[So, I was thinking of uploading on Monday but @candy54789 and @123khushiiiii these two gold medalist in blackmailing, blackmailed me. So I am updating today. LOL]

[@KheyaliSarkar asked me to write a story where Prachi takes care of Ranbir and exerts right over him. So I have tried to pen down something like that. I am dedicating this to her. Hope you like it]

Prachi was standing immobile by the window, lost in conflicting thoughts. The look of the damned she had witnessed in Ranbir's eyes was still haunting her. That tortured look in his eyes was quite nightmarish.

Could he have been so affected by her supposed betrayal? Was he that hurt that she apparently believed Maya over him in the molestation case and testified against him? But why? The hurt in his eyes was more than that caused by the betrayal of a friend, even a good one.

The melodious ringtone of her phone brought her out of her musings. Sighing, she walked over to the phone and picked it up. She swallowed hard seeing Ranbir's name flashing on the screen. Yes, she was anxious to talk to him but now that he called a strange nervousness tightened its grip over her.

However, thinking it was better to get it over with, Prachi accepted the call. Before she could say anything a harsh voice stopped her words in her throat.

"Are you Prachi?" The voice growled in her ear

"Yes, I am. Who are you? And where is Ranbir?" Prachi frowned in confusion at the stranger's voice.

"Ma'm I am calling from Diamond Bar. We are closing for the night. But this man is dead drunk and is hell bent on having more alcohol. He is just not ready to leave. By his clothes and appearance, he appeared to be from a respectable background. That's why we haven't thrown him out till now. But this can't go on. If he doesn't leave soon, we will have to call the guards on him. And since you are the last person he had called, I am informing you about it." The gruff voice finished.

Anguish and anxiety washed over her. Prachi sat back down on the bed after assuring the man to wait till her arrival and that she would come as soon as possible. Her hands were clammy. She broke out in a cold sweat at the very thought of his condition.

"Oh God! What have I done?" Prachi pressed her trembling fingers to her mouth.

She should have told him the truth. But she hadn't thought that it would have such a disastrous effect on him. However, there was no time to ponder on what she should have done. At the moment Ranbir needed her the most.

As soon as this thought flitted across her mind, she got to his feet and was soon on her way out.

She hailed a cab and was on her way to the bar as soon as she could.

Within 15 minutes the cab drew to a halt in front of the bar. As soon as the car stopped moving Prachi was out of it.

"Are you sure you want to go in there, betaji?" The Punjabi cab driver looked at her with so much concern.

"I don't want to. But I have to, Sardarji. Please stay here. I will return in your cab. If I don't return within 15 minutes, please call the cops." Prachi gave him a nervous smile.

Turning on her heels, she strode off towards the bar after the cab driver assured her that he would follow her every instruction.

Prachi swallowed hard as she reached the entrance, her courage failing her. However, as she recalled every single moment when Ranbir stood up for her, sometimes against friends and sometimes against the society and even those he knew from childhood, a strange sense of purpose settled over her.

Pushing the door open, she stepped inside the dimly lit area. Almost all the seats were vacant and the waiters were clearing up after the patrons. Her eyes searched for a particular person and soon she found him in the farthest corner of the room.

His shoulders were drooping as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders and he was looking down at the glass of wine as if trying to drown in it.

Prachi experienced an intense pain as she witnessed Ranbir's condition. More determined than ever, she made her way towards him.

As someone placed a hand on his shoulder, Ranbir looked up from the glass and found the reason for all his torments standing in front of him.

"You! Why have you come here? What do you want now?" Ranbir glared at her through bloodshot eyes but Prachi could see the pain and hurt behind the anger.

"I have come to take you away from here. Come on Ranbir. Get up. We need to leave." Prachi glanced around nervously.

"We don't need to do anything. Or at least I don't. And there is no 'We', Prachi. You have made that crystal clear." Ranbir shrugged off her hand and looked away, trying to keep the tears at bay.

"Ranbir, stop being so stubborn and let's get out of here. Please." Prachi entreated but to no avail.

