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Sindhu was watching TV like everyday when Karthik came back from work; this time, with a friend.

"I am Ravi, Karthik's best friend. Pleased to meet you" Ravi said extending his hand towards Sindhu.

"The pleasure is all mine" Sindhu replied, giving him a fake smile.

Ever since she was married, she forgot smiling. All she felt now was anger, hurt, fear and disappointment. She didn't know how long it would last.

She got fruits and water to both the friends who were sitting on the couch and chatting about the upcoming India - Pakistan match.

She sat on the recliner and turned to Ravi "I remember seeing you at the wedding"

"Well, I am too handsome to forget" he said in a flirty tone.

She chuckled "You are cocky"

"Is that a bad thing?" Ravi said in a teasing tone.

"Well, it depends" When Ravi raised an eyebrow she added "I like cocky guys"

Sindhu didn't care she was flirting with her husband's best friend, that too when he is just beside them. After a long time, she felt happy. It felt good to feel alive again.

"And why is that so?" Ravi teased.

"Because they make good brothers" She replied mimicking his tone.

Though it was a lame joke, she ended up laughing seeing Ravi's reaction. She even saw Karthik's lips twitch up; he was so close to smiling even if it would have been a faint one.

"I don't like when women call me brother" Ravi replied in a sulky tone.

Sindhu instantly felt sad. He reminded her of her best friend Hemanth. She realized how much she missed him.

"What happened?" Ravi asked, looking concerned.

"What?" Sindhu replied, coming out of her thoughts.

"You look sad" he said with a frown.

"You remind me of my best friend" she replied sadly.

"That makes you sad because ?"

"I haven't been in touch with him since almost an year. We grew up together and were best friends ever since Kindergarten"

Ravi wanted to ask her about her friend but stayed calm just like Karthik. He remembered he was an outsider and it was the first time he met her.

"I will get you something" Sindhu announced and left the room.

When Sindhu came back with a plate of biscuits, Karthik was no where to be seen.

"Kar went to his room to freshen up" Ravi said as if reading her mind.

"You call him Kar?"

He nodded "I can call you with a nick name too"

She chuckled "I don't want to be called Sin"

Ravi laughed taking a biscuit from the plate "This is good. Where did you get it?"

"I prepared it" She answered. She was bored and wanted to keep her mind off what happened in the morning and so baked biscuits.

"Wow, I forgot you are a good cook. Now I knew you bake well too"

"You tasted my food?" she asked excitedly.

"Yes, I tasted your food" He replied, losing his smile.

Ravi didn't want Sindhu to know her husband doesn't eat her food. He saw the sadness in her eyes when she looked at Karthik. He didn't want to hurt her more than she already had been and so lied to her. He wanted to say he more than tasted her food but he didn't have the heart to say that.

Sindhu didn't miss the bitterness in Ravi's voice and the sudden change in his demeanor. Something's definitely up and she wanted to find it.

"So, what's your favorite among the ones I cooked?" she asked, trying to look excited.

"Your Vegetable Biryani of course, it was the best I've ever tasted that I almost felt like licking the whole pla—" Ravi stopped himself before blurting out the truth. He felt uncomfortable and awkward all of a sudden.

Telling Sindhu to say bye to Karthik, he left his best friend's house. He was scared that she might have understood the truth. It would upset her so much. She looked cute and innocent and he liked her more than he ever liked Tulasi for his best friend.

Sindhu replayed his words until it made sense. She was hurt, yet again knowing Karthik never ate her food. However, she wanted to confirm her doubts.

Knocking the door, she walked into his room.

"Ravi told to say bye to you" she said calmly.

"He left?" Karthik asked coolly, massaging his hair with a dry towel.

She saw that he showered; she wanted one for herself too.

"Yes" she replied, trying to keep her emotions in check.

When he didn't say anything she continued "So how was the mango rice I cooked for lunch?"

"Fine" he grumbled uneasily.

"Was it?" she asked dryly.

"I said it was fine. What do you want to know now?" he grumbled, irritation lacing his voice.

"I thought you'd ask how I got mangoes when we are close to winter" she said bitterly.

Karthik looked shocked but kept calm as Sindhu continued "Or may be I should have asked Ravi that. He would've replied I cooked coriander rice and not mango"

Tears stung her eyes looking at his reaction. He looked like he didn't care and she was devastated knowing that. What happened in the morning and now, was way too much to take in for a single day.

She wanted to say a lot of things; none close to what she truly felt. When she thought she might break down in front of him, she left the room saying nothing.

Locking herself in her room, Sindhu cried her eyes out. She tried not to make noise as she didn't want him to know that. She had too much pride to be caught crying.

After half an hour when she thought she was fine, She started cooking dinner. This time however, she didn't call him for dinner. She had food quietly and retired for the day.

