Randhawa and Nisha stepped out of the ballroom along with Shinde and Priyanka. The party continued behind them, the strains of music dying down as they reached the foyer.
"This has been such a fun night, Ranvi!" Nisha exclaimed, clinging to Ranveer's arm as they walked.
"Oh, I can't remember the last time I danced so much," he replied, glancing discreetly at Priyanka. She seemed annoyed but was veiling it perfectly.
"Oberoi parties are nothing if not unparalleled," Priyanka replied, a note of pride in her voice.
"If this one was any indication to go by, I will take your word for it," added Shinde with a grin.
Priyanka flashed him a warm smile and replied, "I'm ready to call it a night. Shall we leave?"
Before Shinde could reply, Ranveer jumped in, "I think I just promised your brother to drop you home."
"You did," she replied with an exaggerated sigh. "But it would be unfair to Nisha if I joined you two and to Sushant if he had to go alone. So it would be better to return the way we arrived - in pairs."
"I say, we switch! Ranveer can drop you home while I go with Sushant," Nisha chimed in.
"That isn't necessary," Priyanka tried to reason, but Nisha was already looping an arm around Sushant's.
"Oh, don't worry, Priyanka. As it is, I stay on the same route as Sushant so it'll only be easier for him to drop me, as opposed to going in the opposite direction to drop you." Nisha was already dragging Shinde along as she winked at Ranveer and bid him goodbye.
"See you later," Sushant waved at Priyanka before walking away with Nisha.
Ranveer stood amused, hands in the pockets of his trousers, leaning against his car, as he spotted the glower on Priyanka's face and heard her mutter something that sounded very much like, "Heights of high-handedness."
Priyanka turned around and was met with Ranveer's raised brow. She glared at him, spun on her heel and stalked off.
"Uh-oh!"
Ranveer followed her and as he caught up, he said, "Fancy the foot over the car, do we?"
"You have a problem?" She snapped, turning around.
"It isn't safe at this time of the night," he replied calmly, seeing her temper.
"Why do you care? You have no reason to concern yourself with my safety," she shot back, irritation lacing her tone.
"You are my responsibility," he simply replied.
"Why? We're not even friends. Merely acquaintances," she tossed, crossing her arms.
"Is Priyanka Singh showing her Oberoi colours?" Ranveer said in a light tone.
"Why are you surprised? I'm Miss Oberoi, after all."
Ranveer folded his arms and just stared at her. He had never seen her this mad before and he realised that she had been more hurt today than she had earlier let on. They stood there in silence, gazes locked.
After a moment, sighing, he leaned closer and reached out for her hands but she stepped back and looked away.
"I'll call my driver," she said as she began rummaging in her sling purse for her phone.
Ranveer decided to let her go. Today wasn't his day and seeing her mood, it made sense to give her some space. He knew her to be a sensitive person and he didn't want to push her. He waited in silence as she looked for her phone.
A couple minutes later she said, "I think I left my phone at the bar."
She turned and started walking in the direction of the venue when Ranveer fell in step beside her. She looked at him but before she could speak, he said, "I know you can do this by yourself but I'll just walk with you."
She nodded and they continued walking in silence. The stretch of road leading to the venue was deserted and Priyanka suddenly realised she was glad for Ranveer's quiet, steady presence by her side. After leaving from the hotel, they had ended up walking quite a bit to where Ranveer's car was parked. Now, as they headed back to get her phone, she felt ashamed for being such a tantrum-queen with him. She was surprised at her own behaviour tonight but attributed it to the series of events that had happened earlier. Particularly, the one where she had learnt of Dev and Neha's affection for each other. She had felt betrayed, and later when she saw Nisha flirting with Ranveer, it had opened a chasm of grief within her. They reached the hotel and she heard Ranveer say, "I'll wait outside. You go ahead."
She nodded and gave him a feeble smile as she said, "I'm sorry."
He wasn't surprised but just nodded in understanding.
"I have just not been myself today," she added hastily.
"We all have our days. It's okay. You needn't be embarrassed," he replied looking at her downcast face. "Now go."
She gave him a grateful smile and picking up her skirts, dashed inside.
Ranveer waited outside, leaning against the wall and gazing at the stars in the night sky. It was a pretty night and at another time, he would have used it to spend some time with Priyanka but tonight he was just glad that they wouldn't have to part on an unhealthy note. She was coming back to her normal self and he was glad of it. Seeing how upset she was earlier, he would have to talk to Nisha and ask her to tone down the flirting, even though it was harmless from her end. Though knowing Priyanka, there must be something else that was troubling her for her to react the way she had. It couldn't just be Nisha. He would talk to Priyanka on the way back and see if she was willing to speak up. He checked his watch. She had been gone almost ten minutes.
He caught movement from the corner of his eye and turned around to see Priyanka walking past him without a word. She seemed to be occupied in her phone.
