Sometimes it is not about winning the argument, it is about winning the affection and happiness of your partner.

Nivedya saw the little panda key chain on his table and felt a strong urge to talk to Nimrit. He picked up his phone and dialed Nimrit's mother's  number. It kept going busy. "Why do these ladies gossip so much? Can't she see I am calling?" Nivedya muttered and threw his phone on the bed in frustration.

"Nivi, you were calling Reet? She was speaking to me. She called up to say "thanks" to you and has invited us for a lunch tomorrow. I have not  confirmed..."

"We must go, mom," Nivedya spoke before his mother could finish and bit his tongue in embarrassment.

"O...kay. I will talk to Rudra and confirm with her. You have your dinner and rest. I have requested your father to give you an off from the practice  session tomorrow." Nandini wanted Nivedya to relax and not exhaust himself from the extensive practice they did on Sunday.

"No, mom. I will go to the practice. I need to learn more skills and make myself stronger. Abhey was somewhere right, it was a little beyond my  capabilities to save a girl falling off from the balcony." Nivedya shared his fears with his mother and Nandini's eyes were filled with admiration for her son.

Nivedya got a call from Collin. He knew Collin would tease him with Nimrit but to his astonishment, he didn't do that.

"Dude, I came with the girls to meet Nimrit. She is doing fine. A little worn out but she is smiling. I thought it was my moral duty to inform you about her state. Hope you are doing well?"

"I am fine. Let's talk later, bye." Nivedya hung up the phone in anger. He was angry because he couldn't see Nimrit like Collin, he couldn't speak  to her, and he was not the first boy to go to her home.

"She  also didn't bother checking on me. She could do that. Her mother knows I called so many times. Shouldn't she call me personally if she wanted to thank me? I am so angry with you, Nimrit. I am not coming to  your house tomorrow. Or maybe, I will come and express my annoyance to you." Nivedya made a plan in his mind and had his dinner half-heartedly.

Rose telephoned him and told him she was proud of him. Nivedya's sour mood changed and he slept peacefully after talking to her.

Rudra told Nandini about Amber and Dr. Pri's encounter, and asserted, "Nandini, we will go to Khanna's house for lunch. That man, Amber is messing with my state, and my family, and I am not going to let that happen."

"Rudra, understand he is only doing his job. We have faced worse than this. Besides, I think Amber is anything but unloyal. He..."

Rudra pulled Nandini from her waist and said, "You are not addressing him on a first-name basis."

Nandini's forehead creased in confusion for a moment and then she rolled her eyes. "Jealous now, are we?"

"Jealous, no. Possessive, yes. Are we clear?" Rudra sensuously trailed Nandini's face with his nose making her agree to his demand.

"Rudra, I hope nothing harms our heir and the protector." Nandini sought assurance in Rudra's eyes and he kissed her crown to confirm.

Around eleven at the night, the doorbell rang at the Khanna house and Amber was ready to greet the visitor. He peeped through the keyhole and gave a thumbs up to Reet. She closed the door of Nimrit's room and went inside her bedroom. She said a silent prayer as she waited for her husband.

"Hello, Mr Khanna, I have come from the police department to get details about the incident that took place in the palace, today. May I?" Amber's  much-awaited visitor requested politely and he opened his house door for him to enter.

In a very calm and composed tone, Amber welcomed the visitor, "I was expecting you, Mr Maan Raichand. Please come in."

Amber escorted Maan, the son of the head of defense, Randeep Raichand, inside his house. Maan walked inside the supposed 'enemy's lair'. He made himself comfortable on the wooden sofa with flower-printed cushions.

"You have done your research well, Mr Khanna, so you must be aware of the reason for my personal visit, to you," Maan spoke with authority and Amber gave him a knowing smile.

"Actually, the idea struck me at the palace. To catch someone's attention..."

"Cut it short, Khanna. Playing tricks with my mother was not what we expected from you." Maan showed a finger to Amber, and he raised his  hands in surrender.

"That wasn't the plan, trust me and I have got a good bashing from my wife for the same. Rest assured, I will never involve families in this." Amber gave his word and emphasised the word 'this', offering a glass of water to Maan.

