Prabir who was seated on his study table observed Bhargavi carefully like a hawk and said indifferently,
" Bhargu. I can fathom how Maa might be feeling now. She told me that you have never lived with out her even for a single day. When you had...spent five days here in Jaroha, before she came from Parili to join you.

I know that she is deeply repenting for what she did, but I am also aware of the fact that she won't change and will be repeating the same things again."

"Speaking about our marriage," he said softly," I want you to wait till you complete your master's program and get a decent job, which will perhaps take a minimum of two years."

She stared at him unable to comprehend why he wasn't in a mood of getting married, when he even had his father's permission.

"Are you reconsidering your decision of getting married because of..," Bhargavi started to enquire but was sharply stopped by Prabir. "No!" He retorted back angrily in an instant, shocking Bhargavi.

He cupped her face and whispered," Bhargu.I am not someone who is afraid to make commitments... Remember what I told you...I need to ensure that I get Maa married first before we get married,when you first spoke about us getting married.

After what she did to you, I am not sending you back to her but we can't get married without her permission or in her absence, she is your guardian. I have partly resolved some of the misunderstands between you two but still there's a lot more to do."

"I really hope you can get her married to someone within a short time span of two years and I don't have to wait for eons.

How about you plan on finding husband's for both Winky and KitKat too?" She snapped disgusted.

"Yeah! Why not?" Prabir said cheerfully. He was totally enjoying her disappointment.

And so you want me to stay in a PG ( paying guest) all this time?" She quizzed sadly.

"That is the only option we have Bhargu," he replied back looking gloomy and dejected before leaving.

He asked the nurse on the ground floor to lock up the door as he went to meet Ms. Nalini. Mayank had already left in search for a part-time job in Rimpson.

Prabir whistled all the way upstairs happily before pressing the door bell. He was tempted to give Ms. Nalini an ear full when she wept and sobbed bitterly asking him to convince Bhargavi but all his anger had turned into something extremely sweet when he saw Bhargavi's obsession in getting married to him.

"Prabir," Ms. Nalini said hugging him and broke down, being emotionally drained as soon as she opened the door. Prabir supported her and made her sit on the sofa beside him. Her eyes were swollen,red and puffy.

"I am not a good mother Prabir, I hurt her so badly that she...she left the house.She went to stay with her father leaving us. I said such awful things...that she detests me," she went on to pour out her heart.

"Maa. She will never detest you. She is hurt badly and it will take some time for the deep emotional scars to heal," he said consoling her, wiping her tears.

She is on pins and needles, as you keep calling her. She thinks you might be discovering new ways to torment yourself, Prabir's thoughts rushed in spontaneously.

"Maa.I love Bhargu. She is very special to me.
I promise to take good care of her for the rest of her life. I will always honor, respect and cherish your daughter," he said softly gauging her reactions holding her palms in his hands.

Ms. Nalini was listening to him intently, mesmerized by his comforting presence and assurance of taking care of her daughter for the rest of her life.

"Maa.I am asking for Bhargu's hand in marriage. She feels the same way for me as I do. Please bless us," he mumbled feeling unsure about her response.

Ms.Nalini wailed," Prabir. I know you will honor and cherish her, unlike me...A cruel person who only knows to beat up her daughter like a monster. Please bring my daughter back home Prabir I don't want anything else. I swear I will never again lay a finger on her," she said burying her face in his chest.

"I never understood my own child. I said such mean and harsh things to her," she went on blubbering.

Prabir held her firmly and said,"Maa. I will bring her back."

"Will she ever forgive me Prabir?

I found so much cash in her room, I couldn't believe my own eyes, and then she had her lips sealed tight shut.

I punished her for being so adamant and for her boorishness. I told her that I never want to see her face again...that she is a curse in my life," she said dolefully.

Prabir remembered the words Bhargavi had blabbered in her sleep,

Maa I will never show you my face again if that is what you want. I will never return home.

She was beaten up like shit! Yet, had not spoken a word about having been stabbed...only because her Maa would be fretful and she was contemplated to be nothing more than a curse.

