Bhargavi knew that everything was going to hell in a handbasket but she needed some time to think through, about the current situation in order to take charge. She somehow managed to make Prabir sit down on a bench and perched beside him mulling over her priorities at present.

She noticed the time on Prabir's wrist watch, it was almost time for Parul's return from school.

She calmly took her phone and called her mother. Ms. Nalini received the phone after three complete rings and said " Hello! Bhargavi when are you coming back?"

" Maa, I won't be coming back now. Has Bhawani returned from school?" She questioned back.

"Yes, just a few minutes ago but what do you mean by you are not coming back now?" Ms. Nalini enquired startled.

"Maa, Keya is no more and even her Maa is in the ICU. She had a cardiac arrest. We can't leave Bhairav uncle alone here, with Dhruv.

Please persuade Paru to have lunch with you when she returns from school and tell her that she can put on any of my clothes she likes and rest in my room, till we return back from the hospital", Bhargavi informed.

"Okay! You don't worry. I'll look after Paru. I don't know what more to say", Ms. Nalini replied disturbed with the news she received. Then she quietly asked, " How is Prabir?"

Bhargavi handed the phone to him whispering, "Maa. She wants to talk to you."

"Hello! Maa", Prabir said in a hoarse voice.

"It is really very disheartening that your friend is no more but we have our hands tied up my child", Ms. Nalini spoke softly.

Prabir felt a heavy lump stuck in his throat and was unable to speak. He had tears running down his eyes turning him blind.

"Hello, Prabir are you there?" Ms. Nalini inquired after sometime when Prabir made no response at all.

"Hmm...I...I am listening", he abruptly spoke in a coarse voice.

Bhargavi took the phone from his hand and spoke, " Maa, I'll call you back later" and disconnected the call.

"Are you okay Prabu? You need some water?" Bhargavi asked concerned.

Prabir silently nodded and then placed his head on her shoulder, " I am okay Bhargu. I don't need water.

You know Keya told me once that it was her dream to run away from her house with her prince charming someday.

But I never knew that it was ME that she had been taking about", Prabir reflected.

"Nothing of this would have happened, had I not rejected her feelings for me. She would be still alive Bhargu", he further added sardonically, enraged at himself.

" Prabir...even Mayank Sinha had some feelings for Bhawani. He wanted her to be his girl and because he was slapped on his face and rejected... he did some nasty things like trying to kidnap and molest her.

You treat him as a villian only because he did not try to kill himself and blame others for his death like Keya?

That pig whom you punched in the face in the mall...no I am maligning a fine animal, ah! he too could claim to possess certain feelings for me so what Prabu?

A person may have feelings for anyone, but that doesn't mean that he can superimpose his will on others.

We do not always get what we want in life Prabu.

Rejection is hard to deal with and everyone deals with it in their own ways.

So please don't cut off your nose to spite your face", Bhargavi said tersely.

She craned her neck and noticed that Dhruv was having a real hard time in trying to console and comfort Mr. Bhairav, when Prabir sat up straight lifting his head from her shoulder, with a grin on his face.

Prabir followed her gaze and murmured, " I'll take care of Bhairav Uncle and you see if your Baba is okay", getting up from the bench.

"I am never trying arguing with you Bhargu. You are marvellously skilled with words", he added with a genuine smile dropping a light kiss on her forehead.

Mr. Banerjee was quickly approaching them, so Prabir stood still, waiting for him to catch up. Mr. Banerjee had imagined Prabir to be extremely gloomy, downcast and dejected, but on the contrary though his eyes were red, he looked calm, composed and didn't seem to be a bit in melancholy.

Bhargavi seemed to be in a very pensive mood. "I'll stay here with Mr. Bhairav for a while, as you three go and have your lunch", Mr. Banerjee commanded.

Prabir nodded in confirmation, but Bhargavi had been staring intently at the wall in front her, immersed in thoughts. Prabir shook her gently and she was startled. "Uncle when did you come?" She enquired uneasily.

"Are you thinking about Raunak, Bhargu? " Prabir asked anxiously.

