This book reached 50 K reads and 16 in Chicklit. I thought I was dreaming when I saw it today morning. Thank you so much for the love and support.

Thank you H_A_db for the new cover.

Unedited. I hope there aren't too many mistakes. I want to edit properly but I am totally exhausted, having worked on this for hours.

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"So, what do you think of her?" Karthik asked casually, getting on to the bed.

Sindhu sighed "I don't know. She seems like a nice person. May be they had small misunderstandings"

"What do we do now?" he asked anxiously.

"We wait. It shouldn't seem to them that we are interfering"

"Fine. Whatever you say" he said, stifling a yawn.

She smirked "Wow.. Aren't you sweet? Agreeing to your wife on everything"

"Only because she is better than me in these matters" he replied with a smile.

She rolled her eyes joining him on bed "Feeling tired?"

"A bit, yes. It's been a long day" he replied, holding back a yawn again.

"Have you talked to Tulasi lately? I wonder what's happening in her life" she questioned, thinking deeply.

"Everything is as expected. Her husband is being an idiot and she is having a tough life" he said, with a deep frown.

She jerked her head upwards instantly, facing him "Oh My God. We shouldn't have sent her; it's our mistake. I let her go---"

"Don't be stupid. She went there, willingly. She is a strong woman and will get through it"

"Are you sure?" she asked fervently.

"Yes, I am. And she will win her husband too because 'Good' always wins in the end"

She sighed placing her head on his chest "I hope that happens too"

Twirling his fingers in her hair, he thought deeply about what Tulasi said. He shared Sindhu's doubts and fears too but he knew one thing; people like Tulasi who does everything with conviction, will always yield successful results.

"I talked to Hemanth yesterday" Sindhu spoke calmly.

"Did he say anything important?" he asked, feeling interested.

"Yes" she replied with a smile "He met a girl"

"What? Really?" An unknown smile swept his face and he almost shouted. He may not have known him for a long time but knew that he was a good man; probably, the best. If anyone deserved to be happy, then it's him.

"Yes. I felt happy too when he said that" she replied, her eyes bulging in excitement "They have known each other for a short while but he is almost sure she is the one for him"

"Wow. I want to see that girl who charmed him" he said excitedly.

She chuckled "Me too. He said that we can Skype next time."

"Good."

"He sounded very happy" she began sadly, feeling nostalgic remembering the way he looked miserable before he left to US "I am very happy. My best friend finally found love. What more do I need?"

In order to lighten the situation, he forced himself to chuckle and said in a rather Sindhu-ish tone "I don't know about you but I want more from you"

She smiled between tears "And you'll get everything mister"

He smiled too, seeing her mood back to normal.

****

"Are you sure she's not a Vegan?" Sindhu asked for the nth time while sitting on the kitchen counter and staring at the fish fry he was cooking.

"I told you I am not sure" he said wearily, a bit irritated that she didn't leave, in spite of telling that he didn't need her help.

"Are you calling Ravi or shall I?" she said determinedly.

"We can cook something else if she doesn't eat Fish. It won't take time"

"It's not polite to keep our guests waiting" she preached.

"They are our friends and they won't mind; don't worry" he said coolly.

"What if she doesn't like fish?" she repeated the same question again making him groan.

"Then she'll eat Chicken" he said mockingly.

"If she is a Vegan, she won't eat either" she replied, glowering at him.

"Will you let me cook or irritate me until I leave cooking forever?" he yelled, his eyes narrowed.

"I will let you cook" she said grudgingly "Do you need any help?"

"Yes. Please leave the room" he said sternly.

"Fine" she said crossly, striding out of the room.

Though the TV was switched on, she didn't find anything interesting; the same old movies were on it that were screened a hundred times already.

Taking her mobile from the teepoy, she typed a message to Tulasi

'What is the best punishment to a husband who threw his wife out of the kitchen?'

Few minutes later, she received a message

'I was thrown out of my house. Don't you think you're asking the wrong person?

PS Isn't it good if the husband is cooking?'

She pondered over Tulasi's reply. Why was she always right?

'How's it going? Need my help to hit his head?'

'No worries. Doing it better without you. He will not survive if you came into picture ;)' came a reply.

Chuckling at Tulasi's answer, she continued to chat with her until Karthik entered the living, sighing loudly "It's done"

"Good for you" she muttered under her breath, quickly typing a good bye message to her friend.

Leaving the room, she made her way back to kitchen and started grating Carrots in hurry.

"What are you doing?" Karthik said sternly, entering the kitchen.

"Carrot Halwa" she replied, a bit unwillingly.

"Why?"

"Because I want to kill them with my food" she said sarcastically.

"Are you angry at me?" He asked calmly.

"No, I am angry at our neighbor" she replied in a sardonic manner.

"You were irritating me. I didn't have a choice" he explained.

She tutted in disappointment "You didn't let me help you"

"Is that what all of this is about?"

