Dedicated to ChandrikaDey8

"Prabu...do you even realize what you have done to me? " Bhargavi said in desperation.

Prabir stared at her astonished, unable to comprehend the meaning of what she said.

" Prabu...you pamper and treat your sister like a little baby...while I...I always lashed out and rebuked Bhawani. I have forced her to behave in a more mature way since childhood, never considering her age.

While you treat your Baba with so much respect and try to help him in every way possible...all I ever did was scream and yell at Maa and quarrel with her for even the most trivial things. I only stepped my foot in the kitchen when I was really starving. I have never been a good daughter...I  never once asked Maa if she had her breakfast or lunch.

I felt Maa herself was responsible for this condition. Why did she have to stay with that monster and get beaten up? Why couldn't she leave him and ask for help?
Why did she have to play the role of a victim? Why couldn't she stand up for herself ? I...I ...never respected her once...never showed any gratitude for what she did for me throughout her life.

When you let Vishwesh and Shekhar envelope me in their arms only because I need help...I...I can't even bear to imagine any other girl close to you,"Bhargavi confessed.

"Bhargu...You,"Prabir tried to interrupt but Bhargavi raised her hand in a gesture to let her complete first.

"I even kicked you hard...making you fall off the bed but...you ...you have never once raised your voice on me. You have always been polite, gentle...caring and affectionate towards me.

You have so many trustworthy and honest friends in your life...who are ready to help you always...while I don't have a single one I can count upon, because I have always been mean and rude to people. I have always been adamant about never sharing my personal story.

Prabu...when I started to compare your personality with mine...I...I felt like a speck of dirt in your life.

You are so perfect...I.. couldn't look at me...face me...in the mirror. I felt so petty and measly as a human being.

But still...here I stand so strong before you...you know why? Because love is unreasonable.

I was drawn to you... like a moth is drawn towards a fire, the very first time I saw you in the shopping mall and even now I can't resist this powerful force dragging me towards you.

Prabu ...You have changed me a lot, taught me to be compassionate and mature, even if you don't notice anything different in me...I do.

I believe that Sarvesh is... to some extent ...like me and he too will change," Bhargavi said enthusiastically.

Prabir embraced Bhargavi tightly and whispered, " Your Prabu is not perfect and flawless baby...It's just that love has blindfolded you. Come with me I'll show you something."

He took her upstairs to his room and urged her to look inside his cupboard.

"What is all this? Why do you have so much of make up items stored in here? " She questioned alarmed.

Prabir smiled at her, and giving her a back hug began, " Bhargu...I had seen Maa use all this stuff as a child. She used to put up a lot of make up to hide her pain and her weak and fragile look, after she returned from each long hospital visit after going through a chemo session.

When she passed away, I started to have horrible nightmares and couldn't get back to sleep again. I had many sleepless, restless nights but...if I was going through so much pain...What about Baba?...She meant the world to him and Paru...she did not even know what had happened to her mother.

I saved up all of my pocket money and purchased these... to cover up my tiredness and fatigue from my face. Only make up doesn't help you with having a charming smile on your face, I have had to practice for hours in front of the mirror...to...to facade a smile on my face.

I was so tired to keep on pretending to be jovial and happy ...as I did not want Paru or Baba to find out anything about my mental and emotional state.

Finally, I broke down in your arms... the first night you stayed here with us. I was heavily burdened with emotions and pain...and you took it all away from me.

You don't know what I have made Baba go through ...every time Paru got sick. I screamed and howled like an animal, refusing to budge an inch from her side...No one could make me eat or drink anything. I used to hurl things at people who tried to cajole me into eating something, I have even hit Baba twice.

I remember once, I only added to more problems for Baba when Paru  was already suffering from typhoid, I had to be forcibly injected with medicines that induced sleep and given salines."

He slid his arms down beside her curling his fingers into fists and she turned around to stare at his gemstone green eyes which were shining brightly and were a bit moist.

"Bhargu...you think I am the best brother in the World...NO I am not.

I never let her go to school picnics, I never let her stay at her friend's place. I refused to let her participate in science exhibitions that were supposed to be held in other cities as, she would have to travel along with her school teacher and classmates and I wouldn't be able to accompany her.

Baba wanted Paru...to lead the life of a normal child...enjoying with friends, living her life her own way... but... I butted in...in every single decision of her life and all this was because of my insecurities...I felt miserable with the thought that something might happen to her.

Yes, I tried to compensate for that making her favorite dishes, I gave her surprise gifts...." he said uneasily scratching his head as Bhargavi's gaze was still fixed at his facial features.

"Bhargu...you are right, I am blessed to have friends like Vishwesh and Shekhar, but there is a price for everything.

I had to earn this friendship. I left myself as an open book before them... trusting them and they did the same in return.

