Ziko's name stroke a distinct chord in Bhargavi's mind and she froze.

The man awkwardly stepped back to steady himself after having received the powerful blow that almost knocked him unconscious.

"Why are you here?" Mayank asked him,keeping his voice as low as possible not wanting to gain everyone's attention.

"That's none of your concerns," he snapped back spitting blood on the floor.

"Mayank. Who is he?" Bhargavi quizzed puzzled.

"You don't have to know who I am...but you're a complete bombshell girl," the man replied back casually with a malicious smirk.

"Shut up! Reed and get lost. I don't want anymore trouble,"Mayank grunted.

"I'm here to have some fun," Reed said.

"You have your teeth broken, wasn't that fun enough? Then how about I pull out your eyeballs from their sockets?" Bhargavi said annoyed. "Mayank. I don't care who he is anymore. Just throw him out on the streets."

"We can't let him go Bhargavi.He knows your true identity. What if he exposes you...that you worked with Ziko? If we don't want your image tarnished, we'll have to deal with this serious trouble," Mayank whispered to Bhargavi after dragging her away from Reed.

"Oh! What a genius you are Mayank!" Bhargavi said, but the sarcasm was lost on him.

"But for how long can we captivate him here...like a hostage? Yes! He knows my true identity, but would you please inform me why hasn't he revealed it yet? He is here...for something, and it's not just a fascination of grabbing a woman," Bhargavi whispered back.

"Well! That was exactly what he did," Prabir said smiling. He had left Bhawani with Parul and Ananya.

"Bloody hell! What I mean is he might have ulterior motives," Bhargavi sighed.

"I think he's here for you Bhargu. The way he stares at women, he's a freak...he was like salivating.

Is there anything you know about his past Mayank, maybe about his family, parents or siblings?" Prabir questioned.

"He doesn't have a family. He is an ex- jail convict, a thief, and a pocket picker. He worked as an informant under Ziko...and Ziko ensured that she was miles away from him at all times," Mayank informed.

"Prabir. Can you please ask him not to stare at me like that? He's getting on my nerves and I don't want to end up again hitting between the wickets...you know what I mean,"Bhargavi said frustrated.

Before Prabir could say or do something Mayank asked," Hitting between the wickets? What do you mean by that?"

"You know what happened to Shekhar. She means that," Prabir whispered in Mayank's ears softly and walked towards Reed who had been curiously staring at other girls in the party, especially their legs and hips, now that Bhargavi had fixed a death stare at him.

"Stop! Stop. Staring like that," Prabir said in a very loud voice that made everyone turn their heads in his direction.

"You can't reprimand people for staring. People stare all the time at everyone, and everything...this doesn't mean you can go about shouting at them. I am not harming anyone. Yes! I grabbed her, she's so hot and spicy." He stated and his voice choked when Prabir held his throat with his right hand.

"Your gaze tells me what's really on your mind and it is making all the girls highly uncomfortable. I am not reprimanding you...I am warning you," Prabir said releasing his strong chokehold.

Gasping for breath, Reed coughed hard. Smiling at him, Prabir slapped on his back as people looked at them. "Tell me why are you here? What do you want?" Prabir asked softly.

"I wanted to have some good food. I haven't eaten in days and I also could easily steal some money," Reed replied back honestly.

"Why don't you just work to earn some money? Why do you have to steal it?"

"No one gives a damn about me. No one is bothered if I am alive or dead. I don't have any education. I started living on the streets as a beggar and then was forcibly turned to a thief. My master, was the only one who cared for me and now that he's gone..." Reed said and looked away overwhelmed with emotions.

Swiftly pulling him into a hug, Prabir startled him. "Come with me," he pleaded and served him food. "Don't steal money from anyone, I'll give you some money okay," he added observing him gulp down everything on the plate as quickly as possible, forgetting all about his broken teeth.

"Had it not been your birthday, I would have definitely punched you. How can you hug a person like him Prabir?" Bhargavi asked annoyed, when they were having their dinner together.

"Why don't you just go ahead then, c'mon punch me. I won't mind at all," he sighed.

"I'm sorry.I didn't mean it. You know... I am not finding the right words to say but..." She stammered looking into his eyes. The anger reflected in his eyes was nothing more than a shield to hide his pain. The pain could tumble out any moment clattering the shield to the ground.

