"Bhargu. Social media is the sole option we have. The more people we try to involve, the greater will be the risk.

If we hand over all these evidence to any news agency, that scoundrel Mr. Nishwas Sinha... might have his people working in almost all the news agencies across the city to inform him. I don't want to spare him a preparatory time so that he can come up with a backup plan.

We however, don't have to place ourselves on the edge of a knife, as we have a trump card," Prabir said thoughtfully.

"A TRUMP CARD?" Bhargavi quizzed astonished.

"Yes! Mayank Sinha.

I had only one condition to help save his mother that he will have to help me expose his father and if he doesn't have the guts to speak up against his father, he may take his mother and leave," Prabir informed and jotted down some points taking a note pad and a pen.

"Bhargu. Please check if I left out something or if something needs to be added," Prabir pleaded.

"You want him to read these points, while you make a video and upload it on his social media accounts?" Bhargavi enquired uncertainly.

"I'll make him repeat these bloody lines a million times if required but won't let him say a word on his own to screw us up. I have tolerated enough of this father - son duo's devious and dastardly deeds," Prabir spoke roughly, incensed.

"Did something happen? Did Maa say something?" Bhargavi probed.

"No! Why do you ask?" Prabir asked dryly.

"Then why the hell are you so furious?" She snapped.

"Well! I don't feel all exuberant about babysitting two little kids.

Umm...Naira Di, Ghosh Uncle's daughter, pulled my cheeks and asked me sweetly to look over her kids in the evening while she takes her father to a doctor as he has been refusing to have a check up done lately, though he has been sick for a while now," Prabir said annoyed.

"Isn't that a funny reason to be mad? You love kids," Bhargavi said amused.

"I am sure it sounds bonkers but do you realize how risky it is for me to let kids move around in the house?

If they come to find you in...here, how shall I convince them that you are the most inexplicably stunning piece of artwork and not a human?" Prabir asked in desperation.

Bhargavi let out a hearty laughter, and he looked at her with awe.

"It's totally okay Prabu, I'll lock the door from the inside," she said cheerfully.

"I don't have any idea, as to how long it would take Naira Di to return. How long will you be locking up yourself in here? And...and what if you need to use the washroom?

I'll have to stop the kids from coming upstairs somehow," Prabir said meekly. "

"No! This is alright! No points are to be added," Bhargavi replied after a close observation of the notepad she held.

"What? Is there something on my face?" Prabir asked genuinely interested as Bhargavi kept staring at him for a while.

"I...Umm...went downstairs straight up to Mayank's Maa. I spoke with the nurse and she informed me about her condition. Her treatment will be quite expensive, how will we afford that? She can't be left alone, so nurses will have to hired...a minimum of three, working eight hour shifts.

You have handed all the cash I earned, working for Ziko to Mayank's men, else we could have used it," Bhargavi said gloomily.

"Don't worry Bhargu. All that will be taken care of.
First I need to ensure that everyone stays unharmed and safe... that Mr. Nishwas is taken into police custody.

What you need to focus on, now is... healing as quickly as possible, because I am an emotional wreck Bhargu.

I know you abhor this...but I have an insane craving to embrace you..." Prabir was interrupted as she slowly curled her arms around him.

"Dear God! Please knock in some common sense in this stupid girl.

Bhargu. I asked you to heal up faster not hurt yourself," Prabir said satirically as he moved back slowly.

"Will you like to take up a quick shower or  would you prefer wet sponging?" Prabir enquired quietly.

"I'll prefer a shower," Bhargavi replied casually.

"Okay! You take a shower and then I'll change the bandages. I'll insist you on wearing a sleeveless dress if possible as it will make it easier to apply ointments on your arms." Prabir said in hushed tones and left.

He changed the bandages after she had taken a shower and whispered softly," I know yesterday, you were very uncomfortable with Baba doing the dressing on your stitches. But he cares for you as his own child Bhargu."

"It's alright! I feel blessed. My father never would have done this for me," she said dejected. He helped her dry her hair with a towel and drawled,"Bhargu. You know once Paru and I decided to watch a late night horror movie, after Baba was soundly asleep on a Saturday night.

Winky was so petrified, she jumped on my lap, shivering and we had to stop watching the movie. She slid inside my t-shirt and slept on my chest throughout the night." Prabir narrated a short story, to divert her attention and make her feel better.

She chuckled," A terrified kitten."

"Bhargu. Now I'll go and take up a shower, you rest for a while," Prabir said patting her head gently. He took out some of his clothes from his cupboard and left.

He returned after a while, to find Bhargavi working on her laptop seriously. He could see her black, shiny voluminous locks of hair cascading down up to her waist, as she had left it open to dry. He swiftly walked up to her, still having a towel placed on his shoulders, and started to play with her hair.

"Am I annoying you Bhargu?" He asked pleasantly.

"Yes!" She replied abruptly.

"Good!" He said mischievously and further added," Would you mind, if I trim your hair a little, the ends have become brittle and rough?"

"Of course not! How generous of you? Will you be able to give me a new haircut?" She quizzed cheerfully.

"Fine! I'll give you the most terrible and shocking haircut you can ever imagine," Prabir said bemused.

"Can you just chop it really short?" She enquired sadly.

"And what...make you bald? Wait I'll get the trimmer?" He chirped joyfully.

