Pranbir Short Story Collection

The Engagement Part 2

Suddenly, Dida looked at Sahana. As if on cue, Sahana turned to her a split second later. Dida blinked once and then repeated the action once again. Her face splitting into a wide grin, Sahana turned on her heel and slinked out of the hall. Stepping out into the corridor, she heaved a sigh of relief and trotted off cheerfully. Before she could take more than a few couple of steps, however, someone grabbed her arm and forcefully turned her around. Sahana grimaced on seeing Aryan in front of her.

"Look Aryan. I don't have the time to indulge in any argument with you. I have a job to do. Time is running out. So, let me go." Sahana huffed in frustration as she glanced down the corridor

"Wake up, sleeping beauty! Time has already run out. Engagement is over. Ranbir is engaged to that Maya. Now you answer me. Where on earth is Prachi? She had promised to save Ranbir. I didn't expect her to vanish without a trace like that." Aryan rounded on her

"Excuse me! You are talking about Prachi, my sister. She never breaks her promise, ok! She is doing everything she can to save Ranbir while you are wasting time here with your blabbering. You will spoil the plan if you don't let me go now." Sahana glowered at him

"Plan? What plan?" Aryan was nonplussed

"You'll know as soon as you let me act as per the instructions, Einstein!" Sahana quipped and taking advantage of his momentary distraction, she wrenched her arm free and trotted off.

Muttering something about crazy women under his breath, Aryan followed suit.

Sahana hurried down the corridor and came to a halt in front of the very last door. Deftly she unlocked the door and pushed it azar. Aryan stepped into the room as Sahana put the light on and the entire space was illuminated by the soft glow. An inadvertent gasp left him as he gawked at the sight in front of him.

Baffled, he gaped at the unconscious form lying on the floor and then transferred his gaze to the smug girl standing beside him.

"Wh...What's going on? If Maya is here, then who was that girl to whom Ranbir got engaged?" Aryan spluttered in utter bewilderment.

"Who is not with us, Einstein?" Sahana raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow

"Prachi. Oh God! That was Prachi under the veil? Ranbir got engaged to Prachi?" Aryan stared at her with wonder in his eyes.

"Yes. And if we don't make a move fast enough, we are going to spoil rest of the plan." Sahana threw a worried glance towards the open door.

"Right! First we need to wake this sleeping beauty up. Water! Fetch some water Aryan! Fast!" Sahana glanced at her watch.

Aryan hurried towards the bedside table where a jug full of water was placed, filled a glass with the liquid and handed it over to Sahana. Sahana threw the content unceremoniously over Maya's face who spluttered and gasped and finally came round. As she blinked to clear her blurry vision and focused on Sahana and Aryan, Maya was utterly baffled. But before she could even articulate a comprehensible word, Sahana grabbed her arm and pulled her slight form to her feet and began to haul her towards the door. Aryan, too, helped Sahana in carting Maya out of the room, turning a deaf ear to Maya's objections and queries.

Ranbir was staring bleakly at some point above his fiancée's head when a hullabaloo attracted his attention. He turned towards the source of the hubbub absentmindedly. Flummoxed, Ranbir gaped at the scene unfolding in front of him. He just could not believe his own eyes. Maya was striding towards him, followed closely by Aryan and Sahana. The crowd parted to allow them entry. Ranbir shook his head in utter incomprehension. What on earth was going on? If Maya was there n front of him then who was the girl whom he got engaged to?