Prabir and Bhargavi had set out for college after a long time.

Bhargavi had silently helped Ms. Nalini in the kitchen while she was busy making the breakfast, though Ms. Nalini was extremely careful and did not let her go near the kitchen stove,remembering Prabir's words, being a staunch superstitious believer.

Bhargavi's sudden change in behavior towards her was only because of Prabir she knew it well, but it was a sort of relief to her as she had never known Bhargavi to be so soft spoken.

The entire day in college was hectic and Bhargavi noticed all her classmates gossiping about her, while maintaining a safe distance from her, not wanting to tempt her.

She could feel everyone's piercing gaze on her, and was happy to leave the college building when her classes were over.

Prabir marked the discomfit on her face when they met before leaving the college and queried, "What's wrong?"

"No. Nothing. It's erm... Everyone still thinks I am responsible for Keya's death", she replied gloomily.

"Bhargu...Since when did you become emotionally so delicate and fragile that someone else's opinions started to bother you?" Prabir enquired quietly running his fingers smoothly in his hair.

She looked up at him shyly. He smirked," Bhargu...Don't be upset about such silly things" and ruffled her hair softly.

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

Later in the evening, when Parul was in her dance class, Prabir heard the doorbell.

Dhruv pounced and opened the door instantly beaming, thinking it was Mr. Ghosh and blurted out thoughtlessly, " Look Miss Minnie Mouse is here.

Hey! Where did you hide your tail?"

Though he spent the last seven years in prison, Dhruv was very good humoured. He finally could see his future on the horizon. Nonetheless he missed his father but Prabir's presence made him feel comfortable and happy. He felt he had a family.

Even when Prabir went to college, he had given him his books to read - autobiographies of eminent personalities, some books on science fiction and even his laptop to watch movies if he got bored.

"You won't be able to endure me once you start testing my patience", Bhargavi muttered under her breath.

Dhruv blankly stared at Prabir and inquired, " Did something happen?

Why is she in such a foul mood?"

Prabir raced to take the bowl she held in her hands ignoring his remarks. " Ah!! My rice pudding", he exclaimed happily.

He placed the bowl in the kitchen and started to serve the pudding hastily in small dishes, for Dhruv, Bhargavi, Parul as well as himself.

He kept Parul's share aside and took Dhruv's plate and strolled away to the living room, where Dhruv occupied a seat before the TV. He placed it on the tea table and immediately walked back to the kitchen, where he was working on his laptop sitting on the dining table itself.

Bhargavi swiftly held up a spoon filled with the pudding before him. Prabir was tickled pink as he opened his mouth wide open and leaned forward to accept the offer. He swallowed slowly.

"How does it taste?" Bhargavi asked curious.

He smiled at her warmly and leaned forward to take two more spoonfuls.

Dhruv raced into the kitchen and enquired, " Bhargavi. Does aunty suffer from diabetes?"

"No! But why are you...", Bhargavi started to say and then she took a spoonful herself to taste the pudding.

It tasted bland and tasteless, she had forgotten to add sugar. She looked up at Prabir whose face was shining with rapturous joy.

Dhruv left the plate almost untouched on the dining table and walked out of the kitchen without another word.

He imagined Bhargavi and Prabir had a fight back in college, the obvious reason behind her spoilt mood and now she was attempting to make up with him, making his favorite dish.

Prabir drew a chair and sank down slowly. Then he held Bhargavi's wrist and gently pulled her, making her sit on his lap.

Before he could even say or ask something, Bhargavi apologized," I am so sorry. I had seen you make it and I thought I could..."

"What's wrong Bhargu? Something is troubling you", Prabir quizzed concerned.

Bhargavi tried to look away not wanting to meet his gaze but he slowly held up her chin and turned her face to meet his gaze.

"Yesterday, after lunch I sneaked out for some work.
I umm...I work for a man named Ziko for the last two years, who works for Nishwas Sinha.

My job is to gather information about his rivals. I get the targets drunk or mix some drugs in their drink to make them pass out as I check on their phones and quickly transfer relevant data.

I offer Ziko sixty percent of the information, so that he doesn't doubt me and keep the remaining forty percent with me.

Nishwas Sinha's rivals also have information about him and his nefarious activities which is very helpful to me. It helps me stay informed about his movements.

Yesterday, a new boy joined our team and after my job was done when I was about to leave, after giving Ziko the data, he tried to misbehave with me.

He had pinned me on a wall and trying to save myself, I head-butted him.He was furious and stabbed me with his knife. I kicked him in between his legs and ran away," she paused for his reaction.

"Stabbed?" He yelled.

Bhargavi slowly lifted her top revealing the left side of her belly. Prabir looked at the bandage awestruck. His face had turned ashen in pallor.

"I am alright Prabu", she said softly curling her arms around his neck.

"Is this why your eyes were moist in the hospital yesterday? And you were crying alone on the terrace?

Why didn't you tell me when you were in so much pain?

Who took you to hospital?" Prabir enquired abruptly with tears flooding his eyes.

"Prabu. Please. Don't drown yourself in a puddle of tears.

I am okay.

I wasn't taken to any hospital but the near most nursing home. Ziko threatened the staff and asked them not to inform the police," Bhargavi whispered wiping his tears with her fingers.

"How were you eating that tasteless pudding all this time?" She chuckled in an attempt to lighten up his mood.