"I was the one who invited them but I dumped all the work on you" she complained.

He sighed "I offered to help. You didn't dump--"

"It doesn't matter. It's always you who cooks on Sundays. You work all week long and had to work on weekends too because of me. To top it off, you won't let me help you" she argued.

"I enjoy cooking and I don't think of it as a burden" he retorted.

"Still, I can't let you. I am free all the time while you work. You should teach me" she said calmly, after staring at each other for a few seconds in silence.

"I will." He said softly before adding "Is that why you are angry with me? Because you cannot cook and are making me work"

"Yes" she said guiltily and they gazed at each other, not saying a word.

The awkward silence was broken when both of them spoke at the same time "Sorry"

They chuckled hearing themselves and he hugged her "I shouldn't have yelled at you. I am sorry"

"I shouldn't have irritated you. It's my mistake" she said softly.

"No, it's not. I should have listened to you when you said you'd help, making it my fault"

She pulled away as realization hit her "Actually, you are right. I wouldn't have been irked if you listened to me. We wouldn't have had this argument if you let me help you or call Ravi as I suggested -----"

And she rambled on how everything only happened because of him making him the wrongdoer in the end and he couldn't help but smile at her stupidity.

"Since you graciously agreed that it's my mistake" Karthik began, unable to hide his smile "Why don't you tell me why you are making a dessert?"

"Because I haven't done anything for them" she said sadly.

He sighed, taking her into his arms "Sometimes I wonder how I am going to put up with you, all my life"

"What was that supposed to mean?" she demanded softly, running her fingers over his shoulder.

"Nothing" he smiled, tightening his hold.

"It wasn't nothing" she said softly.

"I read somewhere that 'To have a successful married life, husband should always listen to his wife'. Now I understand why he said that"

"Whoever said that, is absolutely right" she confirmed making him smile again.

"Yeah, poor fellow. How much he must have endured to finally realize that" he muttered calmly.

She chuckled "See. You are lucky that I made you understand everything in the very beginning. You should be proud that you have a smart wife"

He chuckled, unable to think of a sharp comeback.

"If you are done romancing, can we eat? I am hungry" said a voice that didn't belong to them making them jerk away from each other in shock.

Before either of them could answer, Ravi continued in a bored tone "Or did you even cook?"

"How did you get in here?" Karthik asked, looking shocked and perplexed seeing his best friend, standing carelessly at the entrance of their kitchen.

"Your door was open" he replied with a smirk "I thought you were busy cooking. But, here you are--"

"We were doing nothing" he said quickly.

"Yeah, I can see. You provided us live entertainment though" he said, gesturing to his wife who was standing behind him.

He rolled his eyes and Ravi continued in the same careless tone "You didn't answer me. Did you cook?"

Karthik glared at him "Why would you think---"

"Because you were busy making babies" He smirked.

"We were not" shrieked Sindhu, looking embarrassed.

"Fine baby. I believe you" he said sardonically before adding in a serious tone "Didn't the two of you know that your door was open? Haven't you ever heard of this thing called burglary?"

"We are in the house. How can--" Karthik began.

"Don't you guys see News? A couple were killed for a mere 50 grams of gold in LB Nagar. It's not safe to leave your door open like that" Ravi sounded serious.

"We'll be careful from here on" Sindhu replied quickly.

Ravi sighed "Fine. Now about the babies---"

"Ravi!!!" Three voices yelled at him and a smug look filled his face again.

After Sindhu was done with Carrot Halwa, they gathered for lunch at the dining table. It turned out that Swetha wasn't a vegan which made Karthik sigh in relief; thankfully, he skipped a long lecture from Sindhu.

"Proud of you bro. Your cooking skills always amaze me" said Ravi delightedly.

"You cooked?" Swetha asked in surprise, looking at her half-eaten fish which was very tasty.

"You nailed it again" said Sindhu dramatically and everyone at the table laughed.

Sindhu's 'Carrot Halwa' received appreciation too from the three of them.

"It's very easy. I didn't do anything great" replied Sindhu timidly.

After a noisy lunch, the men retired to watching Cricket while women headed to the master bedroom.

"Didn't that match happen 15 years ago? What do you gain by seeing it when you know the result?" Sindhu passed a comment and without bothering to hear their reply, left the room.

"Men" she muttered under her breath as she locked the bed room door.

"So, how are you?" she said excitedly, turning to Swetha.

She smiled "We met like three days ago. So, I am the same"

Before she could think of a smart reply, her gaze shifted to the towel on the bed and she narrowed her eyes "I am going to kill him one day if he keeps doing that"

"What happened?" Swetha asked in worry.

"He leaves his towel on the bed all the time" she said, looking irritated.

"I hate it when Ravi does that" spilled Swetha in irritation.

"Hmm. I guess it's a common trait of men then"

"Yeah. I don't understand how they watch Sports all the time. As if International and IPL matches were not enough, Ravi started Pro Kabaddi League now" She ranted, looking pissed.

