ghar jaaye. Mai nhi milunga usse. Aur waise bhi mausam kharab ho raha hai. Baarish ho skti hai kabhi bhi.”

“Jee sahab!”

The guard came out and Sakshi looked at him in hope.

“Sahab jaane ko keh rhe hai. Nhi milenge kisi se. Chali jaao ghar apne. Mausam kharab ho rha hai. Baarish aane se pehle ghar pahuch jaao apne.”

Sakshi looked at the balcony where he stood. She gave him a determined look. She knew he couldn’t see her face clearly so she shook her head indicating that she wouldn't leave.