"Nimrit," Nivedya's voice was a whisper mixed with heavy breathing because he covered the vast distance from the parking lot to the football ground at jet speed. But Nimrit heard him and walked towards him quickly.

"You came?" Nimrit had lost hope that Nivedya would come but she was certain she would wait for him till time allowed.

"I am sorry. I am so sorry, I forgot. Why did you wait for so long?" Nivedya could not believe a beautiful girl like Nimrit would ever wait for someone, but she did, and it was for him.

"You said you will come, and I know you keep your promises. I am just happy you came even after whatever I said to you." Nimrit looked tired, but her eyes were hopeful.

"Shit! I am sorry, I completely forgot. What happened with eighth-grade boys? Raghav was saying something, but I could not comprehend." Nivedya moved an inch closer to Nimrit whose smile disappeared when he mentioned the boys from the other class.

Nimrit looked down and admitted, "What you feared happened. What you were trying to explain would happen, happened. Ayush and Munshi from class eight heard our conversation and... Anyways, that's settled because Raghav came on time. But I just wanted to apologise for saying mean words to you and ignoring what you were trying to make me understand. I called you an intrusive, dictator...  I..." Nimrit inhaled a deep breath and closed her eyes for a second to frame appropriate words, "I get it that you were just warning me because probably you know more and I... Urgh! Will you accept my sorry? Will you forgive me? I do not want to lose a friend, like you." Nimrit sounded low and it took every ounce in Nivedya to not give her a comforting hug.

"Damn! Nimrit stop! You don't need to say 'sorry' so many times. It's okay to disagree. We are two different individuals who have our perceptions. Besides, you didn't say anything so bad to me that you regret it. Have you heard what Collin and I call each other?" Nivedya asked her to lighten the heavy air. "God bless your ears someday. It's getting late, let's go. I do not want your father to think I have kidnapped his daughter." It wasn't one of Nivedya's best jokes but it was at that moment, he saw how a smile appears on Nimrit's face.

First, her eyes blink, her left eye crinkles before her right adding plumpness to her already chubby cheeks, and finally, her lips twitch upwards into a  smile more delightful than the first rain.

"Beautiful," Words left Nivedya's mouth automatically and Nimrit's eyes met his getting the answer she was searching for. Filling her with an emotion she was finding hard to ignore. Saying nothing more and fighting the unexplainable feelings, Nivedya and Nimrit walked toward the parking area.

It was a long walk but none talked.
Their three pm shadows were two parallel lines that never meet
Pounding hearts and striking minds didn't know how to find respite.

Nimrit sat in her father's car after making an excuse as to why she got late. Nivedya waved a small bye to her from his bus ignoring Collin's comments. There were lots of things that occupied Nivedya's thoughts, but he was most excited about meeting his new tuition teacher and her cycle.

At 4 pm sharp Swarnima reached Nivedya's house. Before Rose could open the door for her Nivedya reached and dragged her to his room.

"Now tell me how did you do it? I couldn't sleep for the whole night. I am dying to tell my friends about it." Nivedya said all in one breath.

Swarnima smiled sweetly at his excitement and affirmed, "You shall get all your answers. Answers, as to how the cycle got converted and the answers to  the questions you have in your Mathematics book."

Nivedya knew what she meant, so he muttered, "Fine," and opened his books.

Rose entered the room with coffee and cookies for them. She was surprised to see Nivedya was studying with full concentration, so she left the room. After about two hours when Nivedya and Swarnima came out of the room, Abhedya was entering the house.

Nivedya dragged Swarnima to where her cycle was parked and Abhedya followed them. Swarnima explained to Nivedya how the cycle got converted to a light non-geared vehicle, impressing the Singh brothers. Nivedya expressed his excitement and appreciated her to no limits but Abhedya didn't. He just gave a curt nod of acknowledgement to her.

Swarnima was about to leave when Nivedya shouted, "Seriously Abhey, today again?"

Abhedya asked him "what" spreading his long fingers wide.
So, Nivedya explained, "You again spoilt your t-shirt with a lipstick mark? You must have crossed a million mark in kissing. Trust me Nim, when I say that," Nivedya took Swarnima's cycle for a ride leaving the two alone.

Abhedya tried to clear the accusation and Swarnima warned him to stay alert if he hated such rumours about him.

Nivedya ran for his life after Swarnima left because Abhedya attacked him for his "kiss" remark.

A black Mercedes-Benz S class entered the huge gates of the house and stopped in front of the lawns where the boys were fighting. Dressed in a grey Armani suit, Rudra stepped out and shouted, "STOP! What's going on? Why are you two fighting like mawalis?"

The boys stopped immediately and hugged each other. "Nice game bro, you just need to practice on your grip," Abhedya suggested to Nivedya.

Nivedya asked as innocently as he could, "You think my speed was good today?"

"Yeah! yeah! your speed was way better than before." Abhedya answered appreciatively.

"Run for your life boys!" Rudra warned and the boys ran inside their house shouting their mother's name to save them.

Rudra threw his coat aside, caught both the boys and threw punches at them. Some landed, some were dogged but laughter boomed in the house and the boys pleaded, "Dad, please stop now. Enough!!"

"You think your father is a fool? I won't know when you practise and when you actually fight. What was the reason?" Rudra questioned his sons.

Before Abhedya could stop Nivedya, he blurted, "Abhey got a kiss mark on his t-shirt yet again, and when I only stated the fact that he has kissed a million, he started beating me."

"Dad he said that in front of his new tuition teacher. What would she think of me? Besides, I haven't even kissed 1000 girls for the record."  Abhedya clarified to his father and little brother.

