[Ok, so @sanyogitaprc @Sara_imprfctScribblr @candy54789 @Aviskha_Deuri 

@ChandrapalSingh1 @riyasharmapranbirfan all are right.

@MalaPok06 LOL Mala it's not Sanju yaar. He is in jail and his case is closed, at least for now.

Now, guys, most of you have said that the previous update was small. Though I don't know why as it was 1500+ words update. my ususal length of updates. However, I am giving a larger update this time as you all found the previous one smaller and @candy54789 said that she will go on a strike if I don't. LOL Enough of my bak bak. Go, read the update.] 

Ranbir swung around at the dread filled warning in Prachi's voice and thus causing a log to miss him by inches and smash down on the spot where he had been a few seconds back.

He leapt up on his feet with a panther like agility and turned to his attacker with a deathly glare.

It was the same ruffian whom Ranbir had punched repeatedly before breaking an arm of  the second ruffian. Somehow he had managed to get to his feet and taking advantage of Ranbir's distraction, decided to attack him with another stray log lying nearby.

Grunting in frustration, the ruffian swung around and lifted the log up but before he could attack Ranbir, a powerful kick landed on his stomach. Gasping in pain, the ruffian staggered a few steps back, his hold on the log slackening.

Ranbir's eyes had a formidable glint as he regarded the man for a second and then before the hooligan could recover from the attack, he strode towards him and punched hard on his stomach, causing blood to gush out from the hoodlum's mouth.

The log of wood finally fell from the ruffian's trembling hand. Even at such a condition, the goon tried to fight back. He aimed a punch at Ranbir. Ranbir caught it in the fist of one hand while his other hand reached out to clasp the man around the jaw.

Ranbir glanced once at the sturdy bark of the tree behind his foe and then looked back at the man with a volcanic fury in his eyes. He compelled the man to move backwards and banged his head on the trunk, once, twice and a third and last time.

The ruffian limply slide down the trunk, unconscious. Panting slightly, Ranbir kicked the man to ascertain if he was indeed unconscious. Then he turned towards the other man who was still lying on the ground, clutching his broken hand and groaning in agony.

Ranbir craned his neck to look at another figure lying on the ground limply, apparently unconscious, near the railings. His lips curved into a soft smile of satisfaction as he examined the wreckage.

"Ranbir"

A whisper shattered the momentary silence that the tempest had left in its wake.

Ranbir whirled around to see that Prachi had managed to get to her feet with great difficulty with the support of the log which caused her fall.

Ranbir dashed towards her as she tottered on her feet and stumbled forward due to her injured ankle. Before she could tumble down, two strong arms entwined around her waist and very gently straightened her.

Prachi looked into Ranbir's concerned and loving eyes with eyes glistening with unshed tears. Her mouth wobbled as she tried to say something and a heart wrenching sob came out instead, followed by another and then another until she was crying silently and heartbreakingly in his arms.

Sighing resignedly, Ranbir gathered her closer and let the storm pass over. He let her tears wash away the shock, the trauma, that the harrowing incident left in its wake. He just prayed to the Almighty that the appalling incident did not leave any indelible scar in her innocent mind.

After a while, Prachi sobs subsided into hiccups and soon even the hiccups stopped. Prachi raised her head from the crook of Ranbir's neck and looked straight at his eyes with her own tear drenched ones.

"Ranbir? Are you okay!" Prachi whispered in a choked voice.

"I am absolutely fine Prachi. Don't worry. But you are hurt and you need first aid." Ranbir stared at her with so much concern.

"I am alright, Ranbir. But...but...had something happened to you...I...I..." Prachi trailed away and squeezed her eyes shut, as a terrible fear what could have happened tautened its grip on her.

"You what, Prachi? What would have happened had something happened to me during the fight?" Ranbir prompted gently, disentangling one arm from around her waist to cup her face.

"I...I wouldn't have survived it." Prachi finally said timidly.

"Why Prachi? Why wouldn't you have survived it?" Ranbir's heart was racing a mile a minute in anticipation of her answer.

"Because I...because I love you, Ranbir. I love you too much to lose you. Ever." Prachi closed her eyes and finally revealed the secret hidden in the depths of her heart.

Ranbir's heart stopped beating for a second and then compensated by drumming hard. Time stopped at that moment for him as he kept gazing at her in total astonishment. He simply couldn't believe his own ears. Had she really said that? Had she really said what he heard? Or was it the simple fact of listening what he wanted to hear as he had been hankering to hear that from her since so long?

"Did you just...can you please repeat what you have said just now? Have you really said what I think you have said?" Ranbir stared at her in anticipation.

