The next day, Karthik announced to his team members that one of them have to stay at office every Saturday. They didn't seem happy with the new arrangement but he didn't have a choice; at least they will get comp-offs for working extra.

After his team meeting, he went back to his cabin to work but couldn't stop thinking about what happened the previous night.

Her smile!!! God, her smile was everything he thought about, ever since he left her room last night. Even after he went back to his room, he stood behind his door thinking of ways to go back to her. He really enjoyed spending time with her; he loved seeing her smile and the fact that he was the reason behind that made him proud.

He never felt this way with Tulasi. Sure, he loved her but his feelings were never this deep for her. So, what does this mean now? What should he do?

He was brought back to reality when he heard Ravi cough in front of him. He came back to senses instantly as he asked "What are you doing here?"

"I have a flight in the evening. I came to tell you bye and also to check up on you" Ravi said, trying hard not to smirk.

"Why would you check up on me?" he asked, feeling curious.

"Because of the rumors circulating around the office"

"What rumors?" he asked, raising his eyes.

"About you, actually. Everyone's wondering what happened to the ultimate bad boy of the office who is now seen smiling for no reason"

Karthik rolled his eyes "Shouldn't I smile?"

He remembered asking Sindhu, a similar question; the previous day. And the way she asked Have you hit your head? Did she really think that? The way she looked at him like he escaped from a mental asylum brought a stupid smile on his face.

"See-- What I am saying" Ravi's voice brought him back to the present.

He groaned "Look, I can smile when I want to"

"No, you can't. You can't just smile in the middle of a serious conversation. Few people can think that you've gone mad. Take your team for instant; everyone's thinking why you've suddenly gone soft"

"How did you know about this?"

"I heard my team mate Samrat talking to someone from your team. Apparently, you have gone easy on a guy who still hasn't started testing when he should've completed the first stage of it"

"How the hell did you know this?" he exclaimed, gaping at him in shock.

"Kar....I told you I heard. Now tell me about this change" he said smiling.

"You know I don't like discussing my personal life with anyone" he retorted, trying to look angry.

Ravi sighed expecting that kind of a reply. Even when he loved Tulasi, he kept that as a secret for many months until he confronted him.

Ravi started awkwardly "Um.. Please tell me, you realized that you're in love. I haven't seen you this happy even when you're with Tulasi"

Karthik smiled nodding "I was wondering the same thing before you came"

Ravi grinned "Good. Um, I will go then. I have a meeting to address before I go home"

"Yeah fine" He replied and before Ravi could go out, he added "Happy journey and have fun"

"That I will" He said, before heading out.

After that, he drowned himself in work though occasionally, he would smile remembering her words, her smile and her.

After dinner that evening, both of them sat together watching a film in TV. He enjoyed listening to her talk; even if they are the most stupidest things about films and characters. Most of the time, she would ramble mindlessly not caring if he's interested about the topic of discussion but he didn't mind as long as she is with him.

In the next few days, even when he watched Cricket matches, she would sit with him voicing out all her doubts. That's when he realized she just can't keep her mouth shut; not that he wanted to. It's one of those times he felt guilty realizing how alone she must have felt when he didn't talk to her. He didn't want to see her sad again; at least not because of him. And if someone hurts her, he will make sure to punish that person in the right way.

He saw her the happiest when he took her to her parents' house. She was almost bouncing up and down in happiness when they reached her house making him smile at her childish behavior. Her parents were happy seeing him and so was he, being with them. He felt belonged to the family, like he was one of them as they sat chatting in the living.

When Sindhu and her mom left to kitchen, he felt guilty staying with his father in law, alone. This was the man who took care of his wife every second of her life while he behaved like an annoying idiot to her. What did she call him once? Mr. AAA? Annoyed, Angry and Arrogant. Though he was anything but that now, he felt guilty for all that he did.

"Everything's alright?" Sindhu's dad mumbled quietly.

"Yes" He mumbled out a reply.

"I--I wanted to say sorry" her dad started, making him frown "Sindhu is stubborn and I heard from Hemanth that you are facing problems. Trust me, she is very--"

"Please don't say that. If we have problems, it's only because of me. You raised your daughter well" he said guiltily.

Karthik wanted to say much more than that; in fact he wanted to apologize but he didn't have the guts to confess how he behaved with his daughter. The only way he can rectify his mistake is by giving her the right treatment from hereon.

"Thank you. My wife is worried that it's my mistake for making Sindhu the way she is now. I know that she can be stubborn and stupid but--"

"She is the perfect woman I have ever seen" Karthik interfered before he said further "It's me who has issues but I promise to try to be a perfect husband to her"

"You will be" He said, patting his shoulder.

After lunch, they left her house to see Hemanth who'd be leaving next day to US. It wasn't until then he knew that Hemanth is filthy rich. He not only lived in Banjara Hills, one of the costliest localities of Hyderabad but is also the only son of a family that owned shopping complexes and multiplexes.

Karthik learnt from Sindhu that though Hemanth has a big house with so many servants, his parents never took care of him making him close to her family than his.

"So, when's your flight?" Karthik asked casually, as all of them were seated in the living.

"9 PM tomorrow from Mumbai" he replied smiling.

Sindhu started irritated "Good. Call us after you landed there. This time if you don't answer my calls, I am going to personally come there and beat the hell out of you"

Hemanth smirked, turning to Karthik "How are you going to put up with her drama all your life?"

Karthik chuckled seeing her childish glare as he dragged his words dramatically "I don't know; I was wondering the same thing"

When Hemanth laughed, she crossed her arms over her chest "What did you say?"

