Dedicated to every single person waiting for this chap. It's a filler though.

---

Karthik and Sindhu were in their own happy bubble, completely oblivious to what's happening around when they heard a yell from downstairs making them pull back in fright; like teenagers caught doing something naughty.

"Sindhu.. Breakfast is ready. Bring your husband"

She cleared her throat awkwardly "Let's go"

"Wait" He pulled her back, intertwining his fingers with hers and headed downstairs.

They sat beside each other while Padma was seated at the head of the table. A servant girl served hot Poori on their plate with Potato curry.

"Yum" Sindhu muttered looking at her favorite breakfast making Karthik and Padma chuckle.

"Did you make this for me?" she asked with an exciting smile and Karthik realized how much he missed seeing that.

Her aunt smiled "I know you'll have a healthy appetite now that your husband is here"

Though she was teasing, Karthik lost his smile looking at Sindhu's weak body. He is responsible for everything she's been through.

"I hope I didn't disturb anything" Padma started just as Sindhu and Karthik's eyes met. They quickly averted their gaze blushing, remembering their moment of passion.

Karthik cleared his throat "Um no. Our discussion was over by then"

"Oh good then. By the way Sindhu.. Your eyes and nose are red and so are your lips" Padma said, trying to sound casual but he caught the tease in her voice.

SHE KNEW.

When he gazed at her in shock, she was smirking at Sindhu who looked mortified.

"It must be because you were crying non-stop" she droned in the same teasing tone; he realized it to be an effort of damage control.

Sindhu didn't say a word, feeling extremely embarrassed at her aunt's statement.

She cursed Karthik for that. Why didn't he say anything about her lips? She would have waited until they looked normal. Unknowingly, her thoughts shifted back to their kiss. What a kiss it had been?

She snapped out of her dazed state when Karthik elbowed her. She steered her head to him and noticed him looking at her with a knowing smile that he tried real hard to hide.

His mouth neared her ear as he whispered "I think you should eat first"

Her eyes widened as she looked at her untouched plate and blushed "Yeah, right"

She took a piece of Poori when Padma started "So, what are you plans for the day?"

"Nothing, as of now" he replied.

"Why don't you go to the nearby pub in the evening? Both of you have had a rough week"

"No" Sindhu said the same instant Karthik replied "Fine"

"You don't want to go?" He asked, looking at her in surprise.

She made a face and lied "No. I don't like places with loud music" He need not know that  I am not comfortable being in crowds.

"Or you are scared of wearing western" he taunted making her raise her eyes.

"I can wear Jeans. It's ok to ----"

His eyes gleamed with excitement as he interfered her in a teasing tone "Why don't you say you are not comfortable wearing something---"

"Ok fine. I will come" she said, looking serious.

"Wearing Jeans? No thanks. I don't want to look like I am going out with a guy"

She stared at him with her mouth wide open at his comment. She closed it before saying "I look like a guy when I wear Jeans?"

Karthik was enjoying her reaction too much. He didn't mind if she wore jeans or a dress but he liked arguing with her over something really stupid.

He nodded, looking sorry "It's ok, I understand. You don't have the body to wear a western dress"

"Oh really? You know what!! I am coming to that damn pub with you" She paused before adding in a dramatic tone "Wearing a western dress"

He raised an eyebrow "Is that a challenge?"

"Yes" she said firmly "And one more thing, you are going to compliment me that I look really good"

"Really?" He questioned, enjoying her reaction way too much before adding "Bring it on then"

Both of them were immersed in their challenging stare until Padma cleared her throat making them pull back.

"So, you two are going then?" she asked enthusiastically.

When both of them nodded, her smile widened.

Sindhu cursed herself for being so stupid. Why would Karthik want to go to a pub when they can go to beach? After all, what's better than spending a quiet evening at a beach!!

She was sulking about the whole idea when a sudden thought struck her mind.

"I don't have dress" she blurted out in panic making the two of them chuckle.

"What the heck? How am I supposed to go when I don't have anything to wear? Oh My God!! What am I going to do? I don----"

Karthik broke her dramatic rambling with a smile "Accept that I win"

"Never" she announced, looking serious.

"Sindhu..." Padma started patiently "My daughters left a couple of dresses here. We will see if anything fits you. Don't worry"

"Fine" she said unsurely.

After breakfast, Karthik excused himself from them to call Sindhu's parents and Tulasi about her; they might be still worried.

After disconnecting the call, he searched for Sindhu and her aunt when he heard voices from a room. He looked through the window and found them arguing, with a pile of clothes on the bed.

"No way.. That is too short" He saw Sindhu pointing to a black and white dress.

"But it will look good on you"

She groaned "It doesn't even cover my back properly"

"Don't you want Karthik to find you beautiful?"

He smiled at her aunt's retort. He always found Sindhu beautiful; questions barred.

She pouted "I want to but this is way too slutty"

Her aunt slapped her arm playfully "Naina used to wear this"

Naina? Who's Naina? May be one of her daughters.

Sindhu bit her lip "Oops...Sorry Aunty. Still, I can't wear that"

"Scared already?" He announced, entering the room as their attention shifted to him.

"No way"

"Really? Because you look like you are struggling"

Before Sindhu could give a smart reply, Padma interrupted "I will make lunch arrangements and come back to help you"

When she left the room, Karthik sat on the bed observing the dresses. He is sure Sindhu is going to back off. After all, she told him long back that she is not comfortable showing off her skin. Still, he hoped she tried wearing one because he wanted to see how she looks in these kind of dresses.

