Sindhu didn't have a proper sleep on the uncomfortable sofa. When she woke up the next morning, she was gifted with back pain and neck pain.

She realized it was still early as she observed the snow clad streets behind the closed doors. She folded her rug and kept it aside on the reception desk where no one was present. She used the ladies' and came back to her haven, the sofa.

Sindhu opened another book from her bag 'The Da Vince Code' by Dan Brown; the only science fiction she ever read. She was glad books could keep her company and felt proud of her idea to get them on her honeymoon trip.

She continued reading for an hour when she heard commotion in the reception desk and found Maria, the receptionist back in her position.

Occasionally couples passed by, none taking notice of her. After breakfast, she resumed reading until she heard someone nearby, talking to Maria.

When Sindhu found a Punjabi family talking animatedly to Maria, she felt happy seeing the couple and their three year old daughter; they were the first she saw here who are not a honeymoon couple.

As they continued talking, Sindhu had an idea and walked up to them. She explained her situation and asked them if she can use their room; she wanted to have a shower very badly.

The ladies' waiting room didn't have shower cubicles and she didn't feel like asking Maria if she could use hers as she knew customers are not allowed into the staff quarters.

The family understood her problem and gave their keys to her without asking anything more. They even invited her to come whenever she wanted and told she can leave her bag in their room if she wanted to. Long before, she heard the Punjabis showed the best hospitality in the whole country and realized it's true as she witnessed one.

She pulled her trolley along with her to third floor, the same floor he stayed. She opened the room and found it neat and tidy. Locking the door behind her, she opened her bag and took her clothes into the bath. After having a refreshing and hot shower, she dressed herself in a blue jeans paired with a white shirt and a cream colored woolen sweater.

She left her hair to dry naturally as she didn't have dryer. She sighed sitting on the soft mattress of the bed and enjoyed the feeling of it under her fingers. She would give anything for a bed now.

Karthik wanted to go out as he was bored staying all day in his room; he even ordered room service yesterday instead of going to the restaurant downstairs. He heard about the storm in TV and felt more angry towards his mother.

After Sindhu left, all he did was think about her. He felt a tiniest bit of guilt for accusing her without knowing the truth but it was not his mistake if she decided to leave. He thought of searching for her but didn't; convincing himself that he didn't care about her.

He strolled out of his room and locked it when he found Sindhu coming out of another room, ten feet away from him. So, she got a room. He felt a surge of relief wash through him knowing she is fine though he had no idea why. He convinced himself it was only because he didn't want the guilt conscience if something happened to her.

As she turned around after locking her door, Karthik finally got a chance to observe her. She left her hair free instead of tying it up as a ponytail like she did back home; she is also not wearing a top and legging like she always did and also had a handbag over her shoulder.

When she finally saw him, he observed her face. She had dark circles under her swollen red eyes; either she was sleep deprived or cried again.

A blank look crossed her face as she saw him and quickly averted her eyes; like she didn't want him to know she was hurt. Karthik saw her do that a number of times, in the brief time they were together.

She walked away, saying nothing. He left a couple of seconds later when he came out of his daze.

He went downstairs and asked the receptionist about the restaurant; she gave him directions telling him to take a left in the corridor ahead. However, he didn't find her as polite as she was the previous day; or may be it was just his feeling.

When he finally found his way to the restaurant, he didn't expect to see Sindhu there; but there she was sitting with a Punjabi family, looking very happy. It was the first time he saw her happy ever since they started living together. She was in good spirits when she met Ravi; it was the first time he saw her smile but now she looked genuinely happy.

He ordered breakfast and watched the group she sat with. There were empty plates in front of the family but nothing before her.

As he continued eating, he saw the family leave the table; each of them giving a hug to Sindhu before they left. His fingers clenched into fists when he saw the guy who looked a few years older than him, hug her. However he was glad when he saw Sindhu being awkward at his goodbye.

After they left, she sat on the chair and picked out a book from her handbag and started reading. At least someone is enjoying, he thought bitterly.

He retired to his room, a little later and switched on the TV. He was glad there was no power cut in regard to the storm and that he had company even if it's a TV.

Sindhu spent the whole day in the restaurant. After a late lunch, she joined Jaspreet Kaur and her family in their room, the Punjabi family she met that morning.

They invited her to sleep in their room but she denied; lying to them that she was comfortable downstairs. Soon, she left their room not hearing their pleas.

She felt feverish since afternoon and so decided to sleep early. After dinner, she took the rug from Maria and slept on the sofa hoping the storm stopped the next morning.

In his room, Karthik was flipping through the channels in TV not bothering to actually see what's coming as his conscience was eating him. As time passed, he felt more guilty. He wanted to say sorry but his pride was not allowing him to. When he finally gathered courage, he locked his room and went to hers.

He knocked the room before he could change his decision but was surprised to see the Punjabi guy open the room.

He checked around to make sure he came to the right room; he was sure he saw her coming out of this room in the morning.

"I am sorry I thought my wife stayed here" he mumbled slowly when he saw the confused look on his face.

"Your wife?" the guy asked frowning.

