" Prabir, I was being helped by one of my friends, an emerging journalist, Ekansh Choudhary.

He kept track of Mayank Sinha and informed me regularly about his whereabouts, after Mayank left this town,but since the last five days, I am unable to reach him.

I wanted to visit his place but was unable to do so due to the present circumstances, instead I had called up his elder brother who informed me that he has been missing.

If anything happens to him, I won't be able to forgive myself.

I don't know if he has been kept as a hostage or even killed by Nishwas Sinha's men", Bhargavi imploded with anguish.

" We need to find him quick", Prabir said brusquely.

"A slim hope of a final denouement that he's still alive and breathing, will be a pleasure to me.

But how do we find him?" Bhargavi questioned.

"We'll talk about this later, now you should be with your Baba Bhargu. We still don't know where your elder brother is or when he will be able to make it here", Prabir suggested.

Bhargavi nodded and set off in the direction slowly pacing towards her father, when someone called her.

Hey! Miss Mini.

Bhargavi ran quickly towards him and quizzed frantically, " How is Aradhya Aunty? Why wasn't she receiving her phone? Is she alright ?"

"Relax! Munchkin. Your favorite Aradhya Aunty has damaged her phone.
She flung her phone straight on the wall, mad at her husband because it was him... who purchased that death bike for Raunak.

She was on her way to the hospital but met a small accident in the rush. I am glad that she isn't hurt.

Wait! What happened to your face?"he finally asked.

"It's nothing, I am fine", she said smoothly, and then turned around calling out Prabir and Dhruv.

"This is my friend Dhruv and this is Prabir ..and this is Raghav Bhaiya", she introduced as soon as Prabir and Dhruv reached them.

"How come Aunty set out for the hospital during lunch hour and you reached the hospital now?" Bhargavi quizzed playfully.

"Maa's phone's screen though is not completely shattered, the touchscreen isn't working. She tried a lot but could neither receive anyone's calls, nor could call up anyone,then her car dashed into an auto rickshaw, and the auto rickshaw driver demanded a lump sum amount as recovery for the damage caused, but Maa in a hurry and frenzy had left behind her purse at home.

I reached home from office and found the door locked, assuming that she would be on her way to the hospital I left.

I found her midway engaged in a deep and intense argument, where she blamed the rickshaw driver and he in return blamed her. She wanted to reach the hospital as soon as possible, but he was adamant about letting her go.

Making a long story short, I ended up paying a lump sum amount and brought her to the hospital, and we should have reached a lot earlier had she not been throwing up all the way after every ten minutes.

When we reached the hospital, she herself had to be given salines and injected medicines.

Now she's quite better though and I have left her with pops, hoping that she will be able to knock in some sense into that old man's head", Raghav said calmly.

" Why did you have to do this? What if they make a ruckus screaming and yelling out at each other?" Bhargavi asked concerned.

"They won't, Maa doesn't have the patience or the energy to be arguing with someone.

The grief stricken pale faces they both have now is unbearable", Raghav said sardonically gently patting Bhargavi's head.

"Baba told me that you are here since the morning. We are here now, I mean Maa and me.

Why don't you three go home and get some rest. All three of you look so exhausted.

Nothing bad will happen to Raunak, he will be alright", Raghav said softly embracing Bhargavi.

Mr. Banerjee was heading towards them rapidly, he was shocked noticing Bhargavi embraced in a man's arms, but not heeding to his inner voices, "Prabir, Bhargavi ...I have spoken with the doctors, Mrs. Kavya's coronary angioplasty is successful after three long hours and she is going to feel better soon.

She might be discharged within two days", he informed with a smile.

Raghav swiftly drew his arms away from Bhargavi, observing Mr. Banerjee approach them.

"That's a relief", Prabir sighed.

"Bhargu let's go home now", Prabir further added as Bhargavi nodded in confirmation silently.

"Bhaiya, please inform me if anything happens...or you need anything as I am leaving now", Bhargavi said softly touching Raghav's palms.

"Sure, Miss Mini. You take care and rest well", he said assuring her with a genuine smile.

Mr. Banerjee's inner voices were quiet now with the revelation that Raghav was Bhargavi's brother.

"Baba we will take a cab, don't worry", Prabir informed Mr. Banerjee.

"Mini...Miss Mini...mini Minnie...miss micro mini", Dhruv kept on repeating the same thing over and over, teasing Bhargavi, till they reached Mrs. Aradhya where Bhargavi introduced Prabir to her not even mentioning Dhruv as her friend.

Prabir tried to make Mrs. Aradhya feel better, assuring that Raunak will be fine as Dhruv casted a nasty look in Bhargavi's direction. Raghav soon approached them quietly, having received a call from one his colleagues.

"Who is that?" Mrs. Aradhya quizzed playfully pointing at Dhruv, when her spirits were a bit uplifted because of Prabir's presence and influence.

"That's an ass - a holy ass that can't shut up", Bhargavi said sarcastically.

"Bhargu"

"Mini"

Bhargavi received a slight warning from both Prabir and Raghav simultaneously.

She stole a glimpse into Prabir's eyes and blurted out, " why didn't you stop that rotten cabbage head from teasing me all this time ?" making a sad face.

Everyone's eyes moved and were fixed on Prabir.

"Bhargu, friends tease each other almost all the time. You don't have to take such little things to heart and feel sad about it okay?

You too can tease him if you want, I'll help you out with that", Prabir said with a smirk.

What am I? A complaint box? What did you do Bhargu? How could you make a complaint to Prabir against Dhruv and... that too before so many people?

Next time Bhaiya or Aunty meet me, they will be digging out my intestines to know what Prabir means to me, even though it seems quite obvious now ...to even blind people.

