Destined to be (Completed)

Part 4

"What decision, Anuradha ji?" Vikram was almost afraid to ask.

Pragya turned towards Ranbir and walked over to him. Ranbir, in turn, was becoming more and more nervous as she approached him and glanced towards Prachi nervously. Prachi shrugged, becoming nervous herself as she had never witnessed such fury in her usually affectionate and very calm and composed mother.

"Ranbir, you are a gem of a person. You are such a friend whom every person will be lucky to have in his or her life. You have always been there for my daughter when no one else was and I, too, wasn't present to protect my child. You have always stood up when someone tried to sully Prachi's name and even risked your life to save her. I can never thank you enough, Ranbir." Pragya smiled at Ranbir.

Then she turned towards the Kohlis and her features hardened.

"However, I don't want Prachi to ever again come in contact with people like the Kohlis and the Mehras. But if she continues her friendship with you then she will definitely come in contact with your families. So, I think it is better to make a clean break, Ranbir." Pragya sighed as she looked at the incredulous faces of both Prachi and Ranbir.

"But, aunty, what is my fault in all these? Why are you punishing me?" Ranbir stared at Pragya, bewildered.

"Sometimes we have to take harsh decisions in life for the greater good, Ranbir. Like I said, I don't trust your families anymore. What if again they get my daughter into trouble? What if this time you fail to save her? No, Ranbir, I can't take the risk. So, it is better if you both don't remain friends anymore. Relationship between equal classes is way more preferable to relationships between high and middle classes. My life had taught me that class discrimination always lurks under the facade of politeness. I don't want Prachi to suffer as I had suffered." Pragya had a faraway look in her eyes.

"But ma..." Prachi tried to object.

"No ifs and buts, Prachi. We are leaving. Let's go." Pragya walked over to Prachi and grabbed her wrist.

"Anuradha ji. You are taking the decision in haste. Please calm down. Please reconsider your decision." Vikram pleaded but to no avail.

"No, Mr. Kohli. I won't listen to anyone. I have decided and it's final." Pragya's tone brooked no argument.

Ignoring the pain etched onto Ranbir's handsome visage, Pragya strode out of the house with Prachi.

Ranbir didn't follow them. The fire in Pragya's eyes made him well aware of the fact that all his entreaties would fall in deaf ears. A mother's pride had been hurt. Her child had been harmed. She wouldn't let the matter rest this easily.

While his mind could understand Pragya's hurt and anger, his heart just couldn't accept this separation from the love of his life. What was his fault in this mess? Why should he suffer due to the actions of others?

The chain of his conflicting thoughts broke as someone placed a hand on his shoulder. Realizing that he had been standing in the same posture and staring fixedly down at the floor covered with lush and very expensive carpet, he looked up and straight into the anxious eyes of his mother.

The anxiety in Pallavi's eyes transformed into intense disconcertment as she witnessed the tumultuous emotions raging within him mirrored in his eyes.

"Ranbir, I..." Pallavi began tentatively.

Ranbir shrugged her hand off his shoulder. The anger brewing within him was now an almost tangible thing and his eyes were glittering with telltale signs of that outrage.

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Abhishek's car and Aliya's car entered the driveway almost simultaneously only to see a cab pulling away.