The wild dream, made Bhargavi sit up straight in a cold sweat. With her heart racing wild, she quickly wanted to run downstairs to ensure Prabir was alright, however, her legs froze like blocks of ice. Without making any noise, she slowly crept downstairs, holding onto the balustrade tight to help her maintain balance.

Hearing the sounds of her anklets chiming, Prabir looked in her direction and the strange look she held, made him gulp hard. He could clearly see that she was struggling to walk as if she had taken some sleeping pills or was hallucinating. Still awake he was fiddling with his phone, after going through his emails.

Sitting down on the steps, Bhargavi teared up. Her fingers were curled up around the balustrade in a very firm grip. "What's wrong? Are you okay?" Prabir asked puzzled and worried, sitting next to her. Unable to say anything that he would understand, she uttered amidst sobs," H...H...How could he do this to you?"

"Who did what? What in the world happened to you Bhargu?" Prabir asked and pulled her in his arms. Letting go the hold on the balustrade, now she clinged to his chest trembling. "You're so cold!" Prabir said softly stroking her hair.

Carrying her in his arms, he dropped her on the couch gently and covered her up with sheets, sliding in beside her. "Stop crying now will you? Baby. I'm right here. It was just a dream...a nightmare," he sighed as she wept inconsolably.

Observing her still shivering, he kissed her delicately, till she calmed down. The beautiful warm smile, Prabir had on his face, as his lips parted her's made her heart skip a beat. "It's all my fault Bhargu. I couldn't spend time with you on my birthday, as I had wished... Throughout the day I was surrounded with people or attending phone calls."

"How's that your fault?"

"Maybe your subconscious mind is prompting you to believe that...I have a lot of time for everyone but you or that...I love you no more. Why else would you be this terrified? Or maybe, you just saw me die."

Starting to hit him hard on his arms and shoulders angrily, Bhargavi snapped," You say that again and see what I do."

Laughing he held her hands and pulled her in his arms. "Beat me up, yell at me... that's much better than watching you cry," he whispered.

"You really don't love me Prabir. Why did you say that?" Bhargavi murmured and looked away with moist eyes.

"What I said...was what you had seen in your nightmare Bhargu. Can you deny it?"

As a glimpse of what she had seen in her dream flashed in front her eyes, she shut her eyes tight and tears started to roll down her cheeks. Prabir laid motionless in a pool of blood, hit with a dozen of hockey sticks and metal rods. All colour drained from her face and it turned ashen. The villain in her dream had been Reed, the leader of the gang that targeted Prabir. Right before falling asleep, Bhargavi was wondering what Reed had meant while he had grabbed her and said "you don't know me?"

Something was fishy about his character, Bhargavi thought. Of all places in the world, why did he choose, the Banerjee residence or even Jaroha...what was his motive? Was Mayank right?

Pursing her lips,she fell silent not sure if Prabir would understand her concerns. He gladly trusted people and could keep reasoning with her that Reed's appearance could just be a coincidence. Making up her mind quickly to gather more clues, information and evidence about Reed, she decided to tell Prabir everything later.

Without pestering her with questions, Prabir said softly stroking her hair," I love you Bhargu. See I am fine...Now, stop worrying about me. It was a terrible nightmare. I too have a lot of nightmares that are nasty,scary and dreadful... But the dream that matters, is the one I see with my eyes open. A dream where...you're my wife and today we have come a bit closer to it."

Finally,Prabir's words made her smile at him and his heart was at peace. Both of them eventually drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Bhargavi woke up, listening to the prolonged cooing sound of pigeons. Finding herself still sleeping on the couch slowly, rubbing her eyes, she walked into the kitchen looking for Prabir.

"Good morning love," he said peeling vegetables, offering her a warm smile. The slanting, morning rays of the sun filtered in through the kitchen window.  

"Good morning! What time is it?"

"Seven. Don't worry! The breakfast is almost ready."

"Why didn't you call me Prabir?" She asked yawning.

"There was no reason to wake you up Bhargu, when you were sleeping so peacefully. Anyways, freshen up and come downstairs, I'll make you some coffee."

"Will Mr. Reed be staying here?" She asked as if obviously knowing what Prabir would reply.

