"okay! Fine I'll do it", Sarvesh said delighted, not aware of the troubles he would be going through.

"Paru,please hand him Winky's shampoo, her towel, cotton balls and the wash cloth for her head", Prabir smirked.

"And Paru, you will be joining a dance class as your punishment from today", he further added.

"What? No. Bhaiya please no. Everyone will laugh at me", Parul protested.

"It's a punishment, you can't say NO Paru.

Besides, I remember that I used to laugh at you, when you were learning to take your first baby steps as you stumbled and fell again and again. Had you known that I was laughing at you, I guess you wouldn't have learnt to walk, as you would have given up.

Paru you need to embrace yourself ...who you truly are, irrespective of what others think of you.

It's fine if someone laughs at you, partake in the laughter and laugh at your own self. It's fun to be laughing at your own faults you know Paru", Prabir mumbled softly.

"Bhaiya, you no longer consider me as the KID in this family, that spot is already taken by Winky.

Okay! I'll join a dance class but you will have to take me there everyday", Parul chuckled.

"Yes, sweetie of course I'll take you. You are my baby Paru and I don't want you to ever grow up", Prabir said gleefully and embraced Parul dropping a light kiss on her head.

Parul ran upstairs with Sarvesh quietly following at her heels.

Dhruv had his eyes fixed on the three security personnel of Mayank who stood motionless like stone idols, after Mayank had shut the doors at their face. He wanted to be alone for sometime.

Ekansh was sitting on the sofa, calling up his friends and family, feeling extremely ecstatic having been released after being kept as a hostage for five long days.

Bhawani was extremely overwhelmed with emotions, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

Prabir caught a glimpse of Bhawani and quickly paced in her direction asking concerndly, " what is it Bhawu? Why are you crying?"

"She was just comparing her demonish evil elder sister to a glorious and angelic elder brother", Bhargavi chirped in sadly.

"Bhargu, would you mind if I speak to her alone for sometime?" Prabir asked.

"No not at all, I'll be in the kitchen", Bhargavi replied and walked away.

Prabir held Bhawani's hand and made her sit on the stairs beside him.

"Bhaiya, why do you love Di so much?
She is the rudest person I have ever known", Bhawani quizzed frustrated.

"She is the ONLY ONE for me Bhawu. I have a million reasons to love her. There's absolutely nothing that I dislike about her.

She is the kindest soul one may ever find, honestly and I feel blessed to have her in my life.

When Maa decided that you won't be attending school anymore,Bhargu was really pissed off. She was extremely annoyed and angry that Maa slapped you, without even providing you an opportunity to explain yourself.

She was determined to leave the house with you,if required but would not let your education be hampered in anyway.

She has forgiven your father after seventeen long years, and stood by the shivering old man yesterday, when his younger son Raunak was admitted in the hospital after meeting an accident.

She is struggling with a lot Bhawu...placing food on table, meeting job deadlines, Keya's death, helping Dhruv return to a normal life, collecting evidence against Mayank's father which can help bring justice to a lot of people who have been wronged by him.

You need to be a bit more patient with Bhargu, and try to understand her.

Yes, I agree that she slapped and hurt you yesterday, but it was only because you told her that she hates you since the day you were born.

She might not express it but she loves you a lot baby", Prabir whispered very softly, so that he wasn't audible to Dhruv and others present in the room.

He swiftly wiped off her tears and delicately pushed a lock of hair behind her ears, mumbling softly, " don't cry sweety.

I am not punishing you because you have already received yours, but I need you to do me a favor, will you please bring KitKat here?

I don't want Sarvesh to turn your house too into a complete mess".

Bhawani nodded and rubbing her eyes she went straight to the kitchen. She hugged Bhargavi tightly whispering, " I am sorry Di. I really am so sorry. I love you."

"I love you too and I am sorry for hurting you", Bhargavi replied with a warm smile.

When Bhawani left after a while, Bhargavi walked up to Prabir, who was still sitting on the lowermost stairs and asked," what did you tell her?"

Prabir patted on the floor gesturing her to sit down beside him. She gently perched herself beside him and looked into his eyes.

" Nothing ...I told her just one of the reasons why I love you so much", Prabir said.

"Obviously you don't want me to know, otherwise you wouldn't have wanted to speak to her alone", Bhargavi said irritated.