He kissed her softly and mumbled," I can always borrow some sweetness from you."

"You didn't even call me up once Bhargu. Did they drop you home?" Prabir asked anxiously.

"No. I can't let Ziko find out where I stay. I asked them to drop me at a bus stop. Ziko waited for me till the bus arrived and I took a seat", Bhargavi informed.

"You walked all the way from the Jahron bus stop to your house but couldn't call me ?" Prabir said seething with rage. "Even in the evening I held you up from your waist, lifted you off the ground and placed you on the kitchen platform. What if you started to bleed again?" He stood up gently and Bhargavi slipped from his lap.

He held her from her shoulders, providing her balance and walked away from her placing his hands in his pockets.

"I wanted to call you up but...umm...you were so devasted only because of a dream you saw. I didn't know how to tell you.

Prabu please trust me. Nothing will happen to me. I will fight with anything and come back to you," Bhargavi replied politely following him.

"Bhargu. If you can be so reckless, don't expect me to listen to you," Prabir screamed.

He took the keys of his bike, placed on the key holder and strode towards the main door.

Bhargavi was rooted on the floor for a while unable to comprehend anything. She had never seen Prabir so furious.

"What did you do to make him this mad? " Dhruv questioned.

"Where are you going?" Bhargavi quizzed without paying any heed to Dhruv.

"Not your concern," Prabir replied coldly." You hardly care about what I feel."

" That's it.You just turn around and walk away because you're angry?

Prabir you know I do a risky job. At least I expected... you to understand even though no one else does", Bhargavi said enraged.

Prabir turned around and looked straight in her eyes but before he could say anything, Dhruv said abruptly,

" Jeez! What's this?

Jurassic Park?

T Rex verses Spinosaurous? "

"Will you please shut up that glorious mouth of yours?" Bhargavi hissed at him.

"Don't bring it out on him Bhargu?" Prabir reprimanded.

"I need to go Bhargu. I can't let Paru wait for me all night outside her dance class.

Listen. I know you do a risky job. I understand Bhargu, but you too need to understand that...

I too can tell you. Don't worry about me and let me drive the way I want to. There's nothing to be afraid, I will always come back to you.

Will you agree with it?" Prabir enquired quietly.

"No" she said softly shaking her head and ran up to him.

" Hey! Are you a biped hopping mouse? Don't run Bhargu,"he warned softly pulling her in his arms.

She flinched and had pain etched in her face as he held her arms. A drop of tear rolled down her right cheek.

Prabir quickly withdrew his hands and pushed back the sleeves of her t-shirt.

He stood shell-shocked noticing the bruises and welts on her arms.

"It's all your fault Prabu", Bhargavi said softly.

"My fault?" Prabir asked anxious.

"I was helping Maa in the kitchen in the morning as you wished. So she thought that she had the right to clean up my room and I wouldn't mind.

She found a huge amount of money under my mattress.

I couldn't tell her that I work for Ziko and all that is black money, I was always paid in cash.

When I stayed mum she lashed out all her anger on me," Bhargavi said sardonically.

"How could she...?" Prabir sighed.

"So now she thinks you robbed a bank?" Prabir asked non-chalantly.

"No.Erm...She thinks me even worse, as she also found my blazer body suits, pencil skirts, heels as well as my contact lenses and wigs.

Though my get up makes me look classy and professional, and I don't put on anything revealing..."Bhargavi replied with her eyes locked with Prabir's.

"Crap!" Prabir said with disgust.

"Bhargu. Go straight up to my room and rest. Don't come downstairs even if Bhawu or Maa come looking for you.

Dhruv. If Maa or Bhawu come looking for her, you say she left a long time ago. Don't reveal she's here", Prabir said in a commanding tone.

"But.." Bhargavi started to say.

"No buts.You let me handle things from now on.

You are not a nasty little cockroach to be beaten up like this.

She's old enough to know that when you decide not to tell something,you won't let your lips part even if you are beaten to death", Prabir muttered under his breath.

"She doesn't want to see my face anymore. She also told me that she will start working again but never take money from me to run her household.

And now even you are so upset with me", Bhargavi said sadly pouting.

Prabir felt something cold cross his entire body, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead and whispered," I am not upset. Now go upstairs and rest for a while till I am back."

She slowly strolled upstairs.

"Dhruv. Let Bhargu rest in my room till I come back and don't let anyone know she's here.

She has been stabbed with a knife and injured badly, beaten up by her own mother.

She is going through a lot so please don't mind her words," Prabir explained.

Dhruv nodded mutely and replied," Don't worry!"

"Paru will be waiting, I am already late," Prabir said and left hastily putting on his shoes.

Parul was waiting for Prabir quietly outside her dance class though she had Sarvesh's company all the time. They kept texting each other.

Prabir apologized for being late and soon they were on their way back home. Prabir informed Parul about Bhargavi, he told her all the details she needed to know - that Bhargavi was stabbed by a mad man who kept following her and that she was hit by Ms. Nalini for being late in returning home as she tried to hide the fact from her that she was stabbed.

Bhargavi was going to stay in their house for about a week and Parul had to keep it a secret from Ms. Nalini, Bhawani as well as Mr. Ghosh, his daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.

"Bhaiya. Nalini Aunty is very violent and aggressive don't you think?" Parul asked innocently.

"Yes! She is Paru," Prabir replied coldly.