"Prabu...so is Ishaan good looking?" Bhargavi asked with a cheerful smile.

"Well, he has a very good physique as he works as a fitness instructor. He is tall, is muscle bound and his body seems strong and of a powerful built.

His youthful sensuous smile is alluring. His eyes are chestnut brown and he has soft black hair that seemed to be in a baby fuzz with soft curls and waves", he gave a vivid explanation of Ishaan's features.

"Bhargu...you know Bhawu should have been sent to a drama school...I mean she has so much potential.

When I reached her school, she looked so distraught and in so much pain. It was such a remarkable, neat and majestic performance", he said with a dead serious expression.

Bhargavi giggled out aloud and in the very next instant, she found that Keya's mother, Mrs. Kavya glaring at her with stone cold eyes.

She darted at Bhargavi with a tremendous speed and tugged the collar of her kurti, which had a regular collar neck design, " my daughter is lying in the ICU, fighting to survive...she's facing a life and death situation, all because of YOU....and
YOU are having fun, engrossed with this boy. Don't you have any shame?

If anything happens to her, I won't spare you", she hissed venomously.

Bhargavi held Mrs. Kavya's wrist in a firm grip and yanked her hand away. She cast a death glare at Mrs. Kavya that made a shiver run down her spine.

"I usually like to donate my old toys to poor and needy children, but Prabir ...is a person here, and there is no way I can snatch him away from Keya or make him love her, against his own wishes.

Your daughter is an imbecile person, who thinks HE belongs to her.

I am not responsible for your daughter's condition, YOU ARE.
Being your only daughter, she has never been denied anything in life I guess and was unable to bear the shock that she could not have him, no matter what she did.

YOU as a mother failed to make her understand....the significance of LIFE and that...all of our wishes in life can never be fulfilled.

Yes, I was having fun and I was engrossed with him in a conversation, and I will still be laughing even on my death bed if HE chooses to be with me, without any shame or guilt", Bhargavi burst out angrily in a razor sharp tone.

Mrs. Kavya was dumbstruck and slowly strolled away, without another word, followed by her husband, who had been watching all these from a distance.

Prabir looked at the eye-catching beautiful girl seated next to him thinking, how gracefully she dealt with all her issues, unlike the other girls who shed tears even without any reason and mostly are dependent on someone for support.

She was alone, Arohi and Shlok had left the hospital may be a long time ago or maybe had not even accompanied her to the hospital.
She had lied to him and did not ask for help, but had just called up to inform him that the police might interrogate him and his family.

Yes, she wanted him to gather information about Ishaan and ensure that Bhawani was safe, but never asked for any help for herself.

She had asked for help twice but it was always for Bhawani - first when she was kidnapped and this time to check out on Ishaan's place and his personality.

Only once she had asked for help for herself, that was when she desperately needed a place to stay for a few days.

"I am cruel Prabu...I know, Mrs. Kavya is in a very devastated condition and knowing everything, all I did was.... I hurt her with my vicious words, that would have cut her like a knife", she said softly, her gaze fixed on the floor, as Prabir was silently staring at her for a while now.

He gently placed her head on his right shoulder and stroked her head murmuring, " Bhargu...why did you lie to me? When did Arohi leave?"

" She never accompanied me to the hospital. I came to the hospital all on my own. Shlok knew very well police might be involved and did not want to face any interrogation. He is neither close to me nor Keya, then why should he get involved in all these?

I lied to you Prabu and I am sorry, I wanted you to stay with Bhawani, but if I told you that I was all alone here, you would definitely rush here.

There is not much that you can do here Prabu, we need to wait till Keya is conscious to find out if she is going to be okay...would be needing medications, therapists or a surgery.

Bhawani has never cared for an elderly person before, she is not strong enough to be able to make Ishaan's Maa sit up or take her to the washroom if needed," she confessed thoughtfully.

"Bhargu...are you okay? " He asked with deep concern in his voice." No more lying please."

"No...I am not okay Prabu...", She admitted looking deep into his eyes.

"Maa is very upset with me, it's hard to explain to her why I am involved in a police case.

She is right in being concerned about my career...my future.

The only ray of hope I have is ...if Keya survives, recovers fast enough, understands and admits that it was her reckless decision...that had nothing to do with me.

