Sorry for the late update.. I was out on friend's work and became sick because of the hot climate.

----

Staying with Tulasi made Sindhu soon realize why Karthik couldn't forget her. Tulasi is damn perfect; everything a man wants in a woman while she is far from it.

When Sindhu woke up the next morning, Tulasi was already back from a morning walk; Her track pants and t shirt fit her lean body perfectly, showing the curves at right places.

Sindhu sighed feeling she can never compete with her; in looks, body and mind. Tulasi's husband must have been an idiot to let her go.

When the three of them gathered for breakfast, Sindhu felt like a clown sitting with the other two who are freshly showered.

They look perfect for each other, she thought sadly.

Before heading to office, Karthik bid goodbye to Tulasi making Sindhu's heart sink. He never told her bye in all the months they stayed together. She tried to put up a straight face though her heart clenched when he nodded his version of bye to her.

After he left, she continued her morning routine of cleaning the house when Tulasi watched TV. After Sindhu was done with the household work, she showered and came back to Tulasi who was all alone.

"You don't have a problem with this, right?" Tulasi asked shyly.

"With what?" Sindhu questioned, looking confused while drying her hair with a towel.

"With me staying here"

She would be lying if she said she didn't have a problem because she did; especially after knowing how good a person Tulasi is.

"You are a very good person and you need help" Sindhu answered instead.

"I am sorry" she said, lowering her eyes.

"For what?"

"I can see you and Karthik don't have a perfect relationship and I know it's because of me"

"I can't blame you or him for that. Loving someone is not a mistake" Sindhu answered truthfully. If Tulasi was a bad person, it would've been easier to blame everything on her but since she is not, Sindhu was clueless about the situation.

"I don't know what to say" Tulasi replied with a smile.

"Can I ask you something personal? You need not answer if you don't feel comfortable" Sindhu said slowly. When Tulasi nodded tentatively, she added "Why didn't you tell your parents that you loved Karthik?"

Tulasi frowned thinking deeply "I was scared like every other girl. He told his parents but I never told mine because my parents are from a village and they won't accept a guy from different caste. Whenever I went home, I thought of telling them but couldn't. Finally, once when they called me to comeback urgently, I went there and was shocked to know that my marriage was already fixed with another guy"

Sindhu frowned "What did Karthik say when you told him? Didn't he do anything to get you back?"

"I informed him after getting engaged. Even then, he said he will come and talk to them but I refused. My marriage was in a week and my house was filled with relatives and I didn't want him to create a scene at that time. I didn't want to hurt my parents and he understood that"

"Can I seriously say something?" Tulasi nodded as she continued "If the two of you really loved each other, you should have found a way to succeed your love"

"Then maybe we didn't love each other enough to leave everything else behind" Tulasi said casually, not at all offended by Sindhu's words.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I thought the same thing after my marriage. I thought if I really loved Karthik, then I would have done something to stop my impending marriage instead of following my parents' orders. And if he really loved me, he would have come to my village to take me back instead of sulking here"

Sindhu was gaping at her in shock when she added "We would have moved heaven and hell if we really loved each other so much; just like you said"

"So, you mean to say you didn't love each other?" Sindhu asked slowly, her eyes widening in shock.

Tulasi shook her head "I was saying may be our love wasn't strong enough to do that"

"You love your husband now, right?"

Tulasi nodded "Yes, I do even if he can be an idiot sometimes"

Sindhu chuckled humorlessly "I still don't understand how he left you just like that. Does he even love you?"

"He does. He wants his wife but he doesn't want to say a word against his mother"

"What an idiot" Sindhu muttered before biting her lip in panic "I am so sorry"

Tulasi smiled "It's ok"

When the two stayed silent for few minutes, Tulasi started awkwardly "Do you mind if I stayed a friend to Karthik?"

I do but I don't have a choice. You need him right now.

"You know him long before I came into his life. It's between you and him to stay friends or not"

Tulasi smiled "I liked you the second I saw you but I didn't know you are such a good person. I am happy for the two of you; you are perfect for him"

"I don't think so" she smiled sadly.