"I love you, Ranbir." Prachi smiled through tears and met his gaze, saying the words in a soft but very clear voice.

An elation as powerful as life force seeped into Ranbir. It manifested itself through the glorious smile that lit his face from within. The indescribable joy that was bubbling within him softened his features. He stared at Prachi with his heart in his eyes.

"I love you too, Prachi. You can't even imagine how much I had been yearning to hear you say the words." Ranbir's eyes weren't dry too.

They didn't know whether any one of them made the first move or they both moved together. They only knew that within seconds they were hugging each other as if their lives depended on it, smiling through tears.

It might be a few minutes or probably an hour, they neither knew nor cared. Lost in the blissful oblivion of love and feeling protected and cherished in each other's embrace, neither seemed to be in any haste to part from the other.

However, Prachi's injury acted as the villain and brought them out of the oblivion induced by love. Prachi was unaware of the fact that she had put pressure on her injured ankle and only when pain shot up her leg, did she become aware of the fact. Her involuntary gasp of pain made Ranbir aware of it too.

They parted from the loving embrace and Ranbir kissed her forehead, making Prachi forget her pain and smile in rapture. A surprised squeak left her lips as he stooped and picked her up in his arms like a newly wed bride out of the blue.

"Ranbir! What are you doing?" Prachi's voice was breathless.

"Taking care of you." Ranbir smile down at her.

Shaking her head with a smile at his obstinacy, she wound  her arms around his neck securely. He entered the camp area with his beloved in his arms. He carried her to a rock settled in almost the middle of the camp area. 

"Now sit here quietly and don't even try to move an inch. I will return within minutes." Ranbir instructed.

"But where are you going?" Prachi raised her brows.

"You just can't refrain from asking questions, can you? You are a walking - talking questionnaire. Chikchiki." Ranbir chuckled, making Prachi's jaw drop.

"Baklu" Prachi made a face at him, making him chuckle some more.

"I will be back" Ranbir strode off.

A few minutes ticked past. Prachi was staring at the distance with a soft smile playing on her lips as she recalled the moment when they had confessed their love for each other and all the moments including the recent incident when he had emerged as her knight in shining armour. He had always been there to protect her, defend her and take care of her whenever the need arose.

She was startled out of her reverie when someone put something beside her feet. She turned her gaze away from the vista and looked down to see the love of her life staring up at her, his eyes mirroring all the love his heart possessed exclusively for her.

"So, here is the first aid box. Now, let's see if Prachi Arora is as brave as she pretends to be." Ranbir smirked.

"What do you mean by that?" Prachi frowned.

"You will see." Ranbir smirked again.

Ranbir gently removed her sandal from the injured foot and with utmost care hold it in his hands. As he tried to move it a bit, Prachi hissed in pain.

"Aaaah! Ranbir! What are you trying to do? Are you trying to break my leg?" Prachi complained.

"See. Told you. You only pretend to be brave. You are one of those delicate girls who whine at anything and everything." Ranbir smirked.

"I am not like those sissy girls. I don't pretend to be brave. Otherwise, I couldn't have taken down one of the three goons." Prachi protested.

Ranbir marveled at her words which were the absolute truth. Never before had he come across a braver girl. She was indeed a courageous person as not many could have taken down a burly man and managed to escape all three of them. It was sheer bad luck that she tripped over the log. Otherwise, she wouldn't have required him to come to her aid at all. She would have managed to save herself on her own. However, at the moment he could not accept the fact as he had a task in hand.

"If you are that brave then prove your courage." Ranbir challenged.

"Fine. What do I have to do?" Prachi stared at Ranbir with eyes shining with determination.

"Okay, let's see. If you don't scream at all, no matter how much pain you are in, then I will accept that you are a courageous girl. So, tell me, Prachi Arora, do you accept my challenge?" Ranbir challenged.

"Fine. I accept your challenge, Ranbir Kohli." Prachi accepted.

Ranbir thanked his stars that Prachi accepted so easily. He held Prachi's feet and began to move it upward and downward. Prachi flinched as, yet again, pain shot up her feet. However, as promised, she didn't let a single sound escape her lips. Out of the blue, Ranbir jerked her foot with much force. Prachi's mouth opened wide and her eyes widened in pain. But, to Ranbir's utter amazement, not a single sound escaped her lips. He was stunned to realize the strength of her willpower. Finally, he placed her foot over her sandal with great care.

"Are you crazy? Oh God! You have broken my leg!" Prachi finally gave vent to the pain and anger that had been bubbling within her since a few moments earlier.

"Oye, Drama queen. Quit being dramatic and slowly move your foot and see if you can move it freely now." Ranbir rolled his eyes.