"I don't want you to feel flattered to the high heavens", Prabir chuckled.

"Bhargu, I am counting upon you, to take charge of these many people - Sarvesh, Paru, Dhruv,Ekansh,Mayank and his bodyguards as I am going to take a short nap.

I am sapped out of all energy", Prabir sighed and then stood up, he slowly walked into the kitchen and reached the highest shelf in the kitchen.

He took out a deck of cards and handed it to Dhruv, then he called the three security personnel of Mayank and engaged them all in one game. The game required four players, thus Ekansh was not allowed to join and kept fiddling with his phone.

"Ekansh you may leave if you want, your family awaits you", Prabir murmured.

Ekansh nodded and instantly got up to leave. They hugged each other and bid goodbyes.

Prabir walked up to Bhargavi, who was carefully observing the people playing cards, sitting on the floor at some distance from them.

"Bhargu, they won't bother you anymore, let them howl and scream as much as they want while playing. It won't be a problem unless, Mayank steps in and yells at them, commanding them to maintain silence.

Paru and Sarvesh will have a rough time, with the kitties and they are bound to create a mess, but it will keep them engaged.

You can maybe bring your laptop and do your own work or bring some books and study. It will be hard to concentrate here, but you can use Baba's room upstairs. Only once in a while,come and check on them and if you face any trouble wake me up", Prabir mumbled thoughtfully.

"How can I use Uncle's room without his permission?" Bhargavi quizzed alarmed.

"You can call him up asking for his permission, but that is not necessary Bhargu", Prabir said scratching his head.

"Okay! Go and rest now", Bhargavi replied softly.

She slowly followed him to his room and looked around to see if Winky was hiding anywhere in his room but was relieved that she wasn't there.

Prabir laid down on his back, on the bed and drifted off to sleep almost immediately.

Bhargavi lovingly ran her fingers in his hair and walked out of the room, not wanting to wake him up.

Parul and Sarvesh were searching around everywhere for Winky but she had disappeared from everyone's sight.

Bhawani walked in with Bhargavi's laptop bag placed on her back, holding KitKat gently. She was amazed to find Dhruv sitting on the floor and playing cards with the people, whose presence he couldn't even tolerate prior to this.

She found Bhargavi sitting on the stairs and rapidly approached her, " Di, here's your laptop and Kitkat's towel and everything is in here. I assumed that you will have to stay here for a while longer", she informed.

"Thank you Bhawani", Bhargavi replied with a grin.

They saw Sarvesh moving the sofa and looking for something.

"Di what is he searching for?" Bhawani asked curious.

"Paru's precious little kitten has been missing, she must be sneaking in somewhere, hiding in a corner", Bhargavi chuckled. " You want to join the search party?" She asked.

"No, I am not interested. I'll hand over KitKat for now.

Di where is Prabir Bhaiya?" Bhawani enquired.

"He is resting Bhawani. He was out the entire night yesterday", Bhargavi replied sadly.

"But these people here are screaming at the top of their voices, won't he get disturbed?" Bhawani asked.

He is sleeping like a careless little baby with no worries and concerns, Bhargavi thought to herself as a wide smile covered her face.

"No, he won't be disturbed Bhawani, don't worry", Bhargavi blabbered.

Bhawani placed KitKat in Parul's hands, and asked her to take KitKat's towel and other things from Bhargavi.

KitKat was taken in first for a bath. Sarvesh placed her in the bathroom sink but Parul protested," she'll try to jump out Sarvesh and get hurt.

Please put her in the dry bath tub and let her sniff around for several minutes, till she gets comfy in there.

Then we will try to wet her paws first", she filled a pitcher with water and gently poured water in the small bath tub.

KitKat started to panic and tried to claw her way out of Sarvesh's hold. Parul poured water completely drenching her.

She hated the bath with every fiber of her adorable being.

Parul took about a dime - size portion of shampoo and spread the shampoo on her fur making a rich lather with soft short strokes. She prevented water from running down her face.

Sarvesh had moved over to again fill in the pitcher, in the meantime, KitKat the tiny soapy kitten slipped from Parul's hands and ran away from the bathtub.

Parul giggled out at the hilarious little kitten, who cast her a nasty look almost saying, ' just try and put that shampoo on me again. Try it one more time. I dare you.'

