Don't be surprised. Yes, I posted a message on my wall that I will be away from WP for a while but I realized that I have a responsibility to you guys before going. Since you have been sending PMs asking for the update.

I am so sorry that you waited so long. Frankly, I didn't have new ideas except that it shouldn't be like the regular epilogues. So, it took a long time. Sorry if it doesn't reach your expectations. :(

I want to dedicate this chap to a lot of people. But its not possible. So, I decided one thing.

I got a lot of PMs from so many girls that they are similar to Sindhu and people call them crazy or weird or whatever.

A wise man recently said 'There is no such thing as normal. It's another word for lifeless'

Next time, someone criticizes or taunts you, tell them that you'd better be crazy than be boring like them. This chap is dedicated to you. To every Sindhu out there.

------

A FEW MONTHS LATER :

"How are you uncle? Auntie?" Karthik greeted Sindhu's parents as he led them into the house.

"We are good" Sindhu's dad Prasad replied with a smile, taking a seat on the sofa.

"Hi Mom! Dad!" Sindhu grinned, seeing her parents.

"Happy first anniversary guys" her dad greeted cheerfully and her mom followed.

The couple smiled "Thank you"

"So. Did you go to temple?" her mother asked in anticipation.

Sindhu rolled her eyes "Of course mom. You told us to go and we did"

"How did it go?"

"Perfect" she replied with a smile and Karthik cast a sideways glance at her.

"What happened?" Prasad asked, seeing his amused look.

"She almost danced" Karthik replied, unable to hide his smile.

"Where? In the temple?" his mother in law asked in disbelief.

Karthik nodded making her gasp "Why?"

"I didn't dance" Sindhu reprimanded.

"You would have; if I didn't hold you, trying to stop" he replied, raising his eyes.

"Why would she dance?" her mom asked, looking confused.

"Because she broke the coconut in a single attempt" he replied dismally.

There was a few seconds of silence before Prasad began excitedly "That's great. I can never do it in the first attempt. I am very proud of you"

Karthik gaped at his father in law in astonishment before looking at Sindhu's mother who shared the same look as his.

When she found Karthik gazing at her, she turned to him with a 'she-is his-daughter-and-I am- not-responsible-for-her-madness' look.

Glaring at her husband, she almost yelled "She didn't win an Oscar or Guinness book of world records"

"What mom?" Sindhu began irritably "You don't know how tough it is to break it the first time. Even Karthik took 4 chances"

Karthik massaged his forehead. I never thought there can be a discussion over a coconut.

"Yeah. It's not easy" Prasad agreed and his daughter smirked at his wife who rolled her eyes.

"Do you want Tea?" Karthik asked, to divert their attention who nodded.

When Sindhu left to Kitchen, her mom began with an amused smile "I don't know how you put up with her for a year"

Karthik smiled "You put up with her for what? 22 years?"

"We didn't have a choice. She is our daughter"

He chuckled "I don't have a choice too. She is my wife"

Sindhu's parents laughed hearing his reply and he joined them.

"Seriously" Karthik began thoughtfully "Time just flew by. I enjoyed every day of my life with her"

Pausing to collect his thoughts, he continued "And I know, you felt the same too when she was with you"

Both of them nodded with loving smiles.

They stayed in silence before Prasad said "It feels so long without her. Like so many years, not just one"

"I can understand that. When she returned from Goa, I felt like I haven't seen her for months though it was less than a week" Karthik said fondly.

"She grows up on everyone" Sindhu's mom added "Though she tests patience sometimes, she is---"

"Worth it" Karthik completed her who nodded with a fond smile on her face.

"Here's your Tea" Sindhu announced, strolling into the living with a tray in her hands.

"So. What are you guys doing?" she asked, sitting on a chair as they took their cups.

"Nothing. I was about to ask Karthik, how his parents are doing in Vizag?" Prasad said, bringing up a new subject.

"They are good and loved it there" he replied in a casual tone "The real challenge will be at summer though"

"Do you know where they live?" Sindhu asked her parents excitedly and before they could answer, she added "At MVP. It's only ten minutes away from beach"

Karthik smiled "We are not going there, yet. So, chill"

Glaring at him, she leapt out of the seat when he added "Are you sure you can do it by yourself?"

She narrowed her eyes at him "Of course I can"

Having said that, she strode away making him chuckle.

"What are you guys talking about?" Prasad asked curiously.

"Mutton curry. I said I will cook but she is adamant that she can do it"

"She is cooking nonveg by herself?" Sindhu's mother asked in surprise "She complains that she can't touch it. How is she---"

"She got used to it. In fact, she cooked a couple of times"

"How was the end result?" Prasad asked with a grimace.

"No success" He said with a playful smile "Once she forgot to add ginger-garlic paste. Once it was masala, another time it was chilly powder. The best of all, once she forgot to add onions"

Prasad bellowed in laughter and Sindhu came running into the living.

