Hey everyone! I thought to try a full fledged Pranbir TS this time. Again, this could be read in continuation of my two previous OS/Drabble but can also be read as a standalone.
*** PART 1***
Prachi Arora was a smart girl. At 20, she was very clear about her life. Her love life, or lack thereof, was sorted. She would marry at the age of 25-26 to a suitable, well-settled man of her mother's choosing. That department was not her concern. Her only concern was her career and for that, she had a foolproof plan ready. She would pass her college with flying colours and become a teacher.
Her love for kids was not the only factor that shaped up these plans. She had grown up with a mother who herself was a teacher, and a very loved and respected one too. In a small town like Hoshiyarpur, her mother's polished but pleasing manners, as well as her deep knowledge of her subjects made her the toast of academic circles. Prachi remembered how many of her class fellows would envy her all because they wanted a mother like hers. She remembered all those beautiful bouquets, greeting cards, chocolates, cakes and other small gifts that students would bring for her mother on the latter's birthday or Teacher's Day. Truly, a good teacher's worth was invaluable and her life, wonderful. She shaped lives and success of her students was her reward. Prachi wanted that life.
It was then, to her utter bewilderment and confusion, that she found herself working as a PA in a music company. Earlier, it had been about the money. She wanted to relieve her mother of her financial burden by earning enough for herself so as to never ask for pocket money and to save as well. The job at the event planning company had been fine, until those fiascos happened. All she had wanted was a simple part-time job where she could work and earn without compromising on her studies.
Instead, she found herself working in a fantastic office with many people close to her age where the pay was wonderful and the perks, unparalleled. Mehra Sir, Purab Sir and Kohli Sir were wonderful bosses who were understanding and fun and she had a genuinely good time working at the office, often wondering about her future here.
And this was confusing because she never came here for a future. Her designed future office was a school filled with beautiful noisy kids, not this high-end tech-savvy office with professionals. Life could take very weird turns sometimes.
With this small piece of unclarity also came some apprehension. She was very sure of her place here, despite being a part-time employee and one of the many PAs available. She felt she belonged in this space, the energy drove her to her max potential and she hardly felt like it was a job that had to be done. With a growing sense of distress, she realized that she enjoyed working here.
Currently, one of her many dilemmas was working with Ranbir. Ranbir, as he confessed himself, was not good at all this. He wasn't made for studying. He wasn't made for this office work. He wasn't made for sitting at one place for a long period of time. Yet, he was her superior here. She, a hard-working and meritorious worker, was a subordinate of a chilled out, easygoing and clueless boss like him. All because he was the son of the boss. And despite all her thoughts of this office not being a part of her long-term career plans, she felt indignant.
Prachi Arora was also a kind soul. She may love you or she may hate you but she can never let you fail. She believed that every person must do his or her best. And this was why she felt very irritated when she saw Ranbir wasting his potential in this office. It made her angry to see him loitering around the office without a purpose. However, it INFURIATED her when she saw him distract others from their work in the form of flirting and gossiping. Office gossip is fine sometimes but not all the time. And Ranbir Kohli had trouble understanding that.
Thus, on a fine morning in the month of November, a determined Prachi made her way to an unsuspecting Ranbir's cabin. She had a mission she was going to fulfill. Her mother, God bless her, had taught her to be fearless when fighting for a cause. And she had a cause- making a serious man out of Ranbir Kohli. The said man was currently revelling in the beauty of the scene from his cabin window and marvelling at the way the smoke in Delhi had cleared up. The air was cool and crisp, the garden below had beautiful flowers and there was some sunshine adding to the pleasure. Had Ranbir been dating, this was exactly the type of day he would take his girl to a date on.
Alas, there was no girl and so, there was no date. The girl he wanted to date AKA Rhea, wanted him to date someone else AKA Prachi and that girl knew only one date- the one that came from a calendar.
An abrupt knock pulled Ranbir out of his reverie and he found himself facing the woman of his dreams.....err, his thoughts. Prachi, in a literal sense, was standing with her hands on her hips, looking like his mother does when she spots his father flirting with another woman. Or when Prachi spots HIM flirting with another girl. Ranbir gulped.
"Ranbir, I want to talk to you." Prachi said with conviction. An endless stream of possibilities that brought her to his cabin flowed through his mind.
Flirting? Nah. The last time he flirted was with Prachi, recently. Ranbir winced when he remembered the lecture that he received.
Violence? Aah well.......no. The last time he beat someone up, Prachi took the credits. He smothered a smirk when he imagined that night.
Stealing? Godddddd, obviously not! Ranbir Kohli doesn't steal anything..........apart from women's hearts.
Work? Oh damn. Yes. Work!
Ranbir Kohli was a bad boy. He had resolved to be good with only Prachi but if she was here to give him more work than what he had, his goodness would run away faster than that creep Sanju had, after Ranbir dealt with him post the Diwali debacle.
"Ranbir! Are you listening to me?"
Prachi had invited herself in and was now standing in front of him. To be fair, she was beautiful. She still had her comforting face but it was because she was beautiful. Ranbir's heart sank as he realised that he was now thinking about Prachi's beauty when she was obviously here to overburden him with work. He must be mad, he decided.
"I am listening. Have a seat and proceed."
Ranbir looked at Prachi curiously as she sat down and took a breath. She was carrying no file and no papers. Maybe she wasn't here for work.
"I had something very important to discuss with you."
"Hmm. I am all ears."
"I...I....."
"Love you?" Ranbir suggested cockily. He knew he would have hell to pay later but opportunities to tease Prachi were priceless. To his immense delight, Prachi turned red and started ranting.
"You are such a persistent and foolish man! How many times should I tell you that I am not interested in you? You aren't some Greek God or Mr. Darcy or Zaroon Junaid that girls fall on your feet........."
Wait. Ranbir figured out that Mr. Darcy was some fictional character but who is this Zara guy?
"Umm, who?" Ranbir asked Prachi, trying to appear as uninterested as possible. His level was interest was although as much as the hair on his glorious head.
"What who?"
"I am not like who? You took some names....."
"That doesn't matter! You aren't some hero that I would fall in love with you! Stop flirting with me and especially, stop flirting with me in the office!"
"His name was with Z. That guy whose name you just took....."
"Oh God! Is that all you heard? You are unbelievable. Why am I even talking to you....."
"You came to my cabin, if I may be so kind to remind you."
Prachi took a deep breath. She had a purpose. She wouldn't leave her mission halfway. Never. She would try again, with a fresh start.
Meanwhile, Ranbir was still trying to remember that guy's name. It was a pity he was in so much glee at having troubled Prachi that he didn't properly listen to her. An idea struck him.
"Prachi, see, we have a lot of work today. I propose this conversation wait till lunchtime. Despite my lackadaisical attitude, I do have work that I can't avoid. We will go out for lunch where you shall tell me all about this important stuff. But this will have to wait, for you know we have a meeting after lunch today." Ranbir spoke with a solemn face.
Prachi was mollified when Ranbir mentioned work but narrowed her eyes suspiciously when he mentioned lunch outside. Ranbir picked up on her thoughts and reassured her that it was 'just lunch'. Nothing more, nothing less.
Meanwhile, Ranbir would spend his time trying to remember exactly what the name of that Zara guy was........
***
Hey! Please read and leave your thoughts behind. Next part could come soon, possibly this afternoon.
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