In the tapestry of life, sweet and sour moments intertwine, weaving a story of resilience, growth, and the beauty of contrast.

Nivedya returned home with his mother after Amber was discharged from the hospital. Nandini asked him to change and come for dinner while she and Rudra were discussing the attack on Amber. When Nivedya joined them, the worn-out look on his face made his parents worried.
Rudra assured him things will settle soon as Randeep had warned the head of Hawk-eye, the agency Amber worked for, strictly against their malicious practices. Nivedya didn't know how well Nimrit was coping with the attack on her father because if he was in her place, he would break. Nivedya hugged his father tightly and said, "I love you, dad. I don't know what would I do without you."

Rudra reciprocated his hug and remembered his friend Swadesh, (Swarnima's father) who died for him. "I promise you, Nivi, no one will sacrifice their life in this war, anymore. I promise you." Nivedya slept in his parent's room that night because Nandini didn't want him to be alone.

At school, Nimrit and Nivedya decided to tell their friends that her father met with a minor accident but was doing better. Nimrit was lost and Nivedya couldn't see that. He wanted her smile and he tried several tricks to make her normal.

"Nivi, just give me time, please. I appreciate your efforts but understand, my father is very special to me. If anything happens to him, I cannot bear it. I am terrified." Nimrit came close to Nivedya and taking his hand in hers she requested him, "Nivi, if you know who the royals are, just tell them to claim the throne as soon as possible. My father... we are suffering a lot because of..." Nimrit stopped abruptly and took a deep breath. "Forget what I said. Sorry. Papa told me not to discuss with you still I could not help it. Just... I am sorry. I do not want to trouble you."

"Nimrit, relax. It's just me. You can tell me anything you want. My father has told me, phuphu has spoken to the head of Hawk-Eye to settle the issue. He asked me not to tell you but I am telling you so that you can relax." Nivedya pulled Nimrit in a hug and assured her, "It's just a matter of time, Nimrit. Just trust me."

Nimrit tightened her grip around Nivedya's torso and he kissed her hair. "Which shampoo do you use? Your hair smell amazing."

"It is homemade. Papa makes it."

"Is there anything your father doesn't do? Except of course, passing me a smile. He has like never, never ever, given me a kind look. I feel like a goat he will slaughter, anytime." Nivedya earned a titer from Nimrit that was blessing to his ears. He just wished to keep her smile intact.

The clouds of romance had always covered the sky of Swarnbhoomi and that year, the fresh flowers that bloomed in the rain spread love in the entire atmosphere.

The school became Nivedya's favourite holiday destination where he could spend time with the girl he loved. Holding hands or talking about random to important matters, he loved it all. Sneaking in empty classrooms for a small hug and on some lucky days, when Nivedya got a kiss on his cheek, he felt jubilant.

Nimrit had never been happier. Her father was back to work and was relatively at ease. She refrained from telling him about Randeep's interference in the matter.

Nivedya finally spoke to Barkha who in excitement revealed Nimrit's little secrets to him. Nivedya warned Barkha to not put ideas of dating a dozen boys in Nimrit's mind because she had already found her high school sweetheart who loved her like the dried Earth loved the first rain.

Nimrit not only ruled Nivedya's heart but she also became the best friend to the triple-A who had never given that space to anyone since kindergarten. Collin and Nimrit still shared the love-hate relationship but they both shared a common goal and that was happiness of Nivedya.

To sum up, Nivedya and Nimrit's life was going smooth and they were happy. Nivedya had accepted the fact that Rose was not coming anytime soon as her mother was her top priority.

Nivedya and his friends decided to party at a restaurant after their tests were over. Everyone was enjoying pizzas over random topics and Nimrit was prohibited to talk about studies. Collin was a reason for everyone's laughter and the group was happy to have a friend who guaranteed smiles on their faces.

When the party was over Nivedya walked up to Nimrit and asked her, "Can I have the pleasure of dropping you home, tonight." Nimrit thought for a while then agreed and they sat in Nivedya's luxury sedan.

Being under the legal age, Nivedya was not allowed to drive a car and with Chauffeur in the front seat, Nimrit didn't know why he requested dropping her home. She was clueless that Nivedya had big plans. "It will just take twenty minutes, please come out." Nivedya put out his hand and Nimrit held it tightly.

They walked inside a small cottage which was beautifully decorated with fairy lights. Nimrit's heart was beating fast with anticipation of what will happen. She trusted Nivedya blindly and she knew they were too small but... "I know what that wicked brain of yours must be thinking but I have not brought you here to do anything "hanky-panky" but to rectify my mistake."

Nivedya made Nimrit sit on a princess sofa and squatted to her level to confess, "Nimrit, some days back, I told you "I love you" in a state of daze. I always wanted to and I know you also must have fantasised about a romantic setting where we would confess the three words which sum up the feelings of two people who feel romantically inclined towards each other."

Nivedya got up and picked a bouquet of fresh red roses kept in the corner and gave it to Nimrit. "Our firsts have never been very impressive. Be it our meeting, our kiss, our hug or our confession but that doesn't take away its charm. Nevertheless, I want to do everything once again with you, so that we can decide whether what happened was what we loved or whether what we plan was better.
So, Miss Nimrit Khanna, from the day I collided with you on the skating rink, I couldn't take my eyes off you. No matter how much we fought and disagreed on topics, you always managed to grab my attention. I don't know the exact moment, but I fell for you slowly and then all at once when you called me "Nivi". Whenever you take my name I feel cherished and blessed. You are an angel sent to Earth, just for me. Nimrit, I love you beyond the definition of love."
Nivedya kissed the back of her palm making her tremble with jubiliation. He came close to her and he knew he had permission to kiss her like a lover. His left hand brought Nimrit's face close to his and he bent down to claim her lips.

