Days passed but Nivedya didn't flirt much with Nimrit. He wanted their friendship to strengthen before he confessed his feelings to her. Nimrit was somewhere lost and confused. She was starting to like the little things between them but Nivedya behaved more like a friend. Barkha also suggested Nimrit, to wait and understand what exactly was this feeling. Though she was sure Nimrit had passed the stage of liking, way back.

Aashna entered the class and saw Nimrit looking for something frantically, so she asked her with concern, "Nimrit, what are you searching for? Why do you look so glum?"

"I lost my panda bag charm. Barkha gave it to me as a parting gift. It was so dear to me." Nimrit emptied her entire bag, but it was nowhere, so she  sat on the chair with a gloomy face. Nivedya entered the class with his friends laughing at some joke when his eyes fell on Nimrit, and he instantly knew she ws bothered about something. He asked Aashna and she told him the reason.

He joined the search party and looked for the panda bag charm but couldn't find it in the class. So, he went to look for it on the huge school ground. Something pained his heart when he saw Nimrit's pale face.

Nimrit was overwhelmed by Nivedya's efforts but she didn't want him to stress, so she told him, "Nivedya, the school is too big for a tiny bag charm. We cannot possibly look everywhere. I appreciate  your concern but chuck it."

"I don't mind searching every dustbin of the school for something so precious to you. Come on, let's look for it." Nivedya kept walking with his eyes scanning the area. Nimrit could not believe the boy who belonged to one of the richest families in the state was ready to dirty his hand in the dustbin for her not-so-precious charm. Nivedya opened the lid of one of the dustbins but Nimrit ran and held his hand to stop him.

"No, please. The little panda was special to me because it was gifted to me by my best friend Barkha. She said it will remind me of her. But the ones we love are always in our hearts and just some article cannot be the only reason that reminds us of them, right? So, just stop this search mission and let us go to the class, the teacher has already come." Nimrit's eyes expressed how grateful she was. She left Nivedya's hand and walked towards their class. After walking ten steps she realised Nivedya was not following. She turned and saw him still standing there peeping inside the dustbin.
"Nivi, please come. We will miss the entire period otherwise."

Nivedya looked at Nimrit who was standing at a distance. Did she call him "Nivi"? He walked to her with long strides and asked her looking directly into her eyes. "What did you say?"

"To come to the class and ditch the search," Nimrit replied in a duh tone.

"No! What did you call me?" Nivedya's eyes bore deep inside Nimrit's looking for confirmation. Nimrit had never seen an emotion so intense in Nivedya's eyes. She gulped her saliva feeling scared and bewildered. Nivedya rubbed his arms to settle the goosebumps that erupted hearing his nickname. "Call me Nivi, from now till... forever." He walked towards his class without waiting for Nimrit because he felt wetness in the corner of his eyes and he wiped it quickly before entering the class.
It was not just love, but a deep, profound, and ineffable feeling.

Nimrit was still standing where Nivedya left her. The feeling she denied accepting was no longer undeniable. She was truly, madly, and deeply in love with "Nivi". Nivedya wiped his tears before they could fall but Nimrit could not. Her tears fell freely making her eyes puffy.

Aarfa asked for permission and came out of the class to check on Nimrit. "Nimrit, are you mad? Don't cry for a bag charm. We will find you a new one. Come on." She wiped Nimrit's tears and gave her water to drink. When they came to the class the teacher sympathised with Nimrit and asked her to leave if she needed time, but she quietly sat on her seat and resumed her studies.
Nivedya and Nimrit neither talked nor looked at each other after reading their heart.

After days, Swarnima felt Nivedya was unable to concentrate on his studies, so she asked him the reason. Swarnima's persona was such that anyone could confide in her easily and Nivedya was no exception. He told her what happened at school.
"I swear Nim, I got goosebumps when she called me "Nivi". It's weird because it's just a nickname. It's not like she told me she likes me or anything."

"Nivi, who better than me would know the importance of special names? The sweet endearments you use for your beloved is an expression of love. Just let this feeling sink in deep. Take your time and enjoy every moment of this beautiful phase you are about to enter." Swarnima looked outside the window while Nivedya tried to replay the moments in his head.

"Do  you have someone who calls you by a cute nickname?" Nivedya asked  Swarnima who looked at him with an unreadable expression.

"I had..." Swarnima replied softly and resumed teaching Nivedya. She couldn't share her love story with him, just yet.

