Bhargavi rolled out in hysterics mumbling, " Don't make that long face Prabu...I am used to...abusing the privilege of getting smacked and whipped."

Prabir was astonished, when any girl would be wanting to cry any minute, here Bhargavi was laughing hysterically. She was excellent at concealing her emotions and hiding pain, it was never a bothersome issue for her.

Prabir softly said, "I need to go", and started to move forward asking for permission to leave from Ms. Nalini.

Bhargavi held his forearm and murmured, " Be careful!"

Prabir gave a sharp node and left, still wondering what she meant. When all hell was let loose in her life, why was she bothered about him?

Sachin brought Bhawani back home as soon as Ishaan returned from the gym.

Ms. Nalini glared hard at Bhawani, having seen her mount down Sachin's bike from the balcony, where she was patiently waiting for her return from school as she was already half an hour late.

"What are you two up to? "She screamed at Bhawani.

"Are you bunking school now?" She yelled at Bhawani.

"Maa, let me explain please", Bhargavi chirped in but was cut off instantly, " you shut up! I am talking to her...not you."

"So, tell me Bhawani, where were you? Why did you come back from school on Sachin's bike, when you should have walked back home half an hour earlier? " she snapped irritated.

"Maa I had gone to help Ishaan at his place, his Maa is very sick and..." Bhawani had started to explain and was slapped hard right on her face thrice.

"Maa stop it please", Bhargavi pleaded.

Ms. Nalini, took Bhawani's bag and pulled out her notebooks and tore the pages into pieces, in a fit of anger even before Bhargavi or Bhawani could snatch them away from her hands.

"You don't need to go to school anymore and she's gonna be expelled from college anyway", Ms. Nalini blurted out angrily.

"You have had enough education, and you certainly don't need more of it.

You two are not stepping your foot outside this house anymore. You will help me in the kitchen and with the household chores", she burst out angrily and stormed into the kitchen.

"Di...what is Maa even saying?" Bhawani whispered.

"Whatever she's saying...it's not gonna happen", Bhargavi proclaimed.

"You idiot! Why did you let Sachin drop you just at the gate, when you were already late?"Bhargavi hissed.

"How was I supposed to know that she'll be this mad? He is like an elder brother to me...just like Prabir Bhaiya.

Yes, I bunked school but it was not for a silly reason, I expected that she would understand and I was wrong", she said sadly.

"She's troubled because of me Bhawani, Keya is still unconscious in the ICU and...", Bhargavi stated but was interrupted by Bhawani, " Di...what happened to your face and ..and your hands ..they are bruised?"

"Did Maa...", Bhawani said and paused.

"Don't worry! Bhawani, I am alright", Bhargavi said assuring her.

" How could she do this to you? You are no more a child Di", Bhawani exclaimed puzzled.

"Now, will you two do me a favor and shut up your mouths.

Come and have your lunch", Ms. Nalini exploded with rage.

"You can have your lunch Maa, I don't want to eat," Bhargavi snapped.

Ms. Nalini pulled her right ear hard and hissed, " who do you think you are Mam...to show me your temper? Sit down and eat quietly else I know how to shove this food down your throat and it won't be a very pleasant feeling for you.

I had given you freedom.. the liberty to make decisions for your own life but now I am taking it back.

From now on you two will only do what I ask you to do."

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

Later in the evening, Bhargavi was still mulling over her thoughts, in an upside down position against a wall, with her head on the floor and legs pointed straight up.

She unexpectedly heard soft whispers, " Bhargu... Bhargu..are you in there?"

She felt her mind was playing tricks on her because she missed Prabir badly, but in an instant saw Prabir approaching her.

She came tumbling down on the floor, tugging up her t-shirt realizing that her belly button was exposed.

Prabir hurriedly rushed back to shut the doors behind him and returned to her.

"How are you here? I never heard the doorbell", Bhargavi whispered.

Prabir rushed forward and hugged her tightly whispering, " Oh! Bhargu...thank God, you are okay!

I called you up so many times, why weren't you receiving my calls? Bhargu...you did not even reply to any of my text messages.

Even your sister's phone is switched off."

Bhargavi stared intently at his gemstone green eyes and mumbled, " Maa took my phone away and might have switched it off. I am sorry."

"I guessed it correctly and was right in stealing into your house", he smirked.