"No!"

"Won't you be helping him? I mean...helping him change into a better person...a person who earns money and doesn't steal it from others," Bhargavi asked anxious.

"I'm no Messiah my dear. I did what I could...I let him stay at Ghosh Uncle's place for a night, I let him eat to his heart's content yesterday at the party, even gave him some money for buying a rat's cage...for his new little friend but that was it. I asked him to leave today. I can't let him linger around my family because it will be a life risk for him and... I don't want either you or me to end up in jail for brutally ending someone's life... as a murderer."

"You're... you're such a genius!" Bhargavi exclaimed excited and relieved. Jumping up, she threw her arms around his neck  and whispered,"You always kill all my worries."

"I see, so Reed then...was starring in your nightmare yesterday?"

"Did you have to ruin my mood like this?" She sighed. "Don't remind me of that stupid nightmare."

Holding her closer, he whispered in her ears,"I'll continously keep reminding you about that nightmare."

"What?" She quizzed and broke free from his hold. Again pulling her back in his arms he said,"If you don't want me to do this...then... promise me that you won't keep your worries to yourself anymore.
Why can't you share your worries with me Bhargu? Am I still a stranger? Why didn't you let me know that you were worried that I'll try to help Reed and...that you don't want me to help him?"

"I thought you'll say that I am overly suspicious and there's nothing wrong with trying to help someone. It could all be a coincidence, he might not even know my true identity as Mayank suspected, rather he might have grabbed me only because it is his nature...he's a womanizer. I have the tendency of forming opinions about people at first sight, knowing nothing about them."

"Oh! Bhargu!" He laughed. "Without me having said a word, you imagined all of it. You know how special you are to me? Reed should be grateful that I haven't yet broken his hands and have let him disappear from my sight."

"You didn't ask him to leave but threatened him?" Bhargavi quizzed looking at his gemstone green eyes, puzzled, scanning his face for some clues. He had clearly hidden his jealousy, anger and wrath from her behind his delicate sweet smile.

"Mr. Prabir Banerjee is jealous? Really?"

"Yes! I am Bhargu. You are mine. I can't stand to see you in someone else's arms. That ****** is lucky he's still alive," Prabir said outraged.

Without speaking a word, Bhargavi walked to the wash basin to wash her face and suddenly, splashed water at Prabir, sticking out her tongue. The more he tried to move close to her, the more drenched he would get.

"Stop it Bhargu. You're flooding the kitchen," he said before grabbing her from the back.

"Wake up Prabir! You're not like me. You're not Bhargavi. You don't walk around threatening people."

"I am a lot like you Bhargu but I am not you? Had a girl grabbed me like that...you would have definitely pulled out her hair and mine too. Okay!Now go and freshen up," he smirked. 

Clearing his throat, Mr. Banerjee stood at the kitchen door. "I was looking for a cup of tea and my newspaper. Sorry to interrupt you both," he said softly, picking up the newspaper from the table.

"Baba. We were umm...just... I'll make some tea for you," Prabir murmured, staring straight at the wall avoiding his father's gaze.

"I know what you were umm...just... doing my boy and I don't mind, because I know that neither of you two will overstep your boundaries," he said and strolled away.

"He's such a cool father!" Bhargavi exclaimed. "Had Maa seen this...I wouldn't be walking on my feet...rather limping or maybe crawling on the floor. I would also have bluish black bruises all over..."

"Hitting you won't make you love him any less and vice versa. And for whatever reasons, Prabir just held you in his arms, so what?
You weren't doing anything that you should be feeling ashamed of," Mr. Banerjee replied overhearing Bhargavi's remark. "Telling the truth, I am proud of both of you. The way you both are helping Bhawani; having already forgiven her for...pushing Nalini down the stairs...trying to cajole her to take her meds regularly. And Bhargavi, I know what happened to Ziko. Prabir told me everything. He was a good friend of yours. There's nothing wrong in supporting each other."

Turning round, Bhargavi fixed an angry stare at Prabir. As soon as Mr. Banerjee left the kitchen, she hissed,"You couldn't tell him about your nightmares or insomnia because he would worry...then how could you tell him about Ziko?"

