"Let me help you," Bhargavi pleaded, as Prabir was engaged in making dinner.

"It's okay! Bhargu," she was refused politely.

"Please please Prabu," she pleaded again.

"If you have spare time, go and study something. The semester exams are close," he stated bluntly.

Taking an empty bowl and a large table spoon, she stood beside him. "What are you doing?" He asked curious.

"I'll make my own dinner. Three large table spoons of self-pity, two large table spoons of misery and agony, three large table spoons of self-distrust,one large table spoon of self-doubt, a pinch of low self-esteem to garnish, and voila my miserable dinner is ready," she rattled.

"A deadly poisonous concoction is it? Did you hit your head somewhere?" Prabir queried.

"Nope!"

"Then why are you saying all gibberish?"

"Oh! I am drowning in self-pity, misery and agony as the MasterChef thinks I am the most useless creature. I am dying with self-distrust, self-doubt and am being tormented by low self-esteem..." Her over dramatic sentence was left hanging in the air when Prabir started to teach her how to make rotis. "Hold this" he said, thrusting a round barbeque roaster's wooden handle and helped her flip over the rotis as they puffed.

"If you burn your hands, I'll  be sure to throw you out of the kitchen, so please be careful," he said using the rolling pin to roll out some rotis on the bread board and cooking them slightly on the tawa.

"What will you do? Throw me out? Like Maa did? Am I really such a big curse to deal with?" She hissed softly, keeping her voice as low as possible.

"No! No no! Listen to me. You are misinterpreting what I said. You know very well that I had a dreadful dream and I don't want you to be anywhere near fire. I only need you to be careful if you still want to help me. My choice of words might have hurt you and I am sorry", he whispered softly.

She interrupted him with a smile plastered on her face and worked quietly,"It's okay I am sorry". 

Though they exchanged quick glances with each other several times during dinner, but neither of them tried to break the ice and speak out their minds.

**********

"Baby tell me what is bothering you. You are acting strange.You are in a pleasant mood a minute before and the very next instant ...I am unable to understand what's going on with you", Prabir quizzed Bhargavi once everyone was asleep and they finally were alone in each other's company. 

"Right! Now you think I am a maniac?
She said and started to pack her belongings.

"What are you doing?

Look if I have hurt you in anyway, you can slap me, punch me, kick me, pinch me, throw ice cold water on me,feed me red chillies, or maybe prick me with needles, I'll bear all of that as a punishment but you can't pack your bags and leave me."

"Yes!...Yes! I can"

"Yes! You can. Over my dead body and that is... if your claim to have loved me is all nothing but a sham."

She stood speechless for a while and began slowly composing her thoughts.

"Whatever you are trying to do today Prabir, is going against you. It sounded like an insult when you said that you will throw me out of the kitchen and that too before Mayank and Paru.

I don't know if you felt as if I was nagging you for an eternity and because I am all cocky and acrimonious, I deserve such behavior.

Had it been someone else, he wouldn't even get a chance to explain himself. It was disrespectful and uncalled-for.

I can assure you, I won't be meddling in your affairs anymore. I'll leave tomorrow in the morning if you want."

Prabir made an impassioned plea, holding her palms in his hands,
" Bhargu. You are not going anywhere. You are not leaving me.  I'll do whatever you say. I'll apologise and ask for forgiveness before anyone you want me to.

I didn't even think that my words could hurt you so much. I am truly sorry."

"Why try to stop me Prabir? I thought you were different... that...that you respect me. Am I a piece of furniture, or simply trash that you'll throw me out?"she said gloomy and dejected.

"You think that you are remarkably perfect and never once have hurt my feelings? You think that I never forgive you for your mistakes?

When I just happen to say something, it's an insult to you?

The way you stormed out of the cafeteria today...it was embarrassing Bhargu. Everyone was staring at me.

You threw the ring at my face, my only crime being the fact...that I chose to open up to you. I had no idea of how you are being treated by your classmates.

If you are determined that I am not the right person for you, I won't stop you from leaving me. But if you leave today, make sure that you never come back."

There was a stretched silence for sometime. Bhargavi felt numb, she lost all strength in her feet and almost collapsed on the floor. She couldn't hold back her tears anymore and gave in to the urge of silently weeping.

He sat down close to her, and held her chin up looking into her eyes. She didn't want to meet his gaze. "I love you." she blubbered with hiccups.

"We don't get what we want but what we deserve and I have no doubts regarding this... anymore. I deserve to be treated the way Maa...treats me. I am unworthy of your love.I treat you so badly.

I don't have a mild disliking against Mayank, I just hate him and it irked me that you insulted me before him. Anyways I...I have failed you," she sobbed.

Prabir had life renewed in him and his eyes glimmered, as she finally looked at him.

He kissed her softly again and again, cupping her face and kept on pleading and requesting her to smile. He felt heartbroken watching her cry like a baby.

"Bhargu. Baby. I know why you were so mad at me. It was not your fault. You have never failed me. This was the first evening when we were supposed to spent some time together, and instead of talking about us, I repeatedly intoned about my friendship with Keya.

And... in the kitchen, I shouldn't have said that. I should have been a bit more thoughtful.

Nothing can justify Maa's behavior towards you.

Remember Bhargu, you are my queen.You are my most priceless possession and worthy of all of my love baby."

"Good! Now you have successfully converted me into a legendary crybaby," she mumbled, making him smile.

He wiped her tears delicately and she said tersely," Had I not been injured this badly, would you still feel reluctant to pull me in a tight embrace? I am slowly starting to miss those bone crushing, squeezy hugs."

