And.....

Nothing happened. Prachi walked gracefully towards the front end of the ramp, stopped for a moment and posed and then, elegantly turned on her heels and walked back to the back end of the ramp and disappeared behind the curtains, amidst the thunderous claps by a mesmerized audience and nods of approval by the judges.

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Rhea turned around to face her shocked friends. She was as shocked and disappointed as they were, even more so. Still, since it was their plan and they assured her of a positive outcome, she glowered at them in mounting fury.

"Well, well, well. So, do tell me what exactly happened at the count of three because my eye failed to see any such incident." Rhea's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"I swear, Rhea, we had made sure that the heels come off ...." Dimpy began nervously.

"Really? Then what happened? The heels were replaced magically?" Rhea demanded furiously.

"Not the heels, Rhea, but the shoes were replaced. And not by magic, by me." A voice drawled mockingly.

The trio whirled around to see him in front of them. His eyes were filled with utter revulsion and indignation due to their heinous plans.

"Yes. I was the one to foil your plan. Seriously, Rhea? Don't you have any shame? How much more shameless can you be? No one trusts you anymore. No one even likes you at home. And yet, instead of mending your ways, you are hell bent on degrading yourself in everyone's eyes. God! I don't know whether to feel pity at the pathetic creature that you are or hate you for the evil activities that you enjoy. And you two. How dare you, Dimpy and Saina, to conspire to humiliate Prachi in front of everyone? You just wait and watch what I do with you two now. I will always be there to save Prachi from the clutches of people like you." He glared at the trio.

"Aryan! You can't talk to me like that. And you are saving her? Why? Who is she to you? You don't even have any relation with her. I am your sister. Instead of helping me you are...." Rhea began indignantly.

[ Those who thought Aryan will save Prachi this time were absolutely right. Arey saare kaam saiyanji hi kare kya? Bhaiya ji bhi toh kaam aaye kabhi. ;) ]

"I can and will talk to you just as you deserve. Prachi is like a sister to me. In fact, she is more of a sister to me than you had ever been. And I will always oppose those whom I think to be wrong, be it my sister or even my mother. So, don't keep your hopes high when it comes to me Rhea. Like I said I consider Prachi to be my sister, more than you, and hence her brother will always be there to protect her from devils like you." Aryan warned the trio and turning on his heels, strode away.

Little did Aryan know that someone had witnessed the whole scenario and was smiling through tears.

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When Prachi entered the dressing room, there was no one around. She was ecstatic that she had performed so well and was grateful that she hadn't topple over in a heap of humiliation in front of all the people out there. She twirled around like a child, giggling.

Suddenly, sensing someone's gaze on her, shewhirled around. Her happiness increased manifold seeing the person in front ofher, the person who had literally taught her how to walk on the ramp, theperson who had always been there for her and would continue to do so.

"Ranbir! I did it. No, no. We did it." Prachi grinned excitedly and hurried over to him.

Ranbir too crossed the distance between them with long strides, grinning happily.

"Yes, Prachi! We did it. And we will always win as long as we are together." Ranbir assured Prachi, exhilarated.

"Yes." Prachi nodded excitedly.

In their excitement, they wound their arms around each, feeling an intense sense of peace and belonging in each other's embrace. 

It took them a while to come out of their mutual excitement and exhilaration and realize the position they were in. As if by mutual agreement, their arms fell off from each other and they stepped back. Or rather tried to. As Prachi moved away from Ranbir, she felt a tug on her hair. 

"Aahh!" Prachi hissed in pain and looked down to see a stray tendril of her sleek, dark hair had entangled itself around the button of Ranbir's shirt.

Prachi's moan of pain made Ranbir look down. As he realized the problem, he gestured Prachi to stay still and that he would sort it out. He leant a bit and began to disentangle her hair with gentle care. 

While disentangling her hair from his button, he made the mistake of looking up into her eyes. She too was looking at him and myriads of emotions were swirling in the depths of her eyes. He just couldn't look away from those mesmerizing pair of eyes, he wasn't strong enough to do so.

Prachi, too, couldn't resist the temptation to drown in his eyes, the eyes which mirrored nothing but pure love for her that domiciled in his heart. 

As she felt his warm breath on her face, her eyes closed out of their own volition. They were merely inches away from each other. By then Ranbir had managed to free the strand of her hair. 

Out of the blue, Prachi's eyes flew open and Ranbir too straigtened up as they heard approaching footsteps. Instantly, they stepped apart and turned just in time to see a bunch of other girls sauntering into the room. 

