Requesting his friends to leave for the night, Prabir had managed to send all of his friends home.

He had thanked them wholeheartedly for all of their support and got scolded in return for having thanked them.

He knew convincing his father to leave the hospital would be extremely difficult, but he had to try.

Mr. Banerjee slowly walked in to meet Ms. Nalini as soon as Bhargavi strode outside the cabin.

He had a warm smile lighting up his face, with no mark of stress or worry.

"How are you feeling now?" He asked cheerfully.

She mutely nodded looking glum.

"I thought you would be happy to see Bhargavi after so many days, instead you look...Did she say something?" 

"I as a mother failed to understand my daughter and now her wedding has to be postponed, it's all because of me."

"It's alright! We all make mistakes Nalini."

"Why did you decide to postpone the wedding? People have been invited and all arrangements have been done."

"The children have grown up Nalini and it is their will...it's their decision to postpone the marriage. All we can do is support them."

Caressing her face, he softly said,"Don't worry about the surgery. You will be fine!"

She was startled by his reaction but managed to utter with tears streaming down her face," If something happens to me, please take care of my daughters. Bhargavi has already been shouldering a lot of responsibilities but... But Bhawani has now started smoking."

"Nothing will happen to you, trust me.  Even if- a big if something happens to you, it will be something good.

Don't worry about Bhawani, I'll ask Prabir to look after her."

"What do you mean by if something happens it will be something good?"

"You have struggled alone all this while, raising two daughters all alone Nalini," he said grabbing her wrist. "You are not alone anymore. There's no rush, I'll be waiting for your reply. Don't think about your age, the society, what people will think. For once, do what you want to do. Think only about your own self. Nalini look at me," he said pausing to slightly turn her face holding her chin with his index finger and looked deep into her shining bright eyes. 

"See I understand what you are thinking. At this age when we should get our kids married, is it right to...

Yes! It is right to get married and live with the person we want to. There is nothing to be guilty about falling in love with someone and..."

"This is not possible! This can't happen," she responded instantly with utter disgust and disbelief reflecting on all her features.

"But why ?

Nalini. I am sick and tired...I don't want to spend the rest of my life all alone. I need someone to talk to and share my feelings. I love you Nalini and I am not forcing you. It's entirely up to you. Will you be mine through the thick and thin of life?"

An emotional concoction was brewing deep down within her chest. A fierce battle between her mind and heart almost rendered her speechless. There was no way she could say a yes, but the look in his eyes left her in a rattled state of mind.

Did he deserve the pain of a rejection at this age? Would he be able to bear that pain?

He had raised two children all on his own and didn't even have time to grieve for his dead wife.

Mr. Banerjee carefully marked her face which portrayed the perplexity in her mind. Unveiling his hidden emotions, Mr. Banerjee bent on her bed and softly dropped a kiss on her forehead. "Give a rest to your wild racing thoughts. I am glad, you don't have any major injuries apart from a  fractured hip bone. I was so scared that I almost lost you, when I saw you bleed. It's a relief that you are...." His eyes were moist and he looked away. He knew he had to be strong and not break down into tears before the woman he loved but looking at her laying on a hospital bed was the last thing he wanted for her. He had seen her happy and bounce with joy preparing for her daughter's marriage. Though she wasn't very rich and fortunate to be spending a huge amount of money on the wedding, she had wanted the best for her daughter with whatever little she had. She had made huge efforts in finding places where she could do shopping for her daughter at affordable prices.

Rummaging her mind, she had spend restless days and sleepless nights making arrangements. The lack of sleep, not taking food and medicines on proper time had already created havoc on her health and she had fainted only the day before.

With a very meek voice, she softly said,"I am fine!"

"Yes! You have to be. There are so many people praying for you.

I should leave now," he said after a pause and pushed open the door of the cabin to walk away.

Both Prabir and Bhargavi noticed Mr. Banerjee's moist eyes while they themselves were engaged in a quarrel. Prabir wanted Bhargavi, Bhawani, Parul as well as his father to return home and rest well while Bhargavi wished to stay with her mother. She did not want to leave Prabir to stay alone in the hospital where his old memories would haunt him and he would have to relive those memories.

