When both are right in their mind, they prepare to fight.

Nivedya took a step back to see the reason for the wetness on his fist and realised how far his jealousy took. Nimrit ducked from under him and wiped her tears. Before leaving the class in a choked voice she managed to say, "You are the human form of the magic mirror that shows the evil brooding inside. Thank you, for this selfless help."

Nivedya moved his hand in his hair in frustration and questioned himself, "What did I do? What did I say?"

"Nivedya Singh and Nimrit Khanna come to the Principal's office immediately." The announcement buzzed on the speaker and Nivedya kicked the table before heading to the Principal's office.

In the principal's office, Nimrit was standing with her head hung low and Ashwin with a bandaged nose. Nivedya knew the matter grabbed more attention than required. His mother always told him anger leads to destruction and his elder brother had always landed in trouble because of his short-tempered attitude. Nivedya didn't know when and how so much anger housed in him too.

Shakti was furious with Nivedya's actions and remarked sarcastically, "Welcome Nivedya R. Singh. You deserve a flower shower for your amazing art on Ashwin's nose."

"I can explain ma'am," Nivedya replied in a low tone. From his peripheral vision, he saw Nimrit to see if she was fine.

"Sure you can but I have no ears for your reasons. Nivi, I warned you earlier too that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated. What did Ashwin even do? Nimrit, you tell me." Shakti questioned Nimrit in a strict tone.

Nimrit could not decide what she should say. If she said the truth, Nivedya will have to bear the consequences and if she didn't then also he will be punished. As much as she hated the showdown between them she didn't have the heart to see Nivedya getting punished. So she narrated the incident exactly how it happened because her father always taught her the truth and paves way for the correct path.

"Nimrit, do you think Ashwin's behaviour was inappropriate?" Shakti asked Nimrit for her opinion.

"Ma'am, I think what Ashwin said, was not correct but I also think Nivedya punching his nose was uncalled for." Nimrit was still speaking but Nivedya cut her in between and said, "Ma'am, he was watching her will lustful eyes the entire time she was draping his uttariya. She is I guess, way too naive to understand."

"And how do you know that I was watching her with lustful eyes? Why were you even there? Are you her bodyguard?" Ashwin's questions tongue-tied Nivedya and Nimrit.

Shakti took a deep breath and sat on her chair. "The programme starts in thirty minutes and here I am dealing with such uncouth behaviour of my students. Nimrit you decide their punishment. Be honest."

The day couldn't get any worse for Nimrit. She knew she had to be fair but she couldn't be fair. Her decision will be biased and inclined towards the boy she loved sketching on the canvas of the moon. "Ma'am I think a simple apology is enough. We are celebrating the glorious hundred years of this school. Let us not ruin it by wasting time on resolving fights.
Ashwin's intention and remark did have an underlined meaning and therefore if he accepts and realises he was wrong, I think we should wish him luck for his performance.
As for... Nivedya, I think he should apologise for overreacting and hurting someone physically. Don't be harsh on them ma'am."

"What are you waiting for boys? Nivedya apologises to Ashwin for hurting him physically. And Ashwin do you accept what you have been accused of?" Shakti questioned the boys sternly.

Nivedya took a deep breath and shook hands with Ashwin, "Sorry! For breaking your nose." Nivedya's apology was for the namesake. He still felt Ashwin deserved it.

"I... may have said something which they think is inappropriate but I didn't eye her the way Nivedya described it. Sorry, Nimrit. My intentions were not wrong. Probably Nivi has eyes for you." Ashwin was not ready to accept his fault.

"You swine! Mind your tongue." Nivedya was agitated to charge on Ashwin, again.

"Just stop now you two. Do you realise what this girl must be feeling? I am ashamed to call you students of Swarnbhoomi High. Nivi this is your last and final warning. Deal with your anger issues else I don't know where it will lead you. Ashwin, you say your intentions were not wrong but the way you talk I highly doubt them. Dismiss now! I have to go and receive the guests." Shakti asked the boys to leave but she stopped Nimrit and asked her if she was fine.

"What can I say, ma'am? This is so new to me but I am fine. Ashwin lied about his intentions because I could read through his unsaid words but Nivedya was so impulsive. I don't even know why he hit him." Nimrit shared her thoughts with Shakti. She knew she could confide with her.

"Nimrit, do you think Nivi likes you?" Shakti bluntly questioned the already nervous teenager. She was an experienced teacher and tackled several such issues. Nimrit widened her eyes in shock. Shakti's bouncer of a question received no shot. She took Nimrit's hand in hers and explained, "Nimrit, you are in your teenage and these hormonal changes are normal. I am not saying he "likes" you, it's just a guess. A wild one. Because I have never seen Nivi so impulsive. Surely, he can go to any lengths to protect his friends but this was, I feel, a bit too extreme.
Uh! Don't listen to me. I have been watching a lot of Netflix lately. Now wish me luck. The Education Minister of Swarnbhoomi is the chief guest tonight." Shakti looked in the mirror of her room to check her appearance and walked out with Nimrit after messing with the sane side of her brain.

