Instead of sitting beside her, Prabir took a seat opposite to Bhargavi from where he could carefully remark her facial features. The agony in her eyes was beyond the power of language to be explained. However, tears were too frail a substance to ornament her features.

There was a treacherous calm in the room, with Bhargavi composing herself and deciding on whether she should reveal her story. Never having spoken about her family problems ever before, not even to her childhood friends, she was in a dilemma.

Though there was no harm in telling people the truth, she had never wanted the eyes of sympathy on her. The only thing disclosed to everyone who knew her was that they faced financial struggles not now, not a month ago but always as they always had issues with paying the rents and school fees on time.

The emotional burden was weighing heavy on her, and she gave up on the idea of partially revealing the truth. Not knowing her in person, or anything about her, she wasn't refused help. Prabir had genuinely cared and wanted to help her.

Wanting to take a leap of faith, for the first time in her life she was determined to confide in someone. Trusting people was not something that came easily to her.

Clearing her throat, she began,
"That VICIOUS MONSTER tried to control every aspect of my mother's life. He hit, kicked, shoved, slapped and even tried to choke her at times.

Calling her de- humanizing names was fun for him. Her face and arms always... would be swollen, bruised black or blue.

One day he was drunk, he yanked her hair hard and the brutal violence was beyond measure as he banged his knuckles in her face, and kicked her...Maa was pregnant with Bhawani, then he called me asking me to slap her. Though I was only six years old, I couldn't take it anymore. I threw whatever I could grab in my hands at him. I don't remember what hit him hard, but he shrieked and yelled, cursing me, then he left Maa alone and chased me. I ran out of the house as fast as I could.

When our neighbors saw him venting his anger on me, they had pity on me and I was saved. I screamed,'Save Maa, please save Maa ',some men jumped into action, and the condition in which they found Maa, that ******* was thrashed by the furious mob, and handed over to the police.

Thankfully, Maa survived and Bhawani too. I too had been admitted to the hospital. My maternal grandparents had been our angels supporting us throughout this crisis.

Maa divorced him fearing that I would be killed if he got a chance. Having divorced him seventeen years ago, she still fears him. He is remarried and has two boys, that's all I know about him," Bhargavi went on without interruption, fuming with rage and hatred.

Feeling no remorse but immense peace after finally having spoken out these words, she had no need to chide herself for having shown the audacity of telling her story to a stranger.

A very strange thing she noticed in herself was the irresistible urge of trusting Prabir as if she had known him for eons.

Having his fingers clenched so hard into a fist, that his knuckles had turned white, Prabir's gaze rested softly on Bhargavi. It couldn't be denied that he was charged with hatred towards Bhargavi's father but he could also feel the fierce pain burning him,that Bhargavi had endured all the while.

Parul had heard the entire narration from the kitchen, as Bhargavi's voice was loud and clear.

With hands trembling, Parul held the tray containing the tea-cups and some snacks. Noticing her miserable plight, Bhargavi strode to the kitchen to help her.

Holding it firmly, Bhargavi paced towards the living room, with Parul slowly following her. Placing the tray on the small table before the sofa, she perched on the sofa as Parul too sank down on the sofa beside her, embracing her.

She had been terrified to know the monstrosity of a person.

How could a person be so cruel...so ruthless...it was beyond her comprehension and she wept inconsolably in Bhargavi's arms repetitively saying, " I am sorry...I am so sorry..."

Bhargavi looked at Prabir for help, but he seemed to be lost in some other world, even Parul's sobbing and tears did not grab his attention now.

Not knowing how to deal with this, Bhargavi was having a real hard time.  She had always seen her mother weep, cry and beg for mercy ...kneeling down before her father as a child and this was what she detested the most.

Reminded of an incident, when Bhawani had returned from school crying because she had been punished by a teacher in school, instead of cajoling her, she had placed two tight slaps on her sister's cheeks yelling ' weeping and crying won't help you solve any problem.

You are punished ..face it.

Anything happens in life...deal with it.

I don't want to see you shed a tiny drop of tear ever again."
Bhargavi was in a trance for a while.

Finally, Prabir was pulled out of his concoction, when Bhargavi threw a cushion at him, which was placed on the sofa beside her.

Seeing the discomfit on her face, he slowly pulled Parul out of her embrace and pulled her up in his arms. He murmured something softly in her ears, stroking her head gently and slowly she calmed down.

Prabir held Parul firmly and seated her on a chair opposite to the sofa as he himself plonked down on the chair he had been sitting.

Holding up their tea cups slowly, Bhargavi passed it to them. Parul was normal and relaxed as before and sipped on the hot beverage slowly while Prabir's  hands shook tremendously, as he held his cup but it was not due to fear but a fit of rage and hatred.

The atmosphere was very tensed and suffocating, after having tea and some snacks, they dissipated into their rooms. Parul had some homework, Prabir had an assignment to complete and Bhargavi had to unpack her belongings and organize them.

A/N: Hi! My beloved Readers

So this chapter comes to an end, now what next? Are you imagining what's gonna happen next?

Well! I'll be back with the next chapter asap.

Keep reading!!

Please please please...let me know if you like the story.

Your feedbacks and suggestions are valuable to me.

Thanking you all!!