Suddenly, Dida looked at Sahana. As if on cue, Sahana turned to her a split second later. Dida blinked once and then repeated the action once again. Her face splitting into a wide grin, Sahana turned on her heel and slinked out of the hall. Stepping out into the corridor, she heaved a sigh of relief and trotted off cheerfully. Before she could take more than a few couple of steps, however, someone grabbed her arm and forcefully turned her around. Sahana grimaced on seeing Aryan in front of her.

"Look Aryan. I don't have the time to indulge in any argument with you. I have a job to do. Time is running out. So, let me go." Sahana huffed in frustration as she glanced down the corridor

"Wake up, sleeping beauty! Time has already run out. Engagement is over. Ranbir is engaged to that Maya. Now you answer me. Where on earth is Prachi? She had promised to save Ranbir. I didn't expect her to vanish without a trace like that." Aryan rounded on her

"Excuse me! You are talking about Prachi, my sister. She never breaks her promise, ok! She is doing everything she can to save Ranbir while you are wasting time here with your blabbering. You will spoil the plan if you don't let me go now." Sahana glowered at him

"Plan? What plan?" Aryan was nonplussed

"You'll know as soon as you let me act as per the instructions, Einstein!" Sahana quipped and taking advantage of his momentary distraction, she wrenched her arm free and trotted off.

Muttering something about crazy women under his breath, Aryan followed suit.

Sahana hurried down the corridor and came to a halt in front of the very last door. Deftly she unlocked the door and pushed it azar. Aryan stepped into the room as Sahana put the light on and the entire space was illuminated by the soft glow. An inadvertent gasp left him as he gawked at the sight in front of him.

Baffled, he gaped at the unconscious form lying on the floor and then transferred his gaze to the smug girl standing beside him.

"Wh...What's going on? If Maya is here, then who was that girl to whom Ranbir got engaged?" Aryan spluttered in utter bewilderment.

"Who is not with us, Einstein?" Sahana raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow

"Prachi. Oh God! That was Prachi under the veil? Ranbir got engaged to Prachi?" Aryan stared at her with wonder in his eyes.

"Yes. And if we don't make a move fast enough, we are going to spoil rest of the plan." Sahana threw a worried glance towards the open door.

"Right! First we need to wake this sleeping beauty up. Water! Fetch some water Aryan! Fast!" Sahana glanced at her watch.

Aryan hurried towards the bedside table where a jug full of water was placed, filled a glass with the liquid and handed it over to Sahana. Sahana threw the content unceremoniously over Maya's face who spluttered and gasped and finally came round. As she blinked to clear her blurry vision and focused on Sahana and Aryan, Maya was utterly baffled. But before she could even articulate a comprehensible word, Sahana grabbed her arm and pulled her slight form to her feet and began to haul her towards the door. Aryan, too, helped Sahana in carting Maya out of the room, turning a deaf ear to Maya's objections and queries.

Ranbir was staring bleakly at some point above his fiancée's head when a hullabaloo attracted his attention. He turned towards the source of the hubbub absentmindedly. Flummoxed, Ranbir gaped at the scene unfolding in front of him. He just could not believe his own eyes. Maya was striding towards him, followed closely by Aryan and Sahana. The crowd parted to allow them entry. Ranbir shook his head in utter incomprehension. What on earth was going on? If Maya was there n front of him then who was the girl whom he got engaged to?

"What is happening? Maya, if you are there, then who is this girl?" Choubey blustered

"I don't know dad. This girl is an impostor. This Sahana took me to that room and sprayed something which made me lost consciousness. A while ago, she threw water on me and when I came around, she began to drag me somewhere. But midway I freed myself from her and reached here as soon as feasible." Maya glowered at Sahana

As Ranbir turned to the girl standing meekly beside him, the girl lifted up her veil and removed the dupatta from her head. Everyone, especially Ranbir, was flabbergasted to see Prachi in front of them.

Exhilaration coursed through every vein of Ranbir as realisation dawned on him that Prachi had all along been there with him and that the girl to whom he got engaged was none else than Prachi herself. He felt weak with relief as the tremendous tension which had him in its terrible grip slowly drained away.

"Prachi! How dare you spoil my daughter's engagement? I should teach you a lesson." Chowbey began to advance menacingly towards Prachi

Ranbir swiftly moved forth while simultaneously pulling Prachi behind him, effectively covering her slight form with his own taller one.

