It had been three months to their first fight and the events that has followed the patch up. It was a date to be marked for Maya and even Rudra since whatever followed, had a better outcome, even if it wasn't so good. They had so many fights but at the end, a better result helped them to embrace each other and themselves much more. Sometimes, they cuddled together at night while sometimes, they talked all night long. Their schedules were long, hectic and at times, boring yet they enjoyed their passion.

Their professional front was going well. Maya had two back-to-back releases which also included a Web series. Even when she had a long schedule, she had taken a month break even though it wasn't willingly. Courtesy: Exhaustion due to work and Rudra's adamant nature.

On the other hand, being a crime journalist was no less. Sleepless nights accompanied by cups of caffine, homesick, being away from Maya with whom he had shared a bed now. Things had taken a progressive turn except his sour relation with his parents. One of his happiness was the cheque he recieved which made him feel that it was worth leaving business studies and sacrficing time with his girlfriend and parents. He was literally seduced to do more and more of it because of the fame, money and energy it gave him. Tight schedules were his bae but once in a while, things took a bad turn where he was so frustrated that he would take leave for a week together. Being workaholic was his genre and getting someone who was as same was a boon and a curse.

Sitting in his cubicle, Rudra's phone beeped to see a selfie that Maya had shared. She was still in the location waiting for the set to be prepared. It was already thirty-four minutes past two, midnight. He couldn't even tell anything because she would back answer, making his mouth shut. Looking at the papers and laptop in front of him, he decided to take a break and call Maya. Within a few seconds, Maya had picked up the calls to ask him," Didn't finish?"

"No! Trying to find some loopholes. When is your shoot going to finish?" He said rocking himself on the chair while Maya replied," Maybe two (yawns) hours. Feeling a bit sleepy."

Her voice was tired and he knew that she was washed out. He advised her," Sleep then! Ask them for a break yaar! Don't make me force you to take two weeks break as I had done before.."

"Hey.. I can say the same thing! You are also working there..." She complained while he could imagine her knit eyebrows even ghough she would hold a smile for his concern.

When Maya was forced to take a few weeks off, he didn't work from home but made sure to run behind her as a caring husband. He made sure she had everything on time. Her addiction was a forgotten topic even though they had a check on it. Her seizures had reduced which made her slowly stop the intake of medicines.

