"I won't let you be locked in here Bhargu", Prabir said and darted towards the door to leave.

"Wait! Prabu...let me first..", she began but even before she could complete the sentence, he peeped out opening the door a little only to find Ms. Nalini glaring at him furiously. He shrunk back and closed the door. The expression on his face, as he turned around was enough to reveal that Ms.Nalini was about to storm in her room any second.

"Shit! How many times can a person be screwed up in one lifetime?" Bhargavi exclaimed and with almost the speed of lightening hurriedly pulled Prabir back, from the door and placed herself between her mother and Prabir.

Ms. Nalini now pushed the door open and was glowering at both of them suspiciously.

"How is he in here and what is he doing in your room?" Ms. Nalini exploded impatiently.

"Who? Who are you talking about Maa? There is nobody in my room", Bhargavi said with utmost sincerity.

"Are you kidding me? I can see him stand right behind you?" Ms. Nalini retorted angrily.

"But who are you talking about? I see nobody standing behind me", Bhargavi replied back seriously.

Ms. Nalini outstretched her arm and tried to pull Prabir's arm, but Bhargavi tilt her own arm behind her back and pushed him away as hard as she could.

"Maa...you can call Bhawani and ask her, if she sees anyone else in my room apart from the two of us", Bhargavi suggested.

"Bhawani...Bhawani....come here quick", Ms. Nalini called her.

Bhawani came running and was stunned to see Prabir standing behind Bhargavi in her room. Bhargavi pressed her lips inwards gesturing her sister to seal her lips.

"Bhawani ...do you see Prabir stand right behind her?" Ms. Nalini enquired.

"No...Maa, there is no one behind her", Bhawani said as earnestly as possible.

"Maa, you have started to imagine things on your own, it indicates that you are growing old now.

How will Prabir be here in my room Maa? Did you hear a doorbell or even a knock on the door?" Bhargavi said with concern in her voice.

"Maa, I think you feel this way because you accidentally hit him today while beating me up.

He lost his Maa when he was only ten years old, and values you as his own mother. He did so much to celebrate your birthday you know and..", Bhargavi continued sadly, while Prabir who had already placed his palms on his mouth to subdue a laughter could control it no more and let out a short giggle.

Bhargavi hit him lightly with her elbow, ensuring that she did not hurt him enough to make him scream.

"Did you two hear something? I heard his voice. I still see him standing behind you, why can't you both see him?" Ms. Nalini enquired puzzled.

"No...I didn't hear anything", both the sisters said unanimously, as Prabir poked his tongue out.

"Maybe you are right, I should have at least apologized to him before he left. I'll better call him and apologize, he went through so much because of you two clowns", she uttered with disgust and left.

Bhawani left for her room in peace without another word. Prabir's face was flushed red as he struggled hard to subdue his laughter and not roll out laughing.

"Mr. Orangutan..do you even have any bit of common sense left? Why did you not let me check it out first, if Maa was around? Why did you have to peep out all on your own calling for my doomsday?" Bhargavi hissed softly.

" Aah! Your acting skills are on a different level Bhargu. Both of you fooled your Maa so easily", he exclaimed gleefully.

"Thanks to you, I lied to her for the very first time in life.

I appreciate your comments but I had to put up a show to save my ass and your's as well.

I did not want her to discover your secret route to my room, as in that case, the terrace door will be locked up forever and I'll never find the keys, to let you in.

Now leave... before she calls you up and your phone starts buzzing when you are still here in my room", she whispered softly.

"Okay!" He said and placed a kiss on her forehead and ruffled her hair before leaving.

Prabir had just reached his terrace and heard his phone ring, receiving the call, he said gleefully, " Hello! Aunty."

" Prabir..I am really sorry for what happened today.
I was outraged and had lost my temper", Ms. Nalini said apologetically.

"It's okay! Aunty,  I understand. Would you mind if I come to your place and talk to you for a while? "He enquired gently.

"Yes! Yes, Prabir please. There is no need to ask me, you can come over anytime you want", she said cheerfully.

The way Prabir spoke, it felt that he was never in Bhargavi's room, and she must have surely imagined things.  He was gently asking for her permission to visit her. Prabir was a very decent and good boy, he would never sneak into her daughter's room she thought gladly.

Around twenty minutes later, Bhargavi, Ms. Nalini and Bhawani heard a doorbell. Ms. Nalini opened the door to find Prabir smiling graciously. She let him in and he sat opposite to Ms. Nalini on a chair.

When Ms. Nalini seemed to be quite settled and comfortable, Prabir slowly approached her and knelt down before her, " can I call you Maa, please", he pleaded politely.

It was a plea that no mother could refuse, a pleading that could melt anyone's heart. Ms. Nalini nodded in agreement instantly and placed her right hand on his head smoothly running her fingers in his hair.

He slowly rested his head in her lap, and she tenderly ran her fingers in his hair for a while, then he sat up and held her palms in his hands and mumbled, " Maa...I know how hard it must have been for you..to raise two daughters all on your own.

I understand ...because I have done almost everything that a girl would want her mother to do for her... for Paru, from making her favorite dishes to tying up her hair in neat ponytails before she left for school, to purchasing cosmetics and apparels for her.

Maa you should be proud of yourself for upraising your daughter's rightly.

If you want to punish anyone, it should be me...I took Bhawani to Ishaan's place."

He showed her the pictures he had taken to show to Bhargavi - of Ishaan's mother, their tiny and dingy home.

"Maa...I know Bhawani should not skip classes and it was wrong, but she had no wrong intention. She only wanted to help this poor old lady.
Ishaan had stayed back at home...to take care of his mother, as the caretaker had taken a day off but due to some urgent work he had to leave his mother in someone's care", he paused a bit to see her reaction.

"But... Prabir..what will happen to my Bhargavi? If she is expelled from her college, she won't be able to take admission anywhere else with a legal case filed against her", she said sobbing and whimpering.

Prabir tenderly wiped her tears and then said, " Maa...you know Bhargu did nothing wrong.

You were present in that party, when Keya humiliated me and Bhargu...only protested it. She never got back to Keya or even spoke to her later on... till the day when Keya attempted suicide.

Even on that day...it was Keya who threatened her stating that she would teach her a lesson.

Maa, when Bhargu...did nothing wrong why will she be punished? You are being too harsh on her .

Bhargu...will not be expelled from college Maa. Tomorrow I'll take you to a temple and we will pray for Keya...she will recover soon and admit that..commiting suicide was her own decision and it had nothing to do with Bhargu."

Though Prabir himself was not sure or certain about anything, Ms. Nalini strangely felt very comfortable and relieved to listen to Prabir assuring her, that Bhargavi won't be expelled from college.

He hugged her, enfolding her into a very warm embrace and whispered, " Maa...even if Keya doesn't regain her senses, I won't let Bhargu be expelled from college at least not until a fair trial in court is done and judgement is delivered. If required I'll ask for my friend's help, who is the college Students Union's president, and we'll hold on strikes.

"I won't let Bhargu be punished for Keya's faults."

"And what makes you think that the college students will be holding onto strikes ...only so that I am not expelled from college, without having any personal gains?" Bhargavi enquired with her hands folded across her chest, leaning against the doorframe of her room, from where she was observing and listening to the ongoing conversation between Prabir and her mother.

A/N: Hi everyone!!

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