Many times my trust in people was shattered and it took a lot of time and courage to again start trusting someone else.

People tried to use me as a pawn and left me when they considered me to be useless.

One such incident was when I told Rachael about my past...she empathized with me and was very kind to me but after two months, everything was different, she suddenly changed lanes and started to avoid me.

I understand that most of the time people tend to act in a way that promotes their own self interests but she willfully pushed me in front of a moving bus." Prabir said indifferently.

"Why?" Bhargavi asked enraged.

"I had seen a boy named Farhan trying to harass her in school. Farhan was the same age as Bhawani now and Rachael and I were just the same age as Paru....

Farhan embarrassed her, before his friends he flipped her skirt. I punched him in the face and grabbing her hand, dragged her out from the empty corridors. Soon, we were on our way home as school was over.

When we got down from the school bus at the same stop, she gave me a tight slap and pushed me before the school bus...which was already on it's way now.

I somehow managed to save myself having minor cuts and bruises as she was not strong enough to push me hard.

She then savagely warned me aloud,
"Stay away from me and my life else I'll send you to your mother," and walked away.

The next day onwards, she behaved in school as if I was a completely unknown stranger, and I never again felt it necessary to ask her why she did that? Or what was going on? " He paused acknowledging the shock on her face.

She grabbed his t-shirt with both her hands, with her eyes fixed on the floor.

Prabir slowly cupped her face in his hands and gently fixed her gaze on him," Bhargu...you are a good daughter...you never lie to your Maa. Yes, you quarrel with your Maa I agree, but you don't let her sew on her sewing machine without her specs. You scream and yell but never let her wear a torn saree.

You reprimand Bhawani's demands of watching late night movies with her friends, but are cautious enough to always ensure that she feels empowered and is confident ;she's able to filter criticism, accept and admit her own faults.

Yes, you kicked me off the bed ...but Bhargu...you held onto me tight and let me cry my heart out when I was tormented and devasted.

When no one else is able to  perceive my fatigue, you are the only one who tells "Prabu...you look so tired".

You are not a speck of dirt but ...but a beautiful rainbow in my life.

I had been heavily obsessed with Maa and her memories since childhood, and this gravely impacted Paru's life as well because she is an exact replica of Maa - having the same facial features.

You have helped me overcome the grief of losing Maa and enabled me to start to live for myself," he passionately concluded.

Bhargavi stood speechless and flummoxed, it all seemed unfathomable to her. Prabir gently patted her head and then pulled her in a tight embrace whispering,
"Bhargu ....don't you ever let thoughts of self-doubt creep up in your head again.

I'll give Sarvesh one more chance...only because of you."

"Baby...I still can't believe you broke his finger only because he had it pointing at me," he chortled.

He shook her a little placing his hands on her shoulders, bringing her back to her senses," Hey! Bhargu ...Where are you lost?" he said abruptly, noticing that she had been quiet in his arms for sometime now, with her face burried in his chest.

She looked up at him, " I ..I am okay! It's nothing...I just am not able to understand how could someone try to push you before a moving vehicle when all you did was try to help her?

I thought almost all girls are your crazy fans, dying to have your attention on them.

Prabu ...How could she do that to you? "She asked anxiously.

He giggled out and regarded her cute face which held a slight pout on her lips.

"Don't make that face Bhargu ...don't be sad, and no one is dying for my attention..

Rachael tried her best to save me Bhargu ...Farhan was blackmailing her I guess. Farhan liked her and hated my presence around her. Maybe, she ignored me because she wanted me to be safe.

She was brutally murdered after three more months. She was dealing with something all on her own.

Till today I don't understand why didn't she confide in me, may be I could have helped her. But, I can't forgive her for pushing me before a moving bus...be it for any reason.

Now you need to go home Bhargu...your Maa is waiting right?" he said abruptly and outstretched his arms. She swiftly let her free in his arms mumbling, " Let me stay like this for just five more minutes...please."

"Yeah! Sure. I'll add a bonus five minutes to it," Prabir chuckled.

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

Parul called up Sarvesh. "Are you okay? Did you reach home? Is your finger still swollen? Did you take painkillers? " She enquired concerned.

"Umm...Parul..I..I ...am really sorry for today. This will never happen again I promise.

Yes! I reached home, I am okay, I took painkillers....Don't worry about me," he replied genuinely addressing all her concerns.

"Did Bhargavi Di hurt you again? " Parul asked curious.

"No! She took good care of me," he replied sternly.

"I don't believe this," Parul snapped.
" Please tell me what did she do to you?"

"If you don't believe me then ...ask her yourself," he replied dryly and disconnected the call.

A/N: Hi Guys!!

Hope you are all well.

Keep reading and enjoying!!

Thank you all.