Bhawani walked slowly towards Prabir and apologized," I am sorry Bhaiya I have let you down."

She bent low to touch his feet and he bounced back mumbling," What are you doing Bhawu?"

"Bhaiya please bless me...I want to become a person just like YOU.

Only you can manage to get Di react like a normal person and make her listen to you... which no one else can." Bhawani mumbled softly.

Prabir roared into laughter pulling her up and embraced her in a warm hug whispering," You crazy little kid.

You don't have to become like me or like anybody Bhawu. You are unique and special.

I am so proud of you baby."

Prabir held his cup of tea sipping slowly and passed Bhawani's cup in her hands.

"You really are...proud of me? But I returned so late yesterday and that too drunk. Aren't you upset with me?" Bhawani asked curiously.

"I won't lie. I was really upset. I can never expect you to be doing such things Bhawu.

I am not against you.. having fun or enjoying life but there are some limits and boundaries that should not be crossed.

I don't like the specific idea of MY LIFE ...MY RULES.

We went almost crazy worrying about you guys untill you returned home yesterday," Prabir confessed.

"I...I am so sorry Bhaiya,"Bhawani apologized sincerely.

"What did you mean by... I make Bhargu react like a normal person?" Prabir enquired with immense curiosity.

"Bhaiya... Di is a completely different person when she is with you. You make her feel happy.

She is very distant from both Maa and me and never opens up to us ...She never shares her worries or anxieties with us.

Before she met you she seemed to be fed up with everyday nuisance but now... she smiles a lot more than usual.

Maa's scoldings or even beating her up doesn't effect her.

She is never willing to listen to anyone talk about what she should do and what she shouldn't.

But she was listening to you so patiently like an obedient little child only a couple of minutes ago," Bhawani concluded wistfully.

Prabir quickly changed the topic as he knew that Bhargavi trusted and confided in him. She needed a true friend whom she could count upon and open up to, without the fear of being judged.

He himself hid a lot of things from his father and Parul but shared all of his secrets with Bhargavi.

He hid his pain under the facade of a plastered fake smile and sweet talk while she did the same, maintaining a poker face and an extremely rude attitude.

This talk was getting way too uncomfortable for him.

"Bhawu...you need to grow up as a strong and independent woman and by this I don't mean to say that ...

You have to handle all of your troubles alone... without any help or that you must pretend to stay strong... putting up a brave face before everyone while you silently cry your eyes out for entire nights.

Possessing strength doesn't mean to have no weakness at all.

Being independent doesn't mean that you are all alone in this world either.

You face any problem...just know that Bhargu and I are always there to help you out.

Staying strong and independent means ...to never give up.

I don't want to sound like a motivational speaker but I needed to clarify because in case you happen to misinterpret my words and you make blunders, Bhargu is going to.." Prabir paused in between showing with hilarious and dramatic actions of his hands, that Bhargavi would certainly slit his throat open and bury his head deep in soil.

Bhawani giggled out and all of a sudden they heard a loud noise of a tight slap. Both of them rushed to the living room.

Ms. Nalini held one of her slippers in her right hand and was ready to hit Bhargavi.

"Not the slippers Maa...and certainly not before HIM," Bhargavi said annoyed.

Ms. Nalini turned around to see Prabir standing close behind her and dropped the slipper in an instant. Then she slowly sank down on the sofa as a flood of fresh hot tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Maa... what's wrong? Why are you crying?

Okay! Fine! I won't run away. You can hit me as much as you want.

Here take mine," Bhargavi said agitated and tried to hand over her pair of slippers to Ms. Nalini.

Prabir couldn't help laughing. He was pleased with Bhargavi's child like innocence.

"You idiot! That man will never pay you back. You worked your fingers to the bone and saved all you could in the last three years for Bhawani's higher education but...

Bhargavi I haven't let your father spend a single Rupee on you or Bhawani ever after our separation. What has he ever done for you my child except beat you up to almost being dead?

How are you going to again save up that hefty amount?" Ms. Nalini blurted out disgusted and angry.

"Ah! Well it seems I was riding an elephant to catch a grasshopper," Bhargavi said amused and threw her slippers.

Prabir quickly approached Ms. Nalini and sat beside her, holding her in his arms. He then gestured Bhargavi to keep quiet placing his index finger on his lips. He mouthed at her the word
' hospital,' when she stared at him blankly unable to comprehend his gestures.

Bhargavi left immediately for her room in order to get dressed up.

"Maa...even if Bhargu doesn't get paid back by her father, her elder brother Raghav... will surely love to pay her back. I mean ...she helped save Raunak's life.

He is a gentleman and works in a reputed multinational company.

Even in case he refuses to pay back, we will find a solution Maa. Don't worry!

You trust the Almighty right? Then have faith in him and bless Bhargu Maa...

She acted in good conscience. It was the most honourable thing to do as your daughter.

You would have done the same thing... had you been there in Bhargu's place Maa.

Raunak was admitted to the hospital in a very pitiable condition. He did nothing so wrong to harm or hurt anyone that he should have been left to die without getting treated," Prabir said with quiet determination.