When Sindhu stayed silent, she added "Don't tell me you don't face that. I saw the way--"

"I do" Sindhu interjected "But not all the time. Sometimes, he watches films with me. So I don't really mind watching matches with him"

Swetha gaped at her with a frown "You're saying that because you are used to sacrificing everything for him"

"Sacrifices have to be made for a successful marriage. And it's not just me who does everything. He does a lot for me too" Sindhu replied calmly.

"But you can't suppress your happiness for your husband. You have an equal right to do whatever you want. You left your job for him" she said in a slightly accusing tone.

"I am doing what I want. Leaving my job is a mutual decision; not his alone. And who said anything about not being happy? I've never been happier as I am now" Sindhu explained patiently.

"You are?" she asked tentatively.

"Yes, I am. I don't know why you have this prejudice that I am an innocent girl who does so much for her husband expecting nothing in return. I am not that girl and Karthik never forced me into anything"

"Oh. I thought---"

"It's ok" she replied with a smile.

"When I saw the two of you in kitchen" Swetha began, with a shy smile "I thought you were under his spell or something because you--"

"Trust me, I am under his spell" she said winking at her who chuckled.

"You won't believe me" Sindhu began with a thoughtful smile on her face "but we were fighting just before you guys entered"

"Really?" Swetha exclaimed with a gasp.

"Yes" she said chuckling "It was a stupid thing actually. He was angry because I was vexing him in kitchen and I was ----"

"What happened?" Swetha asked, seeing her stop abruptly.

"I am not supposed to tell you that" she replied with a sheepish smile "It should be between my husband and me"

"Oh. Um-so- you n-never discuss Karthik with any of your f-friends? for advises or something?"

"No. Except with one woman who knows more about him than I do" she replied, thinking of Tulasi.

"Why?"

"If I, who shares the same room as him doesn't understand him, then how can some random woman who knows nothing about him advise me?" she said in a casual tone, hoping she gets the point.

"So. You think one should never ask help from another woman?" she said looking doubtful.

"Suppose you did. The third person will only give you suggestions based on her experience. But, no two people are alike. How can you apply the same formula when the persons differ?"

"You are right. I never thought about it that way" Swetha replied with a thoughtful look on her face.

Hiding the smirk off her face and giving a mental pat on her back, Sindhu continued "But, why am I saying this to you? You have Ravi, who is a wonderful man. You won't obviously need suggestions"

"He has his own flaws" she replied shortly.

"Everyone has. We are humans, after all; we cannot be Omniscient."

Swetha sighed "I know. But we belong to different backgrounds and have nothing in common. I am from a rich family while he comes from a middle class---" she stopped herself making Sindhu smirk.

"I am not supposed to say that. Am I?" Swetha asked timidly.

Shaking her head with a smile, Sindhu said "Shall I give you an advice which is universal? Applicable for everyone?"

When she nodded, Sindhu smiled "Do something special for him. Something that you may not like but he does. He will be touched, trust me. Love can only be won with love; not with hatred or arguments"

"I will try" she gave a polite answer.

"You are an amazing woman Swetha. Just let him see that" she said softly.

The conversation soon shifted to lighter topics and in what felt like no time, Ravi and Swetha left their house and Sindhu explained to Karthik about the pep talk she had with Swetha.

"So, you told her not to ask advice, yet gave one" Karthik said in amusement.

"Yeah" she replied with a guilty smile.

"But how do you know that a third person was involved" he questioned anxiously.

"Because that's what women do. When we have problems, we turn to another woman for suggestions. I thought that's something, Swetha who has a huge social circle would do"

"Very clever" he agreed before turning to her with a frown "But, I never left towel on our bed. And I definitely didn't leave it today"

She smirked "I put it there before we joined for lunch"

He made an impressive sound and she added "I wanted her to think that we share something common to start a conversation"

"And how do you know Ravi does that?" he said eagerly

"I hoped he does because 99% of Indian men do" she replied casually.

"Really? But I don't leave my--"

"I said 99%"

"So, I belong to 1%?" he asked, feeling proud of himself.

"No. You belong to 0.01%. In fact, I am not even sure if there is another guy like you"

"Is that supposed to be good or bad?" he said tentatively.

"Very good. Don't worry. You're the best" she smiled and heard him mutter something that sounded like 'Always sees the best of me'

"So, what shall we watch?" she said switching the channels.

"The Expendables 3" she exclaimed, noticing the screen when she heard "Ashes series" from the other end of the couch at the exact moment.

Instantly, they looked at each other and Karthik made a grab for the remote in her hand just as she drew it away from him and they continued wrestling for it on the couch.

---

Advises are only for others. Not for ourselves :p :p

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I know it's been 10 days since I last updated this book. In my defense, I gave 4 updates to Tulasi's story. Hope you forgive me.

- JANAKI S