Split? Aishwarya Rai and Vivek Oberoi certainly haven't, though they say some people would love to see them fall apart.

"I'm sick and tired of these Chinese whispers," Aishwarya told IANS when asked about rumors of their split.

The actress who has been busy shooting every day for debutante Leena Bajaj's "Shabd", sometimes for 20 hours at a stretch, to complete the film before she leaves for her world concerts, is amused, exasperated and also bewildered.

"Who has the time to spread all these un savoury rumors? As you know, I never talk about my personal life...I never have and never will, I don't need to," she clams up resolutely.

A close friend of the couple laughs off the rumours.

"We all know who wants this relationship to end the most and how he's using his influence to spread this rumor. It's being said that Ash and Vivek's relationship has become strained because their film together 'Kyun! Ho Gaya Na' flopped. That's so frivolous. And neither Vivek nor Ash is a frivolous person.

"The fact is they're very much in love. In fact, when Vivek's leg was operated on Wednesday to remove the steel rod. Aishwarya was in hospital with him for two whole days."

Vivek, who celebrated his birthday Friday, is forthcoming. "I don't know why people are pointing doomsday fingers at us. Could they be mistaking us for another celebrity couple?

"In fact, last night when I was groggy with the medication after surgery, I was suddenly woken up by my parents, sister and Ash to cut a cake. It was all so unreal because I was half asleep," Vivek laughs.

"Ash and I have no problems at all, though I'm sure there're people who would love to see us fall apart. But sorry, we aren't obliging anyone.

"In fact she was there throughout when I went through my final leg surgery this week. Incidentally the steel rod in my leg was totally bent because of the injury the same leg suffered when I had an accident on the sets of 'Kissna'.

"I don't know why people don't leave us alone. The other day there was the rumor that I had a fight on the sets of 'Kissna'. Now this one about me and Ash. Please give us a break from these break-up stories!"