"your stupidity has rendered me speechless Prabir. What do you mean by...,"She had halted mid sentence observing Mr. Banerjee take slow, heavy steps while approaching them.

"Prabir let her stay here if she wants to," he insisted Prabir.

"But Baba, she needs rest. She has just recovered and..."

"I understand Prabir. I want you both to stay here. Give me the keys, I can drive. I'll take Paru, Bhawani, and  Mayank  home. Just do me a favor. Ask them what they want to have for dinner and order it online, as I don't have any energy left to work in the kitchen," he said with dismay clear in his voice.

"Baba are you okay? Are you sure you want to go home?" Prabir asked anxious.

"Yes! My child. I am fine! I want to go home and rest for a while. I feel exhausted," he said with a strained smile on his face patting Prabir's back.

"Did Maa..." Bhargavi had begun but was sharply cut off by Mr. Banerjee's husky voice. "No! She isn't stressed about her surgery tomorrow, rather she is worried and anxious about Bhawani and your marriage."

"Both you and your mother are extremely reckless," he added a bit annoyed glancing up at Bhargavi. As soon as the words parted his lips, Prabir looked at him musing.

"Probably, you have left her on the horns of a dilemma where she can't choose if she can say a 'yes', afraid of the rantings of the people in the society about a middle aged woman herself getting married, instead when she should be getting her daughter's married off and if she can say a 'no' costing her friendship plus she might be thinking that this denial could impact Bhargavi's married life," Prabir sighed.

"But why is marriage so undesirable when you both like each other?" Mayank quizzed interrupting in the conversation listening to only what Prabir had said.

"Is it so hard for you to use your loaf?" Bhargavi asked annoyed that he had interrupted in the middle of a conversation.

"Ah! Bhargu," Prabir reprimanded her .

"Considering a marriage at this moment is very crucial for Maa as she has always faced the brunt of the society for being a sole mother and a divorcee woman. She doesn't want to endure anymore of mockery.

Baba you need to understand her fears and also that...that it won't be easy for her to overcome all of her fears over a night," Prabir said calmly.

"I am aware of all her fears Prabir but it is for her to decide. Whether she is willing to chose me, overcoming all of her fears or if she is happy leading the same life that she has been leading all this while," Mr. Banerjee said dejected.

"Her trust has been broken once and she has endured a lot of pain. She was beaten up and tortured, cursed using swear words for years.
She no longer believed in the ritual called marriage till she met Prabir, saw the way he treated Parul and learnt that not all men are alike.

However, I am not sure if she will be willing to take up this challenging personal endeavor once again," Bhargavi compiled her thoughts and put forth her concerns without any display of emotions like sadness or anger. Her flawless public facade masked the private despair.

"Baba you deserve happiness. I have seen you both happy with each other.

I will help rebuild her trust. I will speak with her and convince her that she can count upon you. This marriage...it will be the best decision in her life," Prabir said enthusiastically. 

"Well, I am sure you will be disappointed pretty soon however, if you can persuade 'that woman',  I promise I'll start worshipping the Almighty," Bhargavi said as if throwing up a challenge at him, stressing on the words 'that woman'.

Prabir mutely nodded with enormous confidence and a fiery blaze in his eyes.

"I have been working here in this hospital for years, so may be I can ask for a small favor from my colleague for letting you speak with Nalini for about fifteen to twenty minutes," Mr. Banerjee said with a smile.

He was confident that Prabir could easily persuade Ms. Nalini. It won't be a big deal. Ms. Nalini, the woman he had known was very simple and straightforward.

The look cast on Bhargavi's face spoke otherwise, she had a sullen look.

Why are you so deliberately planning on ruining your father's life?
Maa is a peculiarly strange woman. She will never agree to get married at this age and even if she does, tolerating a woman of her kind will be a pain in the ass for Uncle. Bhargavi mulled.

Prabir sauntered away from the hall, after offering the keys to his father, unable to bear the white Walls, the nurses and doctors move hurriedly past him. His friends had provided him with lot of distractions and had kept his mind occupied with trivial matters but with their departure his mind had started playing tricks on him.

