Though Karthik was determined to find Sindhu, he knew it's not going to be easy searching for her. She definitely wouldn't have followed the procedure she did last time; that much, he is sure.

While Tulasi left to Jubilee Bus Stand to enquire about her, he searched the nearby Secunderabad Railway station. The truth is -- it's too big with thousands of people waiting at the platforms and finding her, is next to impossible even if she was there. From there, they went to MGBS but got the same result.

It was close to ten when the two of them returned home, feeling extremely exhausted.

"I will make something for us" Tulasi said while closing the main door.

"Don't mind" he said, leaving to his room. He didn't feel like eating when his wife is out somewhere, in god knows what state.

Though Karthik missed her, he was more worried about her safety.

Where the hell did she go?

And why the hell does she have a habit of running away from me?

Once he found her, he will make sure to lecture her for abandoning him alone. And yes, he sure as hell is going to find her.

He sincerely hoped what Tulasi said was true. Once he got hold of Sindhu, he is going to confess everything; no more pulling back.

He opened her wardrobe and was surprised to find it almost full.

I must be really important to her if she left her whole wardrobe. He chuckled at that thought.

He found the camera she bought for herself for her birthday and switched it on, in curiosity.

Did she ever use that?

He gasped in surprise when he found pictures of himself, in different positions; mostly sleeping. He looked cute in a few while a few made him look like monster reincarnation. He found a few more pics of him getting into his car while going to office and a few on his bike. He never saw her with a Camera and had no idea when she took these.

There was only one photo of herself taken like a selfie. She was wearing cute pink night dress that she wore when he went to her room making him realize that it was in fact taken that day; she had a radiant smile on her face.

He can look at that photo all day. She's very beautiful; more than that, she looked happy.

He remembered how he scolded her for buying a Camera when she had no one to take pictures of; the truth is, she had him. She always had him.

Why did it never cross his dumb mind that he was hers!! He was hers ever since he tied the knot.

And as long as he is going to be there for her, she needed none.

It took him this long to realize that.

That she always loved him. Always.

Those fights haven't been for nothing. It's her way to fight for an idiot like him; for his love.

Everything makes sense now. That stupid smile on her face on the day he was happy, the sadness in her eyes when she saw him with Tulasi at their door step, the hurt look whenever he misunderstood her and that teasing to make him smile when he was dull.

Tears spilled out of his eyes as he realized that she literally lived for him, all these months. And he did nothing for her.

He placed the Camera back in its position and ran to living.

"She loves me" he announced to Tulasi, with happy tears flowing down his face "She really loves me"

She smiled between tears of her own "Took you long"

"I know. But, finally figured it out" he replied, choking back tears.

"So. Have something to fight for?"

He nodded "Yes. Love"

"Good. Come here now and have some fruits. You need energy to bring her back"

This time Karthik didn't say a word and did as told.

****

In order to find Sindhu, Karthik knew that he has to take her dad's help which means he has to spill the beans. Though he was scared of her dad's reaction, he would do anything to bring her back.

However, he didn't expect her dad to be cool hearing the situation.

Was Sindhu's stupidity and madness inherited from him?

"Where do you think she would have gone? Do you have her friend's numbers? We have to call them and find out if---"

"Karthik. You won't find anything if you are tensed like this. We will resolve the matter carefully"

What the hell?

"Aren't you worried where she is? And how she is? How can you be so cool" he asked, looking at him incredulously.

"Because I faced this before" her father replied calmly.

"You mean to say---"

"Yes. She did this before; when she was young. We had a fight and she left the house. We found her the next day in her class mate's house. She may be stupid but she's not stupid. Well, that doesn't make any sense. Does it?"

Karthik stared at his father-in-law in shock.

Who is this man? And what the hell is he talking?

"Look Karthik. All I am saying is we are going to find her, don't worry" he said finally.

Karthik nodded sadly "Do you have her friends numbers? Or maybe we can call Hemanth. He might know about her friends"

"No, we can't involve him. The last time this happened, he was very worried that he didn't eat and sleep until we found her---So, no. He shouldn't know about this"

"Then how are we going to find out where she is" Karthik asked, losing hope.

"I have a couple of her friends' numbers from college. May be they will help us find the others"

Karthik agreed and immersed himself in calling the numbers they had. Though it was a long process of finding others' numbers and calling them, they did but got no result in the end.