He couldn't contain his bubbling laughter. "What? Can't I just want to hug you once?" She asked.

"Of course you can. You don't need my permission now do you?" he said gently placing her head on his chest and caressed her hair." Alright! Let's go to bed. If you fall asleep like this, I won't be able to place you on the bed without hurting you or waking you up."

"Kudos to you for literally bearing up with my childish tantrums," Bhargavi mumbled.

"Can I make a tattoo on your back please", Bhargavi insisted.

"You want me to take off my t-shirt?" He asked astonished.

"Yes!" She nodded.

He immediately takes off his t-shirt and she copies a tattoo from the internet using a black pen. 
He rolls over on his back as it tickles.

"You will take a snap and show me your artwork", he pleads before flipping over.

She sits on his hips, making it impossible for him to instantly roll over and writes in calligraphy "you are mine forever."

Taking a snap, she holds her phone for him to see. Unable to hold back his tears,"It's beautiful!" he exclaims and tries to pull off her t-shirt.

"What are you trying to do? You creepy pervert?"

"What in the world? You took off my clothes. You even decided to ring the wedding bells and now I am a pervert and a creepy one on top of that?"

"I din't take off all your clothes, you still have your pants on," she blurted out thoughtlessly and blushed hard realizing what she had just said and noticed the mischievous smile on Prabir's face.

She vigorously scribbles in the ugliest handwriting possible ' idiot donkey ' on his belly.

Amused by the remarks she had provided he insisted,"Miss caterpillar, give some rest to your creativity now".

"A caterpillar?"

"Shh! Bhargu. Sleep now. I am exhausted," he pleaded. She placed her head softly on his shoulder and closed her eyes. He drifted to sleep within seconds while she pondered over some questions.

She had never wanted to be in a relationship, never wanted to have a boyfriend but now was determined and excited about getting married.

Prabir's words assured her that she was equally important to him as his responsibilities and career. He didn't want to chose between either of them. He had never once let her down. 

Next morning, Prabir wakes up and makes a moustache on Bhargavi's face, symbolizing her as a little kitten.

Waking up, she looks at her face in the mirror and runs downstairs yelling Prabir's name.

Mr. Banerjee, who was attentively reading the newspaper, looked up at her, distracted by her loud voice and couldn't help laughing.

"Why did you do that Prabir? Mr Banerjee enquired.

" She looks cute right?" Prabir smirked back.

"Had you been seven years old now, I wouldn't believe that it is you, who did this, but now that you're 23 I have no doubts that this is your doing", Mr. Banerjee admitted smiling.

She slowly walked up to him and hissed," I asked for your permission to make a tattoo. You did this when I was asleep. This is not funny okay!"

"Huh! So you are showing what I did, then let me show Baba what you did," Prabir said and tried to pull off his t-shirt from the back.

"No!" Bhargavi shrieked and pulled down his t-shirt.

"I made a tattoo where no one will see but you did this to my face. Not fair! " She made a pout.

"See, that is the point. I don't need to hide what I have done. But you need to?" Prabir said again pulling up his shirt.

"Fine! Let him see what I did," Bhargavi hissed and pulled up his t-shirt while he tried to pull it down.

"Why are you getting him involved Bhargu? You look like a cute angry kitten," he teased her playfully.

After a tug of war the t-shirt was torn revealing 'mine forever '.

Prabir clutched on the t-shirt and moved right trying to hide his back from his father. "What are you hiding?"

"She scribbled on my back in the ugliest handwriting idiot donkey," Prabir stated and slowly walked backwards upstairs.

"Having said that...you don't have to walk backwards, you can trip," Mr. Banerjee exclaimed delighted.

"She also wrote horrible curse words on my back. I don't want you to see," Prabir sighed.

"He told me that I am a  caterpillar," Bhargavi pointed at Prabir.

Prabir swiftly held both his ears apologetically as he walked backwards, looking at Bhargavi, recalling the spat they had the previous day.

*****

Prabir was hastily taking a shower before leaving for college, as Bhargavi knocked on the bathroom door and chirped, " Knock knock it's me."

He opened the door, only to crane out his head. "Ah! Your shampoo smells good" Bhargavi exclaimed. " The nurse wants to leave as her son is very ill. Should I ask her to leave?" She enquired softly.

"Okay!" Prabir said and slammed the door shut at her face.

"There's no need to flatter yourself. I am not dying to see you undressed and naked," she blurted angrily and kicked the door annoyed before walking downstairs with heavy feet.

"You're not?" Prabir enquired following her, dressed in a maroon t-shirt and jeans.

"Nope!"

"Ah! That's a shame. You don't have good taste in men." 

She kicked him in his shin and watched him rub his shin with apathy.

"Bhargu. You stay with Mayank's Maa for a while, I'll change and come back in two minutes," he said and started to walk upstairs.

"What do you mean? Would you not be going to college?"

"Nope!" He stated.

"Don't worry! I'll take care of his mother.You go to college", She insisted.

"I won't leave you alone", he said softly.

"I am not a Dracula. I won't burn down your house, trust me.

And besides, I feel a lot better today. 
You will come back home in about three hours, till then you can leave her in my care", she said.

"Classes are not more important than you. I'll stay", he huffed.

"You are scared that something will happen to me, right?" She asked.

He only looked into her eyes and she knew that she was right.

"Nothing will happen to me Prabir. You should go and attend your classes now", she murmured softly.

************************************
Author's Note

I am sorry for not updating sooner.
Hope you enjoy reading this update.
Please do vote for me if you liked the update.
Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions and help me refine my work.

Thank you for reading ❤️❤️

Have a nice day.