Hey guys.. Before going to the chap, I wanted to say something. I know you guys dislike the way Karthik behaves with Sindhu. So, I am going to tell something important.

It's not even 6 months after Tulasi left when Karthik's mom blackmails him to marry Sindhu. He pleads her that he is not ready to marry someone so soon when his heart is still with Tulasi. But his mom, doesn't listen and insists him to get married to Sindhu. So, he tells Sindhu to say no which she doesn't. So, he is angry at her. Still, I know it doesn't make him right; but guys!!! we are all humans and we make mistakes too. What is important is to learn from them. I have made tons of mistakes; sometimes knowing that they are wrong. He is not different from us.

To all those who think, he hates her and he should be punished for that, I would like to tell something. He doesn't hate her; he just doesn't want anyone in his life. He is an introvert which is changed a bit after Tulasi comes to his life. But when she leaves him, he becomes closed.

Hope, I cleared everything.

Please don't hate me after this chap.

-BTW dhobi means washer man-

——-

Nothing changed in their lives at Hyderabad. Karthik neither informed Sindhu while going to office nor did he talk to her.

It was the same old routine. She packed lunch for him though she had no idea who was eating it; she never dared to ask him.

Sindhu started volunteering every Tuesday and Friday like she did before; she didn't bother informing her husband. Though they lived in the same house, they lead their lives separately. She still doesn't know her husband's mobile number; she was scared that he might yell at her if she asked.

She spent the house expenses using her money; the money she saved while working. As she stayed with her parents while doing a job, she never got to spend except for her shopping.

She was glad she had money as she didn't want to ask him for everything. She knew he is not a miser; it's just that he simply didn't care what happened at his home.

As she was cleaning his room one day, she noticed his laundry bag overflowing with clothes. For days she hoped he would take them to laundromat as there is no washing machine in their house. She washed her clothes everyday, while bathing and didn't know what to do with his. His clothes were everywhere and found it tough to clean the room with everything on the floor.

His cupboards were almost empty with only about two formal shirts hanging in it and a few t shirts and track pants. Sindhu understood he is running out of clothes and decided to wash them for him.

After cleaning the house, she washed about a dozen of his formal shirts, pants and a few underwear. It felt odd washing men's clothes as it's her first time doing that; even her dad never asked her to wash his clothes.

After she washed them, she went to the terrace and dried them in the hot sun hoping they get dried by evening.

She looked at the other flats in her corridor and realized she never tried to greet her neighbors. When she found a woman coming out of a flat located right to theirs, she walked up to her and greeted her.

The lady invited her inside and Sindhu followed her as she had nothing to do at her house. The woman introduced herself as Shyamala and soon both were immersed talking about their families. Sindhu asked her if she can find someone nearby, to iron clothes. Shyamala suggested to go the watchman of their block who is a washer man himself.

Shyamala's husband came to the living after a few minutes and introduced himself as Srinivas.

Sindhu didn't like the way his eyes moved all over her body; she saw a look of lust on his face and immediately felt awkward and a bit angry.

She left their house soon, kicking herself mentally for trying to know her neighbors. Though Shyamala seemed to be a nice woman, her husband looked like a pedophile.

She felt infuriated at him for lusting over a woman who is at least ten years younger to him; he looked like he is in his mid or late thirties and had children who are studying middle school for god sake.

She felt sick of him and locked herself in her apartment making a note to herself never to wander alone. However, she had to go downstairs to talk to the dhobi about ironing Karthik's clothes.

Sindhu found that the guard washed clothes in few houses apart from also being the watchman. She took him upstairs to her house and gave the clothes she got back from the terrace; she requested him to give them back in an hour and also told him to come to her house for washing from next week.

Sindhu knew Karthik won't appreciate her washing his clothes and so appointed a dhobi for him; that way his clothes won't be stocked up again. She had a mild back pain as she was not used to doing household work at her parents' house.

She placed 'The Princess Bride' film in the player and lied down on the sofa watching it. This is one of her favorite films and she never gets bored of it. She watched the film until the dhobi was back with the ironed clothes. After she gave him money, she hanged Karthik's clothes in his wardrobe and folded his vests, briefs and hand kerchiefs.