Rudra's face contoured, and he scolded Nivedya, "You shouldn't have said that. Now, go to your room," after Nivedya left Rudra continued... "Abhey,  you are old enough to decide what's good for you. Your life, your rules, your decisions. Understand, that some don't have a choice as you have, life just throws them its burdens, and they have to accept it as it comes. So, make the best of what you have. I won't lecture you but save yourself for your true love. The spark you get with the mere touch of that person is an experience that is sweet and scary.
You love it, but the scary part is you don't understand the reason for those sparks and when you do, you won't like any other sparks."

Nivedya was curious to see how his father scolded his elder brother so he heard their conversation hiding behind the door. A truth bomb just dropped on him, and he analysed his life, 'It can't be true what dad just said. Nimrit? I did experience a 1000-volt current when I accidentally touched her the first time and all the other times when her hand meets mine I  don't know why I feel like I am in heaven. Is she my true love?;'

What his father explained to his brother churned his inner thoughts too. He knew Nimrit was special but did true love exists and if it did, was Nimrit his true love according to his father's theory?
Maybe. Because her touch did spark his soul and the confusion, and its answer was sweet and scary for Nivedya.

Nimrit was watching the fluffy clouds in the sky of Swarnbhoomi while talking to Barkha who told her she was falling for Nivedya, and somewhere, she knew it was true. He was special, very, very special. Could he be the high school sweetheart she always dreamed of?
"Is that even a question?" Nimrit's heart chided. A smile graced her face as the answer to her question was "Yes! He was the only one in every sense."

"Nimrit, are you ready? We are getting late." Reet called her from the living room and Nimrit shut her window giving a flying kiss to the clouds that played a canvas to her imagination.

After finishing his homework Nivedya refreshed his Instagram feed and Raghav's recent post came on top.
He had uploaded a picture with sweat beads on his forehead and biceps bulging out, making him look hot. It was posted with a caption- "When you put in hard work to earn some muscle but your mother cooks these. Swipe to see the beauty."
The second picture was a bowl of colourful macaroons. They looked delectable but what caught Nivedya's attention was the blurred image of the side face of a girl in the background.

'What was Nimrit doing there at nine in the night? Was she with her family or just alone? If she could stay in the afternoon Sun just to say sorry to me, she could do more to express, thank you. She did mention Raghav helping her with class eight boys. What did they even do?' Varied thoughts ran through Nivedya's mind. He was certain he would kill the boys if they harmed her.
Calculating the pros and cons he decided to call up Raghav and ask. The alternate motive was knowing why Nimrit was there.

"Hey, Raghav, what's up? I called up to ask about the incident you mentioned where the grade eight boys and Nimrit argued. I didn't ask her because she looked troubled. Can you tell me?" Nivedya didn't let Raghav speak and fired him with his questions.

"Nivi, hi. Can we talk about that tomorrow? There is a family dinner at my place." Raghav replied and Nivedya sighed in relief. Nimrit was not alone.

"Sure, but if you could tell me in short. It's bothering me, you see. Nimrit was there because of me and I feel guilty she incurred trouble because I got late." Nivedya tried to convince Raghav and it worked.

"Umm... okay. Hold on. Can you come on a video call? I will call Nimrit. She is here with her family." Raghav suggested and Nivedya nodded positively. 

Nivedya quickly set his hair and checked his appearance before calling Raghav. The phone buzzed and Nivedya saw Nimrit who was dressed in an olive green t-shirt and faded blue jeans looking like a leaf post-rain.
A formal  "hi" was exchanged and Raghav narrated the incident that happened on the school football ground. Nivedya's blood boiled hearing how the boys troubled Nimrit.

"Raghav, you should have smashed their heads right there. You are the head boy. This is a a clear case of harassment. Why didn't you tell Princi?"

"Nivi, not everything needs to be settled with a fight. I knew a few secrets and used them against them. I think it's enough for thirteen-year-olds. I don't think they would bother Nimrit and if they do, she has me beside her." Raghav put his hand around Nimrit's shoulder and pressed it assuring her that he meant what he said.

Raghav's hand pricked Nivedya's heart and he disliked the budding trust and friendship between them. If only, he was there on time he would have been her knight in shining armour.

"Thank you, Raghav. I was a little disturbed in the morning but I have figured out how I can handle them if they come again. I don't want you to bother." Nimrit assured him and the message was clear for Nivedya too that she didn't require help.

"Nimrit," The way Nivedya called Nimrit always developed a knot in her stomach. She looked at him and he forgot what he was supposed to say. They waited for thirty seconds but he didn't say anything.

Raghav found Nivedya's pause a bit weird so he prompted him, "Nivi, you wanna say something?"

"Umm... I am sorry, I forgot you were waiting, and also whatever happened, I feel responsible too." Nivedya said with utmost honesty earning Nimrit's smile.

"Nivi, what were you busy doing? I mean, it's unlike you." Raghav questioned taking the conversation forward.

Nivedya told him about his new tuition teacher and her unique vehicle. The description got Raghav's attention and the boys didn't realise when Nimrit left the conversation. She was sure Nivedya was attracted to his new teacher who was too young to be a teacher in the first place. Why couldn't he study on his own? If Nivedya was so into his tuition teacher why was he showing his concern to her? Nimrit's mood became sour and the macaroons no longer seemed interesting to her.
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Dear Readers
If you are intrigued with Abhedya and Swarnima's story too, hop on to my profile and read Twists Twirls Perils and Pearls. You will get a glimpse of Nivedya and Nimrit there.
Want to know how Nivedya seeks an answer to the 'true love' confusion?

Stay hooked!
Lots of love!
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