Opening the door quickly, she casted a poker face, as Prabir enquired with a heart warming smile, " Bhargavi are you busy? If you are not , I would like to take you to Ghosh uncle's residence next door. He has been living alone after his wife passed away and the first floor in his house is lying vacant for around seven years now. I am sure he would like to have tenants."

" Prabir, can you please wait for two minutes," she asked softly.

" Yeah! Sure. If you are thinking about changing your clothes, you don't have to ...Mr. Ghosh has two daughters of his own, who are of course married now and stay in Hermiston far away from Jahron city." Then he walked away actively and plonked on the sofa in the living room.

Washing her face, she came out after drying her face with a towel, and without any concern picked up a clip tugging her hair into a messy bun.

As she strode to the living room, he glanced up at her abruptly. Her hair resembled a bird's nest, as she had felt clumsy to tie up her hair before going to bed. Walking up to her, he released her black voluminous curls to cascade down up to her waist. Then turning her around, he gently untangled her hair smoothly with his fingers. She did not even feel a light tug on her head. Again, he turned her around to face him, placing his hands on her shoulders. Setting up her hair again into a neat bun, he whispered, "It's done!"

Scrutinizing her startled face he added, " I do this for Paru...I'll fix a mirror in your room tomorrow."

Even her mother had never been so gentle on her and she remembered screaming out loud every time, her mother untangled her hair, till she decided to do it on her own.

With such intense curiosity, she regarded him, as if she had seen an apparition.

"What is it Bhargavi? Are you assuming me develop a tail like a monkey now?" he chirped in mischievously, making her guffaw.

Then in a very serious but soft tone, he added, " Don't imagine such things about me. Okay?" She again roared into laughter.

Calling out Parul, he asked her to lock the doors as they set out on their mission.

As they patiently waited, after having pressed the doorbell, Mr. Ghosh opened the door after sometime.

Around 55 years old,he was a stout little man,clean shaved, bald and had a very gloomy look added to his personality.

" How are you Uncle?" Prabir enquired with a genial smile.

" I am okay!" He replied, "What about you Prabir?" displaying a cheerful face now.

Prabir gracefully said," I am amazing!As always Uncle. Please let me introduce her, she is my friend Bhargavi and is in dire need of help. The first floor of your house has been lying vacant for years now. Uncle would you mind letting her family stay as a tenant?"

"No! Absolutely not! Come on in! I'll show you around,"he exclaimed gleefully.

They were led upstairs by the gentleman, it was almost like a haunted house with cobwebs and dust making it difficult to enter the rooms.

The rooms however, were very spacious. There were three rooms of equal sizes, in addition to a large living room, a master bedroom, a kitchen almost double the size of the kitchen in Parili, there were two big balconies, a spacious and extensive terrace.

The old man then gently enquired,
"How many people do you have in your family and what is the amount you are willing to pay?"

" Three of us Uncle, my younger sister Bhawani, Maa and me," she said gladly and then hesitantly quoted an amount feeling nervous - as this house was in the main town Jahron and not Parili, plus it was big and spacious unlike her house in Parili.

The old man looked in her eyes, as she got jittery and then calmly spoke, " I don't need money, I have worked hard and earned money throughout my life. I still have 5 years of my service left but after I get retired...I'll be left all alone counting my last days.

I'll be glad even if you don't pay me anything but decide to stay here with your family. I was thinking about donating this house to some charitable institute and spending the rest of my life in my village after I retire."

She looked at him baffled, as he quoted an amount even lower than the amount she had quoted as rent for each month.

Comprehending what he said, she inquired instantly, " Uncle, my mother is a divorcee ....will that be a problem?"

Mr. Ghosh looked at her perplexed and questioned, " No! But why do you ask that?"

" When we were looking for an accommodation earlier, people judged and questioned my mother 'God knows what kind of a woman you are? Why would your husband leave you with two kids and marry someone else?' We have had to vacate a house two days after we shifted there and the advance money we paid was thrown back at our face," she replied softly.

Looking at her with kind eyes, the gentleman politely said, " My child! I don't have the ability or the right to judge your mother."

" I will have removed the remaining furniture, white washed and painted the walls before you step in with your belongings and it would take around a week,"he added. 

Before she could figure out a way to convey politely, that the work had to be completed anyhow within a week, Prabir who had been silent all this while asked concerndly, "Uncle could it be possible to get all this work done within four to five days, as they have been asked to vacate the place as soon as possible?"

" Obviously! Why not?"The gentleman replied delighted.

Walking back in silence, after taking a few steps,Bhargavi paused and uttered, " Thank you Prabir!"

" Are you okay Bhargavi?" He enquired introspecting her while she nodded in agreement.

Parul opened the door and the look cast on their faces said that the old man had most probably denied to let her family stay as a tenant. She did not breach the topic but enthusiastically asked, "May I make some tea for both of you?"

" Okay! But be careful," Prabir replied swiftly.

Languidly placing herself on the sofa in the living room, Bhargavi stared into emptiness. Her past had been dug up once again, she was reminded of her father.

Approaching her, Prabir placed a hand on her shoulder lightly stating,
"I am here to listen whenever you need me. Okay?"

His voice was so sweet,soothing and comforting she wondered,

Did he grow up having honey instead of milk?

Holding his hand, she patted on the sofa beside her, gesturing him to sit down.

A/N : Hey Guys!!

This ain't a bad boy-good girl cliche story.

Hope you enjoy reading!!

Please support me with your comments and votes if you really enjoy reading.