"Yeah. Her name is Sindhu and I thought I saw her coming out of—" he was cut off by the Punjabi guy "Sindhu is your wife?"

He nodded and the guy continued "I didn't know Sindhu came here with her husband"

And he explained the whole story to him, how their family met her and how she stayed with them until an hour ago.

He thanked him and left downstairs feeling more guilty after he heard what happened; he blamed her stubbornness for that. She could've told him she didn't find a room; after all, he is no monster.

When he reached downstairs, he saw someone wrapped in a rug sleeping on the sofa and knew it was her. He called her name but got no response in return .

He pulled the rug below her head and found her asleep. When he saw her shiver slightly,he placed his palm on her forehead and realized she had fever.

He tried calling her again to which she opened her eyes slightly once, only to close them back.

He saw the familiar receptionist and walked up to her "Since when is she here?"

"Since yesterday evening" she replied coldly.

"Why didn't you advise her to go back to her room or call me?" he asked angrily.

"There was nothing about 'what I should do to women who were thrown out of their rooms by their husbands' in my job description" she spat back, momentarily forgetting that he is a customer.

Oh! So, this was the the reason behind her impolite behavior in the morning.

He wanted to tell he didn't throw her out but knew he was responsible for her leaving the room.

"I think she has fever. Do you have tablets?" he asked calmly.

She nodded and picked a box from the desk cabinet.

"Here" she gave him tablets to which he thanked her and kept them in his pockets.

He walked towards Sindhu and carried her, bridal style towards the lift.

He placed her on his bed and pulled the comforter over her. Then, he woke her up and made her take the tablets with water. All of this, she did without opening her eyes only following what he said.

He was glad she was unconscious while taking medicine, else she would never take his help. Closing the door behind him, he went back to the Punjabi family and thanked them.

"Do you want to take her bag?" the woman who introduced herself as Jaspreet asked him.

"It's here?" he asked, feeling surprised.

"Yes. She didn't have a safe place to keep it and so we offered her to leave it in our room"

"Oh.. Thank you. I will take the bag"

When he came back to his room with her bag, he was surprised to find her sleeping still, with a smile on her face. May be, she was dreaming. He wondered who she dreamt of.

Closing the curtains of the windows so as not to wake her up early, he tossed himself onto the bed and fell into a deep slumber.

Sindhu had a nice dream in her sleep. She was unwell in the dream and Karthik took care of her. She wished it was true; if only life was easy.

She got up from the sofa, or at least what she thought as sofa and slammed into something making her open her eyes wide and wince in pain.

She was surprised when she realized she was not at the welcome desk of the hotel but in his room. How did she come here?

She was in deep thoughts when she heard him say "What happened? Are you OK?"

Her eyes almost popped out hearing that. Did he just ask her if she is fine or was she still in her dream?

She pinched herself to make sure she is not dreaming and he saw her doing that.

"Wha—tt are you doing?" he asked, looking perplexed.

"Nothing. Why am I here?" she asked him. Before he could answer, she added tensely "I am sorry if I sleep walked here though I am sure I never did that. I don't remem—"

He broke her panicked rambling "I brought you here"

She wanted to ask how, instead said "Why?"

"Because you were sleeping on the sofa and had fever" he said, in a serious tone.

"Oh, I am fine now. Thanks for bringing me here"

Before she could walk away, he blurted out "Stay"

She turned around shocked at what she heard.

"I am not comfortable staying here" She replied shyly.

When Karthik thought she is going to leave the room, he finally said "I am sorry"

Sindhu was speechless hearing him apologize. She knew it took a lot of courage on his part to say that.

She was gaping at him in horror when she heard him again "Are you expecting more? Because I am not going to say anything else"

"W-H-A-T?" she asked slowly.

When she saw him frown, she continued "I was just surprised"

"So you are staying?" he asked, in what seemed like hope to her.

"Do you want me to?"

"Don't push your limits too much. Nothing's changed between us" he replied coldly.

And just like that, she lost the tiny bit of happiness she felt when he apologized.

She chuckled humorlessly "You mean you'll still be Mr.AAA?"

"Mr.AAA?"

"Angry, Arrogant and Annoyed"

Though he glared at her, he didn't really look like he was angry.

Sindhu didn't see him approach her until she felt his palm on her forehead.

"You are still hot" he said, his eyes narrowed.

She bit back a nasty comment and rolled her eyes, keeping calm.

By the end of that day, she felt normal again.

She felt happy when the storm stopped the next morning. However, he didn't allow her to go outside until the day they left for Hyderabad . He was stubborn just like her.

She took Jaspreet's number before leaving and was glad to make a new friend.

Though she was sad for not visiting the famous places around Manali in spite of staying for almost a week, she hoped to come back soon.

May be next time, Karthik would bring her here, willingly. She secretly knew that's not going to happen ever; at least not in this lifetime. But one can always hope.

—

Thank you so much guys; for reading.

Please Vote, Comment and Share

So, what do you think of Karthik now? Did you observe the slight change in him?

And what about the receptionist's reaction?

- JANAKI S