"Don't worry, he'll come around" Tulasi replied in an encouraging tone.

****

Sindhu was surprised to see Karthik home at 3 PM when the usual time he comes is after 6. He must have come for Tulasi, Sindhu thought sadly. She knew she shouldn't feel bad when Tulasi is in problems but she can't help it; it's not easy to see your husband care for another woman.

"Sindhu" he greeted her excitedly with a warm smile.

"You are early" she stated, making him frown.

"Yes, I don't have work and thought we could go out" he said, losing his frown with a smile.

What's got into him?

May be the presence of his girlfriend and not you in this house; her mind chided bitterly.

"Yeah sure. I will call Tulasi" she said awkwardly, leaving the hall.

Karthik was surprised to hear her answer; after all, he wanted to be alone with her and not Tulasi. But he didn't bother correcting her as he didn't know what to say.

By the time he was back from showering, Sindhu was dressed up sitting on their bed while playing with her phone.

"Um.. I will leave" she said walking away from the room, seeing him in just a towel.

When he was ready, he joined Sindhu on the couch.

"She is still not ready" Sindhu informed referring to 'Tulasi'

He chuckled "I'd be surprised if she is"

She smiled at that.

Wow!! He knew so much about her.

"So, where are we going?" she asked slowly.

"You tell me.. Where shall we go?"

Sindhu narrowed her eyes thinking deeply before saying "Since she is dull and lonely, let's go to some place that's crowded. It will lighten her mood"

Karthik was surprised yet again at her answer. Why is she bringing Tulasi into this when he is asking where she wanted to go!!

He sighed "Necklace Road then?"

"It's far from here. Is that OK with you?"

"No problem"

Soon Tulasi came and they locked the house going to the basement where his i10 car was parked. Sindhu sat in the passenger seat with Karthik driving while Tulasi occupied the back seat.

It took almost an hour and half to reach the place where lots of people were already present on the sidewalk watching Hyderabad's famous Buddha statue in the middle of Hussain Sagar Lake. Lots of stalls were present on either side of the road with people enjoying the climate and food at the fast food centers.

Soon they joined the crowd as they stood watching the monolith of Gautama Buddha. Though the river is polluted, it still is one of the main tourist attractions of Hyderabad.

"Do you want to go there?" Karthik asked, pointing towards the statue that's in the middle of the river. A ferry has to be taken to reach the spot.

"No" Both Tulasi and Sindhu said in unison.

"What shall we do then?" he asked casually. There's also an IMAX, theme park and a shopping mall nearby.

"Let's eat something. There are lot of stalls in here" Tulasi said, looking excited.

Karthik smiled "Fine. Let's go then"

Sindhu felt panic rising in her heart as she walked in the rabble. She never liked being in a mob and was almost sure she had Enochlophobia, fear of crowds.

"What do you want to eat?" she asked Tulasi, to keep herself out of boredom.

"Let me see" Tulasi said, passing by stalls "That one"

Karthik looked at the one she pointed only to be surprised.

"You want that?" Sindhu voiced his thoughts.

Tulasi nodded shyly making them walk towards the stall. When she bought a few raw mango pieces, they roamed around, watching people enjoy a quiet day.

It was very crowded that at one point someone hit Sindhu's shoulder making her almost fall from the footpath if Karthik hadn't caught her in time.

"Are you alright?" he asked, looking at her in worry.

"Yes, I am fine" she said taking few steps when Karthik suddenly slipped his hand into hers.

Sindhu almost passed out in shock feeling his fingers against hers but continued to act like it's nothing. She never expected him to hold her hand; it seemed so unreal to her, almost like a dream.

Karthik relaxed when she didn't say anything. He wanted to hold her hand ever since they came here but he refused to act, scared of her reaction; now that he did, everything felt great.

After they walked around until they were tired, they left to have dinner at a nearby restaurant. Soon, they ordered and sat in silence until Tulasi excused herself to use wash room.

