Wednesday morning was unlike the other days, Parul repeated the exact same thing as told by her brother and got permission to take Bhargavi to the Banerjee residence. None of them wished Bhargavi's mother on her birthday and pretended to have forgotten all about it.

Prabir was super excited, he started the preparation of several dishes including papdi chat and fish fingers as starters, followed by the main course - Murg Makhani or butter chicken, Malai kofta (vegetable 'meatballs' in a thick sauce), Palak paneer,and for desert Kheer and Gulab jamun. The homemade chocolate cake was today's special for the birthday party.

Mr. Banerjee was already in the kitchen, he had to look after the lunch preparations as Prabir was engaged in preparations for the evening.

Bhargavi was instructing Parul and Bhawani about the decorations. The three girls had decided to write Happy Birthday on a piece of chart paper and cut out the alphabets, after adding colours to it, then these alphabets would be arranged in order with the help of some thread glued at the back and it would be hung on the wall after addition of some glitters to make it more attractive. Beautiful streamers were hung and the balloons would have to be blown and clustered for hanging after 4p.m.

Bhawani had also lied to her mother that she too needed some help in her studies from Prabir in maths, because having mentioned her sister would cause more troubles, her mother would insist her to ask for Bhargavi's help in the evening after she had already helped out Parul, and she had even brought some books along to Prabir's house for a show.

Bhargavi's mother had enquired Prabir," If you are so busy that you can't help Parul, how will you help her?"

Prabir passionately said," Aunty I love maths, I'll readily help Bhawani. Actually I don't want to help Parul with her project on literature because I find it very boring to be honest."

Bhargavi glanced at Prabir, thinking, What a lier with such an innocent face? He was also able to facade his happiness and excitement from her mother.

Prabir had swiftly cradled up Bhargavi in his arms with Bhawani tugging along, a little before lunch and she was dropped at her house way before her mother even had a chance to come looking for them. Bhargavi had never seen Prabir this happy, his brightly shinning eyes made her heart flutter.

He gently dropped her on the bed and whispered, " Bhargu. Have your lunch and rest a little okay! I'll pick you up at exact 4p.m." His thumb slowly caressed her cheeks and she could feel her skin burning with the sensation. He bent his head and pecked her lips murmuring, " I love you Bhargu," she pinched him on his right leg observing her mother at the door, he stood up straight comprehending her indication and said, " That tiny little thing is being too naughty, it has scratched your face. 'KitKat'.Where are you?" He called out playfully.

KitKat came running towards him and he picked her up slowly.

Bhargavi's mother felt that Prabir was only scrutinizing her face because of the scratch that KitKat made on her face and went back to the living room, Prabir sighed in relief and dropping KitKat on her lap, he claimed her lips and kissed her briefly before leaving. He had noticed the scratch on her face much earlier, on the day he gifted KitKat to her and had even pulled Kitkat's ear for being notorious.

All the preparations were completed, even though 'Winky' kept on disturbing Prabir meowing in the kitchen. The balloons were inflated and colorful balloon clusters were hung from the ceiling. Balloons were hung forming a chandelier over the table on which the cake was to be placed.

It was almost dark, 5.30 in the evening, Prabir strolled outside his house speaking to someone on phone and saw Bhawani tightly slap a man outside their gate, from the gestures he made, Prabir expected him to be threatening her for slapping him. Then the man left and Prabir rapidly strode towards Bhawani.

" Bhawani who was he? Why was he here? And why did you slap him?"He asked anxiously.

" Prabir Bhaiya, he's in my school, Mayank Sinha, his father is an MLA, he is harassing me since last week. He wanted me to go and watch a movie with him, when I refused, he started to grab my hand and pull me...so..I ..I slapped him and he threatened me that he'll make me pay for this,"she informed.

"Ok! Don't worry! You go in. I'll ask Paru to call your Maa,as she may doubt you," he said with a warm smile.

Prabir too went in and after checking out everything, told Parul," Paru...you go and tell that Baba wants to meet her and it is urgent."

"Me?" Mr. Banerjee exclaimed and Prabir winked at him cheerfully saying, " Relax! Baba ...It's a surprise for her."

Parul had just opened the door and left but came back running in...panting, breathing heavily, "Bhaiya...there are many... many goons in Jeep's..yelling out Bhawani Di's name...angrily and t...they have hockey sticks with them."

They soon heard some vehicles' screeching halt and a man shouting out," Bhawani...come out! You'll pay for what you've done."

Prabir called up Ayush and hastily spoke, " Man please call up your dad, I am screwed. There are dozens of goons with hockey sticks before my house," then disconnecting the call he immediately sent his GPS location.

"Paru below the sink in the kitchen, you will find two metal pipes already half rusted, hand them to me," he commanded Parul.

"Bhargu...please call up Vishwesh and explain...ask him to bring as many people as he can," he slowly demanded and threw his phone towards her, as the goons outside started a ruckus screaming and shouting, banging the doors.

Parul brought the metal pipes from the kitchen and placed it in Prabir's hands as Bhargavi was already explaining the situation to Vishwesh,
Prabir walked out and locked the doors from the outside.

Mayank screamed," where is that b**** ?where's Bhawani? "

Prabir enquired smoothly," Mr. Mayank Sinha, why are you bothering her when she clearly doesn't want you to linger around her?"

"That's none of your business. Just let me know where she is and we won't hurt you..I promise," he blurted out angrily.