"Mr. Chowbey. Whatever you want to say you can say to me. But I won't let anyone harm Prachi." There was a firm resolve in Ranbir's eyes as he met Chowbey's furious gaze head on.

"So you too are involved in this conspiracy to demean us. Fine then. Let's start from you. After I'm done with you and your loved ones, people will know once and for all that they should never mess with Chowbey" Bellowing in utter outrage, Choubey fished out a gun from his pocket and placed it on Ranbir's forehead. Both the Kohlis and the Mehras cried out in alarm but before anyone could do anything a feminine voice echoed in the hall.

"Take your gun off Ranbir, Mr. Chowbey or your beloved daughter won't live to see the next dawn. And don't forget to ask your lap dogs to drop their guns." Prachi pressed the sharp knife a bit into Maya's throat making her cry out in agony as she issued the warning.

Apprehension replaced the fury on Chowbey's face and he instantly took the gun away from Ranbir while simultaneously gesturing his guards to act as per Prachi's instructions. When all the guns were dropped, Aryan and Sahana picked them up on Prachi's instructions and stowed them away. Ranbir, taking advantage of the distraction, snatched Chowbey's gun and took him at the gun point.

"Now, let's talk about you Maya. I'll come straight to the point. Are you going to divulge the truth about the fake molestation case you have filed and prove Ranbir innocent or are you going to force my hand regarding this too?" There was an aura of ruthless determination and eerie serenity about Prachi.

"What...What do you mean? I...I don't know what you are talking about?" Maya stuttered as she stared at Prachi apprehensively.

"Hmm...So you are not going to speak up. Fine, let's have it the hard way." Prachi smirked and then turned to Aryan, "Aryan, call the police and inform them that Maya is trying to kill me and she has already succeeded in injuring me. It's a matter of time before she manages to kill me. And ask them to come here as soon as feasible."

"What nonsense! You are pointing a knife at my throat. How can I injure you?" Maya was utterly perplexed.

"Good question. Watch me." Prachi took the knife off Maya's throat and before anyone could blink, she slashed her left arm with the knife.

"Prachi! What have you done?" Ranbir bellowed as he leapt off the platform and began to dash towards her when Prachi raised her injured arm and gestured him to stop. Blood was slowly dripping from the wound but there was no sign of agony on Prachi's features which had hardened into a merciless resolve to end their predicament once and for all.

In a jiffy, Prachi threw the knife towards Maya who caught it. Then Prachi swiftly grabbed the hand holding the knife so that Maya can't drop it as soon as she realised what was going on.

"What are you doing? Leave my hand, Prachi. Let me go." Maya was terrified

"Did you let Ranbir go? Did you think once before spoiling first the reputation and now the life of an innocent person? Never. So, now I'll give you a taste of your own medicine. An eye for an eye. A fake attempt to murder case for a fake molestation case." Prachi informed Maya calmly.

"No. You can't do this." Maya was sweating profusely

"Watch me." Prachi scoffed

"Please don't do this Prachi. Please." Maya pleaded

"I won't. But in return for that you have to confess your crimes as well as the fact that your dad has been threatening the Kohlis to get Ranbir married to you. You do that and go to jail for fraud for a year at the most. You don't do that and you go to jail for attempt to murder for 7 or 8 years." Prachi bestowed a serene smile at Maya

Maya looked around but no help came from any corner. Seeing no way out of the soup she had landed herself into, she grudgingly conceded defeat.

"Fine. I confess that Ranbir Kohli is innocent and the allegation of molestation that I brought against him was false. I took him in that room during the Lohri party and spiked his juice. When he lost consciousness, I feigned to be molested by him. Also, my dad has been threatening the Kohli family to get Ranbir married to him. There, are you happy now? I have confessed everything." Maya whimpered in frustration.

"Thank you, Maya. Inspector, I hope Maya's confession is proof enough to get her arrested for fraud and her dad for coercion. (Maya turned to look at the police officer who had reached the spot just on time to hear the entire confession of her crimes) Sahana, did you record the confession?" Prachi turned to look at Sahana who nodded in affirmation, "Good. Now upload it to the social media as well as news media sites. Not a single person should have any doubt about the culpability of Maya and the true colours of the renowned Chowbeys. " With a smirk, Prachi shoved Maya right into the waiting arms of a burly lady constable, who immediately clasped Maya's arms in an iron grip.

Prachi sauntered towards Chowbey who was beside himself with incandescent rage.