Karthik looked at Sindhu who was deep in her thoughts; she looked like she was worrying about something. He wished he knew what's going on in her head.

When Tulasi came back, Sindhu stared at her in suspicion.

He didn't understand what's going on. Why the hell is Sindhu behaving odd, all of a sudden? He didn't get to wait long before she spoke to Tulasi "Can I ask you something?"

When Tulasi nodded, she said directly "Are you pregnant?"

Tulasi's eyes widened as Sindhu observed her carefully. It was almost fifteen seconds later, she heard Karthik's panicked voice "Please tell me you are not"

Sindhu frowned. Why the hell is he worried if she is pregnant? It's not like he wanted her back. Or did he?

"I am" Tulasi finally answered.

"Shit" Karthik blurted, looking worried. He didn't know how she would manage with a baby and no job when it's tough to find work in a city like this. He has to help her in finding a job but he didn't know how.

"Did your husband know?" Sindhu asked, panicking.

Tulasi shook her head "I don't think there will be much use telling him"

"Why do you say that? May be he will talk to his mom and---"

"You don't know him. He won't say a word" Tulasi interjected softly.

"That son of a bitch" Sindhu snapped, slamming the table with her hand, looking very angry.

"Sindhu" Karthik called her out, pointing towards Tulasi who lowered her head painfully.

Sindhu's face softened "I am sorry Tulasi. I know he is your husband and I am not---"

"It's ok. Please don't apologize"

"Why don't you hit his head with a pan? He will get some sense probably"

Tulasi chuckled "Do you think that will work? Or maybe I should ask Karthik that"

Karthik bit back his smile "Hey!!! She never beat me"

Sindhu started slowly, looking at her "If I didn't try that, doesn't mean you can't"

"I will think about that. By the way, how did you guess?" she asked curiously.

"That raw mangoes was a big giveaway" Sindhu replied with a smile.

After dinner, they departed to home, leaving to their respective rooms the minute they stepped in.

When Karthik went to shower, Sindhu changed herself into a top and pajamas and lied down on the bed, feeling very tired. It's been one hell of a day, emotionally. Sure, she liked holding hands with him; that was very romantic.

"Are you alright?" His words snapped her out of her thoughts.

"What do you mean?" she asked frowning.

He shrugged "It looks like a lot is going on in your head"

She smiled "Not really"

"Why do I have this feeling that you are lying?" he said, making her lose her smile.

She cleared her throat "I am not. So, what are you going to do now? About her"

Changing subject, aren't we? He mused silently

"I will have to tell my boss about her. You know it's not easy to get a job" She nodded when he suddenly yelled "Shit"

"What happened?" she asked tensely.

"I have to go to Gurgaon for a couple of days"

"Why?"

"Our client is from that place and he has some issues with the project which I have to attend personally. I was told yesterday about it, but with all the tensions, I forgot to inform you"

"Oh. When will you go?"

"Day after tomorrow" he said sadly.

Sindhu's face fell hearing that. Staying away from him even for a day is going to be tough. How will she survive without seeing him?

"I will try to be back as soon as possible" Karthik said softly, stroking her cheeks gently with his knuckles. Sindhu melted under his touch seeing the tender look on his face.

He smiled "You look tired. You should sleep"

She nodded mindlessly, staring into his eyes before he left the bed to switch off the light.

---

Thank you so much for reading..

Please Vote, Comment and Share.

Loads of drama ahead.. So, Karthik is leaving for a couple of days.. Any guesses on what will happen?

By the way guys, how many are going to watch 'Bahubali' film that's going to be released tomorrow? I am excited and though I don't have tickets , I am eagerly waiting for it.

To those who don't know about the film, it's the costliest film ever made in India and we, Telugu people have been waiting for it since almost 3 years.. And guess what, tomorrow is the BIG day.. It's like a festival season here, right now. 

It's being released all over India and guys, please don't miss it.

- JANAKI S