Rydra sighed while they sat with their phones pressed to each others' ears humming with a few exchanges and a lot more moments of silence before they had cut their calls and returned back to work.

~~~~

Finally! Maya was packing her bags as the shoot was over and she could finally go home. Her face gleamed with happiness but it was not only due to the fact that she had finished shooting but also due to the fact that Rudra had got a few days off. It made her mentally prepare her schedule on what should happen and when it should. Bidding a bye, she saw Rudra sitting inside the cab in which he had come. He wasn't interested in coming out even though he had recently developed an interest towards direction. It was simply because of the fact that he didn't want rumours or stories about them being printed. He loved his life private but due to both of their stints, it never remained one! It was the consequence he had chosen for himself yet he never regretted because of the woman with whom he was about to hitch.

Waving her hands to him who returned the same, she smiled before she turned to speak to one of the fan who asked for her autograph. After signing one, she walked towards the car in a much faster pace, without minding a few people's gazes. As he entered the cab, she too entered the cab. Settling the bags on the side, Rudra scooted next to Maya and side-hugged her tightly. Ahhh! It had been so many days since he had been stuck in the office and their schedules made it almost impossible to see each other. Being in each other's arms was bliss! Gesturing the driver that they could leave, he took her right hand and entwined with his. She passed a tired smile and she knew that even he was tired.

It was good that he chose a cab instead of the car since both of them were tired.. As she kept her head on his shoulders, she sighed deeply. He felt her breaths going softly and titled his head to find her sleeping. Placing a chaste kiss, he also allowed his eyes to close softly.. 

Rudra was woken up by the driver who seemed to adore the couple too. As he tried to wake her up, she snuggled more into him making him smile. The driver had turned away averting his gaze to the road while Rudra had managed to wake Maya who had woken up with a sudden jolt.

....

With Maya sitting on the ledge that seperated the small place and the upper place, her fingers held a coffee mug with her back pressed against Rudra's front, in between his legs. They admired the nature which was showering its blessings in the form of drizzling drops which seemed to get heavier by the minute. As the rain echoed the pit-patter to their ears, they enjoyed the weather. Sipping their respective brew of coffees occassionally, they seemed to get lost in the nature rather than each other.

Maya asked in a soft voice," Should I hire a servant? This work and cooking.. Is it becoming hectic?"

Rudra said with a chuckle," I should be asking you about that because I only cook once or twice in a week. As long as we can manage each other, let it go like this. If not, we will hire one.."

Seating herself properly after detatching herself from him, she sipped her coffee while one of his hand crept through the cloth, finding its place on her abdomen. Smiling through her hairs, she looked at him, taking a glance to which she recieved a wink from him. She exclaimed," Got a new script! I loved the one-liners."

"Tomorrow is a holiday right?" He asked to which she said," No. Some work have come up in the morning but after that, I am free....I am really sorry Rudy.."

"Why sorry? It's your work and you do it. But when I need a serious leave, you should be there.." He stated while she assured him," Definitely. I have shoot till 3 or 4pm tomorrow if everything goes by schedule.."

He just hummed and tightened the hold on her waist. He pecked the side of her cheek and she blushed as she sipped her coffee alongside. Their small yet intimate moment was broken by Maya's phone which made him sigh before he picked it up and handed it to her. Attending the call, Maya had begun her conversation while Rudra sipped his coffee as he diverted his attention to the rain through which her conversation interfered.

"Yes. I will let you know by today at the earliest." As the phone was cut, Maya asked knitting her eyebrows," Would you do the honours of coming with me for the promotion of my new film at the City Mall?"

"The same place I had spread the rose petals? The same place I was threatened by Maya Jaisingh for impressing her and getting onto her nerves?" He asked raising his eyebrows with a chuckle while she pushed him slightly only to have him fall of the ledge. Holding him tightly, he just left her hand to land safely in a which had space. It was still in the balcony.. The coffee cup had fallen on the ground making the little bit of coffee splatter yet the coffee was washed away by the rain which covered its tracks.

"I am sorry. Are you okay?" Maya asked in a concerned voice while he winced in pain..

"Shit! I am coming down!" Saying that Maya kept the cup and phone on the table before jumped off the ledge and went to him. Rudra helped her in getting down only to have her in his arms.

"Rudra, let me check it!" She said and he tightened the hold. She looked to his face to see his mischievous smile and she knew the meaning behind that.

"Rudra..." She sweetly whined while he mimicked in the same way, " Maya".

He said romantically while wiping her hair which was out of her messy bun sideways," Rain is there, Rudra is here and even Maya is here."

She raised her eyebrows at that. It was rare to find him romantic but when he was romantic, he was on a whole new level. As it was showering, they were getting drenched more and more by the minute. Her messy bun turned into a drenched bun which made Maya scrunch through the rain.