He kissed her tenderly, she could feel the soft and gentle touch of his fingers on her face. She pushed away from him and softly whispered, " if Maa finds you here, both of us will be crucified."

"Why were you upside down when I came in? Are you punished?" He enquired gently with a smile.

"I was trying to figure out something", she giggled out and placed her palm on her mouth to subdue her voice.

"Your Maa is really scary Bhargu...how could she do this to you?" Prabir said with his gaze fixed on her bruised right hand.

"You never care for yourself, you have applied nothing on your bruises Bhargu", he added concerned.

"I am really worried about Bhawani, Prabu..Maa said she won't allow her to go to school anymore.

She saw Sachin drop Bhawani home and instantly knew that she had bunked her classes. She even tore her notes.

I always thought that my father was...he behaved in this manner, he was a drunkard but now Maa seems to behave even more...she won't even listen to either of us.

She is not even letting me speak to Bhawani saying that I have done enough in spoiling her, and...that she won't ever again let me get close to her, as I will ruin her life just as I have ruined mine", she said exasperatedly.

"I'll speak with her Bhargu ..don't worry! " Prabir said gently.

"And why will she listen to you, when she is not even listening to Bhawani or me?" she snapped.

"I wish I could just cuddle you up in my arms and flee with you Bhargu, far away from this hell hole your Maa has created for you, she doesn't realize that she herself is pressurizing you and adding to your troubles when you already have a lot to deal with", he said sardonically.

"What has my life become Prabu?" She giggled out softly, "first Keya was adamant about teaching me a lesson and now Maa is hell bent on confining me to this room and teaching me how to do household chores", she said and placed her head on his chest.

"You know what...I'll teach Maa a lesson now. She won't be able to confine me in this room.

She'll go crazy when she finds me missing, but I am not responsible for any of it", Bhargavi said excited, sitting up straight.

"But where are you going to stay? What are you planning to do Bhargu?" Prabir asked anxiously.

"I am going to stay with my father and I'll be taking Bhawani along with me", she replied smoothly.

"What?" Prabir asked shocked in utter disbelief.

"I know he used to be a monster, but not now Prabir.
The day we met him in the temple, I tried to find out after that...if he was staying in this city and about his family.

He has changed a lot Prabu...he missed me and tried to gather every piece of information about me as I grew up, without my mother's knowledge, that is the only reason why he was able to recognize me the instant he saw me, as you already know I don't have any resemblance with Maa.

Yes, he has remarried and has two sons but no daughter. He said rude and mean things to me in the temple but was happy to see me.

He was annoyed to see me with you, thinking that I too was stupid like my mother. Even though I am educated, I still was hanging out with a boy instead of attending my classes in college.

The sky may fall and a sea may rise, but I won't let someone's emotional outburst, stop Bhawani from receiving her education", she said calmly.

"I should have known this...Bhargu..you always called him Father with respect after that visit...umm...the day I confessed my love to you...you never used any other word for him like a monster.

But are you sure you want to do this Bhargu? Your Maa is angry not... crazy, why don't you just give her some time to calm down?

Nothing happened today when Bhawu missed her classes and it won't matter if she misses a few more classes in school.

How will your Maa live without both of you?" Prabir quizzed.

" Maa beats me up on a regular basis, I don't mind and I don't care, but today she slapped Bhawani without even listening to her reasons or letting her explain herself.

She better learn to live without us, if she is so very capable of doing everything on her own. She decides to judge us all on her own, without even having a little bit of information on what has actually happened.

Did I push Keya from the fourth floor Prabu?

I never told her even as a joke
' just go and die!' then how in the world am I an abettor? What is my mistake? "She blurted out angrily without realizing that she was no more whispering, and her voice was loud enough to be heard outside the room.

"Shhhh!! Bhargu..." Prabir whispered and pulled her up in his arms and she flinched, as Prabir's hand slightly touched her arms where it was bruised.

"Fine! I understand Bhargu ....you are hurt and angry", he said comforting her by gently stroking her head.

"No...you don't, you don't understand anything. Is she my step mother??

How can she just lock me up in here and snatch away my phone?
I am ...22years old and not 2years old now", she murmured softly and buried her face in his chest.

"Bhargu...let me talk to her once, please. I'll convince her", he pleaded.

She chortled out and mumbled, " In your dreams. You don't know that crazy woman.

If you want to be beaten up with a saucepan or a rolling pin, please go ahead. All my good wishes are with you."

A/N: Hi guys!!

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