"Don't go around hugging all random weirdos and creeps Prabir. We don't know when...he had last taken a bath,"she said gloomily, making him smile.

"Okay! Now stop talking and eat something. Your plate is loaded with food and I know you're starving," Prabir said calmly, placing a kiss on her forehead.

"Noticing so many people invited to the party, Reed sneaked in... only to have some good food. He's been starving for days Bhargu.Hunger makes him do things... like steal money from others,"Prabir said softly.

"How do you trust people so easily? How are you certain that he has been telling the truth?" Bhargavi questioned alarmed. "People are not always as honest as you think they are Prabir, some are like venomous snakes who shed their skin from time to time. Did you ever imagine Shekhar, out of all people here tonight...would question about your relationship with Bhawani?"

Silently listening to Bhargavi, Prabir only stuffed food in his mouth till Shekhar walked up to him slowly and apologized. "Prabir. I am sorry. I don't know what... what was wrong with me. I had a pretty bad day and wanted to spend some good time with Bhawani but all she cared about...was the man who kept staring at her. I was pissed and then...then I saw her smile and laugh in your arms...I...I just lost my mind."

"Mmm hmm... I am sure you had a really good reason for saying stuff like that.

She's my sister alright! And for God's sake, I was trying to comfort her only because you...made her cry. She wanted you to trust her and make her feel safe, rather than turn tonight's party into some damn freak show.

And one more thing, there's no need to apologise...as no amount of apologies will be enough... after you have ended up spitting on my character," Prabir said and walked away followed by Bhargavi.

This wasn't what Bhargavi had expected. Prabir's mood was spoilt on his birthday. However, she knew he enjoyed the food. He was tired of eating the food he cooked on his own.
Bhargavi felt a bit relaxed that people had started to leave, Ananya had left with her elder brother .....while Parul was engaged in a conversation with Sarvesh, Mayank had been giving company to Bhawani, who looked like a zombie by now. All the energy in her had been zapped away. Throwing away her heels she relaxed her feet.

"Thank you for punching that perverted creep," Bhawani told Mayank smiling, starting a conversation,when the silence was too much to bear.

"You should go to your room and rest. You seem too tired," Mayank suggested, almost avoiding her statement. She noticed his eyes were moist.

"What is it? Are you okay? You want me to leave you alone?" She asked one question after another without a pause.

"I'm wondering, how much Keya enjoyed parties. You know, we were like...in the same boat. She loved Prabir and I liked ...mm...you, but we had our fates twisted really hard. While Prabir loves Bhargavi, you loved or maybe still love Ishaan.

When we met at first, most of the time she would talk only about Prabir and all I could say was that I really like you, but I didn't know much about you. When I told her how I had abducted you and tried to molest you.

I had expected her to hate me but instead what she said was...you love her so much. You did all of this not because, she had slapped you or hurt your ego but because...you were both mad and jealous that she chose Ishaan over you.

Yes! I was insane, I wanted you to be mine. The way I had hurt you that day, has been...all returned to me... maybe a lot more, but I deserve it.

Keya and I had started to understand each other better with every passing day, and we started enjoying each other's company. It was all fun and games till we fell in love with each other." When Mayank paused, tears rolled down his cheeks and he wiped his face harshly with the sleeves of his shirt. The next instant, he felt her soft delicate body clinging close to his chest. "Don't do this! I'm fine!" He whispered and tried to step back. To his amazement, she had teared up once again and wasn't letting him go. Somehow, he felt embarrassed when he noticed Prabir's pensive gaze fixed on him. He was thankful that this incident had yet not come to Bhargavi's notice.

"Don't cry," it was all he could mutter not knowing how to console her. Considering his voice was neither gentle nor soothing, it only made matters worse, as she started having hiccups and loud sobs ceaselessly.

Parul, Bhargavi and Mr. Banerjee had been bidding goodbyes to all while Prabir had rushed inside concerned about Bhawani. Mayank looked at him pleading for help.

"Bhawu. What happened?"Prabir enquired politely.

Turning around, Bhawani said,
"Bhaiya! Please tell Shekhar never to call or text me again. He knows that I am insane and that it was the...reason why...I had broken up with him. I hear voices, imagine things like...like people staring at me. How is he supposed to put up with all this?

Today, after what he has told, only God knows what he's gonna say if I meet my friends or colleagues tomorrow. Is this even love Bhaiya?"