But soon her thoughts were diverted through an opposite tangent as he ran his palm through her forearm. It evoked feelings she had to feel in an intimate moment. He placed her cold palm on her hot cheeks, making her close her eyes. 

But that wasn't all. Maya couldn't and didn't want to give up easily and her fingers played the game she refused to play a few days back. Running her fingers against his cheeks and beard, it induced an effect which made him moan slightly. Closing the distance between them, she ran her nose through his neck. Stopping for a second, she didn't waste any second betore placing a kiss on his neck making him gulp and groan.

As he pulled her closer, everything played an important role. The love they had, the concern, the emotions and even the rain. As he slowly pecked her lips, he joined their foreheads and asked," Is it too late for an 'I Love You'?"

She shook her head in negative to that with a small smile playing on her lips. Slowly, his fingers caressed her eyes and lips while her eyes remained in contact with his eyes absorbing all the emotions she had.

He whispered rubbing his cheek with hers," I Love You Maya!"

She was all ready when she knew that he was going to take the next step. As expected, when he was about to take the next step, the unexpected happened as he pushed her. She was caught off guard at that. In the end,

He Sneezed!

....

Walking down the stairs while rubbing her hair against the towel, she heard Rudra groaning. It had been an hour ever since they had got out of it and Rudra had started complaining.. It looked like her assumption had turned true..

"Body pain?" She asked controlling a smile while he hummed. Chuckling at their michief and childishness in rain, she took a packet from the cabinet. It contained a few hard semicircle balls which would give him a relief once it had boiled and become thick. Dropping it, she kept the water on the stove.

Turning it to a higher flame, she looked through her shoulders sneakily to find Rudra who was about to sneeze. Imitating him, he sneezed while she chuckled.

"That's what rain does to you!" She remarked seriously with her index finger pointed out. As much as he favoured Nature, it didn't looked like nature favoured him. As she stirred the water in which the ball was melting, she felt heat radiate through her body as she felt his arms snaked around her waist.

"And this is the heat I want after that!" He said while keeping his lips on her shoulder due to which she held the counter tightly..

"Sometimes, the failure's result should be analyzed because of the intermediary moments it gifts you. The result will be more sweeter you know.." He whispered in a husky voice while she just hummed. She couldn't think straight..

Placing her arms near the fire, she turned towards him and kept it on his cheeks. As she blew her palms, she kept it on his cheeks and rubbed his cheeks with his hands still on either side of her waist. Before she could take her palm for another blow, he held her wrists.

Running his thumb through the wrists, he placed it on his chest and whispered," MayRa"

She smiled at that and said," If this continues..."

He anticipated for her to complete while she shouted," You will get sick. Now be a good Baby and sit down on the chair. I will be back!"

He whined like a little child for the spoiled moment while she pushed him and made him sit on the chair. She placed her arms and felt his temperature rising up. Walking to the stove, she saw that the concoction had reduced. She poured it into two glasses and placed it on the table.

He took him and rubbed it across his palms which made him feel better. Drying her hair, she sat next to him watching him drink it slowly. He seemed to loathe yet like it a bit due to the gingery and peppery flavour of it. She asked blowing over the concoction," Are you coming for the promotional event?"

"If there is rain..." He dragged and laughed it off while Maya chuckled. He nodded in positive while she was about to pull his cheeks, he held her wrist and winked.

She blushed while he said," Your pinches are increasing and those are really painful! "

~~~

It was almost evening and he felt bored without Maya. As much as she promised to come early, he knew that it was a far shot. Running his fingers through her bookshelf, he heard the door bell ringing and he looked at the clock to find that it was 2:30 pm.

He opened the door to receive a tired Maya who was leaning against the wall. As she came inside, she removed her sandals and went to the common washbasin to wash her face. After she washed her face, he said," Freshen up! We will go out.."

"I am too tired Rudra!" She said as she snuggled into his arms. He retreated herself from him and begged," Please.. Please.."

He made a puppy face but she shook her head in negative. She walked towards the couch and sat down.

"Please! You know that I won't pressure you if it wasn't important right?" She just hummed and he got up. He extended his hand and she placed it tiredly.

In a swift manner, he pulled her up and placed a small kiss on her cheek.

...

A few minutes after Maya had been energized with a cup of coffee, Rudra pulled her to go somewhere with him. As they were travelling, Rudra stopped at one point when the signal had turned red..

He looked at Maya who asked him for the nth time where they were going. He gave his silence as a reply but when she got really frustrated and crazy to an extent where she was cranky, he whispered in a husky voice,

"Patience Maya! You will love it!"

- To be Continued -