He was oblivious to the fact that Bhargavi had placed a strong vigil on him.

Mr. Banerjee had made the arrangements so that Prabir could meet Ms. Nalini for twenty minutes and had asked Bhargavi to look after him. She herself had to place the online orders for dinner for everyone as Prabir seemed to be in a world of his own.

Prabir was caught off guard when Bhargavi slowly placed her palm on his right shoulder and urged him to speak with Ms. Nalini.

The white sheets, green curtains and everything in the small cabin where Ms. Nalini laid on the bed, nauseated Prabir. He couldn't even frame in his mind, how and where he would start the conversation. He wished the doctor had also let Bhargavi in only for a couple of minutes.

Ms. Nalini was pleased to see him, her eyes twinkled and she was radiating joy observing both Prabir and Bhargavi walk in.

"Maa. How are you feeling now?" Prabir asked trying to gain a few minutes before jumping into the burning flame.

"Quite better after I have seen you both," she replied back with a pleasant smile.

Instantly Prabir turned around to see Bhargavi display a poker face, standing still near the cabin door. "I thought the doctor didn't let you in," he mumbled softly.

"Yes! He did," she replied back callously. Bhargavi's presence instilled a new faith in Prabir as he began the tedious task of convincing Ms. Nalini.

"Maa. I know you have been tormented mercilessly in your earlier marriage but...," His sentence was left dangling incomplete in the air when Ms. Nalini interrupted," Prabir I don't want to talk about this. Please."

"I understand what you have been going through Maa but just hear me out. I have something important to say," Prabir made an attempt to make her listen to him without  vexing her.

"Whatever it is I am not in a mood to listen Prabir. I have made my decision, I am not re-marrying. This can't happen. No!" She said loud and clear.

Not wanting to infuriate her anymore, Prabir strolled away at a languid pace towards the cabin door.

"Prabir if you want to ensure your father's happiness let this woman stick to this decision of her's of not remarrying. Else he will be drowning in a pool of tears for the rest of his life ," Bhargavi sounded frustrated as she walked past him towards her mother.

"You have to listen Maa. This is not done," she sounded fierce and Prabir couldn't calculate what could be her next step.

"You know what Maa, I had forgiven you even after you had beaten me up like a dog leaving bruises all over me, at a time when I was already brutally stabbed and injured," she said sharply pointing towards her deep bluish bruises on her arms and the stab wound on her belly.

"Now I guess, I'll have to reconsider my decision.
He has been requesting and urging you to listen to him once because he wants to see you happy, he wants to see his father happy. No one is forcing their will on you.

Tell me, why is it so hard for you to just hear him out?" She yelled.

"Shhh! Bhargu. We will be thrown out. Don't scream," Prabir said placing his right palm on Bhargavi's mouth.

"It's okay! I'll talk to her later. Don't be mad," he said softly ruffling her hair as she looked at him with wide eyes.

"Maa. Please don't mind her words. I know it's hard on you to choose from either of the options. When trust is broken once it is hard to rebuild and placing your trust on Baba won't be a piece of cake.

If you are willing to take the risk, you don't have to be afraid of being outcasted or deserted by the society. You might have to bear some of society's tantrums but you won't be alone, Baba will stand by you always," Prabir said softly and dragged Bhargavi out of the cabin.

"You have such a nasty temper," he teased Bhargavi once they were walking in the huge empty corridors of the hospital.

"I am hungry as hell. Let's go and grab something," she replied back sadly pouting.

"You think Maa will agree for the marriage?" Prabir asked softly.

"No!" She replied without any hesitation.

"How are you so sure?" He quizzed back.

"She has it engraved deep in her mind that it is WRONG to remarry at her age. She isn't worried about her own happiness or feelings, rather what is running in her mind is that she has two grown up daughter's and that she shouldn't be showing the audacity of even thinking about marrying someone.She thinks that will become a laughing stock, and people will say mean and harsh things about her. She is willing to avoid humiliation at all costs."