"What happened?" she asked in surprise.

"I was telling your success stories of cooking non veg" he said with a smirk and received an answering glare from her.

"They weren't that bad" she justified herself.

"Remember once you didn't add salt until I reminded you" he smirked.

"Ok fine. I am a disaster at cooking non-veg. But this time, there won't be any glitch. I wrote everything on a paper" she said sulkily, before leaving the room.

They chuckled at her childish behavior before Prasad started questioning Karthik about his parents while his wife headed towards the balcony.

Few minutes later, Sindhu's mom returned to the living with a surprised look on her face "Why is there a bird's nest in your balcony?"

A smile touched Karthik's face as he said "One of the other wondrous things your daughter did"

"I don't understand" she said in perplexity.

"She built it for the sparrows"

"Why? What do you mean she built it?" Prasad asked, mirroring his wife's expressions.

"She found two birds in our balcony, a few weeks ago and took pictures of them with her Camera. However, they flew away when she tried to take a selfie"

"She tried a selfie with birds?" his mom in law screeched in horror.

He nodded, feeling stupid "She said so herself"

"And then?" Prasad asked curiously.

"They returned a few days later before leaving again"

Saying that, he chuckled remembering what Sindhu called one of them.

"What happened?"

He chuckled again "She named one of them as Captain Jack Sparrow"

Prasad broke into fits of laughter "She did? Really?"

He nodded, laughing with him.

"Can you guys tell me what you find so funny?" They heard Sindhu who had a scowl on her face and a spatula in her hand.

"You" Karthik winked.

"Shut up" she yelled, glaring at them "What the hell is going on here?"

"I was telling them about your Johnny Depp. Oops. I meant Jack Sparrow"

"Captain Jack Sparrow" she reminded and they laughed again.

Once the laughter subsided and she left the room once again, Prasad began with a smile "You know she isn't that crazy"

His wife and Karthik gave him a disbelief look and he quickly added "I meant there are people who are crazier"

"You really think so?" Karthik asked in surprise.

"Yeah. I witnessed few. Recently, I went to a funeral where I saw my friend's son taking a selfie with his dead grandfather"

"WHAT?" his wife yelled in surprise while Karthik gave an amused smile.

"That really happened?" Karthik asked.

He nodded "People are getting weirder. If you thought that was crazy, let me tell you something. I once found a little kid trying to take selfie with cow dung that's in the middle of the road"

Karthik gave a look of disgust and he added "That day I realized, you don't need to be at the Eiffel Tower or TajMahal to take a selfie. Everything's worth a picture these days"

"That is so----" Karthik stopped, unable to find the right word.

"I know" Prasad nodded, understanding him "Wonder what's next after the selfie and dubsmash mania"

Their conversation soon shifted to lighter topics and before Sindhu called for lunch, they discussed about everything from politics, sports to cinemas and family.

"So, how is it?" Sindhu asked eagerly, as they tasted the curry she prepared.

"Amazing" her dad replied, licking his lips.

She sighed "You will say that because I am your daughter"

"It's nice Sindhu" her mom complimented and Karthik nodded with her.

It turned out well, much to his surprise.

She must have done a lot of homework, Karthik mused silently.

After lunch, everyone stayed by the dining table chatting about Padma's daughter Arohi's upcoming marriage when they heard the doorbell.

When Sindhu opened the door, she found a cute white puppy standing by the door with an envelope in its mouth.

She looked back at her family in amusement before kneeling at the puppy and pulled out the envelope.

On its cover, she found a familiar scroll that read 'To my wife'

She looked at Karthik who had a smirk on his face. When she gaped at him in surprise, he nodded urging her to continue.

She gasped seeing flight tickets in it before squealing in excitement.

Not bothering to check the contents, she yelled excitedly "Are we going somewhere?"

He nodded with a smile and she shouted, yet again.

"Aren't you going to take the puppy?" he smirked.

She gaped at him in shock "I-It's- This- is-o-ours?"

When he nodded again, she yelled jumping up and down "You got a puppy for me? Wow"

Taking the cute dog into her hands, she petted it softly "It's so adorable. It's the cutest dog I have ever seen"

"Thank you so much" she squealed, running towards her parents to show them.

Karthik smiled enjoying her reactions, mentally thanking Ravi for his perfect timing.

"Why did you buy it suddenly?" Sindhu asked, giving the puppy to her dad.

He smirked "Since you are alone at home, I wanted something to take care of you"

Her parents laughed and she threw a glare at him "This puppy will take care of me?"

"Yes" He said with a fake sweet smile and she stuck her tongue out childishly, walking towards him.

"Where are we going by the way?" she said, unable to stay angry when he bought a cute dog for her.