I might get expelled from the college, if a case is registered on my name and I am taken to the police custody and if I am dragged to the court considering the present circumstances, even if I get proved innocent later on.

Even if I am not expelled, having to fight a legal case...I'll have to appear in person in the court for every trial,the case may run for how long... God knows, before finally coming to a settlement. I'll be wasting time, money and energy.

A person may die like a coward. There are weak minded people and...and persons of frail mentality, but for their foolish mentality or decision ...I cannot be blamed", she sighed.

"Baba!" Prabir exclaimed, as he saw Mr. Banerjee approaching them.

"Bhargavi what's wrong? Your Maa had called me up. Why is she so distressed?

She uttered words like suicide, police, police case, police custody, but it was difficult to comprehend anything of what she said because of her trembling voice and continuous sobs and hiccups.

Who is Keya? " He probed further.

"Baba you sit here, I am calling Brijesh uncle and if you listen to me patiently, you will have answers to all your questions", Prabir whispered pleadingly.

Prabir called up Mr. Brijesh and gave a detailed explanation of the incident that had taken place on the day, when Bhawani was kidnapped but had been brought back home safe. He also added the threat that Keya had given to Bhargavi and briefly narrated about her suicide attempt, her present state and the suicide note found crumpled up in her hand.

"May I speak to her for a minute?" Mr. Brijesh enquired.

"Yeah! Sure"..."Bhargu...", He said politely handing over his phone to Bhargavi.

"Bhargavi ...I'll find out if Keya had previously ever tried to do something like this in desperation, when she was denied something that she wanted, or....ummm... if she was in her right mental health.

It will be easy to get you bailed out, in case you are arrested", he said uneasily and disconnected the call excusing himself for some urgent work.

Mr. Banerjee was now brooding over the situation with a calamitous silence.

"Bhargavi....child you go home now, your Maa needs you, she's alone at home.

I am here, I'll immediately let you know if Keya gains consciousness.

Prabir" he said and gently looked at him.

Prabir gave him a sharp nod and held her hand pulling her up. Prabir slowly dragged her out and they left for the Ghosh residence.

*******************************

Bhargavi ran up the stairs and pressed the doorbell, while Prabir was engaged in a call strolling beside his parked bike.

Sachin had called up to know about the present scenario and if Mr. Brijesh could help in any way. He also informed that Bhawani was alright and had been caring for the old lady like a child. He had made her sit up and she was feeding her, speaking with her, telling her stories.

Ms. Nalini first slapped Bhargavi and then beat her up with a stick, venting out all her anger on her, till Prabir rushed in to protect her and himself got beaten up.

Bhargavi had stood up dead silent without making a single attempt to escape or avoid the beatings. Her hands and face were bruised but she let no sound part her lips.

"Let her beat me up as much as she wants Prabu, to her heart's content...I deserve it," Bhargavi said sardonically, pushing him aside.

"No...no..Bhargu...you don't deserve this, you don't deserve any of it.

Bhargu...don't push me away from you again... like that", he blurted thoughtlessly and engulfed her in his arms not caring about Ms. Nalini.

" I won't let anything happen to you. Please hold on! Bhargu..." He insisted.

"I am a complete mess Prabu...

Every single thought is scary,

A new challenge is revealed every day out of the blue,

All my dreams seem to be shattered but on contrary,

I assume that everything will be fine and I'll make it through,

Giving up and losing is not in my dictionary, so there is nothing for which you need to worry", she said quite determined.

"Are you even in your senses Bhargavi? I wanted you to receive a good education, that I never could...but here you are on the verge of getting expelled from your college and...and what are you blabbering about not giving up and losing?" Ms. Nalini demanded impatiently.

Bhargavi drew back from Prabir and looked at her mother sharply,
"Yes, Maa, I am in my complete senses, I can't change what has already happened....going back in the timeline.

I know I will be arrested, after the suicide note's judicial scrutiny is over and it is proved ...that it is authentic, within may be two to three days, or at a maximum within a week, as it is going to be considered as a hard piece of evidence by the prosecution. I am sure Keya must have mentioned me as an aider and abettor.

But I won't be expelled from the college, I can assure you Maa. I'll speak up with the principal.

An FIR proves nothing, I won't be expelled...till I am proven guilty by the court", she concluded dismissing her mother's fears.

A/N: Hi everyone!!

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