Pranbir Short Story Collection

Unmasking the evil

[Wish you all a very happy Diwali my sweet friends. This is my Diwali gift for you. coolnerdyguy asked me to write a story on the current track. So here goes. Hope you all like it.]

Prachi had been searching Ranbir for almost half an hour but to no avail. It was as if he had disappeared without any trace. She had looked for him in the gathering inside the mansion as well as the people scattered all over the grounds as the preparations of Dussehra festival were being given the final touch and the statue of Ravana symbolizing everything evil was scheduled to be set ablaze shortly. 

As she sauntered into the sole darker area amidst the beautifully lit ground that led to the canopy where the food for the guests was being cooked by Saritaji's catering team, her feet came to an abrupt halt. Was there someone standing in the even darker shade of the colossal tree? Prachi squinted her eyes to get a better view. Yes, there was someone beneath the tree. She knew she should not compromise her own safety by going after a stranger in a dark, isolated area but curiosity got the better of her. Curiosity as well as the curious fact that even though she could not see the person clearly, there was a strange sense of familiarity and instead of sending out creepy vibes, the person's presence filled her with a sense of security. Tentatively, Prachi took a few steps towards the person.

As her feet ate up the distance between them, the person who had been a mere silhouette till then began to transform into the tall, familiar figure of a male whose back was turned towards her. His shoulders were stooped as if they were carrying the burden of the world. His shoulders were stooped as if they were carrying the burden of the world. It took an instant for Prachi to know just who the solitary figure was. She hurried towards him and on reaching him, placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Ranbir" Prachi called out tentatively.

Ranbir turned around and Prachi was shocked tosee tears cascading down his cheeks and his eyes. 

"Ranbir! What's wrong? What happened?" Prachi cupped his tear stained face with both hands.

"Everything is wrong, Prachi. Everything and everyone are conspiring against us. I can't and won't live without you Prachi. I can't and won't give your place to someone else. I don't want to lose you Prachi. I have never felt so helpless in my life." Ranbir gave vent to all the pent up emotions of frustration, fury helplessness, fear and an intense dejection.

"Why are you saying this? Please tell me what happened?" Prachi entreated, her own eyes moistening as she could acutely feel his agony despite being unaware of the reason behind it.

However, instead of answering her, Ranbir took a step forward and wounded his arms around her petite waist, burrowing his face into the perfumed and silky softness of her hair.  

Worriedly Prachi wound her arms around his waist and ran her hand up and down his back in an attempt to calm him down and it worked like magic. Soon, he had calmed down. However, before she could ask him the reason for the sudden breakdown a shrill voice made them jerk apart.

"What on earth do you think you are doing? How dare you get so close to my son? Have you forgotten your place? Have you forgotten why you have come here? Instead of doing your job you are spending your time in enchanting my son with your fake concern? No wonder he is going away from us, rebelling against us. He no longer cares about the happiness of his own family. And all for what? A girl like you? I never knew you are such an enchantress, Prachi Arora. You are so disgusting." Pallavi gave vent to the fury bubbling within her as she witnessed her son in the arms of the girl she abhorred.

Prachi stared at Pallavi in stunned disbelief with wounded eyes brimming with unshed tears. However, it was just too much for Ranbir to bear.

"That's enough, mom. How can you say all that to Prachi? You are disgusted with her? Oh no, mom! I am disgusted with my family. I am ashamed of you and your behaviour towards Prachi. And I don't care about my family's happiness? Does my family care about mine? They say a mother's love is unconditional and that she can do just about anything for her child and her child's happiness. You have proved it wrong, mom, as you are doing everything possible to snatch my happiness away from me. I don't know how and why you have changed so much, mom. But the fact is I can't see my beloved mother in you anymore as she has proved by her words and actions that she loves her whim more than her son." Ranbir yelled, unable to suppress the agony any longer.