THE ARRANGED LOVE STORY

EPISODE 18

This one is specially for PrachiSudha . Hope you like it.

When the photograph of Ranbir and Prachi was released, it was obvious that the rumour mills would get to work. In the following days, both of them got numerous calls inquiring about their relationship status. Since neither of them would be wasting their rime feeding page 3, all calls were attended by Aryan and Shahana.

Well, except the calls from their families.

"Mom! How many times will I have to tell you that he is just a friend." Prachi exclaimed.

"I know all your friends." Pragya said. "Then why is that I got to know about this friend of yours from the news?"

"Mom, I told you, he is a new friend. I was about to tell you about him."

"When do I get to meet him?" Pragya asked in a teasing tone.

"Maa.....you are unbelievable!" Prachi exhaled.

"By the way, I searched him up in Google. He is handsome and reputable."

"Maa, please......" Prachi groaned. "I'll call you later, okay?"

"Okay." Pragya giggled.

Prachi cut the call and shook her head. But then, a shy grin came on her face.

.

.

.

On the other hand, Ranbir was constantly declining the call from his cousin. It was only when he saw his grandfather's name when he picked up the phone.

"Hello Dadaji." Ranbir spoke.

"Finally you picked up!" Varun's voice sounded from the other end, filled with glee.

"Varun?" Ranbir questioned. "Can't you understand man, I don't want to talk to you now." he said annoyed.

"But you answered the call."

"That's because I thought it was dadaji!"

"We all want to know the same thing." Varun said. "Are the rumours true?"

Ranbir groaned. "What are the rumours even?"

"That, apparently you and Prachi Mehra are in a passionately romantic affair and....."

"What the hell Varun! Is dadaji there?" Ranbir was irritated even more.

"Oh my god! Is it true?" Varun exclaimed.

"No!" Ranbir cried out. "Me and Prachi are just friends."

"Oh my god! You have a female friend!"

"I'm cutting the call...."

"No don't! Wait! Dadaji is not here. I just took his phone." he said. "You can tell me everything. There is complete privacy."

"Varun.....there is nothing to tell. Me and Prachi are just friends. End of the story!"

"Dude, you were both hugging in the picture. Like....tightly.....hugging!"

"So what? I bet you have hugged many woman. Were all of them your girlfriend?"

"Many of them were!"

"Okay, I'm really cutting the call."

"No, no, wait, wait." Varun stopped him again. "Okay, tell me how you became friends?"

"Ugh..." Ranbir sighed. "We...." he recollected his first meeting with Prachi and a smile came on his face. "It was weird, awkward but funny when I first met her." he said softly.

"Oooohhh.....I sense some romance." Varun teased.

"There is no romance!"

"For now!" Varun said. "Maybe in the future....you know.....something can happen! Perhaps, I may make a music video based on your love story."

The mention of the music video reminded Ranbir about something important.

"Varun...." he called. "May be I would like to talk to you about Prachi."

"Oh wow! I knew it!" Varun exclaimed. "So, do I get to meet her?"

"I am reminding you again, she is just a friend!" Ranbir said sternly.

"Sure, I'll be in my best manners." Varun said dramatically. "My brother is finally shaping up his love life and I don't want it to get ruined 'cause of me."

Ranbir groaned. "You love drama, don't you?"

"I am a director! Of course I love drama." Varun said in a matter-of-fact way.

"Varun....." Ranbir sighed. "What I want to talk about is something important. I might be interfering in your work and you may not like it."

Varun sensed the graveness in his tone. "Okay!" he said. "I'll be arriving at Mumbai tomorrow."

"Good, you can come to my apartment." Ranbir said.

"Ok. Good night." 

"Goodnight." Ranbir ended the call.

He hoped Varun would not be upset by what he was planning to say. From his point of view, he felt that it was the right thing to do.

*****

Mehra Designs had created quite an impact, even surpassing Ravi Verma. So, obviously he was irked.

"I bet it's Kohli's influence!" Ravi snarled as he took a sip from his wine.

"He is such an arrogant prick." Ronit muttered. "I can't believe Prachi is letting him provide benefits."

Ravi smirked. "Why do I feel that you are still hung on her?"

"What?" Ronit exclaimed. "If you don't know, I was the one who ended things."

"Yeah, you were the one who cheated on her." Ravi snorted.

"Hey! Don't shove your anger on me." Ronit glared. "And yes, I did had an affair, but it was because I needed someone who really understood me. Prachi.....she was stupid. She didn't know the real world. She can't understand people. I needed an equal partner."

"But you broke up with Arshya too...." Ravi pointed.

"Well, she got jealous of my popularity." Ronit smirked. "After her, I really didn't look for a serious girlfriend. Arohi, Ragini, and others were just time pass."

"And Alisha?"

"Psht!" Ronit chuckled. "We both know that it isn't going anywhere."

Ravi sneered. "Well, the Prachi you thought stupid is actually becoming a problem for me." he said. "I can't believe she is whoring around with that Ranbir Kohli for......"

"Ravi......" Ronit exclaimed.

Ravi turned to him with a menancing look. "Do you still have feelings for her? Did I hurt them?"

Ronit swallowed. "This Prachi is different from the one I left. I may like to go back to her. She is a fool....but I don't think there is an affair going on between them. But of course, that's what Ranbir Kohli wants!"

"I think you are being delusional." Ravi said.

"See, your designs are far better than hers and we both know that." Ronit said. "All this is happening because that Kohli is bribing people."

"The reward for a good night of......"

"What we need to do...." Ronit cut him. "Is make Prachi realize what he actually wants from her and then she will throw him out of her life. You will get your spotlight back and Prachi will return back to where she should."

"Alright!" Ravi groaned. "If that's what you think, then go ahead and do something about it. Because, if she becomes a threat to my career, then I would have a trouble promoting her ex-husband." saying so, Ravi grabbed another bottle of wine and started drinking.

Ronit suppressed his anger and thought how to approach Prachi.