"Grasp her by the scruff else she's going to bite you", Parul screamed as Sarvesh raced to get a hold of KitKat, who shook off herself trying to get rid of the shampoo, drenching him wet.

Sarvesh held her up by the scruff and she meowed louder and louder to scare him. He gently placed his palm under her tummy, as she could slip out of his hands being soapy and slippery.

KitKat bit his arm in an attempt to flee but was held more strongly. He dropped her in the bathtub once again and Parul scrubbed her, wiped her face with the wet washcloth.

She used the cotton balls to clean her ears and then Sarvesh poured water gently, rinsing the shampoo of her.

Then Sarvesh wrapped her up in the towel and lifted her out of the bathtub. He tried to towel dry her gently and she pawed at his face lightly.

When she was almost dry he let her go.

"Parul how will we survive bathing one more funny animal like her?" Sarvesh quizzed.

"Your hand is bleeding, did she bite you?" Parul asked concerned.

"It's okay! Don't worry. Who bathes KitKat usually, or was this the first time she..." Sarvesh enquired.

"Bhaiya, he bathes both KitKat and Winky alone. Bhargu Di tried bathing KitKat once but got bitten and scratched by her. Bhaiya also trims their claws.

It amazes me you know, KitKat has never ever scratched Bhaiya and she just loves to cuddle up with him, but with the rest of us she behaves like a wild kitten", Parul said cheerfully.

Parul found Winky in the kitchen cabinet, sleeping cozily inside a drawer. She too was taken for a bath and the similar process was repeated, she had a pitiable expression on her face, as if saying, ' why must you put me through this?'

After her bath, Sarvesh waited for her to shake off herself like KitKat but she only stared at him as if he was an idiot. He towel dried her and let her free.

Sarvesh was fatigued, with rivers of perspiration coursing his back, he slumped on the sofa in the living room.

Bhargavi came downstairs, for a short break after having worked for a long time and saw Sarvesh's miserable condition. " Why don't you take a bath and freshen up Sarvesh?" She asked softly.

"I will love to but...I don't have any clothes here and I already have given Manoj a day off after he dropped off Ishaan Bhaiya", Sarvesh sighed.

"The last time you had left your clothes here, did you take them back?" Bhargavi enquired.

Parul came and handed Sarvesh a lemonade. He took it and taking a sip said, " no, but I don't know where to find those."

"I'll check if it's in Prabir's closet, or bring his clothes for you", Bhargavi said and walked upstairs to Prabir's room.

She found Sarvesh's clothes neatly folded and placed in a corner in Prabir's closet and handing them over to Sarvesh,she walked back to Prabir's room.

Prabir woke up in a frenzied state and rolling out of bed swiftly held Bhargavi in his arms, squeezing life out of her, and enquired after sometime, "Did something happen Bhargu? You okay? What time is it now? How long did I sleep?"

His hair was dishevelled,at one side his shirt was tucked in properly, but on the other side the tail of the shirt was clearly visible. He looked petrified.

She placed her index finger on his lips and murmured, "Everything is okay Prabu. Did you sleep well? You look adorably cute."

He looked at the watch placed on his table and was startled, " it's 2 o'clock. Why didn't you wake me up Bhargu? We need to go to the hospital."

"I had called up Uncle and he said that he will have his lunch in the hospital canteen for today and I also had called Baba and Bhairav Uncle to inform them that we will be able to visit in the evening.

For now I have ordered lunch for everyone, but I need your help with the payment as I have a meagre amount left in my account.

Freshen up and come downstairs, then I'll leave, Maa is waiting for me", Bhargavi whispered softly and pecked his cheeks.

He nodded softly still gazing at her intensely.

"You had a bad dream right?" Bhargavi inquired.

He looked at her sadly, and the next moment she was in his arms as he whispered, "It was a stupid dream
that scared the hell out of me.

Bhargu, promise me you will not enter the kitchen and not go anywhere near fire."

Then he cupped her face and kissed her hard. He wanted to desperately be as close to her as possible, not sparing a single thought about gentleness. Bhargavi was startled at first. She felt like being levitated off the ground and floating in the air.

When he lifted his head slowly, breathing heavily, he apologized, " Bhargu I apologise for not being gentle. Please forgive me."

"It's okay! You don't have to apologise Prabir", she whispered softly and ran downstairs.