When the heart takes decisions, it's influenced by the emotions you feel for the person in question or your state in that situation.

In Nimrit's case, her heart was just pumping love for Nivedya and she could feel the night they spent together meant a lot to him too, just like it did to her.

Shakti called Nimrit in the centre breaking her chain of thoughts. She appreciated her analytical skills and the students clapped for her. Eklavya who was there rubbed his beard and observed Nimrit closely.

He briefed about Nimrit's accomplishment to Swarnima, "She is just fourteen and if she can crack codes so easily, her father won't take time in solving the mystery of the royals. Nim, we need to brace ourselves up." Swarnima told him to relax as Nimrit was too good to cause any harm to anyone.

The students were asked to stand in a line and Shakti instructed them, "Now before we leave, we will learn about a few rare varieties of plants in this area. Stand with your partner and follow Mr Ujjawal, a famous Botany teacher, who is especially here to brief you."

Nivedya was half present in the class because he could feel Nimrit was avoiding him. The only reason he could think of was him sharing food with a famished, Janice. It was no reason to be jealous and he needed to clear it with her ASAP. He pulled Nimrit secretly behind a tree when she was sniffing a flower the teacher was briefing about.

"What are you..." Nimrit's question was left incomplete because Nivedya put his palm on her mouth restricting her from speaking.

"Why aren't you talking to me, properly? Is it because I shared the food you got for me with Janice? She was hungry, okay. Friends share food. We share it too. There's no need to get jealous... I mean, yeah... It was just food?" Nivedya was restless but he was not sure what he was speaking. He wondered if he misunderstood the situation because Nimrit stopped struggling and was looking at him in astonishment. He removed his palm from her mouth and released her hands.

Nimrit pushed him so hard that he fell to the ground. She set her hair and exhaled heavily to calm herself.
"Why do you always spoil my trips? When we first visited the palace you avoided me like a plague and now you are accusing me of being jealous? Why will I be? Do I have the right to be? Because we are just a little more than classmates, I feel. You can do whatever you want. Share your food, hug or kiss, just like you did last night. It doesn't bother me. Do you know why? Because you only get jealous when you know there is someone better than you available. And trust me, Mr Singh, I am the BEST and way beyond your league." Nimrit walked out from behind the tree like a victorious queen and quickly caught up with her class.

"Fuck! I love this firey Nimrit even more." Nivedya admitted to himself dusting his clothes and stood next to Nimrit with a smug smile, startling her.

Before any teacher could ask Nimrit, Nivedya asked her, "What happened Nimrit? What startled you?"

She glared at him and nodded her head in 'nothing' to the teacher. The students were getting bored with the session so Shakti cut it short and gave them a bonus half-hour to dance and have fun with their friends. In a few seconds, music was blaring on the Red Cliff and everyone was dancing.

Nimrit's mood was sour and she stayed on the side swaying occasionally. Nivedya was dancing with his friends and Nimrit loved the way his hair moved to the rhythm. She hated her heart which could not stop staring at the boy who was looking so handsome dancing without a care.

She was lost in her thoughts when she was suddenly dragged into the centre and twirled. She was not dancing but following whatever and however Nivedya made her move. His grip was strong and there was no escape for her or she didn't want to escape, she didn't know. But if this was Nivedya's way of making up, he better does something better than just push and pull her.

The music ended and everyone requested a few more minutes, but Shakti strictly reminded them of the time limit and told them to pack their stuff quickly. "You have precisely, twenty minutes before the dispersal assembly. Hurry up now."

Nimrit was packing her stuff when she saw Nivedya's jacket and it reminded her of their night in the tent. It was so beautiful but Nivedya's words confused her. She was folding clothes while Aashna was telling her about how Shawn and she had a night full of passionate romance. Nimrit not only loved reading romance but listening to love stories was her favourite thing. Today, however, her concentration was diverted.

Nivedya came inside the tent and requested Aashna that he wanted to talk to Nimrit, alone.

Nimrit held Aashna's hand to refrain her from leaving and ordered her, "Aashna, stay. I don't want to be alone with him."

"You both fought again? You guys are so sensible otherwise but when together, you behave like kids." Aashna scolded the grown-up kids in her tent.

"I don't even know the reasons she gets angry. One moment she is smiling, the next moment she gives me the hardest glares. Trust me, Aashna, she confuses the shit out of me." Nivedya complained as a child and Aashna looked at Nimrit sympathising with her.

"Nivi, leave," Aashna ordered him strictly but Nivedya sat on the small stool in the tent and denied leaving.
He got up and stood close to Nimrit and demanded an explanation, "Tell me why you were angry? If it was not Janice then what did I do to piss you off?"

"Pissing me off is something you can do without any effort. So, just don't bother that little brain of yours and enjoy your trip." Nimrit retorted and stuffed her things in her bag. Nivedya stood quietly for two minutes and kept looking at her. "URGH! Can you stop staring at me?" Nimrit shouted in irritation.

"I can't. I told you, you are the prettiest girl I have ever seen and this feisty version of you makes you look hot." Nivedya spoke without thinking and that made Aashna choke on the water she was drinking. Nimrit widened her eyes at his comment but her cheeks and ears turned red.

"On that note, I think Nivi deserves some alone time." Aashna walked out of the tent after giving a thumbs-up to him.

"Sorry. I didn't mean it obscenely." Nivedya turned Nimrit to face him and held her hands between his large palms. "Please tell me what happened. Look,  I know I'm a jerk but I don't want to be one, to you."