His thoughts instantly made him lose his cool demaneour.

He said sharply," As much as it pains me to say... Bhargu doesn't deserve it.

I certainly don't reprimand strict disciplining but there's a difference between disciplining and abuse.

If someone goes looking for loopholes, your bunch of strict rules and guidelines won't let him/her stay astray from a wrong path. One needs to learn to do the right things on their own.

Bhargavi is a grown up lady, having good and sensible judgment. She knows what she is doing.

I have seen you hit her twice in the past. When anger drives you to such an extent that you harm your own daughter, you should consult with doctors for counselling...to deal with your anger management issues.

If I were in her place maybe I would have never forgiven you, but she will.

God forbids if something happens to you, she will be the first person to  step in... to help, even though you said that...she's unworthy of even being called a daughter."

He looked in her eyes, now feeling a little better that he had liberated some of his emotions, but then perceiving her burdened with a guilty conscience, he said in a soft tone," Maa. Don't make a storm on a tea cup. I'll bring back Bhargu and she will forgive you, but promise me you will never hit her again...at no cost."

"Thank you Prabir...th..thank you, I swear I will never hurt her again," she said shamefaced.

"I'll convince her to call you. Don't tell her anything about our marriage yet," Prabir said cheerfully and left after a while having a cup of tea with Ms. Nalini. Neither he, nor Ms. Nalini remembered about the skirts or wigs as he left.

He was quickly running downstairs when a little three years old girl dashed into him, who was running upstairs. He held her arm preventing her from falling on her back.

"That is my granddaughter Sia," Mr. Ghosh informed beaming with joy watering the plants in the garden with his grandson, who was seven years old. Prabir picked her up in his arms smiling happily and said,"Sia...if you fall down from the stairs, you know what will happen?"

She looked up at him surprised.

"All your teeth will be gone. There's a big fat mice in the garden, it will take all your teeth," he said dramatically, making her squirm and cover her mouth. He placed a kiss on her forehead gently before dropping her on the floor.

He formally introduced himself to the kids Sia and Som, spoke with Mr. Ghosh and his daughter Mrs. Naira Roy. Then he excused himself saying he had some work and returned home.

He pressed the doorbell and was aghast to see Bhargavi open the door. The first think she asked was," Is Maa okay?"

"Yeah! She's fine. Don't worry,"he said coolly.

"All this time you were with her, it's been more than an hour?" She enquired rolling her eyes.

"Yes! Where would I go Bhargu?" He replied back casually.

"Umm...okay come upstairs. I need to show you something," she said and started to walk away.

When they were upstairs she pulled Prabir's t-shirt and inquired," What is this?"

"What do you mean? It's a t-shirt Bhargu," he replied casually.

"Yeah! Yeah! Thank you so much for enlightening me but why does this smell of a lady's perfume may I ask?" She said annoyed.

Prabir let out a chortle," Bhargu. You think I am cheating on you?" He asked seriously.

"Who knows Prabu? You might be having someone else in your heart...You could be using Maa as an excuse for not getting married," she said irked.

"What an idiot you are Bhargu!" He sighed." I had picked up a four years old child in my arms, Ghosh Uncle's granddaughter. She had used her mother's perfume," he retorted smirking.

"I won't need a kitchen stove, you will be enough to burn and bake all the dishes," he added sarcastically.

"Yes! I am jealous, even that little girl can hug you," she replied mournfully.

He cupped her face and placed his forehead on hers.
" I am a disappointment right Prabu? Extremely jealous, super clingy, highly possessive?"She quizzed sadly.

"You are the most valuable possession I have Bhargu. I love you being clingy, possessive and jealous," he mumbled looking into her eyes.

"Come here...I need to show you this.

This will be enough to dismantle the entire empire Nishwas Sinha has created.

I am not sure though, if we should be using social media to expose him. He could file social media lawsuit cases against us, claiming that we are defaming him.

A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on it's shoes as said by Mark Twain.

What if he calls us liers and scamster's? " Bhargavi probed, showing him some clippings on her laptop.

A/N: Well, so that's it for this update as of now and this is the last chapter in this volume.

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