``Like Sailaab the story of Sparsh will gr-ow along the way. While Sailaab was written at an unconscious level and was well-structured, Sparsh is a case of difficult subject - honest writing,'' he says, informing that the serial revolves around three main characters portrayed by Mahesh Thakur, Mrinal Kulkarni and Divya Seth.

Another love triangle, we query? ``Well, almost,'' he laughs. Mahesh Thakur is in the process of getting a divorce from his wife Divya Seth; actually she's the one who wants a divorce, while Mrinal Kulkarni, a doctor is engaged to marry someone else. Both of them meet at a hill station and are gradually attracted to each other. What happens then? ``Many times we come across a person whom we have been searching for, quite late in our life. The same happens to the characters in Sparsh. Now they have to take a difficult decision. In Sailaab they did not take that crucial decision but in Sparsh they do,'' explains Rai. He's doing the story, screenplay and dialogue of Sparsh, which seems to be a interesting fare.

Besides Sparsh, Rai is also working on another long-delayed serial. Janam which is to be telecast on Zee. Though the serial was approved a couple of years ago it wasn't being slotted. Now that it's finally coming on air, Rai will again have a serial each on the rival channels. Earlier it was Teacher (Zee) that was pitted against Thoda Hai.... Recently the serial underwent a slot change and has been shunted to Monday 10.30 pm. ``Obviously the ratings are going to be affected,'' laments Rai. But that isn't stopping him from putting another serial on Zee. ``After all, that's the channel which made me,'' he says loyally.

Janam traces the story of a little girl who grows up in an orphanage which preaches against abortion. When she comes of age (Divya Seth), she falls in love with a married man and gets pregnant. Now, the same institution which was dead against abortion asks her to do the opposite, fearing its reputation ``which is at stake''. The dilemma Divya Seth faces and the decision she takes forms the crux of Janam. The serial is based on a play written by Abhiram Bhadgamkar, who's also scripting Janam.