Before Maan could ask him he explained, "this, refers to the information, the Indian government is seeking against the Swarnbhoomi monarchy. Sadly, they have not been able to prove the  incompetence and dark politics of its rulers, yet. But now I am standing between Swarnbhoomi Monarchs and the Government. Your state has very little time left. The clock is ticking... Tic Tok... Tic Tok..." Amber  pointed at the analog wall clock in the living room.

"The throne shall be claimed on the day Ma Bhawani has decided. You or any damn corrupt government cannot stop that. Since you are such a good spy let me tell you, the heir to the throne is roaming right in front of your eyes but you won't know who. And as far as getting proof against  him/her is concerned, climb Everest, but you won't get a thing against them." Maan got up with a sly grin playing on his face and as he walked towards the door, he turned back and said, "by the way, the Indian government who you are so loyal to has stopped your salary for the coming six months until you give them proof? Sad. The clock is ticking for you, Sir... Tic Tok... Tic Tok."

Amber latched the door after Maan left and took a deep breath. He knew the fight was going to get brutal. He watched Nimrit sleeping peacefully and promised himself to not let anything harm her. He kissed Reet's forehead before drifting to sleep. Surely he had several reasons to stay awake at night but the lady snuggling in him was a reason enough for him to sleep tight.

The following morning Reet was frantically cleaning the house and Amber  told her in an irritated tone, "God! Reet! Just stop freaking out.  Everything is done. The house is spick and span. They are just normal  people coming to our house for lunch. Though I don't want them to come still... they are welcome. More than welcome." Amber covered up  quickly. He did not want to face Reet's wrath further.

Taking  Amber's hand in hers, Reet expressed her feelings honestly, "I know everything is done but it's the first time we are hosting a lunch or dinner for someone other than close friends. I can't help but panic. Away from our horrifying past and judgemental people, for the first time, I am breathing the air that makes me feel... free. I like  Swarnbhoomi, Amber."

Amber saw the model of the Indian subcontinent kept on the side table and sighed deeply. Was he trying to kill the freedom of a state her wife felt free in?

Reet went to Nimrit's room to check on her. She was having a severe body ache in the morning but with Dr Pri's tips and medication, she was feeling  better. Reet didn't tell her she had invited Nivedya's family for lunch as she thought it will be a surprise for her daughter as well. She  didn't give Nimrit her phone even when she told her she wanted to thank Nivedya.

Nimrit felt irritated and angry at her mother for making  excuses and not giving her the phone. She went to their garden and started to pick out dead leaves and spray water on the fresh ones.  Gardening and humming to plants made her happy.

The front gate of her house opened and she got up to see who came. She was shocked to see Nivedya walk in style into her house wearing a white polo  t-shirt and dark blue jeans paired with a similar coloured jacket.

She  walked to him as quickly as she could and asked, "What are you doing  here?" She looked back to see her house door which was still closed  which meant her father was unaware of Nivedya in their house.

Nivedya frowned at her question and was about to answer her when he saw what Nimrit was wearing. Just an oversized t-shirt, that reached her mid-thighs? "Did she forget to wear anything underneath?" The thought erupted goosebumps on Nivedya's skin.
"She is looking hot!"  Nivedya's heart declared to its owner, looking at her from top to bottom and spending a little extra time admiring her beautiful legs which were not even waxed but still looked so kissable. Nivedya coughed to divert his attention from his vulgar thoughts. What was wrong with  him? Why did such perverted thoughts come to his mind whenever Nimrit was around? He had no idea.

Nimrit saw Nivedya's parents walk in  and that made her even more scared. But then it struck her the reason  for the aroma that spread in her entire house since morning and her mother making lame excuses to not give her phone. Reet came out to greet the guests and welcomed them inside. She gave Nivedya a small hug and  ruffled his hair.

"What you did for my daughter, I can never thank you enough. I don't know until when we shall stay connected but I give you a blank promise, ask me for anything and if it's within my capacity, it shall be yours." Reet caressed Nivedya's cheek with love  and got a little emotional.

"It's okay aunty. No big deal. I would have done that for anyone. I assume anyone else would do that too." Nivedya's words hurt Nimrit. She knew Nivedya would do that but she wanted to feel special. She wanted to be the only one Nivedya plays a hero.

"Nandini, your son is a gem. God bless you, Nivi." Reet pressed Nandini's hand and welcomed them inside.