"Do whatever you want," she replied with disgust.

Prabir brought a pair of scissors, kept her laptop aside and wrapped her in a huge towel after making her sit, on a cushioned stool, with her back facing him. He slowly trimmed her hair and then asked her to sit facing him.

He added side swept bangs to frame her face, leaving the rest of her hair as it is." This is the best, I can do Bhargu. I am no professional hair stylist. I learnt to do this for Paru, as I wanted her to feel confident about herself, when she felt low," Prabir mumbled.

Bhargavi stood up removing the towel, and turned around to face the mirror. She looked at herself stunned.
"I have never been to a professional hair stylist in my life, Bhawani always trims my hair, when she thinks I need my hair trimmed. I have never wasted a single Rupee on styling my hair," She said earnestly.

"But why did you want me to cut it short when you are blessed with such an abundance of locks, that always look gorgeous? You wanted a dodgy haircut to make you look like an orphan?" Prabir blurted out angrily.

"Why do you even care? Seven days later,you will leave me alone anyways.

Don't bother pampering me with all your love, because I don't want to get used to it.

I only have to focus on my studies and work. Yes! I will be sending money to Bhawani but I am not sure if Maa will ever use that money or let Bhawani use it.

Now, you however, have added responsibilities of Mayank's mother and...and in my absence, Maa too will be giving you tasks that I used to do.

If I want to help you by sending some money, your ego will be hurt, accepting it from me. So you will be extremely busy making money.

Maybe at the starting we will meet twice or thrice a week but later it will change to a meeting once a week, and then gradually maybe once a month," she yelled.

"Oh! I am so amazed at the accuracy of  your future prediction Ms. Bhargavi. Don't you want to add some points maybe...like I will start seeing someone, a real hottie, a ravishing beauty, who has scanty clothes on her like a beggar.

Is this all the faith and trust you can place in me?" Prabir enquired sharply.

"Don't pick up a fight intentionally. You know I never meant that," Bhargavi snapped.

"Go ahead...tell me, is it all because, you don't want to stay in a PG (paying guest)?

If you want to forgive Maa and go back home, it's entirely your wish. How can I force you to stay anywhere else?

She already promised me that she will never hurt you again and begged me to bring you back home," Prabir informed.

"What am I? A b**** ? She gently feeds me and pats my head one day and the very next day she beats me up like I am some crazy  f****** b**** who will spread rabies...to drive me away.

That place is not my home.

You want to deal with your problems all on your own even now, that I am still by your side.

'Don't worry. All that will be taken care of'

That's what you said, you don't even need me anymore," she said sardonically.

"Bhargu. Did I once say that I will take care of everything?

Yeah! I admit, I told all that it will be taken care of, that's because I haven't come up with a solution yet and didn't want you to be worried, but did I once mention that you don't have to help. What has gotten inside this tiny little head of yours dear?

If I send you to stay in a PG, you think I will be dancing with joy? Singing and rejoicing?

And 'Ego'? What ego are you talking about? I am not a person inflated with a feeling of superiority.

I will gladly receive your offer to help me out,being grateful rather than rejecting your kindness.

When I can accept you... with all your madness and zeal...I can accept all the love that you shower on me,
why won't I be able to accept your wealth?" Prabir confessed.

"You look like a pretty doll, so don't make that long face," he added smiling as he cleaned up the messy floor. She smiled back happily.

In the afternoon, when Mayank returned, he was accompanied by a trained nurse. His personal guards were busy diverting the attention of the men, his father had sent to follow him, and he had taken a bus all alone to Jaroha.

The nurse who had been working since morning was replaced by the new one and Prabir quietly enquired about her family, residence, where she used to work earlier, and lastly what was the pay she was expecting. After a liberal negotiation,her payment was fixed.

Post lunch, Prabir helped Mayank learn by heart, the lines he had drafted cautiously but despite several attempts, he wasn't happy with the results.

Mayank repeated the lines devoid of any emotions, mechanically like a robot. Prabir was extremely patient with him, while Bhargavi was silently penning down some cuss words on a piece of paper annoyed.

Outraged,Mayank yelled at Prabir," What am I ? Your puppet? You f****** b******. I am done with this. You don't scream rainbows and Sunshine's. I am sick of your tired ironclad protocols. You won't even let me rephrase these lines in my own words."

Bhargavi stood up and walked up to Mayank. She held his nose tightly, making him open his mouth gasping for breath. She quickly shoved in Prabir's slipper in his mouth, that she had put on.

"Suck it!" She screamed at the top of her voice. "You are badmouthing the only person protecting you from my rage.

You almost got him killed, with the help of your goons and now showed up at his doorstep begging for his mercy to save your mother. Yet, you can't call out his name with a little respect."

Mayank had started to vomit and raced towards the wash basin, where he rinsed his mouth again and again.

"I am not a rose petal, not a pretty flower that you can  trample under your feet.
I am not a tiny little thorn that you can avoid getting stuck in your ass, rather I am an unavoidable f****** thorny bush, you piece of garbage," Bhawani ranted out, as she went up to  a kitchen shelf and brought the drilling machine, saying with a very pleasant smile," I'll drill some holes in your head."

A/N: Here's the end of this chapter, hope you enjoyed reading.

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