She opened the tickets but before she could have a look, he snatched it from her hand "What are you doing?"

"I think it will be nice if you don't know" he said coolly.

"When are we going by the way? Will you at least tell me that?" she added the last part sardonically.

He checked the watch "Four hours from now"

"What the hell? When are you going to tell me?"

"Now" he said smugly.

"I didn't pack. Where are we going? How many days are we staying there? Oh My God. I don't--"

"Sindhu" Karthik began calmly "I packed everything"

"What? When?" she asked, horrified.

"Yesterday night. You need not panic"

She looked at him doubtfully "I-um-I still must have-um-few things to add"

He gave a wicked smile "I packed everything"

She blushed "Fine. Since you are very sure"

"I am"

"What about the dog? What are we going to name it? Where is she--"

"Shush" Karthik silenced her panicked rambling, placing his finger on her mouth "First of all, it's a he and we can discuss about his name leisurely. As of now, your parents will take him with them. OK?"

When she nodded, he trotted towards the bedroom and returned with two trolley bags that he hid under their bed.

"I booked a cab. We have to leave now" he told them and they nodded.

He locked the door when he heard Sindhu ask her parents "You know about the surprise?"

They grinned and she shook her head amusedly.

Karthik and Sindhu got into the cab while her parents waved their hands, yelling 'Happy journey' as they drove away.

"Where are we going?" she asked determinedly and he shook his head with a secret smile.

"Please Karthik. Tell me" she whined and he only chuckled, not divulging the truth.

"Ok tell me this. Why did you buy the dog?"

Karthik gave the secret smile, yet again. I am not going to answer that. You have to figure it out yourself.

"Is it because you want me to have company at home?" she asked and he nodded slightly.

Yes, that was one of the reasons but not the exact one.

"How did you know that I'll be OK with a dog?"

"Who doesn't like a puppy?" he shot back.

"There are lots of people who don't want them" she answered with a frown.

"But I knew, you are not one of them" he replied firmly.

"What made you think that?" she questioned curiously.

"Your Captain Jack Sparrow" he said with a chuckle and she scoffed.

One day, he realized that she felt lonely when he found her gazing at the open sky for the sparrows to return. She never told him that but they reached a phase in life where everything need not be said through words.

Actions speak louder than words.

"So you are not going to tell me why you got me a puppy?" she tried again.

He shook his head in amusement.

Let's see when she will finally figure it out.

Knowing her, it will probably be never.

His concentration shifted to her when he heard her gasp "You want to check if I can take care of a puppy before we have kids. Isn't it?"

Close. But still, not right.

He burst into laughter "Where do you get these ideas from?"

She smiled sheepishly, before looking out of the window.

An hour later, they got down at the Shamshabad airport and headed inside.

"Do you know that I will get to know where we are going when we ask for boarding passes?" she asked with a smirk and he sighed.

"Ok. I will tell you. Promise me that you will not squeal, jump up and down or worse dance, hearing it"

She thought for few seconds before replying dejectedly "Fine"

He held both of her hands, in case she tried something as he said "Since we had a horrible honeymoon, how about a redo?"

Her eyes widened and he grinned seeing realization hit her "Manali?"

"Yes" he said, sharing her excitement when she tried jumping out of anxiety but he restrained her quickly.

She pouted and he added "I don't want everyone to think that my wife is crazy"

"Fine" she relented before a grin stole her face "We are going to Manali again. Whoa. I want to shout"

"No, you can't. Not now" he said fondly and she kissed his cheek.

"What was that for?" he asked with a crooked smile.

"That's my version of 'I Love You'. And also for being the best husband EVER"

"I try, thank you" he said in a playful tone and together, they headed towards the Indigo counter.

----

Thank you for reading.

Please Vote, Comment and Share.

Is this the end of Karthik and Sindhu? NO. They will be in Tulasi's story too; in the epilogue that I am yet to start :p

BTW, the puppy's pic is attached.

I posted two new stories, a few weeks ago. I need a lot of time to start them but once I do, you will get frequent updates. Which one do you want to be updated first? Or both? Please let me know.

My other stories:

It's time to move on (Completed and under editing)

https://www.wattpad.com/story/23920637-it%27s-time-to-move-on

As told by Tulasi (Epilogue left)

https://www.wattpad.com/story/47206678-as-told-by-tulasi

Finding Friends... Foreover (NEW)

https://www.wattpad.com/story/51307713-finding-friends-forever

Story of Chris (NEW)

https://www.wattpad.com/story/46276610-story-of-chris-on-hold

Thank you so much for your support. This book crossed 100K reads which I never expected to happen. I OWE IT TO YOU.

Thanks for not giving up on me. It means a lot..

I will be away from WP but you can always contact me through FB or Twitter. You will find the links in my profile page.

- JANAKI S