He had no reason to be jealous
For, all of her, was all of his.

Day one of the centenary year celebration ended successfully. Nivedya very smartly avoided Nimrit the entire evening. The attraction he felt towards her was unexplained and beyond his control, so escaping the enchantress was the best solution he could think of.

Nimrit could not spot him anywhere because he sat at a place the 'new girl' Nimrit could never know. Nimrit pretended to not be affected by Nivedya's sudden disappearance but all her heart could think of was him, the chocolate they shared, and then his running away.
'Did she do something that he didn't like and is, therefore, avoiding her? Or was he in danger?'
Nimrit decided sitting back won't help so dodging her parents and lying to them that she had something important to do, she set out on a search mission.

She tried to look for him at all places she thought he could be and asked his friends slyly if they saw him but to her utter dismay, no one knew anything. As time passed she was getting more scared. What if he fainted or someone kidnapped him or... All the bad thoughts came to a halt when she saw Nivedya leaving with his parents in their car.

She felt relieved because he was safe. He was just a friend but the panic his disappearance created inside her was an emotion she never experienced. She should be angry at him for making her feel so scared but she was happy that he was safe.

In a pool of people, Reet finally spotted Nimrit and asked her to come so that they could go home.

Nimrit hugged her mother tightly. Her arrhythmic heartbeat needed a motherly hug to calm them. "Are you okay?" Nimrit nodded a yes to her mother's question. While they were walking to their car, Reet asked her about Nivedya.

"What... what about him?" Nimrit's defensive body language made Reet bite the inside of her cheek.

"Nothing just asking generally. His father mentioned you "scolded" him for scolding Nivi." Reet tried to sound as genuine as she could.

"Oh! That was just a misunderstanding. He in the first place scolded Nivedya for no reason and you know I can't see my friends in problem." Nimrit explained the incident, in brief.

Nimrit's mother air-quoted the word "friend?" teasing her daughter.

"Yes! "Friend"." Nimrit replicated her mother's expression and sharing a laugh the duo sat in their car where Amber was impatiently waiting for them.

Nimrit changed into her nightdress and observed the Moon and its beauty from her window. It was two days to the full moon night still the Moon looked so alluring. Nivedya and her bond was also like the incomplete Moon. Something was missing but it was mysteriously enticing.

Nimrit slept in a sitting position near her window watching the Moon. When her mother walked into her room to check on her she peeped out of the window to see what Nimrit might be watching. Looking at the moon and the calm on her daughter's face she guessed what her daughter might be going through. She helped Nimrit to sleep on the bed and kissed her forehead before leaving.

Reet hugged Amber from behind making him startled. He turned and looked into her eyes which were moist.
"Reet, what's wrong?" Amber asked with concern keeping his files aside.

"Amber, promise me if our daughter likes someone she will not sacrifice her love like I had to." Reet put her hand out for Amber to promise her.

Amber made her sit on the bed and explained to her, "Reet, if Nimrit is developing feelings for that Singh boy, let me tell you, he is the first boy she is getting to know closely. She has studied in an all-girls school to date. Give her time because it's still too early to decide on these things. However, I promise our daughter will never sacrifice her love as you did. But, the boy has to come out clean on all the tests I run." Amber said the last part with a tease in his tone.

Reet smiled and put her head on Amber's shoulder. "Can you for once, not stop being a strict spy father?"

"I have tried leniency and you know where it landed us. I cannot afford to repeat my mistake, Reet. I love Nimrit like my own and I won't let anything harm her." Amber was watching the blue-coloured wall of his room clasping Reet's hand tightly. His eyes displayed guilt and determination at the same time.

"I know Amber. Nimrit is your daughter more than mine. All I am saying is let her be free. She is meeting boys for the first time and she is bound to react and behave differently. You cannot compare the old her to the new her. I don't know if she likes Nivi or not but I know she is a wise girl and can decide what's best for her." Reet put forward her point of view to Amber.

"Reet, if Rudra doesn't come out clean, which I doubt he will, I am sorry Nimrit will have to stay away from Nivedya and that is final." Amber got up to arrange his files leaving no scope for arguments and somewhere Reet also agreed to his condition.

The next day, the school time was in the afternoon. Reet and Amber were both busy at their office so Nimrit went with Raghav, the principal's son, to the school. Watching Nimrit come to school with Raghav made all heads turn especially those from grade nine.

Aashna elbowed Nimrit and raised her brows teasingly asking for an explanation.
"Our parents are good friends and my parents were busy in the office so, I came with Raghav." Nimrit did not want to explain but she did because she didn't want to climb the rumour mill.

Nivedya heard the conversation between the girls and commented with a cold expression, "The school has a bus service which we all use, in case you didn't know,"

Nimrit hated her heart's rising beats per second. Can a boy who just passed a sarcastic remark, have that effect on her? She smiled but didn't reply. She could not tell them her father didn't trust the bus service. He was already infamous for his conservative thoughts.

"Alright, we have a performance today, so we are heading to our green rooms. What's your plan, Nimrit?" Aarfa enquired walking to their assigned green rooms.

Nimrit told her friends she was helping the narrators of the drama with their costumes.

Nivedya was walking behind them like their shadow, popped another question, "They are mostly Eighth-grade students. What help do they need?"

"Nivi, if the teacher has asked for her help there must be something. Stop picking on her now." Aashna bid bye to her friends and entered her green room.