Bhargavi had put on her white jeans and a dusty pink half sleeved woven, round collar top with faux pearl embellishments, self - tie cuffs and a curved hem. She hastily pulled up her unkempt hair in a messy bun and drifted out of her room with her handbag.

"What happened to your hair?" Prabir enquired catching a glimpse of Bhargavi after he had calmed down Ms. Nalini.

"Umm..is it that bad? I mean who cares? I don't have the time to untangle my unruly hair...It is going to take forever and I didn't want to keep you waiting for so long,"Bhargavi said briefly.

"Bhawu please bring me her hair brush," Prabir said quickly glancing at Bhawani.

He held the hair brush and got up on his feet. He started to slowly untangle her hair and murmured in a very low almost inaudible voice," So you decided that you should make a hideaway for Pigeons ..."

"Yeah! Right! I got slapped thanks to you and now you tease me," Bhargavi mused and looked at him.

"Shush! Stay still.. don't move Bhargu," Prabir muttered. He made a messy, elegant, sophisticated yet casual high bun with her long hair strands. He left some hair loose in the front to cover the sides of her face.

Going downstairs, Prabir halted on one of the steps and pulled Bhargavi close to him. He caressed her red cheek and pressed his lips on it.

They slowly covered the remaining steps and left for the hospital on his bike.

She hugged him tight from the back once they had crossed their neighbourhood and sighed," Ah! You smelled so sweet when you first hugged me in the kitchen but now...you just smell like an ugly old woman."

"Old woman...yeah! Okay! But don't you dare call Maa ugly Bhargu," Prabir retorted back with a smirk.

He adjusted the rearview mirror to look at her laugh out on his casual remark.

"Sure you run into obstacles everyday but try to pang-wangle and keep moving forward," Prabir said amused.

They reached the hospital and Prabir got a call from Parul. He insisted,"Bhargu you go in...I'll be there in a few minutes," before he received the call.

"Hello! Bhaiya... Ghosh Uncle came looking for you. He needed your help to move some furniture and stuff in his house as one of his daughter's is about to visit... day after tomorrow in the morning.
Dhruv Bhaiya and I are going to help him. I will lock up the doors properly, don't worry," Parul concluded hastily.

"Okay! But be careful and don't hurt yourself," Prabir replied and walked inside the hospital premises. He was happy to know that Dhruv was putting in all efforts to mix up with people and was learning to lead a normal life casually.

He was jerked out of his reverie by a sudden kerfuffle. He was appalled at the sight of Bhargavi slapping a girl continuously for six times in a row non stop by pulling her hair hard.

He raced wildly upto her and held her from the back irately muttering," Bhargu stop it. What are you up to? Who is she?"

"How dare she treat me like a beggar? How could she throw a one Rupee coin at my face?" Bhargavi blurted out angrily, struggling in Prabir's hold.

"Why do you care Bhargu?" Prabir enquired in dismay.

"Just look at her Prabir ...She is as happy as a pig in muck only because she had the pleasure of insulting me. I will tear her arms and legs apart," Bhargavi hissed.

"She has an IQ less than the size of my shoe baby. Calm down Bhargu please," Prabir pleaded.

Bhargavi looked into his eyes and smiled at him. Her anger had turned into something sweet now.
" I am pleased with your generosity," she grinned.

"You...you are that b***** boyfriend?" The lady asked like a skittish chestnut mare.

"Oh! Lovely! How about I give you a taste of your own medicine lady?

So if you are done with your mumbo-jumbo let me make it clear that you incited bitter feelings for you... in ME by insulting my girl when I am standing right next to her.

You might not be having a mirror in your house and I know exactly why... because your face could scare the shit out of toilet.

You are so ugly that your portraits will be willing to hang themselves.
I truly sympathize with you. I mean how could one deal with such monstrosity every freaking day ? It's obviously better to never see yourself in the mirror," Prabir rattled out tersely.

He walked up to the lady who stood dumbstruck and placed a five hundred Rupee note in her hands sputtering," Treasure this till the last moment of your life as this is the first time I am being highly generous...even while brimming with so much of apathy.

No matter how rich, educated, talented or cool you believe you are. Ultimately, how you treat others tells it all."

Prabir held Bhargavi's arm and dragged her inside.

"Wow! You were amazing Prabu," Bhargavi gleefully said.

"It would have been inappropriate for me to beat up a woman in public. So I thought that I should deliver some justice to your ears," he said with strained cheerfulness.

"Who is she?" He asked again puzzled.

"She is Trishila. We studied together in school. She always insulted and humiliated me, because Maa would wear cheap sarees everytime she went to the school for our parent teacher meetings.

She is a spoilt brat Prabu," Bhargavi informed.

"My words were harsher than necessary Bhargu," Prabir said piously.

"Are you feeling sad for her? Seriously Prabir? She riled you up in the first place.

You are not a person filled with animosity Prabu...Who treats people badly. She deserved it," Bhargavi assured convincingly.

A/N: Hi Everyone!

Hope you all are doing well!!

Here's the new update and I hope you enjoy reading.