"No more crying, Bhawu please. And you're not a puppet and Shekhar's not a puppet master who can pull the strings to control you.
Your decision is final. It's up to you if you want to forgive him, give him one more chance or have nothing to do with him anymore.

Life is going to be hard Princess, if you breakdown like this every single time something bad happens...
We all have our own journeys that we have to walk all on our own.

Now, go upstairs,get changed and go to bed. You both have to do well in your exams, remember that." Prabir's words had instilled in a new confidence in both Mayank and Bhawani. The dull and gloomy appearances on their faces had faded away, replaced with confident little smiles.

"Sometimes...you talk just like Di and she speaks just like you, as if your personalities have been interchanged," Bhawani remarked cheerfully before going upstairs to her room.

Helping out in the kitchen, on Prabir's instructions, Reed had decided to work in exchange for some money. "I'll ask Baba to fix your teeth tomorrow. You can go with him to the hospital," Prabir had added politely.

Out of the blue, Reed came running out of the kitchen as if hitting a jackpot. He screamed," Yahoo! Yahoo!"

"What is it Reed?" Prabir asked excited.

"May I keep this. Please," he enquired somberly. He had found a tiny rat. "He's so friendly. I guess its family left it behind or it somehow lost its way."

"Yes! You can keep him, but it will be hard to keep him safe from the cats," Prabir sighed.

"You have cats?"

"Yes! Two cats and a little pup. Baba left them all in one of his friend's place for tonight as the loud music and so many people would scare them. Wait a minute! Here...you can keep him in this," Prabir said handing him a cage. "I had purchased this to catch rats. It's a trap cage. Tomorrow we will buy a big wire cage for him."

Thanking Prabir whole heartedly, he took the cage and gently ushered his little friend inside. Slumping down on the couch beside Prabir, Bhargavi whispered softly," He was so happy to find a pinkie little cute baby rat in the kitchen?"

"Mm...hmm. He's too lonely Bhargu. I don't think he's lying. He needs a friend. He needs someone to guide him. What? Why are you looking at me like this?" Prabir asked finding her admiring gaze on him.

"You care so much about who needs what and how you can help change people's life in a positive way. In the same way as you paint the canvass with colours, you always have a desire to fill everyone's life with joy and happiness. You've changed the way I used to see life and are slowly changing the way I see people," Bhargavi whispered.

"Still you want to punch me," Prabir said morosely, making a pout. Laughing, she said,"You definitely deserve a punch.
Did you even see the gifts I have given you? No! You couldn't find time for it. They are still lying there in the kitchen cabinet, aren't they?"

Without replying, Prabir stood up and urged Mayank to take Reed with him to sleep in the Ghosh residence.

"I can sleep here on the couch," Reed exclaimed sadly.

"No. no. no. I'm not sharing this couch with you and you wouldn't be able to sleep with Baba as his snores are extremely loud. Don't worry! He won't hit you again. You don't have to be scared.
Bhargu. You too go and get changed," Prabir stated, and received an icy glare from Bhargavi.

After Mayank and Reed had left, having locked the doors, he walked back to her. She stood rooted to the ground, having decided not to go upstairs till he told her if he liked the gifts. Pulling her close, he mumbled,"Thank you for everything Bhargu. For making this day so special. I love those oil paints, the brushes and soft pastel pencils."

This was the moment he had been waiting for patiently throughout the day. Everyone in the house had retired to their rooms and most probably felt asleep by now.

Holding her in his arms, he squeezed her happily smiling. "I don't know much about brushes or colours, I had asked for Raunak's help and he recommended these. He paints good as well, though your works can't be compared to his," Bhargavi said.

Spinning her around, he removed each and every hair clip and pin, releasing her voluminous shinning tresses. "You're so lovely," he whispered hugging her from the back, before spinning her around once again to face him. His heart banged loudly in his chest, as he looked at her. "You have a beguiling charm. You're truly mesmerizing."

Raising herself on her toes, she softly dropped a kiss on his forehead startling him. "Goodnight!" She wished him, and ran upstairs, holding the plaits of her saree as high as she could knowing too well that her mother would have reprimanded her for being so unladylike.

Author's note:

Well! I know I suck at writing and descriptions are the end of me😂😂🤣

Thank you all my beloved readers for still enduring all this.

Happy Reading to all and thanks a lot!