"Niviii!" Nimrit shouted and hugged Nivedya tightly when the sound of a bullet came from outside. Nivedya engulfed Nimrit in his protective embrace as a reflex. "Was that... a bullet?" Nimrit asked to confirm and Nivedya's nervousness gave her the reply.

They peeped through the small window in the cottage and what they saw shocked them to the core. Amber and Rudra were pointing guns at each other while Randeep was standing close. "Pap..." Nivedya covered Nimrit's mouth and eyed her to keep quiet. "They will kill papa. Leave me."

"They won't. It's not what it looks like. Just stay." Nivedya begged Nimrit and she sat there quietly praying for her father.

"Amber, I am warning you to not say a word about it to anyone. The heir and the protector have nothing to do with it. They don't even know something of this sort could happen. Rajatbhoomi is playing games from the time the news of the heir being alive broke out. Dushyant Singh is a monster and you have no fucking idea how cruel he is. He is not helping you but using you as a puppet." Rudra's voice changed from threat to shouting to a warning.

Nivedya and Nimrit were inside the cottage witnessing the high voltage scene between their fathers.

"And you want me to trust you? Why? I know Dushyant Singh is a swine but Swarnbhoomi Royals are no less." Amber spit in rage and Rudra held his collar.

"Huh!" Nimrit got scared and gripped Nivedya's hand even more tightly.

"Royals of Swarnbhoomi are not murderers. Choose your side wisely, Amber and I know you are smart enough." Rudra left Amber's collar and Nimrit exhaled heavily. Nivedya was worried about the consequences of the drama they were an audience to. He wished they never came there.

In a very calm and composed manner, Randeep tried to explain to Amber the gravity of the matter. "Mr Khanna, let me put it straight to you. You have a beautiful family which you have earned after a lot of hard work. Don't let it go in vain. Till the time you are in Swarnbhoomi, enjoy the weather, the infrastructure, the food among other things. Carry on with your investigation too we don't mind. But, the day a single, I repeat, single crucial information is passed on or leaked to Dushyant Singh, this state might become a living hell and you will be responsible for it. Dushyant Singh picks up young girls from school, colleges and other places daily to satisfy his sexual desires. Why don't you gather proof against him? Isn't that a bigger crime than governing a state so efficiently that it stands as the only developed state in India?"

"If what you are saying is even one per cent true, why haven't the smartest intelligence services that are headed by your son Maan, already working on it?" Amber cross-questioned Randeep but he didn't have an answer. "What happened Mr Raichand? Not your job to save girls of another state? Fair enough. The Indian government will do that." The heat was rising outside and Nimrit and Nivedya were too afraid to listen to anymore part of the conversation. Sadly, they couldn't go out.

"Amber, Nandini's NGO, Gharonda is housing many oppressed women, some of which belong to Rajatbhoomi. And your Indian government is already aware of all the malpractice going on in the state, after all, it is under their governance. Unlike, Swarnbhoomi where the crime against women is the least in entire India." Rudra proudly stated the achievement of his state and Amber's demeanour became less aggressive..

Randeep kept his gun in front of Amber resting his case and said, "Mr Khanna, all we are asking is, a little time till the heir is prepared to handle the state and its affairs. But our bigger concern is Dushyant Singh who is hell-bent on killing the heir and I am sorry to say that you are indirectly helping him. You don't want a young and innocent soul to die at the hands of a monster. A fair chance is all we ask. Rest is your call."

Nimrit's fingers were crossed in anticipation of her father's decision and Nivedya rubbed her arm to calm her down.

"I don't know why but for the first time in my life I am doing something against my rules. You have just a month left and after that, you will do as I say. By the way, no information was or ever will be passed to Dushyant Singh. It was a trap and Rudra fell in it clearing my suspicions. Go home and enjoy." Amber kept his gun in his pocket but a punch landed on his face.

"Never use Dushyant Singh, again. He was the reason my friend is dead, his wife committed suicide, his daughter is struggling daily and his son is fighting a battle for survival. Am I clear?" Rudra looked like a lion warning another to stay away.

"Rudra, relax. He doesn't know. Mr Khanna, we expected better from you." Randeep and Rudra gave him a final warning before planning to leave the deserted area.

Amber bent forward and whispered something in their ear which Nivedya and Nimrit couldn't hear. "Expect only the best from Amber Khanna."

"Amber, I swear if anything happens to the heir, I will kill you with my bare hands." Rudra threatened Amber and Nimrit shivered like a leaf. Nivedya couldn't believe his father could say something like that. But he knew if it was related to Swarnima, he could say and do, anything.

"That won't be necessary because I do my duty with utmost honesty and my research tells me, the heir is well qualified to govern this state. You were right Rudra, my merits side is full but the demerits are not empty too. Just the heir cannot govern the state. It is a combined effort and I am not sure of your well-hidden protector. Go home and relax with your families which have united after years. You deserve that. I am an outsider to this state but it is an entity of my motherland India and whatever benefits its citizens shall not be taken away from them. Goodbye!"
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Dear Readers
Sweet delicacies come with sour toppings. How it affects the taste buds read in the next chapter.

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