THE ARRANGED LOVE STORY

EPISODE 16

When Aryan had informed Ranbir that Prachi was not opening the door, he was worried. He even thought of going there, but he doubted if she would appreciate his presence.

But, he couldn't quietly. He needed to do something. He neither knew about her past or her issues, but he could not leave her alone.

Tentatively he picked up his phone and messaged Prachi.

Heard the news. Proud of you. Well done.

He then waited for the reply. For a person with his level of patience, it was very difficult to wait, but he did it.

After sometime, Aryan called him.

"Is everything okay? Did Prachi come out?" was the first thing Ranbir spoke as soon as he received the call.

"Yes. Prachi ma'am has opened the door and collected her dinner." Aryan informed.

"Oh! Good. What did she say?"

"Umm....she said that she had some work and asked us to go out and have dinner." Aryan said hesitatingly.

Ranbir was quiet for a while. Well.....

The way Aryan and Shahana had supported Prachi in his absence, they deserved a break as  a reward.

"Okay! Then go and have dinner."

"Huh?" Aryan was confused. "Sir, office?"

"It's okay. You don't have to return today."

"Thank you sir. Good night sir."

"Good night" Ranbir said and cut the call.

That was when he noticed that he had received a message from Prachi.

"Thank you. It meant so much."

A smile widened his lips and he leant back on his chair. Tomorrow.......tomorrow a surprise waited for Prachi.

*****

Aryan and Shahana were sitting in a restaurant near the place she stayed. It wasn't a date. They were there just because they were hungry.

The fact that Prachi intended to send them on a date was another thing.

To remove any awkwardness, Aryan began a conversation.

"What exactly happened between Prachi ma'am and Ronit?" he asked.

Shahana sighed. "I don't know much. I know that there was a great problem between them and Prachi ma'am gets terribly upset when he is mentioned. Rest is the office gossip which I can't trust completely."

"Hmm." Aryan nodded. "Well, Prachi ma'am saved herself from such a prick. I wonder how could she tolerate him as her boyfriend in the first place."

Shahana gulped. She looked at Aryan nervously. "May be I should have told you earlier, Ronit was not Prachi ma'am's boyfriend........"

"Then how come he is her ex ?" he looked up.

"Ronit is actually Prachi ma'am's ex-husband. They divorced."

"What?? Husband!!" Aryan exclaimed.

"EX-husband" Shahana pointed.

Aryan was too stunned to respond. He was not sure how his boss would react to such a piece of information.

 "You think Ranbir sir will back out when he gets to know that ma'am is a divorcee?" Shahana asked tentatively .

"Uh.....that's not.....Why didn't you tell me this before?" Aryan asked.