" I am not letting you touch my sister," he replied impatiently.

"Don't mess with me, you don't know who I am,"Mayank returned spitefully.

Prabir wanted to keep them engaged in conversation and buy some time. He demanded ruefully, " Who the hell are you? And why the hell are you bothering my sister?"

" What does she think of herself ? I am Mayank Sinha, what I want...I get it. She is mine. I asked her to obey my orders but she refused to and even slapped me. Huh! She slapped Mayank Sinha,"he gave out a chortled laughter with plain disgust on his face.

" For the last time I'll ask where is she hiding?" Mayank yelled.

Prabir wanted to kick him in the face but stood patiently insisting aloud,
"Bhawani is my sister and not your personal property. She has every right to decide what she wants to do.

For the last time I'll remind you Mr. Mayank that she probably hates you and doesn't want to see your face. So you better leave her alone."

One of the goons impatiently moved forward and attacked Prabir with his hockey stick, yelling without waiting for any instructions from Mayank, and Prabir dodged his stick and only held his metal pipe to defend himself.

Prabir roared loud and clear," You have hockey sticks, I have metal pipes ...so who is gonna hurt more?

Back off all of you." The angry glare combined with the frosty look made a chill flow down Mayank's spine.

The goons started attacking Prabir, as Mayank stood aside watching. Prabir was not using all his strength as it could damage their vital organs, he only dodged and defended himself with the two metal pipes he held firmly in his hands. But then, he was hit at his back brutally and lost his cool demaneour and broke their arms and limbs with his ruthless strokes however, still avoiding hitting any vital organs.

A large and hefty young man hit his head on one side, and blood started pouring out as if it was a flooding river. He wiped his face with his shirt in a desperate attempt to clear his visibility as he felt a heavy stroke fall on his right arm near the elbow. He heard a loud pop sound and then everything seemed blurred.

The police Jeep sirens could be heard from a distance and the goons picked up the ones lying on the floor and carried them on their Jeeps in order to flee, but we're surrounded by police Jeeps from all sides.

By the time Vishwesh reached with 7-8 of his friends, a police Jeep was taking Prabir to the hospital, who was unconscious, his shirt was soaked in blood. Vishwesh's heart almost skipped a beat. He was too late and couldn't help Prabir. Then his gaze fell upon the door of Banerjee residence, it was bolted shut from the outside.

Vishwesh paced rapidly and opened the bolt, Bhargavi stood at the door, she did not even realize that she was exerting her entire body weight on her broken toe. "Where's Prabir?" She snapped.

Mr. Banerjee was holding Parul who was shivering like a leaf, she had seen the number of people carrying hockey sticks. Bhawani stood frozen like a statue carved of ice and her eyes looked glassy.

"H..he's taken to the hospital by the police," Vishwesh informed. Bhargavi lost her balance and fell on the floor with a loud thud. "Bhargavi!"he exclaimed and picked her up, but she refused to be held in his arms.

She walked softly back to the sofa and collapsed on it. Meanwhile, Bhargavi's mother came rushing in to the Banerjee's residence, as she had seen it all from her balcony. She was accompanied by Mr. Ghosh.

Mr. Ghosh assured that he'll take care of Parul and asked Mr. Banerjee to immediately leave for the hospital. Bhargavi gained consciousness when her mother repeatedly called out her name, and splashed water on her face, but again within a few minutes she lost consciousness.

Vishwesh had asked all his friends to leave, he had accompanied Mr. Banerjee to the hospital and had to drive, as Mr. Banerjee's hands shook tremendously.

Two hours passed, Bhargavi did not gain consciousness. She too had to be hospitalized. When she finally gained consciousness, she found Prabir seated beside her bed, he was stroking her head gently and his tender and loving gaze was fixed on her.

Noticing her open her eyes, he gently placed soft teasing kisses on her cheeks, forehead, nose, eyelids and lips murmuring," Bhargu...you recognize me?"

She was staring at the plaster cast on his right hand and the bandage on his forehead. He knew she recognized him by the pleased look at her face. He replied softly, "It's funny right... Bhargu? You broke your left toe and here I have broken my right arm." She smiled at him content and satisfied that he was okay.

"Let me tell your Maa, that you are awake now, she is really worried," he mumbled and pecked her lips, then went out of the room.

Prabir had seven stitches on his forehead, and a broken arm as the major injuries, the minor were bluish black bruises at his back and left arm.

When Bhargavi was brought in to be admitted, Prabir's forehead was already properly dressed and his broken arm was plastered. He was near the admission counter, thanking his friend Ayush, whose father was a police commissioner as, it was only because of him that such immediate response was shown by police. Mr. Banerjee and Prabir were about to leave the hospital along with Vishwesh, when they saw Bhargavi being brought in, laid on a stretcher unconscious.

Bhargavi was going through turns of sleep-wake cycles with periods of opening and closing her eyes. She was responding to only Prabir's voice and touch, speaking words and phrases which were not clear.

********

Bhargavi realized now that she was in a hospital. Prabir wanted to enjoy just one day happily, celebrating her mother's birthday, but 'FATE'...it played a very treacherous game.

She realized that Prabir was not triggered or having flashbacks in the hospital environment any more, as Prabir made his father request the doctor's for her immediate discharge. She saw him, himself speaking to the doctors and going around comforting Bhawani as well as her Maa.