PYAAR KI MANZIL

EPISODE 51

"Where's your Ranbir, Rhea? He can't be seen anywhere." Shaina asked.

"Even Aryan is no where in sight." Dimpy said scanning the entire area.

"They must be enjoying with their friends. They will here during the cutting of the cake. Ranbir can never miss my birthday party for anything in this world." Rhea said in her usual proud attitude.

Her confidence began to falter when time passed but they did not arrive. She tried to call Ranbir, but he didn't pick up the call, nor did Aryan.

"Aunty, where is Ranbir?" she asked Pallavi.

"I don't know. Let me ask Abhi, he is the one who knows about his whereabouts." Pallavi knew how much Ranbir loved Abhi.

"I'll ask dad myself. Thank you aunty."

Rhea went to Abhi and repeated the same question.

"He......He has gone to a friend's house. He will return late." he informed.

"Who is this friend whom Ranbir considers more important than me?" Rhea thought.

"Come on princess, cut the cake." Abhi smiled.

Rhea cut a piece and fed it to Abhi, followed by Alia and then to the other family members. Everyone gave her expensive gifts. When it was Abhi's turn, she was surprised to find a small box in his hand. She had expected something special like the sports car she had received in the morning, but the size of the box disappointed her.

"This is something very special." Abhi smiled.

Rhea unboxed the gift to find a pair of spectacles which confused her.

"Bhai, why did you gift her spectacles? She doesn't need one and the design of these is out of fashion too." Alia asked.

"Rhea, these belonged to your mother." Abhi said simply looking into her eyes.

"I don't want them." Rhea who hated her mother denied accepting any memoir of hers.

"You will keep them if you love me." There was a finality in Abhi's voice.

"Don't force her bhai." Alia piped in.

"Don't interfere Alia. It's between me and Rhea. She will keep it safely with due respect if she loves me even a bit." Abhi silenced Alia.

Inspite of all the negative qualities instilled in her by Alia, Rhea loved her loved ones with pureness. So, she didn't argue back, but walked out to the garden to show her dissent.

"Don't be sad darling. Bhai loves you a lot." Alia followed her.

"What's so special in that selfish woman that dad loves her still? Why can't he accept that she left him for a richer man and move on?" Rhea was frustrated.

"Bhai is innocent. He can't believe that your mother betrayed him." Alia smirked in her mind seeing Rhea's hatred for Pragya. "Don't spoil your mood for that woman. Go and enjoy the party."

Rhea thanked her for being at her side always and went inside.

"Well done Alia. You have done a great work. Even if Pragya returns, Rhea won't accept her and neither Pragya nor Bhai can defy the wishes of their daughter." Alia praised herself for her cunningness.

-----

Rhea was taking off her make up and was about to retire for the day when her phone rang.

"What happened now? Bhooji is working on a plan." Rhea said after picking up the phone.

"Enjoyed your birthday, didn't you?" Aarav said in a mysterious tone.

"Of course. What could have gone wrong?" she asked.

"That's why say you are an idiot. You are so lost in your own world that you fail to notice the happenings around you." Aarav mocked.

"Stop calling me idiot. You are the idiot. What did I fail to notice?" she asked angrily.

"Where are Ranbir and Aryan?" he asked.

"They are sleeping in their room." Rhea informed.

"Where were they the entire evening?" he enquired.

"They had gone to a friend's house."

"Who's the friend?" Aarav asked getting to the point.

"I don't know. They said they were too tired after returning home and went to sleep immediately."

"Check their social media posts and you will get the answer." he said and cut the call.

"Why doesn't he ever say anything clearly?" Rhea grumbled and began checking the social media posts.

Her eyes got wider as she scrolled more and more. Ranbir was with Prachi! How could he ignore her and go to Prachi! And those cheesy captions, what did they mean? She was almost mad due to anger.

She threw the flower vase down, breaking it into pieces.

"What happened now dear?" Alia who had heard the racket rushed into Rhea's room.

"Bhooji, it's getting too much now! Ranbir didn't attend my posh birthday party and went to Prachi's house. He can't ignore me for her. I want him. He is only mine." she whined like a child asking for a toy.

"Who gave you the information. It can be false." Alia pacified.

"See these posts bhooji." she gave her phone to Alia.

"Don't worry Rhea. I'll think of something soon to make Ranbir all yours." Alia said.

-----

"Why did you ask me to wait here? I could have picked you up from your house itself." Ranbir asked.

"Use your brain sometimes. Maa, Sarita dadi and Rishi doesn't know about our relationship. If you come to pick me up everyday, won't they get suspicious?" she said getting into the car.

"Why should I trouble my brain when I have such an intelligent girlfriend." he said casually.

"Stop over praising me." she swatted his arm lightly.

A swarm of girls were waiting for Ranbir. They were in for a surprise when he walked in the campus with his hands entwined with Prachi's.

"Good morning Ranbir. Mind going on a date with me?" a girl batted her eye brows.

"No. He will go with me, won't you Ranbir?" another girl pushed her.

Ranbir was going to say something when he noticed Prachi fuming beside him. He decided to play along to trouble her. He had suffered from jealousy so long, so why shouldn't she?

"Should I go? What do you say Prachi?" he asked innocently.

"Why are you asking for her permission?" the girl was confused.

"Because I'm his girlfriend. I don't want anyone of you near him again or you won't be able to bear the consequences." she threatened and turned towards Ranbir. "And you, don't even think of going on a date with someone else." she said dangerously.

"You heard her. Now you may leave." Ranbir smiled.

The girls went away dejected, gossiping about the new couple of the college. The news of the most handsome boy of the college being taken was going to be the breaking news of the day.

"You were enjoying, weren't you?" Prachi glared at Ranbir.

"Not at all. I was adoring the cuteness of my jealous girlfriend." he said sweetly making Prachi's anger vanish.