Mr. Banerjee had a puzzled expression on his face. " No", Bhargavi replied politely nodding her head.

"Who is Raunak? " Mr. Banerjee demanded an answer.

"He's her brother... step brother. He met with an accident and has been admitted in the ICU", Prabir informed.

"Then what is puzzling you Bhargu?" Prabir probed.

"If I would have been admitted to the hospital, it won't surprise me, if I had none of my friends visiting me ever, because I have only a few friends I can count upon.

But something is really fishy. Why has none of Keya's friends ever visited her in the last two days? She was so bubbly and cheerful. She had a lot of friends I suppose.

We arrived early in the morning but I haven't seen any of Bhairav Uncle's relatives come today either.

Can we be really sure that she committed suicide and was not pushed from the fourth floor ?

Yes she threatened me, that she would teach me a lesson and if I exactly remember there was just one girl,maybe one of her friends who heard her say it. I don't know her name but may be I could recognize her from her pictures", Bhargavi smoothly said.

"But Bhargu...Keya had that suicide note held in her palms", Prabir started but was cut in by Bhargavi, " that is what was rumoured around very tactfully.

What if....even the handwriting isn't her's ? Someone thrusted the note in her palms before pushing her down.

I was wondering how stupid and ridiculous it sounds that, Keya knew we are neighbors, we go to college and return together. Yet she never decided to do anything insane even on the day when I lashed out my anger on her, in the party but suddenly when you spoke to me in public...in my class she was so pissed off that she jumped from the fourth floor.

Does that even make any sense?

Someone definitely killed her Prabir and there is a lot more to the suicide story we are being made to believe", Bhargavi concluded bitterly.

There was pin drop silence, as Mr. Banerjee and Prabir could not think of anything to counter her statements.

"Baba did you have your lunch?" Prabir asked after a couple of minutes.

"Yeah! I had, you three can go now. I'll be here", Mr. Banerjee said swiftly and walked in the direction of Mr. Bhairav.

Dhruv was tired and exhausted listening to Keya's childhood stories that Mr. Bhairav had been blabbering non-stop.

Prabir held his arm and dragged him along, as Mr. Banerjee occupied his place next to Mr. Bhairav.

All three of them strode quickly towards the hospital canteen. They had their lunch quietly and left the canteen.

When they returned they found, the hall filled with the relatives of Mr. Bhairav. Noticing so many people gathered, they decided to go and meet Bhargavi's father.

He too was surrounded with youngsters and their sound was quiet audible from a distance.

One of them spoke, " Uncle this is all your fault. You should have never purchased that bike for him."

Another added, " God! Man! He is just such a showoff! And he drives like a maniac at such a threatening speed."

Someone else added "How could you give him a sports bike huh? One needs to learn to drive well to be able to.."

Bhargavi cut in sharply unable to bear it any longer, " I beg your pardon but if you all are here to only blame this old man, you are not required here anymore. You may just leave."

"Excuse me! And who the hell are you?" one of the girls amongst the group questioned her.

Bhargavi took a step in her direction and the threatening glare featured on her face made the girl take a few steps back instantly.

"The person you all are addressing is my father, and the person you are badmouthing is my brother.

Now, if you have gathered sufficient information about me, please leave him alone. You may find something else to keep you entertained and probably you should do things that are more worthwhile ", she said nonchalantly.

Her father had a very pleased look on his face and was thanking God for blessing him with a daughter like Bhargavi.

He had hated her so much only because she was a girl but now, she seemed to be his last resort. She slowly placed her hand on his shoulder and he hugged her tightly, with moist eyes.

Prabir was happy to see father and daughter reconcile. He could tell that Bhargavi missed her father badly, trying to shoulder responsibilities as the elder daughter of her family.

A/N: Ah! Here ends the chapter, are you guys enjoying?

I enjoyed a lot 😊, hopefully you did too.

Please forgive me for any typos.

Keep reading, keep enjoying, stay safe my dear friends.

Thank you all so much ❤️🙏