Heartless

17

The three best friends were still in Ranbir's cabin.
His secretary had just informed him that a particular person was coming to meet him for a collaboration between two companies.

And it was the biggest international gaming company.
Ranbir was preparation for that meeting and he had only an hour to do so.

Amidst his preparations, his phone began ringing and Aryan smiled teasingly at him.
Ranbir, busy with his file: "Put it on speaker."

Aryan: "Are you sure?"
He nodded yes not noting his best friend amused expression.

"Ranbir..." He heard Prachi's soft but sad and worried voice.
His eyes looked at Aryan who was holding his phone.

Ranbir, mouthed: "Give it..."
But his best friend was in a teasing mode and nodded no. Mayank just watched the scene unfold.

Ranbir: "Yes, Prachi..."
He moved around his table to take the phone but Aryan moved back.
Prachi, still in the same tone: "Can you please come to my college?"

This halted Aryan's step as he now noticed her worried voice.

Ranbir: "What happened?"
Prachi: "Principal Sir wants to see you... There has been a small issue."

Ranbir, now worried: "What happened? What did you do?"
Prachi, defensively: "I didn't do anything... actually my hand..."

Ranbir, even more worried: "What happened to your hand? You know what... I am coming."

He took his car keys and his phone from Aryan.
Mayank: "But meeting..."
Ranbir: "Keep him busy. I will come soon."
Saying so, he left.

Aryan watched his retreating figure happily.
Mayank: "What's up with you?"
Aryan: "Love changes everyone... and even Ranbir Kohli had succumbed to it."

Mayank looked on confused.
Aryan: "Ranbir wouldn't miss anything work related...
His work was his priority but now... Prachi is."
He smilingly went back doing his work while Mayank was lost in his own thoughts.

—————-
Anger...
That's the only emotion he had right now...
"What do you mean she got hurt?"
The principal had informed him about the little mishap and he was angry.
Ranbir: "Where is she?"
On cue, Prachi entered with the nurse.

Ranbir immediately approached her and checked her hands.
Her skin was a little scratched but it was paining a lot due to the impact.

The principal: "We are sorry, but it won't happen again."
Ranbir, glaring at him: "Ohh, I will make sure of that."
He held Prachi's unharmed arm and dragged her with him.

Prachi noticed that they were heading to the gymnasium and was worried seeing his angry stance.

As they entered, all eyes turned to them. Prachi shifted on her feet while his eyes went amongst the crowd.

Ranbir: "You said that they were my batch mates right?"
Prachi nodded yes.
Ranbir: "Where are they?"
Shahana came forward: "They went to grab something at the café."

Ranbir: "Then pass on the message to them."

They all looked on tensed.
Ranbir: "Tell them that if they dare to hurt my wife again, I will end up destroying their lives.
I won't care if they were my friends or not at one time."

Prachi looked at the way she was defending her and felt proud.
Ranbir: "Tell them to engrave it in their brains, no-one hurts my wife."

The boy who collided with Prachi came forward.
"Sorry Sir, but I didn't do it on purpose."

Prachi too stepped in and defended the boy.
"That girl made him trip, it's not Ro's fault."

With a scrunched forehead, Ranbir looked at her: "Ro?"
She nodded and pointed to the boy in front of him.