"Ahhh! Ranbir! How can I...."Prachi trailed away and stared down at her foot first and then at Ranbir in utter bewilderment.

She tentatively moved her foot again and sure enough, she could move it freely and even the pain seemed to have diminished. 

"I...I can move my feet. Wow! How did you do this?" Prachi stared at him, amazed as well as impressed.

"First aid training. Useful in camping trips." Ranbir shrugged nonchalantly.

"Now, let's spray some pain relief and you will be fine." Ranbir sprayed pain relief on her ankle.

He replaced the bottle of pain relief spray in his personal first aid kit and shut the lid. Then he got to his feet and stretched out a hand to Prachi.

"Time to finally get some rest." Ranbir smiled.

Prachi put her hand on his with a smile and gingerly got to her feet with his help. He put an arm around her shoulder while his other hand held one of her hands in a secure grip. Contrary to what Prachi thought, Ranbir did not stop at the entrance to her tent but entered it and helped her get into her mattress and tucked her in, covering her with a warm blanket.

"Good night, chikchiki." Ranbir smiled.

"Good night, Baklu." Prachi smiled back.

Ranbir leapt to his feet and furtively walked out of the tent, making sure not to wake Sahana up who remained oblivious to the life changing event that took place in her best friend's life a few while ago.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The pitch black darkness of the night paved way for a new day filled with the golden rays of a newly awaken sun.

Sahana was having dinner with a handsome prince when someone shook her. She shrugged off and concentrated on her dinner date with the prince. However, this time someone shook her more forcefully, successfully bringing her out of her dream world. She blinked to clear her vision and looked around to find Prachi staring down at her exasperatedly.

"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty. Your prince isn't gonna come here to kiss you awake." Prachi rolled her eyes.

"He would have, had you not disturbed my dinner date with him." Sahana grumbled, pouting childishly.

"What? Oh no! Not one of your weird dreams again! Get up and get ready Sahana. Fast." Prachi shook her head and got to her feet.

"Okay, Your Highness. I am ready to do your bidding." Sahana got to her feet and stooped, feigning a curtsy and making Prachi giggle.

As Prachi turned around Sahana jogged up to her and rest her head on Prachi's shoulder, grabbing both of her arms from behind.

"But first you will have to tell me about your Prince Charming. Have you confessed already?" Sahana wiggled her brows.

"What? How did you...I mean...Why do you ask?" Prachi stammered.

Sahana giggled and turned her friend around.

"Because, no girl who is as much of a prim Miss Jones as you are spends time alone with a boy after everyone has gone to bed or the boy tuck her in if the boy is just her very good friend. And the facts that you are stammering and resembling a tomato at the moment bear further evidence that my guess is correct after all." Sahana smirked.

"You...you were awake?" Prachi was taken aback.

"Yes madam. I was. And also I am a good actress. Neither of you could see through my charade. But then, I can't take all the credit as both of you were so absorbed in each other I don't really think you would have noticed even if I had been awake." Sahana teased and giggled as Prachi swatted her arm.

"Enough of dilly dallying. Now tell me. Have you confessed?" Sahana looked at Prachi eagerly and whooped with joy as Prachi gave a small nod of affirmation.

"I am gonna go get ready. I can't wait to see my brother in law." Sahana dashed away, grinning.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Half an hour later

As Prachi and Sahana were hurrying towards the gathering of students in the middle of the camping area, they came across Ranbir and Aryan.

"Brother in law! How are you?" Sahana giggled.

"And how are you, sister in law?" Aryan smirked.

Ranbir chuckled while Prachi's face turned the deepest shade of crimson.

"Never better, sister in law." Ranbir grinned.

"Aryan! You always say I am like your sister. So, how can I be your sister in law?" Prachi raised a brow.

"Because sisters in law are always favourite sisters of brothers in law, even more than their own siblings." Aryan grinned, making Prachi smile too.

At a beautiful moment like this, Ranbir's phone buzzed. He fished the phone out of his pocket and placed it over his ear.

"Hey, Mom. How are you all?" Ranbir smiled.

However, soon the smile faltered and gradually faded away from his visage and the exhilaration that had been thrumming in his veins since last night seeped away, leaving in its wake a sense of abject horror.

"Oh no!" Ranbir exclaimed, making the other three turn towards him with a questioning look.

Uh oh! What happened? What was the news that made Ranbir so horrified? Want to know? Then keep reading. ;)

Aaj toh main murder ka option rakhungi hi nahi. LOL

Hope you all like the part. Waiting for your feedback buddies. :) 

P.S - Yeh 2600+ update hai. Is baar chota hai mat bolna. LOL