Placing his index finger on her lips, he silenced her and said," He saw the portrait of Ziko and asked me about him. All I said was...that he died in a car crash."

Starting to mop the kitchen floor, he added laughing,"You're the one creating mess Bhargu, while I only clean it up."

Snatching the mop stick from him, she pushed him away angrily. "Fine! I'll clean up my own mess." Her angry movements, let her hair cascade down her back, which was entangled in a messy bun somehow. She placed the mop stick aside to tie up her hair again in a bun and realized that it had been snatched away. "Give it back!" She yelled.

"Go and freshen up Bhargu. Leave this to me," he said politely, placing his chin on the mop stick.

"Why will you clean up my mess? Let me do it," she snapped back. When refused, she took a glass of water and splashed it on Prabir's face.

"What are you doing Bhargu?" He yelled.

"You are wet Prabir. You need to change your clothes before you catch a cold. Stop arguing with me and go," she replied smiling. Thrusting the mop stick in her hands, he grumpily walked away.

"If she's so worried about me catching a cold, why did she throw water at me in the first place?" Prabir muttered softly on his way upstairs.

Taking a shower, when Prabir returned downstairs and strolled to the kitchen whistling, he found KitKat and Winky jump at him instantly, while Hope was wagging his tail extremely excited and growling, unable to reach him, tied at a corner in the kitchen.

"The Babies' day out is over and all your babies' are back," Bhargavi said laughing, observing that KitKat was trying to nibble on his fingers.

"Baba. You lied to me?" Prabir asked sardonically, looking at his father, who was sipping in his tea while reading the newspaper in the kitchen as usual."Bhargu, where did you hide them?"

"Why don't you ask them yourself?" She replied back casually, gesturing at Hope.

"KitKat! Your Mom's crazy," Prabir said softly stroking her.

"I didn't lie Prabir and I don't lie. I told you that I left them at my friend's place and I consider your Ghosh uncle as one of my friends. As we were not burning up crackers, and it was only loud music...all they needed was a bit of distraction...some toys to play with," Mr. Banerjee spoke lowering his reading glasses.

"KitKat's Dad is double crazy," Bhargavi said merrily, before rushing out of the kitchen. On her way, she bumped into Parul, and fell down.

"Di! You okay?" Parul questioned.
" Why are you in such a hurry?" 

"Ah! Hahaha! I am alright!" Bhargavi said laughing, slowly getting up. "Are you okay?"

Already dressed in their school uniforms, both Parul and Bhawani were staring at her. Avoiding their questions and stares she raced upstairs. "Bhaiya! Is Bhargu Di okay? She usually starts her day nowadays, by taking a shower and then praying. I found the Puja room doors still locked and Di...." Parul asked, as soon as she entered the kitchen.

"She's fine! Paru. There's nothing to worry," he replied. Having their breakfast silently, Bhawani softly said,"Bhaiya! As the exams are drawing up nearer, I'm...I'm not sure if I'll manage to pass in the exams and...scoring well is just out of question. I haven't covered even half of the syllabus. If I fail again this time, Maa will rip me apart with her words, even if she isn't able to beat me up."

Listening to her patiently, Mr. Banerjee replied instead of Prabir. "Bhawani. No one will beat you up or scold you even if you fail, it's a promise. However, I believe that you are going to perform well not just pass in your exams."

"Forty percent of your syllabus is covered but you're worried about the remaining sixty percent I suppose?" Prabir asked. Bhawani mutely nodded.

"How much of your syllabus is covered is not as important as what you have covered and how much conceptual clarity you have developed Bhawu.
We have selected the most important part of your syllabus, that will fetch you maximum marks because of lack of time ...but it is this forty percent of your syllabus that can help you attain more than sixty percent marks," Prabir explained calmly.

Author's note:

Okay!

Why this much of delay in updating you might be wondering?

Well...typing then deleting everything I had typed in and then again retyping something even more weird...and again deleting everything to start from the scratch...after performing this a couple of times...

Scratching the outside and churning the insides of my stupid brain...

Finally, here's this update.

Hope you enjoy!

Wish I had an elder brother like Prabir ....

Well that's enough of my rants and rumbles...

Enjoy! Happy Reading to all!!