Mr. Banerjee was almost about to choke on his coffee, when Prabir had called him up for nudging him regarding Bhargavi's stay. This was the first time he had brought a girl home. Mr. Banerjee was extremely excited to meet Bhargavi as Prabir had earnestly requested him not to question anything to Bhargavi regarding her family.

Working in the kitchen,as usual, Prabir was making preparations for the dinner when he heard the doorbell. Approaching the living room he found, Bhargavi had already opened the door and his father was beaming at her.

Stunned by her gorgeous look, Mr. Banerjee stared at her in amazement. Her height was a few inches less than Prabir, she had bright sparkling jet black almond shaped eyes, dense eyelashes, angled eyebrows and a cute button nose. She had an attractive slender body.

Cheerfully greeting her he said, "Hi! Bhargavi. I am Prabir's father."

She replied to the greeting politely, joining her hands in unison, " Namaste! Uncle."

Moving aside,she let him in and walked back to her room.

*******

Occupying a seat at the dinner table, after having freshened up, Mr. Banerjee was pleasantly regarding his son setting up the dinner table, as Parul silently walked into the kitchen smiling at her father.

Prabir asked Parul to call Bhargavi for dinner after setting the dinner table. She delightedly teased him, " Of course ! Bhaiya.

You haven't seen your Jaaaaan (Life) for four long hours...I know you miss her," she concluded with a sad pout on her face.

"Baba it's nothing like that..." he started to say and then noticing Bhargavi at the kitchen door stammered," Bhargavi I....I mean Bhargavi she..."

" What Bhaiya wants to say is that...he missed you badly !terribly!" Parul chirped in.

Mr. Banerjee tried his best to restrain his amusement in a smile till now but Parul's remark made him burst out laughing.

While Prabir stood blushing like a bride, staring at the ceiling as if praying to the Heavens for some sort of help to pull him out of this mockery, Parul paced up to Bhargavi and warmly escorted her to the dinner table saying, " Di, don't mind me. I was only teasing Bhaiya."

Bhargavi nodded shyly in agreement, as Parul made her sit on the left of Prabir and occupied a seat next to her father, whispering in his ears," What a lovely couple we have here tonight!"

" Yes, you are right! "Mr. Banerjee whispered back.

Prabir did notice them whispering to each other but paid no heed and served their plates with the delicacies and special attention was given to the guest, which made his father gawk at him with great interest.

Glancing at Prabir, Bhargavi urged him not to give anymore servings, when Prabir had started to give her a second service, but without saying anything and he nodded in affirmation.

Mr. Banerjee felt for sure that Prabir's heart was set on her, but could not feel the same feelings reverberating from her side for Prabir.

Prabir had cleaned up the entire house even the guest room, not attending classes just the day before she landed up at their door.

"Bhargavi, I hope you are enjoying the meal?"Mr. Banerjee asked hoping to start a conversation with her.

" Yes, Uncle,"She replied courteously.

"Since Prabir was a child, he has always blamed me of being a horrible cook and learnt to cook himself by the age of 15. His cooking skills improved tremendously and both my kids never again wanted me to cook for them," Mr. Banerjee added laughing heartily.

"Uncle, you will never want to taste my cooking ever again,if you have tasted it once. You might even throw up for three days having tasted the sweet poison I made,"she chortled.

They all hooted with laughter on her casual remark.

*************

Unable to sleep Bhargavi was strolling up and down in the living room around midnight.

Prabir walked downstairs, towards the kitchen for a glass of water, having been traumatized with flashbacks about his mother, after he had assured himself that Parul was sleeping unperturbed.

He froze on noticing Bhargavi, then slowly stepped up to her and cautiously asked, " Are you worried about something?"

She shrieked turning around to face him in the dim light, " Oh! It's you. I...I... can't sleep."

Draping his arms around her, he pulled her close to him in a warm embrace.

" What are you doing?" She blurted out angrily,trying to push him away.

" Bhargu...you are missing your family, right? I too am missing Maa a lot today, when I really want to talk to her about you," he whispered.

She looked up at him and quizzed,
" About me?"

He nodded in confirmation and pulled her head close to rest on his chest murmuring, "Bhargu...today you wiped off my tears exactly the way Maa used to do, when I met her after each chemo session."

Smiling through tears he let her free.

This was the second time in a day she had seen him in tears, but she was neither irritated nor angry. She hated seeing people around her cry, but here was a man who looked amazing even in tears. She somehow tore her eyes away from his intense gaze.

Then collecting his thoughts after a minute of silence, he said, " Bhargu, you ask your Maa and Bhawani to start packing. I will help you... with relocating to Ghosh Uncle's residence.

Tomorrow when do you have classes?"

She replied, " Nine in the morning. "

" I'll drop you,"he said abruptly.

"No... t...there's no need...I'll manage."

"Bhargu...you are new to this town...and I too have classes to attend."

"Prabir, I forgot to ask Parul...where do I dry my clothes?"

" On the terrace and if you go that way," pointing outside the window in  the living room, he continued,
"there's a small shed ....nobody goes there, you can dry your inners."

Painfully shy, she wanted to disappear that very instant feeling a twisted knot inside her stomach.

" You may relax! Bhargu... there's nothing to feel embarrassed.

Come on now! What's wrong with you girl?...Tell me....why are you hovering around at midnight?" he asked in desperation.

A/N: Hi Guys!!

Hope you liked this chapter!!

Keep reading to know what happens next.

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Thank you all!!