Pranbir Short Story Collection

Locked in the library Part 1

Frustrated, Ranbir kicked the door to the library hard. He had almost succeeded in making Maya confess the truth and prove his innocence against her allegation. He had her under his thumb. That slippery eel of a woman escaped yet again.

Prachi sauntered out of the dark corner where she was hiding to record the confession of Maya. All their endeavours went up in smoke.

"Calm down, Ranbir." Prachi placed a hand on his arm,understanding his frustration as she was experiencing the same emotion at that moment.

" I was this close to making her blurt it all out. But she escaped yet again." He stomped hard on the floor.

"Don't lose hope Ranbir. We will have to keep trying till we succeed." Prachi placated him.

Ranbir nodded grumpily and took a few steps away from the door. Sighing, Prachi meandered towards the door with the intention to leave.

"Let's go, Ranbir." As Prachi's fingers wound around the latch, she turned to Ranbir.

Prachi pulled the door casually. It did not budge an inch. A slight frown creased her forehead. She pulled again and harder this time. It still did not produce the desired effect.

Bemused, Prachi tried for the third time but to no avail.Confusion began to turn into consternation.

"What on earth is happening?" Prachi pulled the latch with all her might.

Prachi's bewildered exclamation caused Ranbir to whirl around. He was instantly by her side.

"What's wrong Prachi? Are you okay?" Ranbir was worried.

The first thought that fleeted across his mind when he heard Prachi. Without him realising, Prachi was swiftly becoming his first priority.

"Ranbir! I'm alright. But something happened to this blasted door. It's not opening. What should we do now? Ranbir! Say something." Prachi threw an exasperated look at the door and turned back to Ranbir.

Ranbir was utterly relieved to hear that she was fine. For a moment there he thought she had hurt herself somehow and the thought gave him a good fright. Then his brows furrowed as her words registered in his mind. The door got stuck!

He trotted off to the door and grabbing the latch, bent it down and pulled using his superior physical strength but the door refuted to succumb to his brawn.

Prachi, who had ambled up to him and was standing anxiously by his side, looked up at him. Her eyes were full of trepidation.

"What shall we do now Ranbir? I don't want to stay here all night. Do something. Get the door open." Prachi panicked.

"Prachi! Calm down! Calm down! At the moment we have to keep a cool head instead of panicking because panicking in this situation won't get us anywhere." Ranbir tried to pacify her.

But she was in no mood to listen to him. Worry creasing her forehead, she began to pace up and down restively.

"Calm down? You are asking me to calm down? I can't Ranbir. I want to go home. I want to get out of here. And instead of actually doing something, you are just wasting time." Prachi whined.

"Excuse me! Who do you think I am? The hulk? That I will snap the door like a match box?" Ranbir frowned at her in disbelief.

"I always knew you are of no use. You can only give lectures and be sarcastic. After all even that night when those goons attacked us, I was the one to save us." Prachi glowered at him.

"What did you do? It was I who...." Ranbir stopped abruptly.

He was about to reveal what actually took place that night but stopped right in the nick of the time. She always looked so adorable when she boasted about her prowess as a fighter and reminded him time and again that it was 'she' who saved them that night. He just didn't have the heart to rectify her. Nor would he do so now, even if that meant surrender. He was forever ready to accept defeat if she was his opponent.