"I will be whatever I want and I am going nowhere with you." Ranbir was being as obstinate as a mule.

Prachi sighed in frustration. She understood it was quite impossible to sway him when he was in such a strange mood. All of a sudden a memory flitted across her mind. He entered the kidnappers' den alone to rescue her despite being annoyed with her earlier.

However, now that he was furious with her over her supposed betrayal, would he again prioritize her safety over his own emotions? There was only one way to find out. Prachi glanced at another drunkard who was leering at her.

"Ranbir, please, let's get out here. I...I am scared." Prachi glanced back at the pervert.

Ranbir followed her gaze. As soon as the implication of her words penetrated the fog clouding his mind, he became conscious of the dangers lurking in the dimly lit room for a young and beautiful girl.

"Let's get out of here." Ranbir struggled to get to his feet and finally succeeded with Prachi's help.

A small smile crept up on Prachi's lips as he proved yet again that for him her safety mattered more than his own annoyance or anger.

However, as soon as they came out of the building Ranbir reverted to his obstinate self. He shrugged off Prachi's hold on his arm and began to walk away with unsteady steps.

Ranbir stumbled but before he could collapse, Prachi clasped his arm and steadied him. However, as soon as he realized who helped him, he shrugged her hand off.

"I don't need your help. And why are you helping me anyway? Why are you going out of your way to help a bloody criminal?" Ranbir glowered at her.

"Because you are too stupid to be a criminal." Prachi had enough of his tantrums and now felt her own temper rising.

"What?" Ranbir spluttered.

"Yes. To be a criminal a sharp brain is a major requirement. An idiot like you can never be a criminal." Prachi glared back at him.

"So, you don't think that I am a criminal? That I .... I did what Maya accused?" A tentative hope began to unfurl within Ranbir.

Prachi sighed and shook her head in resignation. Out of everything she said, he latched onto that? He really was an innocent baby. The thought made her lips curve into a soft smile.

"I can never think that Ranbir. I know you. Do you think I am such a bad judge of character that I won't be able to say who can and cannot commit a crime? Ranbir, you may be a harmless flirt but you won't ever force yourself on any woman. You are a good guy, inspite of the cool dude image that you try to portray in front of everyone." Prachi cupped his cheeks with both hands.

"Then why did you give that testament? Do you know how much it hurts to know that you don't trust me? I don't care about anyone else's opinion about me but your opinion matters." Ranbir slurred.

"Why Ranbir? Why are you so hurt? Why does my opinion matter so much?" Prachi looked into his eyes searchingly.

"I asked first. So, answer me first. Then I will answer you." Ranbir was adamant.

"Because Maya threatened me that she will commit suicide if I support you and not her. Another girl from our office as well as Rhea were present there too." Prachi sighed dejectedly.

"What? Rhea knew it? But she didn't say a word about it. She just said you are going to change your statement. But why didn't she reveal what Maya did?" Ranbir wondered aloud.

His usually sharp brain was at that moment muddled due to the effect of alcohol. However, Prachi understood clearly the reason behind Rhea's action.

Because she hates me and wants to degrade me in everyone's eyes, including you.

Prachi sighed as she silently answered Ranbir's question within the confines of her mind. However, she didn't want to agitate Ranbir more than he was at the moment.

"We will find that out later. For now I will have to get you home safely. Come on, let's go." Prachi urged Ranbir.

"But Prachi, how can I go home in this state?" Ranbir looked at her sheepishly.

"Now he remembers! Quite fast, don't you think so?" Prachi's sarcasm fall on deaf ears

"Done with your sarcasm? Now tell me what I should do?" Ranbir sulked like a child.

"Fine, I will take you to my home. Everyone is out at the moment. You can sober up there and then leave for your own home. Okay?" Prachi dared him to challenge her.

"Okay." Ranbir accepted timidly.

Sighing softly, Prachi took his arm and put it around her neck and clasping his hand with one hand, put her other arm around his waist and helped him to walk up to the cab as he was finding it quite difficult to maintain his balance.

She helped him to sit on the back seat of the cab and settled down beside him. Soon, they were on their way to her home.