He called out her name but when she didn't seem to hear it, he followed her, his legs picking up pace to close the distance between them.
"Priyanka!"
As he caught up with her, he reached for her shoulder and turned her around. She let out a startled yelp.
"Priyanka, are you okay?" He asked her gently.
"I-I'm fa-fine. You st-sta-startled me," she stuttered in reply.
That put him immediately on alert. She had lost the stutter around him a while back and if she was now stuttering again, it could mean only one thing - she was afraid.
"Priyanka," he began in soothing tones as he held her hands, "Tell me what happened."
"Na-nothing," she replied, breaking free of his grip. "I'll call a cab."
"Let's not argue, Priyanka. It isn't safe to take a cab at this hour." Especially not in your present state.
He didn't say the last part aloud but rather ushered her towards his car, despite her protests.
As he helped her get into the car, her phone slipped from her fingers and landed on the concrete outside. He bent to pick it up but she jumped and grabbed it before he could. It wasn't rocket-science for him to guess that it was the phone that was the reason for her upset.
"Did you get another threat note?" He queried, towering over her as he rested his hands over the roof of the car.
"N-na-no," she replied, averting her gaze.
He closed her door, got into the driver's seat and leaned over to fasten her seatbelt. She was startled again.
He sighed.
"You're lying, Priyanka," he said levelling her with a piercing look.
She bit her lip and looked away.
"We're not leaving till you tell me what happened inside," he told her, his voice grim with determination.
She spun her head and he saw fear in her eyes as she said, "Drive, Ranveer! Pap-please."
The plea in her voice didn't help to alleviate his worry but he turned the key in the ignition and hit the gas. He didn't prod her further but noticed that she held her phone clutched in a death grip and kept looking outside throughout the way. Traffic was light at this hour and they drove in silence till they reached the Oberoi mansion. Once they reached within the gates, Ranveer parked the car under a copse of trees at a slight distance from the mansion.
"Priyanka, tell me what happened?" He said turning towards her.
He saw her hesitating, as if struggling to decide, so he added, "If you trust me."
She bit her lip again, worrying it for a while before finally handing over the phone to him. He swiped to unlock the phone and was met with a selfie of Priyanka and himself, taken at today's party during their dance. What caught his eye, however, was not the picture but the words below it.
Roses are red, violets are blue,
Forget not princess, my eyes are on you.
Not a word will you breathe of the secrets you keep,
Else in loverboy's grief, I may see you weep.
-X
"My ph-phone was la-la-lying on the bar ca-counter when I went b-ba-back to take it," she said by way of an explanation.
"Did you ask the barman about the message?"
"I saw it aaf-after coming out."
She still seemed shaken and Ranveer decided to lighten the atmosphere.
"Who's loverboy?" He innocently asked. He saw a crimson hue tinge her cheeks. He supressed the grin forming on his lips and instead added, "Why is my picture part of the note?"
"I-I don't know. Yu-You're the de-detective. You find out," she replied.
He was impressed that she was beginning to get back to her normal, secret sassy self.
"Yes, ma'am, I will," he replied with a teasing smile. A serious note entered his tone as he added, "But you need to promise me that the next time something like this happens, you will inform me about it immediately."
She nodded.
"I'll pick you up at 10 am, we need to go over whatever you know about that night. It's time we end this game. I won't have you living in the shadow of fear every single day."
"Why? Why does it matter?" She whispered.
"Why? Because it is my job," he replied without second thoughts.
She gave him a half smile and nodded. As she turned to open the door, he held her hand and she turned around, surprised.
"As to why does it matter," he said, answering the question that he knew she really wanted an answer to, "Because I care about you."
He saw her eyes light up but she didn't say anything. Fishing into his pocket, he pulled out the tiny box of the brooch he had picked up for her earlier.
"Merry Christmas," he said, handing the box to her.
This time, she smiled and said, "Thanks. But I didn't get anything for you."
"If you choose to accept this gift, that will be enough of a present for me," he answered in reply, his smile making her heart leap in joy. At her curious look, he added, "I shall await my answer at 8 pm tomorrow. The address is inside."
"Okay," she said, surprise lacing her tone.
"Good night," he said, as she stepped out of the car, glad that she would have something else to think of tonight instead of the note.
He took a screenshot of the threat note and sent it to his phone before handing back her phone.
She wished him good night and walked away. Ranveer reversed the car and headed back to the hotel as he dialled a number. He needed answers to some questions before he could call it a night.
--
The cell phone buzzed with an incoming message notification and Shinde was quick to check it noticing the late hour. It was from Randhawa. Three words.
Svetlana is back.
***
A/N: The super-long wait is finally over. 😆
I haven't written anything in ages so my writing skills have become quite rusty. Brutally honest feedback will be much appreciated.
From a plot perspective, it's time we end the cat and mouse chase and end this story so that we can then start with a new one. 😉
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