"What are you going to wear?" He asked, observing the black and white dress that Sindhu commented as being too short.

She shrugged, looking irritated and joined him on the bed "I don't know"

"Why are you being cranky? It's just a dress"

"No, not that. I- um- I don't like pubs. They are loud and---"

"Crowded?" he filled in. When she looked surprised, he added "Isn't that why you don't like going there? Because you will be surrounded by a maze of bodies"

She nodded pouting when he smirked "It's not too late. You can say I win and we will drop this"

"No way" she said getting up "I am going to win this one"

She went back to checking her cousins' wardrobes when he got up "I will be going out after lunch"

Her attention shifted to him instantly "Where? Why?"

"I have work in the city. I will pick you up at 7"

"Should you go?" she asked sadly. She didn't want to miss spending time with him after being distant for a week.

"I have to buy clothes too. I don't have anything proper"

"Fine then" she replied and he left the room.

After lunch, Karthik left the house and Sindhu and Padma were immersed in dress selection.

When Padma showed a black crop top and a floral skirt, Sindhu grinned "It is perfect though a bit short"

"It's not short. You will look good in it, trust me"

She nodded smiling "Fine. But, we need to go to a beauty parlor now"

"Waxing?" Padma questioned and she nodded "I have a friend who is a beautician. I will call her to find if any of her assistants are free"

"Great.."

By the time Sindhu was done with the beauty treatments, evening arrived and she hurried to shower.

"You look great" Padma commented seeing her in the black skirt "Now, about your hair--"

"What about my hair? I am fine like this"

"No. You are not wearing that goddamn ponytail" she ordered "We are going to style it"

After styling her hair, they started arguing about her makeup.

"No auntie. I will only wear lipstick. Nothing else"

"Just a little blush and foundation. It will highlight your features"

"No. I like me like this. Please, nothing more"

"Your dark circles are going to spoil your whole look. Are you ok with that?"

When Sindhu agreed unwillingly, her aunt applied a bit of concealer below her eyes and they walked to the living, waiting for Karthik to arrive.

Sindhu felt uncomfortable wearing a short skirt. Though she wore shorts underneath, she was worried what might happen to her skirt if heavy wind blew; she didn't want a 'Marilyn Monroe' moment.

It was quarter past seven when she heard the door bell and she felt shy suddenly. She was stuck in her seat when Padma went to open the door.

As he entered the room, she could feel his stare on her and kept her eyes lowered.

Somehow, hearing a compliment from him is not just a matter of winning now; it is much more personal than that which would give a sense of confidence to her. But sadly, it never came.

"Let's go" His voice killed her anticipation as she got up and bid bye to her aunt.

They walked slowly towards their car in silence when Sindhu noticed it "You came here by our car?"

"Y-Yeah. Why?" He asked liking the way she said 'our'.

"I didn't know that you travelled all the way to here by car"

"Umm yeah. I didn't want to waste time trying tickets for a flight or find a bus"

She nodded sitting in the passenger seat before adjusting her skirt.

When she turned to him, she was surprised to see him wearing formal shirt and jeans; he looked really good.

Karthik steered his car away from the house and tried to concentrate on the road. His mouth was itching to tell her that she looked very good but remembering their challenge, he stayed silent.

"How far is this blue moon?" she asked remembering the name of the pub her aunt said.

"We are not going there"

"What? Why?"

"I found a better place. I am sure you'll enjoy it"

"I am sure I will" Sindhu replied in a sarcastic tone.

What's going to be different about pubs? The same loud music and crowds.

He chuckled making her attention shift to him. Gosh, she missed his smile.

"Are you going to stare at me all night long?" His voice brought her out of her daze.

"Umm. No?" she said stupidly making him chuckle again.

After a few minutes passed in silence, Sindhu started awkwardly "Aren't you going to say anything?"

Karthik smirked hearing her question. He understood what she was trying to imply but he put on a straight face as he asked "What should I say?"

"You know what I mean"

"I don't know what you are saying" he played along.

She sulked for a while before her attention shifted to the beach that she didn't notice until then.

Karthik observed her watching the sea in wonder through her window. He didn't know why she feels happy seeing something as simple as a beach.

He jerked the car to stop when he found a place to park the car.

"Why did you stop here?" He heard her anxious voice.

"Don't you want to get down?"

"Now? But we have to go to the pub"

He smirked "I cancelled the pub program today"

She beamed "Really?"

He grinned at her excitement "Yes. Let's have fun at the beach"

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I am extremely sorry that you had to wait so long for an update. I always make sure that I have ten plus chaps in my hand before an update. But, I haven't written a single chap in the last 3 or so weeks while I updated 10 chaps minimum.

Now I am left with no extra chaps and I couldn't get past a particular chap. It's not like I don't have ideas of what to write. I have everything in my head but I don't know how to start.

Adding to that I have another exam on August 9th, my birthday. I will try to give updates and prepare too. But, they will be slow since the book is almost close to completion.

Thanks  for not giving up on me. Seeing the 'please update' messages made me happy and sad too. Happy because there are people who are waiting for me and sad because I am disappointing you.

Pic of Sindhu in her western dress is added..

Thanks a lot for everything guys. Love you all...

- JANAKI