"Look at the brave girl here. She went through so much yesterday still she is taking care of the plants. You like gardening?" Rudra asked Nimrit  whose hands were full of mud. Nimrit touched Nivedya's parent's feet to pay her respect and smiled in response.

"She loves her garden. One day, Amber accidentally stepped on a flower, she scolded him so badly and then..."

"Mumma, some other day, please." Nimrit stopped her mother from speaking further and everyone laughed except Nivedya who was just grinning.  Nimrit sure was a packet of surprise candies.

The Singh's entered the Khanna's humble abode and Nimrit went inside her room to change. She  wanted to fight with her mother for embarrassing her. She looked at herself in the mirror and let out a frustrated sigh. She thought she looked horrible and the last person she ever wanted to see her like  that, observed her so keenly.

Nimrit cleaned herself and came out in a fresh lavender-coloured shirt with black capri-pants. She  clipped her hair neatly and applied moisturising cream and lip balm.

Nivedya was listening to the elders who were discussing yesterday's incident when Nimrit came with a tray of water and served everyone. When  she served Nivedya their eyes met but Nimrit lowered her eyes immediately. Nivedya was looking worth all the ogle and she couldn't do that there.

Reet suggested Nimrit go to her room with Nivedya so that they don't get bored sitting with the elders. Amber choked on the water he was drinking at his wife's suggestion. Nimrit was a little puzzled too but she escorted Nivedya to her room. Thankfully her room was not unorganised.

Nivedya couldn't help but compare his luxurious room to Nimrit's simple room. His room was huge with a  king-sized bed, a 52" LED television, a MacBook Pro, PlayStation, a balcony with a view of the garden and mountains, a huge study table with various organisers and drawers. Nimrit's room was just a little bigger than his bathroom with a small study table, an old-fashioned laptop, a small bed and nothing more. Basic but cosy.

Nimrit pulled a chair and offered him to sit. She was feeling very conscious of Nivedya's judging eyes. Nivedya rejected the chair and sat on the bed with his back resting on the pillow.

"So," Nivedya said still looking around the room.

"So?" Nimrit repeated his words but in a questioning tone.

"You didn't know we were coming for lunch to your place?"

"No. I don't know why mumma didn't tell me." Nimrit clarified herself.

"Maybe she thought it will be a happy surprise for you but you were just...  rude! "What are you doing here?" Nivedya imitated Nimrit and she giggled  at his attempt.

"Sorry. It's just that I wasn't expecting you and..."

"You thought I came to your place to see how you were doing? Nah! I came because your mother invited us." Nivedya was angry with Nimrit for not  calling him yesterday even after he called her so many times. He was  worried about her.

"I know. I am not used to boys coming and you..."

"I know. I am not the favourite one. Collin is. Your father must be okay  with him coming to visit you but I guess, I am someone mean, and bad and  his lovely daughter should stay away from him. Right?" Nivedya looked directly into Nimrit's eyes and questioned her.

Nimrit could see Nivedya was hurt by her reaction but he was overreacting. Out of everyone, he  knew how protective her father was.

Nimrit did not want Nivedya to carry a bad impression of her father so she told him, "You had given him reasons to feel that way. But I guess after yesterday, he won't have reasons to feel that way about you. In fact, he told me I could trust you."

"Oh! I thought it was the friendship between us that build the trust. It's your father you trust not me." Nivedya looked away and Nimrit could see he was picking up words and reasons to fight.

"Is there a reason you are being so uncivil? Clearly, my startled reaction to seeing you is not the only  reason. So, tell me. Let's clear it out." Nimrit asked sternly because Nivedya's cold behaviour needed treatment.

Nivedya scoffed and  sat at the window Nimrit often sat to watch the sky, and asked her, "Why didn't you call  me yesterday? I called on your mother's phone so many times. Didn't she  tell you? Even if she didn't, you could call me once, just once to tell  me you were fine. Or have the decency to ask me, how I was? It was just a phone call. You could afford that much."
Nivedya regretted his last words. "Sorry, I didn't mean the last part."

Nimrit didn't counter or give reasons. She was trying to sink in Nivedya's comment on her status.

________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Readers

Nivedya is at Nimrit's house with his parents. Expect nothing less than fireworks in the coming chapters.

What are you looking forward to more?

Rudra v/s Amber

Nimrit v/s Nivedya

Stay hooked!

Lots of love