"I am not "picking on" her. Just asking a valid question." Nivedya justified his question.

"Yeah! Yeah! We know. Why don't you go with her and see what "help" is required? Bye." Aarfa went inside her room leaving Nimrit and Nivedya alone. The air-quoting of the words created an awkward atmosphere.

Nivedya followed inside the room where Nimrit was supposed to help the narrators dress up. The teacher explained to her the way she had to drape the uttariya to the narrators. Nimrit was quietly doing her task with casual chit-chat with the performers. Nivedya sat on the side and observed Nimrit. According to him, the students could do the same themselves and Nimrit was just wasting her time.

"Nimrit, right?" A boy named Ashwin asked Nimrit and she smiled in response. "So, how do like the school? Made friends?"

"I like the school and have made few..." A pin pricked Nimrit's finger and she immediately took it in her mouth to soothe the pain. Nivedya came to her side to see what happened.

"Guess, your class has not been friendly with her. She preferred to prick her finger than answer about her friends." Ashwin laughed at his comment and Nivedya looked at Nimrit to seek an explanation.

"Why don't you restrict your concern to keeping your friendship intact? I am managing mine, quite well." Nimrit purposely pricked Ashwin's shoulder making him yelp in pain. "Oops! Sorry! Friends hurt sometimes." Nimrit's statement was an indication that Ashwin should shut up and Nivedya, the 'friend' also hurt his friend.

Ashwin smirked and remarked, "I heard about you acting like a pricy bitch, and guess what I like that. Be my friend, Nimrit. I guarantee you the best company." Ashwin's eyes held a lusty expression and before Nimrit could reply, Nivedya boxed the boy straight on his nose. The teacher and all the students rushed to the scene. Nimrit covered her mouth with her hands in astonishment. Nivedya breathed out heavily with rage in his eyes.

"Ashwin! Are you alright? Get up! Nivi, what's wrong? Why did you hit him so badly? His nose is bleeding. Oh! My God! They have to perform in an hour." The teacher panicked and rushed Ashwin to the infirmary with the help of other students.

"What was that?" Nimrit questioned Nivedya as soon as she came out from the state of shock.

"You are seriously asking me? What was he doing?" Nivedya replied in a high pitch.

Nimrit came out of the room and Nivedya followed her. When they were in a relatively deserted area Nimrit crossed her arms and faced Nivedya. "Explain why you did, what you did."

Nivedya was amused to see Nimrit being oblivious and exclaimed, "You gotta be kidding! Could you not see the boy was flirting with you? Passing inappropriate remarks?"

"So? I could have tackled him. Who gave you the right to box him? There are ways to handle a situation and you clearly need to understand that." Nimrit was trying to explain to Nivedya about his impulsive reaction.

"I can't believe you are questioning me. Are you stupid?" Nivedya's voice was a notch higher.

"Watch your tone," Nimrit warned him looking straight into his eyes. No one was ready to blink and the competition was strong. A noise from outside made them aware of the unplanned game and they withdrew subsequently. Taking a deep breath Nimrit said, "Tell me what is wrong with you? Why are you behaving so weirdly? Yesterday also you left abruptly and I..." Nimrit was stopped by Nivedya's hand.

"What is wrong with you, Miss Khanna? Can you even see where you are heading? The school knows you don't have many friends but you come to school with a senior and not just any senior, the principal's son, who is not your "boyfriend" as far as we know, giving the school enough reasons to gossip. Then you offer your services for a task where it is not even required. I mean, come on, they could do it mutually too. But no! Miss Khanna has to prove how helping she is." Nivedya was so angry he did not realise how rude he sounded.

"I cannot stop people from gossiping on nonexistent topics they wish to create. My father does not want me to travel via bus, therefore, he asked Shakti ma'am if Raghav could pick me up. That's just that. Besides, I would be very lucky if someone like him was my "boyfriend"." Nimrit was angry with Nivedya's accusations but she kept herself in control.

"Yeah! Right! What is so special about Raghav? Care to explain." The pang of jealousy Nivedya experienced watching Nimrit come with Raghav amplified with her statement.

Nimrit lost her calm and replied in an angry tone, "Sure! Someone who won't question the choices I make or doubt my "helping" nature or box a boy so badly and feel no remorse."

Nivedya scoffed and stood close to Nimrit. Inhaling the air she was breathing out, he closed his eyes for a second before asking her, "So let's understand this. That lusty Ashwin's remarks are acceptable to you but me standing up for you and teaching him a lesson is not? Caring for your prestige and dignity is not as important as the mildly bleeding nose of Ashwin? Asking you to reconsider your decision on pinning those uttariyas for teenagers is not an act of concern but an act of questioning your choices, an act of dominance.
Wow! You confuse me. This new you is the real you or the old you was the real you? The girl who wanted to gain attention by all means."
Nivedya took a step closer to Nimrit and whispered in her ear, "Getting a dozen boyfriends before getting a high school sweetheart for yourself, that was the plan, right? Raghav, Ashwin... Go ahead! I am sure there are several out there who will give their heart to that gorgeous..." Nivedya could not complete his dialogue because his fisted palm felt warm.
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Dear Readers
How will Nivedya's actions and words said in jealousy, lead the budding relationship between him and Nimrit to?

Find out!
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Lots of love