"Don't worry Karthik. We will find her"

"How?" he croaked dryly "We don't have any leads. What if she went to some godforsaken place where she knew no one? What if something happened to her? Did she even have money to buy---"

"Karthik. I told you she is not stupid. I don't know where she is but I am sure of one thing. My daughter is very smart and can take care of herself" he replied firmly. Though he looked strong, Karthik could detect a hint of sadness in his eyes.

"Aren't you going to ask me why she left? Like if I did anything wrong to hurt her" Karthik asked calmly.

He shook his head "I know that wife and husband relationship is not easy. Sometimes, we hurt each other unknowingly; it just happens. I fight with my wife every day even after 25 years of marriage" He chuckled adding "But my wife is patient unlike my daughter"

Karthik smiled at that.

"What are you going to tell aunty when she returned?" Karthik said, referring to his mother-in-law who was out with her friend.

"She will be furious and worried but I will tell the truth. I have to"

****

It's been five days since Sindhu left and Karthik had no idea where she is. Though he was in contact with his father in law and even talked to a couple of her school friends, he is yet to find a clue that leads to her.

In spite of going to office as usual, he couldn't concentrate on anything. Even his friend Ravi's presence and sense of humor couldn't lighten his mood.

Karthik had an inkling that they were missing something or someone important; something that'd connect them to her but he had no idea who or what it is.

After office that Thursday, he went straight to his in laws house. He wanted to know if they are going in the right direction.

"Karthik.. What are you---" He saw his mother in law at their doorstep.

"Is Uncle here?" he asked seriously.

She nodded and called her husband. When the three of them sat on the couch, Karthik started "I don't know why but I feel like we are leaving something important"

"What are you talking?" his father in law, Prasad said in worry.

"I don't know if it makes sense to you but I feel like we are leaving something crucial. Something that's in the palm of our hands"

Sindhu's parents looked at each other in worry before her mom left the room to bring tea.

"I think we should inform Hemanth" Karthik replied finally "He might help us"

His father in law sighed "How would he know anything about her that we don't?"

"Because he loves her and knows her more than the either of us do"

Prasad looked surprised "How do you know?"

Karthik frowned "I have to be blind to not see that" When Sindhu's dad nodded, he continued "I know that Hemanth is like a family member to you. But seriously, what would you have done if he said he wanted to marry Sindhu?"

"You know we bought this house when Sindhu was ten years old" Prasad started and Karthik didn't understand why he is saying something completely irrelevant but he continued to listen "I wanted to buy a two bed room house near to the schools and college area; I even selected one but Sindhu didn't like it. You know what she said when I asked the reason why she didn't like the house"

When Karthik shook his head, he added "She told me why I wanted to buy a two bedroom house and not a three bed room one when I have two kids – Hemanth and herself"

Karthik's eyes widened hearing him "You mean to say Hemanth has a separate room here? In your house?"

He nodded "He stayed here more than he ever stayed in his own house. My wife & I cared and loved him as much we loved Sindhu. He might have his own biological parents but we are nothing less"

Everything Sindhu told, made sense to Karthik now. Why she couldn't see Hemanth as someone beyond a friend and why she couldn't fall in love with him.

Prasad's words brought him back to reality "If Sindhu was ok with marrying him, I would have agreed but she was not. I even told this to her; that I'd be ok with Hemanth being my son-in-law too in addition to being a son but she refused saying that she doesn't see him like that"

"Then why did you force her into marrying me?" Karthik asked, out of curiosity.

He frowned "What do you mean? Why would I force her? She accepted willingly"

Karthik's eyes widened "Really? You never forced her into marrying me?"

Why did she agree to marry me then, knowing that I loved Tulasi?

"No. Why would I?"

"But, she told me that you were worried about her marriage. Why would you when she was only 22 then"

He sighed "It's a long story. It is because of my sister"

"You have a sister?" Karthik asked in shock.

"Sadly, yes. But we are not on good terms"

"Why?"

"Because she eloped days before her marriage with some other guy and brought disgrace to the family. Sindhu got a lot of matches before you, but no one wanted a daughter-in-law from a family where her aunt eloped. We were worried that she'd never get married. I was surprised when your mother said she doesn't care about that"

Wow. That is how my mother would be.

"You are not talking to your sister because she eloped? That must be what? 20 or 25 years?"

"My father committed suicide because of what she did. I left everything behind and started fresh in this city. How can I forget everything when it's even haunting my daughter?"

"But she is your sister. Why didn't you try to mend your relationship? At least after Sindhu got married"

"You sound exactly like Sindhu. She used to say the same thing" Sindhu's mother spoke, walking towards them with a tray.

"Did Sindhu ever meet her?" Karthik asked, taking a cup of tea from her hand.