She hoped Karthik doesn't yell at her. After all, they didn't fight ever since they are back from Manali and thought there is a bit of change in him; a tiny bit of change. He is still giving her cold shoulder which she found better than arguing with him or hearing him yell.

She resumed watching the film and was almost close to the ending when Karthik came back from office.

He retired to his room soon and she hoped she doesn't hear him shout but she did "Sindhu!!"

"Yes" she said opening his door.

He looked furious. She wanted to runaway as far as possible from him and never come back but the idea seemed stupid to her.

"You washed my clothes?" he said through gritted teeth.

She nodded slowly, feeling scared.

"Who the hell told you to?" he shouted.

"I noticed all your clothes are due for laundry and so—" she stopped herself, seeing his annoyed expression.

"And who the hell gave you permission to do that?" he said furiously. When she was mute, he continued "You think you own everything in this house? You think yourself as my wife now?"

She shook her head as he added "Then why the hell did you do that?"

"I thought you were busy to—-"

"I don't want your help; I can do my work" he snapped at her.

"You are forgetting your limits. Me being calm doesn't mean I am ok staying with you. I still don't want you here" He hissed at her, irritation lacing his voice.

"Done? Can I talk now?" Sindhu spat back, looking very angry.

"You could have said a simple thank you but trust you for messing up things. Do you think I like staying with a person who keeps reminding me how much he hates me?"

"You think I enjoy washing your clothes because you are Shah Rukh Khan and I feel blessed to do your work?" she said harshly.

He glowered at her but that didn't stop her "You know I never washed my own clothes at my home. You think I love doing all of this when I never once did it in my life"

She sighed and closed her eyes trying to calm herself. When she opened her eyes, she said softly "I know you feel tired on Sunday with the way you work six days a week and I know you are going out Saturdays only to stay away from me"

"Look, I was just trying to help you; this is the only time I did your work. I talked with the dhobi who agreed to come once a week to wash your clothes. Moreover, I haven't washed all; your laundry bag is still half filled with your clothes"

Before leaving the room, she said in a clear tone "And no, I don't forget my limits because you keep reminding me"

She watched the climax of the paused film and shut down the TV. She felt sad again and headed to her room.

****

Sindhu was alone at home feeling bored and irritated of her life. She spent the last few days watching films from her collection or reading books. Books became her new best friends ever since she started reading again.

She re-watched almost all the films in her collection and wanted to see new ones. Her laptop is still not working and she had nothing else to do to pass time.

Suddenly, she remembered Karthik's laptop she saw on his bed that morning. She quickly ran to his room and brought it out, instantly switching the power on button.

She knew he would kill her if he found out she used his laptop but she assured herself that he wouldn't know.

Sindhu was surprised to see the windows screen asking password; she had no idea what his password was.

She debated for a while if to try something or switch it off; she finally chose the former.

What would he keep as his password? His birthday? His favorite actress or may be his favorite cricket player's name. She tried all that she thought of, but nothing worked out.

Suddenly she remembered his love for Tulasi. She typed her name hoping she is wrong and that he forgot her but who is she kidding? She knew he still loved her.

When the Welcome screen popped up, Sindhu's heart sank knowing Tulasi is indeed his password. She felt sad realizing Tulasi is still in his heart.

And she was devastated seeing her photo as his background picture. Suddenly, she felt suffocated and wanted to run away from the house, from him.

She wished she didn't open his laptop; that way she could have had a bit of hope that things can change for her. But reality hit her hard this time; he is never going to be hers.

Sindhu lost interest and switched off the system before placing it in the same position of his bed. She went to her room and sat on the floor, arching her back to the bed.

Tears fell down her cheeks as she remembered how spiteful he was towards her. She sobbed hard when she reminisced her memories of his behavior; it showed how much he hated her, how much he didn't want her in his life.

—

Thank you so much for reading guys.

Please Vote, Comment and Share

I promise next chapter would be better which I will update today evening.

By the way, have you seen 'The Princess Bride'? I love that film.

Please comment here what's the best movie that you have seen til date?

I really love romantic movies and I would love to watch your favorite films.

Bollywood or Hollywood doesn't matter.

Next chap gives more insight on what's going on in Karthik's mind.

Please do tell your opinion on the chap and your fav movies

- JANAKI S