Nimrit walked aimlessly and ended up in the skating rink. She knew what she must do to calm her nerves. She took out spare skates from the cabinet and rolled on them. Taking sharp turns at high speed and not stopping for a second was Nimrit's idea of clearing her head. She sat down in the centre of the rink only when her legs gave up. Opening the skates Nimrit tried getting up but could not. "Ahh!" she yelped in pain.

"Do some more rounds. It might help you ease the pain." Nimrit squinted her eyes to see Nivedya standing near the door. He walked to her and extended his hand for Nimrit to hold. She ignored it and using whatever strength was left in her, she got up. She kept the skates in their place but Nivedya shut the cabinet loudly. "Don't ignore me. I know you are angry. Reasons valid. I am at fault. I reacted violently and I... I... am sorry." Nivedya looked into Nimrit's eyes when he said sorry. He wanted her to know he felt bad for whatever happened.

"What do you want me to say? It's okay?" Nimrit was deeply hurt and she could not decide what she should do.

"No! I want you to feel okay." Nivedya had calmed himself before deciding to talk to Nimrit but facing her was much more difficult than he thought.

Nimrit looked at him and asked very softly, "Would you feel okay if you were in my place?" Nivedya could feel how broken she sounded. "Nivedya, you are a great friend, a good human being, and a fantastic dancing partner. But what you did today is unacceptable to me."

"Unacceptable? I know things went out of hand and the Principal got involved. Look Nimrit, you have just started studying in a co-education format. You still need time to understand the psyche of boys. Not everyone is..."

"Yeah! I thought I understood you. But..." Nimrit couldn't complete her sentence because Nivedya's words vibrated in her ears. She didn't say anything more and started to walk out of the room.

Nivedya grabbed her hand and turned her to face him. "But what?" Nivedya's demanding eyes forced Nimrit to speak her heart but the touch of his hand was burning her.

"But, you judged me for something I never did. It was just for fun my friends said that I should date a dozen boys and I told you in good faith." Nimrit's eyes glistened and she inhaled a deep breath before saying, "it's nothing new for girls. They face that. A boy with several girlfriends will be proudly called a playboy but if a girl chooses to date a few boys they label her a slut and that "my dear friend" was exactly how you made me feel."

"Are you mad? Do you even hear yourself? I never said that or felt that. I respect girls and you..." Nivedya pulled Nimrit a little close to himself and said, "you have no idea how I feel about you."

Nimrit removed his hand from hers and with anger in her eyes, she told him, "You have no idea, how I feel about you, now. I hope the mirror you showed to me, you see yourself in it."

Nimrit left the room and Nivedya didn't stop her. He was still trying to analyse her words.

Nimrit was angry, and hurt, and felt an emotion that she couldn't explain herself.
Nivedya was exhausted thinking about the events of the day. The matter escalated and soon everyone was talking about it in school. Nimrit grabbed maximum attention and concern. The girls sympathised with her and she got tired of narrating the entire scene to everyone who asked. She chose to politely ignore the questions after a point.
Nivedya was directly asked if Nimrit was his girlfriend or if he had feelings for her. Ashwin loved the chaos he created. A little blood from the nose got him the popularity he never got. Some hate-filled remarks didn't affect him.

"Papa, can I please go by bus tomorrow? I went with Raghav today and you know how the rumour mill works." Nimrit was in no mood for any more attention.

"What happened Nimrit? Did anyone say..."

"Everyone has a lot to say with or without reason. Please, Papa, the majority of the children use a bus. I want to go by bus from now on. I have spoken to a friend of mine who stays close to our house. I will go in her bus."

"So when you have worked out everything why are you asking me?" Amber kept arranging his files while talking to Nimrit.

Nimrit hugged her father and said, "Don't be angry papa. The new school and the environment are very overwhelming. I just want to ease off things for me."

Amber engulfed Nimrit in his arms and said, "Nimrit, the desire for easing off things is what takes us on the wrong path. Choose the harder right. The reason I didn't want you to use the school bus was that it is very time-consuming and you can use that time for other productive things like spending time with your father over a fun conversation. Choose a path that you think is right, not an escape from hardships. I will speak to the bus driver. Okay? Now, my Chinni-Nimi go to sleep. You must be tired. Want a massage?"

Nimrit bobbed her head and Amber went to the kitchen to heat the oil. A warm head massage from her father was what Nimrit needed. The more Amber moved his fingers in her hair the calmer she felt.

"Papa, I love you! You are the best thing that happened to Mumma and me." Nimrit kissed her father's cheek before wishing him goodnight.

Reet had just finished a very important virtual meeting and had happy tears in her eyes watching the stepfather-stepdaughter bond.
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Dear Readers
Are you on Nimrit's side or Nivedya's side?
Or are they both on the same side?
Will they be able to diminish the rift or will it broaden more?

Stay hooked and find out!