Karthik bit his bottom lip from smiling as he replied sweetly "I was saying how lucky I am to spend the rest of my life with an amazing person like you"

"It didn't sound like that" she chided, trying to look angry.

"Oh, but I meant that" he replied, trying to sound firm to which she scoffed.

"Oh My God. She's got you wrapped in her little finger" Hemanth exclaimed, with a gleam of excitement in his eyes.

She made a face and headed towards kitchen to bring juice for them while Karthik stayed silent not commenting anything on his retort.

"I gave my servants off as I am heading off tomorrow. I am sorry she had to do that" Hemanth said, when he saw Karthik look at the direction she went.

"Um.. It's nothing" He said, clearing his throat.

"I am happy she's got you. I need not be worried about her now" Hemanth said, with a sad smile.

Karthik smiled, feeling happy for his words. It meant the world to him coming from a person who loved his wife dearly.

"But, I gotta warn you. Her drama gets out of hands sometimes" he added, snickering.

"I can live with that; no problem" He replied smiling.

Karthik felt compassionate towards Hemanth for having everything he wanted but nothing he needed. Though Karthik was an introvert and didn't have friends except Ravi, he was glad to find someone he could call as his friend; though the said friend is still in love with his wife.

Soon, they left his house only after Hemanth gifted a MacBook to her and a watch to him. Karthik didn't want any kind of gifts from him but Hemanth insisted and he had to finally accept.

"So, where now?" Sindhu asked, looking at him excitedly when they are in their Hyundai i10 car.

"Surprise" he exclaimed making her eyes widen.

"Where to?" she asked so many times until she gave up, realizing he's not going to answer her.

"Are you taking me to where I think you are taking me?" she asked finally, when she saw the familiar roads.

He smirked "How would I know where you're thinking?"

She groaned "Please tell me it's not paradise"

He smiled "Why?"

"Because it's Saturday today" she said sadly.

He jerked his car to stop at the base of the hotel "You don't eat non veg on Saturday?"

"My mom doesn't let me eat on Saturdays"

"Well, um-- since your mom is not here, you can have whatever you want. I am not going to tell her" he added the last part in a low voice.

She smiled as she said in a whisper "Really?"

"Yess.." he said softly.

"You promise you won't tell my mom" she said in the same tone of whisper.

He nodded adding "Why are we whispering by the way?"

"Because cars have walls" When he looked at her confused, she added "I mean cars have ears"

"You think cars have ears? Why?" he asked, looking at her incredulously.

She shrugged "I mean when walls have ears, why can't cars have?"

He started at her in shock while she was looking ahead casually, as if she said things like this on a normal day. Then, he remembered Hemanth's words 'Her drama gets out of hands sometimes'; her dad even said she can be stupid and he understood exactly what they meant now. It's times like this he felt how little he knew her. She is so chilled out and cool to be with.

After dinner, she chatted all the way up to their journey back home; he realized she did that to stop herself from feeling sleepy.

"And then Hulk comes out of nowhere and catches Iron man before he---" she blabbered as she explained the climax scene of Avengers.

In the hour long journey, Karthik wanted to say a million times that he watched the film already, but he didn't want to dampen her enthusiasm and so stayed quiet. If getting his head fried is the only way to spend time with her, then he wouldn't mind even that.

When he realized that she was suddenly quiet, he looked aside and was surprised to find her sleeping. Five minutes later, he reached their house and parked his car in the basement.

Waking her up is out of question and he didn't know how to get her out of the car without someone's help. He sighed in relief when he saw Govind and called him; he picked Sindhu out of the car while Govind held the door. He lifted her bridal style and carried her towards the lift.

Soon, Govind locked his car and followed him. When they reached their apartment, Govind unlocked their door while Karthik carried her inside thanking him as he left.

Karthik wanted to take her to his room but he didn't know how she would react; he didn't want her to think of him as a guy who takes advantage of a girl who's sleeping. It should be completely her decision if or if not to share his room.

As he placed her on her bed, she stirred in her sleep but didn't wake up. He sat on the floor, observing her face as he pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

She looked adorable with her mouth shut; All of her energy must have been spent babbling all day, he mused silently.

His fingers itched to touch her but he pulled back thinking it's not the right thing to do; especially when she's asleep.

Against his better judgement, he stroked her cheeks with his knuckles as he stared at her with a smile. Before leaving the room, he placed a kiss on her forehead and locked the door behind him.

****

When Sindhu woke up the next morning, she felt fresh and renewed; like a new chapter has begun in her life. She remembered the previous day and felt happy and content. Karthik was very attentive and listened to every stupid thing that came out of her mouth. He acted like he cared for her and she wished it stayed the same.

That day was spent like every other day with both of them watching Cricket and films while conversing about everything unimportant. The more time she spent with him, the more she wanted to be with him. But just like every good thing ends, a Sunday is always followed by a Monday where life goes back to normal.

However, that Monday proved to be dreadful to her when Karthik came back home from work with a guest.

Sindhu's eyes widened seeing the one person she never expected to meet in her whole life. She recognized her, the instant she saw her with Karthik at their doorstep.

"Sindhu.. This is Tulasi. She is going to stay with us from now on" Karthik's words shocked her as she gaped at them, flabbergasted.

---

Thank you guys for reading. I hope you liked this chapter. 

Please Vote, Comment and Share it to your friends and followers..

Tulasi is an important character as you might have already known. Her life is based on my friend's friend story. She is NOT going to be anything like you fear.  

There's going to be loads of drama ahead and of course, the cute moments will continue.

What do you think of the short and sweet moments between Karthik and Sindhu in this chap? 

- JANAKI S