Can husband initiate proceedings after receiving divorce notice?

The parties are Hindus who lived together for seven years and have been separated for the past five years. There are no children from the marriage. The wife is unemployed, has no independent residence, and alleges mental cruelty, neglect, and failure on the part of the husband and in-laws to provide basic necessities and maintenance. The husband is financially capable, with no known assets or liabilities. No legal proceedings have been initiated so far, and there is a possibility that the husband may agree to a divorce but may not be willing to provide a fair financial settlement. In these circumstances: 1. Should the wife first send an amicable legal notice through an advocate seeking mutual divorce and settlement, or should she directly file a maintenance case and thereafter opt for mediation and mutual divorce? 2. If a legal notice is sent after five years of separation, can the husband initiate any legal proceedings in response to such notice?