Bhargavi called up Mr. Ritvik and informed, " Hello! Uncle I am Prabir's friend Bhargavi. Prabir found Sarvesh on the ghats of Baitarini river and he apologized for not being able to call you up and asked me instead to call up and inform you. Sarvesh is staying at his house presently, you can come tomorrow and pick him up anytime you want, as it is a Sunday."

"Okay! Thank you so much for informing me, I was extremely worried.

I'll be visiting tommorow to pick him up along with his father. Goodnight Bhargavi, take care", Mr. Ritvik said and disconnected the call.

The next day, in the morning at around 8a.m. Prabir knocked his own room's door, calling up Sarvesh for breakfast. Sarvesh opened up the door and was instantly embraced in a warm hug by Prabir.

"I am extremely sorry for my behavior yesterday Sarvesh. I was petrified that something bad might actually happen to you, as you had stormed out of your house enraged and furious. Paru was so distressed when she called me up and so...when I finally saw you sitting on the steps of the ghats and then you were remarking on my attire, I lost my mind.

Sarvesh, being hurt and angry is okay, but making reckless decisions during such times is not okay. Please don't repeat this again, at least for the people who care for you" Prabir vociferated.

"Says the EPITOME OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, who drives like a CRAZY MANIAC", Bhargavi's clamorous shout was heard from the downstairs living room.

Prabir lost his chain of thoughts and rushed down the stairs, hollering, " good morning! Bhargu, what are you doing here?"

"Well I am visiting an airheaded big cheese, to remind him that he had told someone that he'll be taking her to a temple", Bhargavi said carelessly.

"I haven't forgotten Bhargu...I was just about to call Maa.

Is it drizzling outside? The weather doesn't seem to be cooperating." Prabir enquired curiously, remarking the water droplets resting on her arms and her moist t-shirt.

"No...it's not drizzling, Uncle is happily watering the plants, being lost in his own thoughts", Bhargavi replied cheerfully.

Prabir handed her a towel, asking her to dry up herself and said, "I'll be back in a while", and left pacing towards the garden outside.

Mr. Banerjee gleefully was watering the plants, humming some old songs and Prabir quietly snatched the pipe from his hands and drenched him with it.

"Prabir don't! ", Mr. Banerjee exclaimed but gladly enjoyed getting soaked. After a couple of minutes, Prabir turned the tap to close it and both walked inside.

"What did you do Prabir?" Bhargavi shrieked, as she saw Mr. Banerjee dripping wet.

" You didn't see him dance merrily like a peacock while being dowsed, only that he doesn't have colorful feather's", Prabir said with a grin.

Parul who was setting up, the breakfast table in the kitchen, had ran out to the living room, listening to Bhargavi's exclamation and now bursted into laughter listening to her brother's remarks.

Sarvesh too had come downstairs and was laughing heartily.

"It's okay my child, don't be worried. I'll go take a shower", Mr. Banerjee said delighted.

When Mr. Banerjee was out of earshot, Prabir whispered, " he had been playing with water for an hour now, and won't listen to me."

"That serves him right then", Bhargavi admitted gaily.

Sarvesh walked up straight to Parul and together, they walked away to the kitchen. When they were engaged in a conversation, Bhargavi softly whispered, "Prabu..please call up Ritvik uncle once, he said that he will be visiting along with Sarvesh's father, Mr. Ayush and you need to know the exact timing of their arrival, else things might not be in our grip.

Sarvesh may react aggressively and it might not end up in a pleasant meeting."

"Yes, I'll call him.

Bhargu...please don't be mad at me, I know I was driving like a maniac yesterday and I am sorry", Prabir apologized sincerely.

"You are not forgiven Prabu, don't apologise when you don't actually mean it", Bhargavi snapped.

"Bhargu..I mean it. I am sorry. I regret having broken a promise I made and for having hurt you, but I am taking up this responsibility, that I won't be repeating it again", Prabir said with regret reflecting in his eyes.

"You have a method to your madness. What I like, the most in your apologies is that you never ruin an apology with lame excuses.

Apology accepted", Bhargavi said blithely.

"Thank you so much Bhargu", Prabir said elated and embraced her, without any hesitation murmuring, " I am sorry, I am so sorry Bhargu...

Did you apply something on your hands? They are still bruised."

Bhargavi looked up at him and nodded gently denying, having applied anything on her bruises.

"I don't want the bruises to heal quickly or make the scars disappear", she said with a warm smile lighting up her face.

Prabir kissed her forehead gently asking, " why ..Bhargu?"

"It will remind me, that you got hurt because of ME...while saving ME", she blurted out angrily.

"Bhargu...I care about you and don't want you to get hurt.

I'll always come between you and anything that tries to hurt you.

It hurts me baby when I see wounds and bruises on you", Prabir said desperately before draping his arms around her waist and pulling her close.