As soon as they reached her home, she helped him out of the cab and after asking the cab driver to wait for sometime and paying the fare, took Ranbir inside.

Prachi hauled him inside and finally stepped back.

Ranbir frowned, missing her warmth as it infuses him with a strength like no other.

"Now, sit quietly on the couch while I prepare a lemonade to help you to sober up." Prachi glared at him, placing her hands on her hips.

"Okay, okay. I am doing it. Why are you scaring me? " Ranbir looked at her warily while stumbling over his own feet and as a result sprawling on the couch.

"Careful. Touch those vile stuff again and you will find out how much more scary I can get." Prachi threatened him.

Ignoring his puppy face and trying really hard not to give in to his charms, she trotted off to the kitchen to prepare the lemonade.

As she was preparing the lemonade, she felt someone's warm breath on her nape that caused a shiver to run down her spine.

Startled, Prachi whirled around with the long spoon with which she was stirring the concoction and hit Ranbir's forehead with force, who was standing at less than an arm's distance from her.

"Ow! My head!" Ranbir started whining.

"Oh no! I am so sorry. Is it hurting badly? Show me. Ranbir, move your hand. Let me see." Prachi tried to pry his hand off his forehead and check the wound for herself.

Her concern and anxiety were acting like a balm to his hurt emotions and were successfully washing away remnants of the hurt he had experienced, thinking she didn't trust him. He lost himself in her eyes, his lips curving into a soft smile.

"You will have a bruise soon. Wait. I will bring an ice pack for you." Prachi instantly strode off.

Soon she was back with an ice pack and made him sit on a tall stool and started applying the ice pack on his bruise with utmost care and gentleness.

"Is it hurting now?" Prachi looked at him with concern and anxiety.

"Not any more." He smiled, revelling in her care.

His slightly slurred voice reminded her of her original purpose for coming to the kitchen. She instantly walked over to the counter and after keeping the ice pack on it, returned her attention to the concoction.

She poured the liquid into a glass from the tumbler and turned towards him with it.

"Come on. Have this. No tantrums." She instructed in a stern voice.

"Nooooo. I don't like lemonade. Pleaseeee." Ranbir made an adorable puppy face.

"You don't have to like it. Come on, be a good boy. Drink it." Prachi cajoled

When Ranbir still didn't budge, she sighed and hold the glass in front of his lips. Reluctantly, he took a sip and then another. Finally, after some more cajoling, he finished the drink.

"Now, close your eyes and remain seated here till your head feels clearer." Prachi smiled at him.

After a few while, the lemonade began to work its magic and his head really felt lighter and clearer.

As he opened his eyes, they were now more alert and alight with their usual brilliance.

"Finally! Welcome back to the world of sober people, Mr Drunk Kohli." Prachi giggled

"Thank you, Miss Warden Arora." Ranbir chuckled.

Both burst into fits of laughter. Soon, their laughter came to an abrupt halt as somewhere a horn blared with full force.

"Oh no! I forgot I had asked the cab driver to wait sometime so that he can drop you home. You should go now. Your family must be worried." Prachi smiled

"Okay. But before I leave, I will answer your question as to why I was so hurt when I thought you don't trust me. Because you are not just any friend to me Prachi. You are special. In fact, very special. You are someone who is my strength in difficult times. Your trust in me infuses me with the belief that I can win over any situation, no matter how difficult it is. Your smile makes me believe that everything will be alright. If you are by my side, I feel as if no harm can touch me ever. You are my faith in myself Prachi. And if you are not by my side, it shakes my faith in myself to the roots." Ranbir smiled at the stunned girl.

He learnt forward and kissed a rosy cheek and began to walk backwards.

Prachi was too stunned at his confession to react to the kiss.

"Bye for now Prachi. Because I will never leave you for long enough to say a good-bye." Ranbir smiled again and turning on his heels, sauntered out of the kitchen.

He left in his wake a girl who was feeling a little disoriented as the intensity of his words and the sweetness of his kiss roused conflicting emotions in her heart and mind.

Hope you all like it. Please don't forget to vote and comment.