Bhargavi caressed his face with moist eyes, almost shaken to the core.

"I can't believe this.We're getting married. Really?!This isn't a joke right?" She asked anxiously holding his arm.

"No! Bhargu. I am not joking," he said stroking her hair gently, embracing her lightly. "You are the joy of my life. I will never again let you go through this kind of pain."

Lost in thoughts, in his arms Bhargavi had completely lost track of time. He had held her in his arms tenderly for around an hour.

Finally when she broke away from him, he patted her head like she was a little girl. "Are you feeling better now?" He asked with a smile.

She nodded slightly, happy to see him smile though she had a lot running in her mind.

"Prabu," she kept staring at his gemstone green eyes, with her own eyes revealing a lot of emotions - love, affection,admiration, pride, honor and respect.

He cupped her face gently and placed his forehead on her's. " I don't have the ability to read minds Bhargu. You look like a damsel in distress. Is something bothering you?"

"I am both excited and nervous at the same time. The last fight we had... I don't want us to go to such an extent where you have to say such things to stop me from leaving. I don't want you to speak out those words ever again. What if this relationship gets bitter with every passing day, and no amount of efforts we put in works, to heal our relationship? I keep doing the exact opposite of what you expect from me and vice-versa? What if after one month we are unable to tolerate each other? If this marriage doesn't work, we will not only end up hurting each other but also all the people close to us.

Even Baba and Maa were deeply in love with each other when they married, the obvious reason why I am here. I mean I didn't fall from the sky. But they split apart like the worst enemies.

I used to think it was all Baba's fault.
I always used to picture my father as the most perfect villain in the story. He gave in to drinking, was abusive yadda yadda.

I was so wrong. Maa always nitpicked and was obsessed with criticising Baba's every shortcoming. He felt as if she had lost all respect for him.

I remember Maa giving me ultimatums; she wanted me to chose between her and journalism. She did the same with Baba too. She demanded that he give some time and a little bit of attention to the family,while he wanted to spend some time with his friends and have fun, already stressed out with work and handling finances.

She kept on ranting that she had to do everything from shopping, cooking, cleaning, caring for me as he never had time; it was the first time that he slapped her feeling agitated and walked away. He had a few drinks and returned home.

Instead of apologizing to each other or trying to resolve the issues, they started maintaining a distance from one another. Maa stopped asking about his whereabouts, didn't want to know why he was late home or why he refused to have his dinner. She pretended as if she didn't care.

Then Baba started overstepping his boundaries, he started demeaning her sense of self, undermining her feelings, speaking volumes when he was drunk," she let out her thoughts, sinking deep in her chest.

"Bhargu. Count the steps we take," he said grabbing her wrist and started to walk slowly. After Bhargavi had taken ten steps he paused. "Did you count how many steps you took?"

"Ten,"she replied smoothly.

"Me?" He asked.

"I don't know," she replied instantly.

"8 and a 1/2 "

"What are you trying to indicate?"

"What I am trying to say is, we will walk together and never cross paths.

Sometimes, you will have to put in a little bit of extra effort to quicken up your pace and sometimes I'll slow down my pace or maybe the other way around."

"Mr. Philosophist was this the most bizzare thing you had in store for me or do you have even more?" She smirked.

"You don't get my point," he said smiling and grabbed her wrist. "Bhargu. We don't have to generalize all the marriages in the Universe.

As you know Keya Aunty and Bhairav uncle lost their only daughter; instead of supporting each other if they started slinging curses and blaming the other person, things could get worse.

I am not like your Baba, Bhargu. I am a different individual. There's no way I would rush to grab a drink when I face any obstacle in life. Maybe, I'll rush to a temple praying for some peace and guidance when things are not in my control.

It depends solely on us; how we react to the curve balls life throws at us."

Still pleasantly smiling at her, Prabir held her palms in his hands and spoke in a soft, calm voice," Bhargu! I understand your concern and worries.

Everything will be fine! We have both Maa and Baba's blessings with us.

I used to feel a devilish pleasure when you made a sad and unhappy face, everytime I told you that I am not willing to marry...I need some time."

Bhargavi punched in his stomach playfully saying," You jerk!"

"What did you say?" Prabir asked with shiny bright eyes and started to tickle her slowly at her waist.