Her yelling inner voices were disturbed when Prabir grabbed her arm and pulled her out, and then they were seated on the back seats of a cab that drove away from the hospital.

Prabir drew her close in his arms, as he was seated sandwiched in between Dhruv and Bhargavi, being careful not to touch her bruised face.

" Are you okay Bhargu? Where are you lost?" He asked concerned, with a worried expression.

Bhargavi snuggled close to him and reassuringly said, " It's nothing serious Prabu. I am fine."

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

Prabir and Bhargavi were impatiently waiting for Parul and Bhawani to return home. Mr. Banerjee had returned home at 9.30 p.m. as usual. They kept calling on Ishaan, Sarvesh, Parul and Bhawani's numbers but none of them received the calls.

At around 11o'clock, Sarvesh halted his SUV in front of Prabir's door to drop Parul and Bhawani back home.
Bhargavi rushed down the stairs of her house and reached the entrance gate of Banerjee residence immediately only to find Prabir smiling at her, accompanied by Dhruv.

Sarvesh apologized for the delay stating that they had decided to have dinner before returning and were late.

Bhawani and Parul were finding it difficult to even stand up straight, without support. Ishaan had been still sitting inside the car and laughing like a mad person.

"Did you guys have a drink?" Bhargavi quizzed angrily.

Sarvesh was looking at the ground unable to face her, scared that he would be beaten up or he could have his arms and legs fractured or broken.

" I am not drunk Di,I..I am totally fine" Bhawani said feeling ecstatic and moving back and forth with wobbly feet, " the onion rings, you look just like one onion ring", she giggled out loud. Her hair was dishevelled, clothes were stained.

Parul had turned into a dancing machine. She looked like a little clown." Paru please come with me", Prabir pleaded.

"Bhaiya just one more dance, please. Will you dance with me?" Parul queried merrily,her voice three octaves higher.

Prabir cuddled her up in his arms and mumbled, " Sarvesh, I think Ishaan and you could stay here tonight and leave tomorrow morning. It's pretty late.

I know you have a driver with you, but the problem is ...Ishaan I think has had a drink for the very first time in his life like these two and he is behaving strangely enough.."

"Okay! We'll stay here for tonight", Sarvesh said gladly.

" Then please come in and bring Ishaan with you. Call him in too" Prabir said gesturing at the driver with his eyes and turned around swiftly pacing towards his house as Parul uttered "Bhaiya you know I am so happy today."

"You know what I feel Di...I ..I just feel like you hate me ever since I was born", Bhawani started crying and her eye makeup streamed down her face like wet paint.

Bhargavi darted forward and held Bhawani's hair with her left hand in a tight grip and slapped her right hand on Bhawani's cheeks twice with great intensity.

Prabir paused on his way and turned around to see Bhawani rubbing her cheeks and standing up straight and sober, blind with tears.

"Super exciting!! My hands were itchy since morning.

Now move will you if you don't want me tug at your hair harder", Bhargavi uttered under her breath having turned around Bhawani. She still held Bhawani's messed up hair in her hands and tugged it to keep her steady.

"Sarvesh please carry Paru to her room", Prabir pleaded politely. Ishaan was held by both the driver, who was a young twenty years old lad and Dhruv as Sarvesh carried Parul in.

"Let her hair free Bhargu, she isn't a horse and you would be surely kicked off, if you did that to a horse's mane", Prabir scoffed.

Bhargavi withdrew her hand and Prabir gently picked up Bhawani in his arms, carrying her upstairs to her room. She sobbed bitterly placing her head on his chest.

Prabir placed Bhawani gingerly on her bed, took off her shoes and softly whispered, " I am right here baby, you are okay."

He moved around her room to find some cotton and makeup remover. He gently rubbed off the makeup from her face saying, " Shush! Don't cry sweety, I know you are hurt."

Ms. Nalini, who was still awake, waiting for her daughter to return home and Bhargavi were watching him quietly.

Bhargavi was going through a turmoil of emotional conflicts, she was certain that Prabir was going to be upset about her behaviour with Bhawani and on the same page she felt like she was absolutely right in deciding to size her up.

Ms. Nalini was overwhelmed with emotions when she saw Prabir treat Bhawani with so much care and affection.

"Maa please help her change her clothes", Prabir gently told Ms. Nalini.

When Ms. Nalini was busy with Bhawani, helping her change her clothes, Prabir grabbed Bhawani's hand and pulled her to the living room and reprimanded, " Bhargu, I seriously never expected this from you.

You are her elder sister. This is not how you should be behaving dear.

I know you were worried sick about her, she was not receiving your calls.

She returned home drunk, but baby she still is only seventeen years old, she is bound to make mistakes."

"Why haven't you applied anything on your face Bhargu?" he questioned with care and affection in his voice.

"I am sorry Prabu, she told that I hate her and I...", Bhargavi said and paused.

"I know Bhargu. I am not scolding you am I ?

Gosh! My baby is so hurt. Your face is really swollen you know.

Now do me a favor and let me apply this, stay put for a while", he said softly and started applying an ointment on her face, taking it out from his trousers pocket.

"Now don't worry about anything anymore and go to sleep. Goodnight", he added and left dropping a light kiss on her forehead.

"Goodnight", she said in return softly with the words barely coming out of her mouth. Prabir returned to her with an adorable smile and demanded a kiss on his right cheek before he left.

She happily kissed him on his cheek and ran away from his sight.

Prabir made an arrangement for everyone to sleep on the floor in the living room in his house, shifting the sofa and the tea table.

When everyone was fast asleep, he quietly stole out and left the house.

A/N: Hi Guys!

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