THE ARRANGED LOVE STORY

EPISODE 17

I have been blackmailed into giving this update by whom everyone knows 😑😑 So, here it goes

The photographers were busy clicking pictures. The business tycoon and the fashion designer sure made a pretty good pair. But, Ranbir and Prachi who were busy hugging each other were oblivious to the hype they had created.

Ronit was fuming the whole time he was watching them. It stung him that Prachi had actually moved on from him.

"I didn't knew your friend would be coming." Ronit said with an underlying spite.

Ranbir and Prachi pulled back and looked at him. Ronit tried hard to put up a formal smile.

"And this is?" Ranbir cast a questioning glance at Prachi.

"Uh...." Prachi realized that she had never told him much about Ronit.

Shahana looked nervously at Aryan and he shook his head indicating that he had not said anything yet.

"Ronit Malhotra......" he spoke. "Prachi's ex-husband....."

Ranbir stilled.

Prachi glanced at him, her face evidently tense. This wasn't the way Ranbir was supposed to know about it. She had wanted to tell him alone.

Aryan and Shahana were the most anxious. Their minds were already spiraling down a guilt-trip.

"Oh...." Ranbir said, finally breaking the heavy silence. "And she is?" he asked looking at Alisha.

Ronit was taken aback and so were the others. That wasn't the reaction they had expected.

Alisha was offended seeing Ronit silent. "I'm his girlfriend!" she exclaimed.

"Oh...." Ranbir smirked. "Good luck with that."

Aryan actually chuckled on hearing this and Shahana gaped at him. Prachi was staring at Ranbir with wide eyes.

"Excuse me, what do you mean?" Ronit glared at him.

Ranbir gave him a look and turned towards the reporters. "Excuse me ladies and gentlemen, this is a private conversation. Please excuse us."

The crowd around them dispersed and Ranbir again faced Ronit.

"You told me who you are." Ranbir said. "And I'm not going to interfere on anything personal. But, if I ever find you in my way or in the way of the people I care about, I will not spare you!" The threat in his tone was very evident. "And if you think that being the ex-husband of my friend would stop me or anyone would can stop me at all, you are just being delusional."

Ronit gulped.

Even though the threat was not meant for them, Aryan and Shahana actually felt the chill run down their spines.

"My assistant told me that you don't know me." Ranbir continued. "The name is Ranbir.....Ranbir Kohli and you are better off not finding who I am!"

As everyone stood there, stunned at Ranbir's obvious warning, Ranbir held Prachi's hand and walked away with her in complete style.

Aryan and Shahana looked at each other and grinned widely.

"I'm so happy!" Shahana exclaimed.

"Me too." Aryan smiled.

Ronit looked at them with disdain. "You two servants keep them on a pedestal, don't you? What are you, their lapdogs?"

They looked at him with clear derision.

"You actually remind me of a high school bully." Aryan said. "So jobless themselves that they try to force their sorry faces into other people's lives."

Ronit was furious. "You....son of a......"

"Save it for yourself" Aryan smirked.

He then followed the lead of his boss and held Shahana's hand and walked away with her, leaving behind an annoyed Alisha to drag away her angry boyfriend.

*****

Ranbir and Prachi sat opposite to each other. They were in a restaurant. They sat in silence for some time, adjusting themselves to the situation.

It was a shock to Ranbir that Prachi was a divorcee, but after having a look at Ronit, he was sure that she must have suffered a lot at his hands.

He also realized that Prachi's feelings for her ex-husband might be deeper than he had expected. The thought left a heavy feeling in his chest. But he wasn't the kind to tolerate anyone's rubbish and Prachi should know that.

"Are you upset about what happened?" he asked.

Prachi looked at him. "Are you upset that I didn't tell you about........about my divorce?"

Ranbir sighed. "If you are my friend Prachi, you must know a few things about me."

Prachi stared at him.

"I don't go digging up anyone's life, even if they are my friends. If they have to say something, they must do it on their own. Yeah, there is the issues of frauds, but I deal differently with them."

Prachi was astounded.

"I can be aggressive, very aggressive to people who threaten to disrupt anything or anyone whom I care about." he said honestly.

Prachi looked down and sighed.

"I know your.....I mean he was......your husband", Ranbir found it very difficult to pronounce that word. "I didn't mean to upset you, but you must know that I'm not going to be nice to him if he behaves the way he did last night or today. It affects you, you can say so, but I don't think I can promise that I will change my attitude towards him."

Prachi raised her head towards him in surprise.

"Now, where we go ahead from here, you decide. And no, I don't have any problem that you didn't tell me about the divorce. If at all, I am glad that you realized your worth!"

Prachi stared at him.

Ranbir sure had always been real with her but, for the first time he was being so blunt. She had always seen his sweet side that day she got to see his aggressive side too.

The entire time he was talking to her, his voice didn't hold any sweetness but, a harsh genuineness that made her realize that he was being complete honest.

If she was truthful, she wasn't happy with the conversation that took place between Ranbir and Ronit. But she also knew that Ranbir was not to blame for it. Ronit was the wrong one.

And from his side, Ranbir had made himself clear. The decision lay upto her.

Yes, it was true that a part inside her refused to stop caring for Ronit, but a major part of her knew that she needed to move on and deserved someone better.

For the first time in years, someone had created a spark inside her. A man so much better than many she had met.

She glanced at him. His face had a serious expression, boderlining anger.

And....he looked really, really handsome and attractive!

A smile came on Prachi's lips, her face blushing slightly. She was indeed drawn towards Ranbir. And may be, he was too.

They had a chance, she didn't want to let it go. Maybe, she should be more easy on herself.

With a deep breath, she extended her hands and held Ranbir's. He looked at her in surprise.

"I'm happy that you were honest with me" she said. "And probably lucky too to have a friend like you." she smiled.

Ranbir exhaled and a grin came on his face.  "Alright!" he said, tightening his hold on her hand. "Shall we order lunch?"

"Sure!" she replied happily.