Karthik came out of his room at 9 only to see the living room empty. He was surprised when he didn't find her watching TV like she always did. He was waiting for her to call for dinner since a long time. It was only when he realized she is not going to, he came out.

He had a quiet dinner, something he always wanted but it felt different. A bad kind of different. He knew she was upset and was almost sure she cried. Sindhu didn't seem like the kind of woman to cry, but he can't be sure; After all, he didn't know much about her.

When Karthik tossed himself onto his bed, a part of him - a tiny part of him wished she said good night like every day.

The next morning when Karthik woke up, he remembered he had to go to office though it's Saturday. Their project needed someone sitting in front of the computer and solve issues even on a Saturday. He volunteered in his team wanting to stay away from his wife.

After a quick shower, he strolled into the living where he found Sindhu flipping channels with the remote. She looked dull and sad; not that he cared. However, he was surprised to see his lunch bag on the dining table beside his breakfast and a steaming cup of tea.

He understood she didn't want to come to his room or wanted nothing to do with him. It was completely fine by him; he needed space from her.

After having a Veg Sandwich, he left the house with his lunch bag without saying anything to her, as usual.

Sindhu felt bored sitting all day long at home where no one was there to talk to her. She decided to go back to volunteering which she did before getting married.

Having literally nothing to do, she decided to visit her parents' house.

Karthik was bored sitting in front of the system, alone in the office except for only an other guy who joined recently. It was not his job to solve issues; a systems Engineer is enough to do that. Yet, he offered to work in the group meeting held last Tuesday. He wanted to stay as far as possible from Sindhu and this seemed like a better option. His team was surprised when they heard him; they didn't expect that as he was newly married.

At noon, he wondered what Sindhu was doing at home. She must be watching TV or must have gone shopping, he thought remembering the number of bags she carried when they moved. He understood she was an avid shopper; she looks stylish even while cooking.

Tulasi never liked to spend on too many clothes; she thought they were waste of money. Instead of spending on useless things, Tulasi donated a part of her salary to an orphanage and insisted him to do that. That was one of the many other things he loved about her.

During lunch time, he wondered what to do with the lunch she packed. As much as he wanted to eat her food, he didn't want to depend on her for everything. After thinking for a long time, he decided to eat the food she cooked.

When Karthik reached home by 5 in the evening, he was surprised to find it empty. He pondered on where she went; A tiny part of him wanted to call her but he remembered he didn't have her number.

He heard her unlock the door after an hour while he was watching TV. He wasn't surprised to see a carry bag in her hand; she must have gone shopping again.

However, he was astonished to see her remove pickle boxes from the bag. She was taking the boxes off the bag when he found himself asking "Where did you go?"

"To my parents' house" she said dryly not meeting his eyes, completely immersed in setting the glass boxes on the dining table.

After she set everything, she went to kitchen and brought him a plate of cookies and a cup of tea. He ate silently, not interested to talk to her anymore.

Dinner was silent with none of them keen on making a conversation. After dinner, he found her setting a tray of DVDs under the TV stand; he understood they were her collection.

Karthik was never an ardent fan of films; Bollywood, Tollywood or Hollywood. He only watched films for time pass; not because he loved them or something.

After Sindhu left for her room and he heard the lock of her door, he bent down the TV to see if there was a nice film in her collection.

He found lots of English, Telugu and Hindi films but found nothing of his type. There were love stories mostly; one of them was Tulasi's favorite. Seeing the logo of 'Dilwale Dulhania Lejayenge' made him remember the time he watched it with Tulasi. He thought the film was OK but Tulasi argued with him that it is one of the best films of Indian Cinema and is the longest running film in the history of World Cinema.

He didn't understand why people still watch it after 20 years of its release; personally, he found it outdated.

Sunday too was spent in a similar fashion. They didn't talk to each other; she was in the kitchen, cooking while he watched TV. After Lunch, they left to their respective rooms.

However they received a visitor in the evening; Karthik's mother, Seetha.

After formal greetings, he finally asked his mom "What are you doing here mom?"

He had a suspicion that his mother planned something. He knew her and thought there was something different with the way she talked to them.

"I came to give you this" she said, giving him an envelope.

Karthik was shocked to find flight tickets in it for him and Sindhu.

"What's in it?" Sindhu asked him, not able to hide her curiosity seeing his expression.

When she didn't get a reply from him, Seetha answered "Your honeymoon tickets to Manali"

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Thank you so much guys for reading..

I know Karthik might be a bit frustrating at times but give him a chance. He is someone who loves with all of his heart. He can't let a girl into his life just because he is married to her.And remember, he told clearly to SIndhu that he didn't want to marry her. I promise there will come a day when he regrets doing all of this to her and you are gonna love him..

Ok, too many secrets spilled.. :p :p

So, what to do you think about their upcoming honeymoon :p :p

- JANAKI S