The door suddenly swung open and Parul rushed in. It was almost evening by then. With a panic stricken face, Parul held Prabir's arms and said quickly," Bhaiya. Please come fast. Di's Maa fell down the stairs," prompting towards Bhargavi.

"Baba's hands are trembling and Mayank can't drive. We need to take her to the hospital," she froze looking up at Prabir, whose face resembled a person's whose world had come crashing down. He felt his throat was parching dry and heart thumping loud enough to turn him deaf.

Startled and dumbstruck, Bhargavi felt as if her lungs would collapse. As guilt set in deep inside, she started to curse herself for having abandoned her mother and for not receiving her calls. Withholding all her emotions and taking charge of the situation, she placed her right palm on his shoulder from behind and whispered in Prabir's ears," Let's go!"

Prabir turned around and strode rapidly to pick up his wallet and phone. He ran downstairs followed by Parul and Bhargavi.

Mr. Banerjee was seated in his car's back seat, with Ms. Nalini's head lying on his lap. Tears gushed down his cheeks. With trembling hands he caressed her face.

Mayank was leaning his back on the car and trying to console Bhawani.

"I am so sorry. I shouldn't have left her alone. This is all my fault," she kept blabbering while crying profusely.

Bhargavi rushed forward and jerked Bhawani out of Mayank's arms yelling at her ,"Have you lost your mind? You have nobody on Earth to lean on to except this fu***** rasc*l?

"Calm down Bhargu!"Prabir said holding her left arm noticing her finger nails digging in Bhawani's hand, who winced with pain.

Bhargavi slowly released Bhawani's hand and observed something strange in Mr. Banerjee's reactions. He held Ms. Nalini with utmost care, called her name again and again lightly tapping her cheeks. He pressed her face close to his chest and wailed,
" Please look at me Nalini. Please wake up!"

Prabir threw his bike's key towards Mayank and said aloud," Take this and bring Paru to the hospital safe."

"Are you f****** insane? How dare you leave your sister with this monster?" Bhargavi shrieked pissed off with Prabir's decision.

"She'll be safe with him. Don't worry!" Prabir said leading Bhargavi to the front seat beside the driver's in the car.

He then pulled Bhawani in his arms, who was blind with tears streaming down her cheeks and stood still like a rock. "Princess. Get in the car. We need to take her to the hospital."

"Bhaiya. I am so sorry! This is all my fault,"she said coughing and sobbing.

"Relax! Breath," he mumbled guiding her to the back seat of the car.

When Prabir sat in the driver's seat, Bhargavi marked beads of perspiration all over his face. He looked pale, his hands were trembling with nervousness.

"Will you be able to drive?" Bhargavi quizzed softly, as all her anger had vanished the moment she saw Prabir making huge efforts to pull himself together.

He had lost his mother at a very young age and now was petrified that something might happen to Ms. Nalini whom he treated like his own mother.

Prabir started the engine and placed Bhargavi's right palm on the gear  stick. He clutched onto her hand tight every time he had a fearful thought in mind.

They reached the hospital and Ms. Nalini was taken in for an MRI. She was still unconscious.

"Instead of Maa getting hurt like this, I should have fallen from the stairs," Bhawani sobbed in Prabir's arms.

"Bhawu. Enough! Don't say like this," Prabir reprimanded her.

"Bhaiya! All this happened because of me," she coughed hard unable to speak. Mayank held out a glass of water for her. She sipped in and began," Bhaiya! I love Ishaan. I really miss him. My feelings were choking me, so I strolled up to the terrace. I found Mayank smoking and snatched his cigarette. I quietly smoked for a while not aware that Maa had seen me smoke.

She slapped me, hit me with her sandal. She slapped Mayank thrice for misleading me and for teaching me to smoke.

Neither of us said or did anything, we stood still like stone structures.

Finally, when Maa got tired, she went downstairs with a very slow gait. Then, even before I could think of a way to apologise to Mayank we heard her scream loudly. By the time we reached her, she was lying unconscious on the floor, after a flight of stairs from the terrace."

Bhargavi held Mr. Banerjee in a light embrace at a distance. His eyes were swollen red. It seemed as if he had aged years within this short  time span. He looked weak, fragile and in despair.

Author's note

I am extremely happy to be posting this update. Hope you enjoy reading.

Please do forgive me for any typos and errors.

Please vote for me and let me know your opinions through comments.

Thank you! Happy Reading!