"Why? Aren't we just classmates?"

"You know we are not just classmates." Nivedya was losing his calm because he thought Nimrit was being unreasonable.

"That is exactly what you said out there. In your words, "time they spend together means nothing and you all know it. We are all friends,  classmates and that's just it." You are a liar. You told me the time we spent last night was... anyway." Nimrit's throat formed a lump and she gulped hard to swallow it. "I know you didn't want any attention and probably said it, to cover up. But what you did during the Botany class is unacceptable. You have no right to pull me as you like and question my emotions. I am not pissed off at you but for the wrong analysis, you do. You do not know me and I doubt you can."

Nivedya heard Nimrit patiently. He couldn't believe the words he said to cover up could hurt her. If he was in her place, probably he would have felt the same way. "Sorry. I didn't want to hurt you. I never want to but I always do. Each moment I spend with you is enough for a lifetime."
Nivedya's words made Nimrit look into his eyes and all she could see was the truth. "You are not just a classmate or a friend. You are more. What... I can't tell you but you will have to feel." Nivedya put Nimrit's hand on his heart and she could feel its rhythmic contraction and expansion. "Don't forgive me. Not yet. But just don't avoid me or give me a cold shoulder. I feel like I lost the most  important match of my life."

Nimrit wanted to hug him tightly for his beautiful words but she didn't have the courage nor did she trust her hormones.

Nivedya picked up his jacket and left giving her. smiled of assurance. She caught his hand from behind and when he turned, she took his jacket back. "It looks better on me." Nivedya's face shone like the bright morning Sun and Nimrit gave him a smile he could lose his heart to, every time.

The students were sent home after a proper dispersal assembly. Nimrit had a lot to tell her parents about her first overnight camp trip. The moment she entered her house she started talking and didn't stop even when lunch was served.

"God! Nimrit stop! I am bugged now. I have some news too. We have to go to a party tonight. Rudra and Nandini celebrate their anniversary today and  we have been invited." Reet shared the news excitedly but Nimrit's smile vanished. The thought of meeting Nivedya after their encounter in the tent raised her pulse rate.

Looking at Nimrit's face Amber suggested, "If you don't want to go, we can skip,"

"No-  No... we should go. I think most of my friends will be there." Nimrit replied instantly but she was recalling the clothes she had. She wanted to look her best. Rummaging through her clothes she found the perfect outfit that would make her look like a doll.

The garden area of the mansion of the Singhs was decorated beautifully in a red and white theme. The tables had red runners with a small bouquet on each. The chairs had a big bow in white at the back. The orchestra was playing soothing instrumentals of Rudra and Nandini's favourite songs.

The food was laid on one side of the garden and the cuisines included Indian, Chinese, Thai, Italian, Spanish, Mediterranean and many more. There was a dessert counter that catered for the best of all cuisines. The drinks section was divided into two. One was with non-alcoholic drinks and the other served alcoholic beverages.

Swarnima was awestruck with the whole arrangement and was admiring it when Nivedya came from behind and booed her. She hit him lightly on his arm and Nivedya laughed at her reaction.

"I am so happy you came. I really wanted you to meet her. Her parents are invited too and she has probably come with them."

"I would love to meet her." Swarnima was excited to meet Nivedya's, Miss Special too so they walked up to Nimrit who was dressed beautifully in a baby pink pleated dress.

She was sipping a pina colada when Nivedya tapped on her shoulder and greeted, "Hi!" which sounded more like a deep sigh. Swarnima giggled at his expressions and observed them closely.

Nimrit replied, "Hi!" and blushed hard. Swarnima felt that the feelings between the two were probably mutual.

"I would like you to meet my tuition teacher cum friend cum guide cum angel, Swarnima a.k.a. Nim. She is Nimrit. She studies in my class and is umm... umm... a good friend? Yeah... a good friend." Nivedya's nervousness was at the pinnacle. Nimrit was looking gorgeous and he couldn't take his eyes off her.

Swarnima forwarded her hand and Nimrit gave a firm shake. "Hi! Nice to meet you."

Just looking at Swarnima Nimrit felt she was worth all the praises Nivedya mentioned. To carry the conversation she remarked, "I take it that you are the reason he is suddenly answering all the questions correctly?"

"Is he? That's good then." Swarnima was happy with Nivedya's progress.

"Yes! He is. In fact, he has suddenly got so understanding and so smart. He needs no more prompting and..." Nimrit bit her tongue and shut her eyes in embarrassment.

The colour of Nivedya's cheek matched Nimrit's dress and he kept combing his hair so that his excitement was not visible.

"Oh! I am sure she is not the reason but the 'Singh men' are like that... charmers." Abhedya came to the scene and put an arm around Nivedya.

Nimrit saw Abhedya and kept staring at him. Seconds passed but she didn't blink her eyes or spoke a word. Nivedya hated his brother at that moment. He cleared his throat but Nimrit's staring session didn't end. In a strict tone, Nivedya warned her, "Nimrit! Enough of gawking at the handsome face of my brother."

Nivedya's scolding brought Nimrit back to her senses but he had left from there in anger while followed behind trying to explain to him, "Nivi! Listen I was... I wasn't... listen..."

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Dear Readers
Nimrit and Nivedya are on a see-saw. Sometimes, one is wrong and sometimes the other. Probably it's just the love in their hearts that makes them demand and question the other. How will Nimrit justify her act of staring at Nivedya's brother?
Read the next chapter and find out!

Stay hooked!
Lots of love!