"She did one summer; without telling her dad" she replied, looking at her husband.

That sounds exactly like my wife, Karthik mused silently.

When Karthik was silent, she added "Sindhu wanted them to meet but this old man is very stubborn" she looked at her husband saying that "She was in touch with her aunt's daughters when she was in college. They are almost of her age"

Karthik sighed "Are you still angry with your sister?"

Prasad's eyes watered "I forgave her long back but I can't forget everything. How can I when I lost my only living relation, my father?"

"She is your living relation too.. Why don't you see that?" Karthik explained.

"You won't understand. Please leave this topic"

He sighed, tired of explaining and sipped his tea silently.

"Where is Sindhu's room?" Karthik asked them. For some reason, he wanted to see the place that's been part of his wife's life before she married him.

They agreed and showed her room before leaving him alone.

Karthik was surprised to see her room bigger than the room they shared. It looked like a typical girls' room with baby pink and purple color walls which were almost covered by movie posters; all romantic ones. A huge wardrobe filled one side of her room that can store clothes sufficient enough for two or three families.

He chuckled seeing Titanic film poster behind her bed with the signature Titanic pose. However, he was surprised to see a photo frame of their wedding on her night stand; she looked composed while he looked grumpy in that pic.

He walked around the room observing the movie posters and few stick-notes attached to the wall.

He stopped walking when he saw pictures of her, on her wardrobe. He couldn't help but smile seeing pictures of her with Hemanth and her parents; they looked like one happy family. However, his curiosity piqued seeing a couple of pics which had two girls with Sindhu; all of them taken at a beach.

He went back to the living and questioned them about the girls.

"They are my sister's daughters. Why?" Prasad replied.

Karthik frowned. For some reason, this aunt of Sindhu is disturbing him. It's the second time he came across her today when he never once knew about her.

"Where does she live?" he asked curiously.

"Goa"

A coastal area? And he knew Sindhu loved beaches.

The last time she left to Vizag which was famous for beaches. What if she was--- there? In Goa?

"Do you have your sister's number?" he asked in an urgent tone.

"Why? What happened?" Prasad asked in worry.

"I think Sindhu is in Goa" Before Prasad could ask a question, he added "Don't ask me how. I don't know. I just feel like she's there. She has to be if she went to a place she knew someone"

"I don't have it but your aunt has" Prasad replied calling his wife and explained the situation.

She quickly opened her telephone directory "Here it is"

Karthik dialed the number and waited; it felt like forever until someone finally answered "Hello"

He didn't know what Sindhu's aunt name is and quickly gestured his father-in-law about her. When he told her name, he spoke to the phone "Hello. Can I talk to Padma?"

"I am Padma. Who is it?"

Karthik sighed heavily. Common, you can do this. "I am Karthik. Your niece's husband"

He heard a sharp intake of breath followed by her voice "Yeah, tell me"

"Is Sindhu there? I mean she left my place and – um we wanted to know if she came there"

There was a moment of pause before she replied "No, she is not here"

"Ok.. Please call me if she comes there"

"Sure"

"Thank you" And he disconnected the call.

"What did she say?" Prasad asked curiously.

"That she is not there" Karthik replied with a frown while smiling.

"What are you going to do now?" He asked sadly.

"I am going to Goa" Karthik replied and added dramatically "I think your daughter left to a different state again" They don't know she left to Vizag once. Don't blurt out anything

"What do you mean? You told that she---"

"I am not sure uncle but I think she might be there" When he saw them confused, he added "Look at it this way uncle. I have called a couple of Sindhu's friends before to know about her. Few were not even in touch with her for a long time. But, when I asked, if she came to them, they denied yet asked me details about why she left. They were worried and even told to call me back if we found her. Didn't you face this with the people you called?"

"Of course I did. What's your point?"

"Then why didn't your sister seem interested? She even panicked hearing my name but didn't say a word about what I said"

"So you think---"

"I think Sindhu is there, with her aunt. She must have told her not to tell anyone about her"

"What are you going to do then?"

"I am going to Goa"

"When?"

"Right now" He replied, almost jumping with enthusiasm as he walked out of their living and later added "Please message me her address" 

---

Please consider voting if you liked the chap..

Did you like the way Karthik realized about her love? I wanted it to be a surprise which is why I never wrote about Sindhu taking pics of him..

I hope I made it clear why Sindhu couldn't fall in love with Hemanth..

And I hope you remember Sindhu's aunt.. She was mentioned in 2nd chapter when she comes to Sindhu's marriage. 

- JANAKI S