As one of them, who was looking around absent mindedly, saw him, she smiled flirtaciously and batted her eyelashes. However, Ranbir, who used to flirt back brazenly, now looked warily at her and then turned to the girl beside him. 

Prachi was staring at him with narrowed eyes. 

"What? What did I do? Why are staring at me like that? I don't even know them. I swear." Ranbir clarified hastily.

Prachi's lips curved into a sweet smile and then she burst into fits of giggles. He was looking just so adorable at the moment, all terrified and flustered.

"Awe! You are so cute! Cute, adorable baby." Prachi reached out and pulled Ranbir's cheek, making his jaw drop at her mischievousness.

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Aryan was walking through the corridor with long strides when someone placed a hand on his arm, making him stop. As he turned around he saw Sahana in front of him. Her eyes were brimming with unshed tears and yet there was a sweet smile on her lips.

"Thank you, Aryan. Thank you so much." Sahana smiled as a few tears spilled out of her eyes.

"Thanks for what?" Aryan stared at her, bemused.

"You have saved Prachi. Otherwise..." Sahana trailed away as Aryan cut across her words.

"It was my duty, Sahana. I consider Prachi as my sister. And it is a brother's responsibility to protect his sister from any trouble. I have just fulfilled that responsibility. And I will try my best to ensure that she doesn't get into any trouble." There was a strange determination in Aryan's eyes.

"You are an awesome person, Aryan. And, being the idiot that I am, I always used to fight with you. Will you be my friend?" Sahana extended a hand towards Aryan with an adorable smile.

"Why not? Friends." Aryan accepted her offer of friendship and shook her hand.

"So, where were you going in such a hurry?" Sahana raised her brows.

"To the principal's office. I won't let Dimpy and Saina get away with this." Aryan frowned.

"I will come with you." Sahana nodded.

"Come then." Aryan agreed.

Together they strode away towards the principal's office.

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"Prachi! You called me a baby! Just wait and watch what this baby does." Ranbir challenged her with a smirk.

Prachi's eyes widened as she saw him coming towards her. She instantly whirled around and after taking her heels off, ran away barefooted.

Prachi was darting through the corridor and turned back to check if Ranbir was still chasing her, which he was, when she collided with someone.

Startled, she came to an abrupt halt and turned to see Sahana glaring at her. Aryan was beside her and grinning at Prachi.

"Prachi! At least watch where you are going?" Sahana complained, massaging her arm.

"Sorry, sorry, Sahana. It's not my fault. It's this baklu's fault." Prachi instantly blamed Ranbir who had reached her by then.

"Oh really! Everything is my fault it seems. Who was the one who called me baby?" Ranbir glared down at Prachi.

"What shall I call a baby if not a baby? What do you say, Aryan?" Prachi giggled and turned to Aryan.

"I will say that you are absolutely right Prachi. He really is a baby." Aryan hi fived with Prachi, chuckling.

"You too, Brutus! Now that you have got a sister, you forgot your best friend. No one is there for me." Ranbir sulked.

"We were wrong, Prachi. He is not a baby. He is a drama king." Aryan chuckled.

"Awe! Why are you all teaming up against this poor boy? Don't worry Ranbir. I am in your team." Sahana smiled at Ranbir.

"Thank you so much, Sahana. You are awesome." Ranbir side hugged her with a smirk.

"Oh please! You two are no match for us. Right, Aryan?" Prachi smirked.

"Absolutely, Prachi." Aryan smirked back.

Ranbir opened his mouth to say something but it remained unheard as just at that moment the announcement that the result of the fashion contest would be declared shortly was made.

"Oh no! My shoes!" Prachi whirled around and darted back to the room.

Chuckling, the other three followed suit.

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The time for the declaration of the result had arrived, the moment that would determine the winner. All the participants had gathered with anxiety in their hearts.

Rhea stood at one corner of the long line of contestants with Dimpy and Saina while Prachi stood at the other, accompanied by Ranbir, Aryan and Sahana.

Armaan Khurana adjusted the mike and finally began to speak in it, his deep voice instantly demanding the attention of everyone present there.

"Each and every contestant's performance was fabulous. However, in every contest there is just one winner. So, better luck next time to everyone else. I won't waste your time in dillydallying. So, let me announce the winner. And the winner is ....." Armaan Khurana trailed away, glancing at the sea of anxious faces once.

Thak gayi main. Toh aaj ke liye itna hi. Winner next update mein reveal hoga. LOL

Shree, maine kaha tha na cliffhanger ka badla cliffhanger se. LOL

Hopeyou all like this part buddies. Do let me know through votes and comments.Waiting eagerly for your feedbacks.