A Dining Table is a place where a family not just eats but also shares the happenings of their life. Singh family was no exception. They were eating dinner and Abhedya enacted the scene between Adah and Swarnima at the college.

"But the funny part was Adah told Nim she was a witch who could break and join broken bones. Then Nim told her that she would try her black magic on her now, hearing which Adah ran away with her soldiers," Abhedya's description made everyone laugh at the table.

Their laughter session halted when Rose came crying, "Didi, I have to leave immediately. My mother is severely ill and is admitted to the hospital."

Nandini pacified her and requested her to stop crying before deciding her next step. Rose finally stopped crying when Rudra assured her, "Arrangements  have been made, don't worry. I have booked your flight and you have to  leave in the next two hours for Mumbai, from where a car will pick you and take you directly to Goa. Till then your mother is in safe hands.  Don't worry Rose, all will be good."

"Abhey, take Rose to her home, help her in packing and then drop her at the airport." Nandini directed Abhedya and he quickly got up.

"I will also fall ill, if you go." All heads turned to Nivedya whose eyes were filled with tears. He hugged Rose tightly and begged her, "Please don't go, Rose D, I won't be able to live a day without you."

Rose  was a mother Nivedya always had. When Rudra shifted with his family to Swarnbhoomi, Nandini chose to help women and girls who were socially oppressed. She started an NGO and dedicated herself to the upliftment of women. Little Nivedya needed his mother, so Rose was appointed to take care in Nandini's absence. Rose who lost her husband and little son was  more than happy to find a new family. She treated Nivedya and Abhedya like her own.

Abhedya separated Rose from Nivedya's death grip. "Nivi, Rose D's mother is on deathbed. She requires her daughter. Be her strength, not her weakness. Come on now, don't be selfish."

Nivedya couldn't take the trauma of Rose leaving him. But he knew there was no alternative. So, he wiped his tears, took Rose's hand in his and said, "I am sorry Rose D.  It's just that the thought of you leaving is indigestible. I will also come with you. I can sit next to your mother, get medicines, make her..."

"Nivi, just take care of yourself. That will be the best help you can do. Remember, you are my power and stability." Rose hugged Nivedya and Abhedya after expressing her love for them. Rudra side-hugged Nandini who was weeping, as well. She knew her boys were safe with Rose and whenever she felt lonely, Rose sufficed the place of a friend.

With a heavy heart, Rose left the Singh family to take care of her ailing mother. Nivedya started to cry as soon as Rose left. Rudra knew no one could fill the void of Rose in his life.

"Nivi, each person who comes into our life has their importance. People come  and go all the time. Some leave us broken while someone's departure doesn't affect us at all. Take your time, cry as much as you want but bounce back stronger. I lost my best friend years back and I have not recovered from the loss, yet. I remember him every day even though I know he is not returning but if he was here how would he want to see me? 
Sad? Gloomy? Broken?
No. He would have wanted me to be and do what I am doing. My friend, in heaven is happy, this thought is enough to keep me motivated.
I will be honest Nivi, Rose's mother is not in the best of state. She has slipped into a coma and doctors don't know when she will wake up or till when will she survive. Rose, wanted you to take care of yourself, do that. Be the good child she liked." Rudra  kissed Nivedya's forehead and wiped his tears. Nivedya put his head on his father's chest for comfort but his tears didn't stop.

Nimrit was feeling an unexplained uneasiness. She couldn't pinpoint the reason because her parents were fine, and Barkha was happy too. Then why was she unable to concentrate on anything? Her thoughts went to Nivedya. Was he okay? There was no  way to find out. She couldn't call him, she was not on social media. If she called any of the girls they would tease her and she did not want Nivedya to find out about her feelings.
So, she sent a prayer for Nivedya and God just proved his existence. Crying Nivedya smiled ear to ear for the first time after Rose left because Abhedya gave him a cute Panda keychain which Swarnima asked him to give to Nivedya.

"Nivi, you can share your secrets with an outsider like Nim but not me? I am hurt." Abhedya put his hand on his heart and pretended being hurt.

"Abhey, it's too soon. I am figuring out what exactly it is that I am feeling. She is just a good friend I want to see smiling." According to Nivedya, Abhedya was a flirt who would never understand what love is, so he refrained from telling him about his true feelings.
Only if, Nivedya knew Abhedya was synonymous with the emotion called love.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Friends,
Nivedya and Nimrit have realised their love for each other but will Rose's departure change the dynamics? To know, stay hooked.

Happy Reading
Lots of love!