"Mr. Chowbey. You shouldn't have targeted Ranbir who is a very good friend of mine. You see, whenever someone tries to harm my family and friends, I destroy them. Totally. You'll get a call any moment now terminating your membership of the political party which accounts for your arrogance. No political party would like to retain a member who is a blackmailer himself and is the father of a fraud, a fact of which the whole city is aware by now." There was a formidable gleam in Prachi's eyes.

As if to corroborate Prachi's words, Chowbey's phone chose to ring just at that moment. Startled, Chowbey looked around as if in search of the source of the noise and then turned back to Prachi, who gestured towards him with a smirk. With an unsteady hand, Chowbey fished out the handset and answered it. For a moment he went utterly still, then, in a blistering fury, he flung the phone away.

"I think Mr. Chowbey has received the good news. Officer, please take them away." Prachi dismissed Chowbey with a flick of her hand.

As the authorities led the Chowbeys away, Prachi felt giddy with relief, unaware that everyone present there was not looking at her with awe and admiration as well as gratitude, in case of the Kohlis and Aryan.

"I had underestimated this girl. She is very dangerous indeed. When roused, she makes a dangerous enemy. I'll have to be really careful from now onward and also keep my Rhea away from her." Aliya experienced a strange unease as she stared warily at the young girl with a ruthless drive.

Before anyone could utter a word or even begin to laud Prachi on her victory, Ranbir strode forward and began to wrap his kerchief with utmost care and tenderness on Prachi's wound, effectively stopping the flow of blood from the open wound. After he was done with his ministration, he looked up. His eyes were moist. Bemused, Prachi started to speak up when Ranbir hauled her into his arms and wound them around her tightly. Feeling very ill at ease and conscious of the speculative glances of the guests, Prachi managed to extricate herself from Ranbir's hold and stepped back. As he began to say something he was interrupted by his grandmother.

"My child! Today you have achieved the impossible. I'm so proud of you. And also so grateful to you for saving my grandson's life. Thank you. Thank you so much." Dadi beamed through tears as she hugged Prachi.

"Please Dadi, don't thank me. I haven't done anything out of the ordinary. I have just fulfilled my responsibilities as a friend. Ranbir too have helped me so many times. He even took a bullet to save me." Prachi wiped the tears of the elderly woman with a benign smile

"No Prachi. Mummyji is absolutely right. You are our savior. You have saved Ranbir single handedly from this mess when we, the elders, couldn't do anything. We can't thank you enough."Pallavi patted Prachi's cheek affectionately

"Really child, we are so proud of you." Vikram joined in

"Come on everyone, let's give Prachi a big round of applause for completing mission impossible." Aryan urged the guests.

As the hall rang with rounds of applause, Prachi fidgeted with embarrassment as her inherent humility made her think of the applause as unnecessary fuss.

"No one deserves to be lauded as much as you do. You deserve to get everything that you want from life." A voice whispered quietly in her ears.

Prachi turned around to see Ranbir looking down at her with an affectionate and tender smile and some unknown emotions in his eyes. Out of its own volition, her lips curved into an answering smile as she met his eyes. Both stared at each other with a beautiful smile adorning their lips, unaware that they were revealing their innermost feelings to their loved ones unwittingly.

                                                                      The End

Note :

Slink - Come or go without getting noticed by anyone,  Heave - Let out, Trotted off - Walk off quickly, Grimace - Making a face, Blabbering - Talking foolishly, Glower - Stare angrily, Nonplussed - Surprised and confused, Quip - Make a witty remark, Azar - Open, Inadvertent - Involuntary, Gawk - Stare in astonishment, Splutter - Talk rapidly and indistinctly/making a series of chocking sound, Baffled - Totally puzzled, Haul - Pull, Bleak - Cold and forbidding, Hullabaloo/Hubbub - Chaos, Flummoxed - Bewildered, Bluster - Talk loudly and angrily, Feasible - Possible, Flabbergasted - Astonished, Bellow - Roar, Stow away - Hide away, Aura - Air, Serenity - Calmness, Predicament - Problem, Scoff - Mock, Saunter - Walk in a slow and relaxed manner, Formidable - Dangerous, Corroborate - Support, Flung - Threw, Laud - Praise, Ministration - Care or treatment, Extricate - Free, Bemused - Puzzled, Beamed- Smiled, Benign - Kind, Fidget - Be impatient or uneasy, volition - will.

P.S. - Please don't forget to comment and vote guys. It encourages me to write more.