"Bhargu, you go home and tell Maa, I'll be there in a couple of minutes", Prabir said stroking her head softly, and then drew back from her.

"Can I also come with you to the temple?" Bhargavi enquired quietly.

"Yes! Bhargu, of course. There's no reason for Bhawu to stay back all alone, she too can join us", Prabir said thoughtfully.

"Okay!" Bhargavi said with a disappointed look on her face.

"Did I do something wrong Bhargu? You look very disappointed", Prabir asked curious.

Hell yes! I am gravely disappointed. Bhargu this ...Bhargu that ....you keep on doing all time but don't even remember my birthday. Bhargavi thought helplessly but said softly, " oh! No, it's nothing. I should be going back home."

Prabir moved closer to her, swooped her off her feet, and spun her around playfully.

"Put me down! What are you doing? " Bhargavi exclaimed shocked.

"Did I squeeze you too tight? Does it hurt Bhargu? " Prabir asked anxiously, after putting her down instantly.

"Noooo, but what if someone saw us like that? In broad daylight when everyone's home...how can you?" Bhargavi snapped.

The look of concern that had flickered across Prabir's face when Bhargavi urged to be put down, now had disappeared as he had an embarrassed smile on his face.

"Bhargu...I only wanted to see you smile and giggle...and not look disappointed. I am sorry.

You gave me a tough time wiggling around like that in my arms, I thought I was hurting you", he said and turned around walking upstairs.

Bhargavi left for her home, blushing hard, unable to contain her happiness.

Prabir though seemed to have forgotten her birthday, wanted to see her happy and even pulled up a stunt displaying his macho strength and power, by elegantly lifting her up, risking a back injury.

Bhargavi felt giddy like a school girl and chided herself for being so girly all of a sudden. What was so cute and funny after all? She was not a tiny little girl, but a grown up woman and Prabir could have got his back messed up and injured, lifting her above his head.

Bhargavi informed her mother and sister to get ready, as Prabir would be there soon. She herself changed into a cotton teal blue and golden printed kurta and a palazzo, a new dress purchased by her Maa for her birthday. The only relief was that, this kurta was full sleeved and her bruises won't be visible.

Bhawani was the first person to wish Bhargavi a happy birthday, followed by her Maa, even her father had called her up early in the morning and wished her on her birthday.

However, Prabir, Mr. Banerjee and Parul behaved as if they knew nothing about her birthday.

Prabir took a shower and got dressed up in casuals, a slim fit casual round necked bottle green t-shirt and pastel green jeans.

Bhargavi heard the doorbell, and swiftly darted forward jumping up from the sofa in the living room, opening the door for Prabir.

*********************************
Prabir had taken them to the same Maa Kali temple he had taken Bhargavi earlier.

They visited the shrine, offered their prayers and returned back home. In the meantime, Parul, Sarvesh and Mr. Banerjee had decided to wait for Prabir's return from the temple leaving the breakfast served on the table. Mr. Banerjee had tried to reason with Sarvesh regarding his father's decisions.

"Sarvesh, I know you resent your father, for having remarried and then sending you to a boarding school.

But he may have his own reasons to do so", Mr. Banerjee said starting the conversation.

" He couldn't meet me or even call me up just once in all these years?

He sent me to a boarding school and when he knew that I tried to run away and was punished badly, he did nothing.

When I tried to kill myself, by drowning in the swimming pool, not willing to swim or struggle to keep myself alive, torn apart by guilt and hate for myself, he never once cared", Sarvesh said with disgust and rapidly strode upstairs to Prabir's room and locked up himself in the room.

Parul screamed, " Sarvesh please wait!", but Sarvesh didn't bother to listen.

Parul followed him upstairs and banged her fists on the door, " open up the door, Sarvesh please.

No one is forcing you to do anything, Baba was just talking to you. If you don't want to talk about this, then I swear no one will talk to you about your father", she pleaded with tears in her eyes.

"Leave me alone Parul please, just leave me alone", Sarvesh shrieked.

"Let him be on his own for sometime Parul, he'll calm down", Mr. Banerjee said patting Parul's back.

"Baba...what if he does something wrong? We should call Bhaiya", Parul begged.

"Parul, Prabir will be here very soon. He has gone to visit a temple, I don't want to trouble him.

Sarvesh won't do anything wrong. He just needs some time to be alone", Mr. Banerjee cajoled Parul.

Parul sat down on the floor, leaning her back against the locked up door still crying her eyes out, trembling with fear.

Mr. Banerjee walked downstairs and kept pacing impatiently, in the living room waiting for Prabir's return.

*****************
Prabir walked slowly towards his house, after Ms. Nalini, Bhargavi and Bhawani returned to their home.

He froze in his steps, observing the stress and stark fear on his father's face, as he entered the living room.

"Baba... what's wrong?" He exclaimed panicked.

A/N: Hey everyone!!

Hope you enjoy reading this chapter.

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Thank you all!!