Water sometimes tastes like rosewater, having journeyed through those rose petal-shaped bewitching lips.

Nimrit was congratulated by the class, but she was certain that this performance will never happen. Her father will not approve of her dancing with a boy and not just any boy but Nivedya, who he disliked since the start. She also doubted herself dancing with Nivedya R. Singh, the boy who for some reason always created a mess in her otherwise peaceful life.

Nivedya didn't react to the news and told his friends, "Guys, I have always performed for the school. It's not my first time."

"I have also been the main performer at my school functions, always." Nimrit countered Nivedya's statement.

"See, that's your problem. You think every comment is aimed at you. Sorry to burst your bubble miss but that's not the case here." Nivedya was known for his polite tone, especially towards girls but with Nimrit he found it hard.

Verbal arguments were something Nimrit detested. She was a soft-spoken girl who was having a tough time in the new school. She didn't reply to what Nivedya said and left the skating area.

"Nivi, that was absolutely rude, dude. She is still trying to adapt to the new school and we have not been very friendly with her. I know she was partly responsible too but she accepted her fault. She is a very sweet girl and a great friend, just like you are. I think you should apologise to her." Aarfa scolded Nivedya and sided with Nimrit.

Nivedya picked up his bag and left without saying anything. He couldn't make up his mind whether to apologise or not. He hated the fact that Nimrit had so much air around her, and tried to prove she was superior to the rest of the class. He felt Aarfa and others were smitten by Nimrit's talents.

Nivedya didn't discuss the events of the day with Rose as he did every day. Rose could see something was bothering him but she refrained from probing in. She wanted to give him space and time.

Nivedya informed his parents that he was selected for a dance on roller skates with a classmate who is currently the national skating champion in the under-16 category.

Abhedya advised his brother, "Nivi, brush up on your skill bro. You don't want to fall on the girl."

"I may have not won any championships but I am good too. I won't fall for her." Nivedya cleared his stand to Abhedya.

"Fall for her? Hahaha! I never said "fall for her". I said, "fall on her". But I guess, you have made up your mind. Good luck!" Abhedya pulled Nivedya's cheek and rushed out of the house.

"I didn't mean that." Nivedya clarified to his parents and Rose, who nodded in understanding. He was not sure why and how he mixed up words but he could sense his parents passing glances at each other. He didn't play video games before sleeping like he did every day and closed his eyes to welcome sleep. A girl on roller skates ruled his mind and his dreams that night.

Nimrit told Barkha about her selection and she teased her saying it was a sign that 'Nivedya and Nimrit' were meant to be. She got annoyed and swore to not talk to her ever. Nimrit's day just got worse when her father said he would talk to the principal about her absurd plan of a champion like Nimrit performing with a loafer like Nivedya.

"He is not a loafer, papa. He may have got into a fight with a boy but from what I have heard it was the other boy's fault. Nivi... I mean Nivedya  is... umm... Is liked by all teachers and is a great friend too." Nimrit was scared but still defended Nivedya in front of her father.

"Is he your friend too?" Nimrit's father questioned her and she nodded a big no.

Nimrit's mother reasoned with her father, "What is your problem, Amber? She studies in a co-ed school. She will make male friends. What's the harm? Don't we have friends from the opposite gender?"

"I am not saying she can't have or make male friends. Just not that boy. His father is on my investigation list." Amber's last statement left no scope for any argument. His investigation list was something no one could mess with.

Nimrit was disappointed so she decided to call Barkha after debating in her mind whether she should or not.
"It was my chance to show my talent to the school," Nimrit sounded low and defeated.

"You can always pick a new partner though I am not sure he will be as interesting as, Nivedya." Barkha giggled at her remark.

"Oh! There are so many boys in the school who are better than him." Nimrit told her thinking about other options.

"Enlighten my soul! Coz from day one, you have only told me about him. Nimrit, just relax. We know how uncle is. If he has made up his mind he dislikes him, he won't change his opinion easily. So... it's better you stay away from him." Barkha suggested her and they disconnected the call after a little more counselling.

Nimrit was in no mood of going to school. She knew her father will talk to the principal and her performance will either get cancelled or she will perform with someone else. That would mean answering questions from the class and they would boycott her again. If the competition was between Nivedya and her, and the basis was friendship, she knew she would lose.

"Shakti, did you even think before proposing a dance of Nimrit with that loafer?" Nimrit's father questioned the principal's decision.

"Amber, firstly, I won't tolerate you calling my student "loafer" and Nivi is a synonym for a  perfect gentleman. Secondly, Nimrit's skill can only be matched by Nivedya. He is a good skater too. I think they will make a good pair." The principal explained to Amber who huffed like an angry bull.

Nimrit's cheek heated up when the principal said "good pair". Nivedya was absolutely gorgeous and any girl would fall for him. Nimrit shrugged her thoughts and concentrated on the debate between her principal and her father. She missed a part of the conversation because she was busy analysing Nivedya. She knew her father was exaggerating the matter but she couldn't blame his insecurities. He had reasons, valid ones.

"Amber- Amber- Just shut up and listen to me." The principal scolded her friend, an insecure father.
Once Amber was quiet she revealed, "Nivedya fought with the boy the other day because he was... well, teasing a girl who stained her skirt with a red spot. The girl was just in the sixth standard and got her period for the first time. She got scared and started to cry. Nivedya saw the scene and first, he gave his blazer to the girl then tackled the boy, who I must add was a senior. You know boys in higher classes take these things on their reputation and the other boy, Madhav pushed Nivi. What Nivi did was... you know, in retaliation.
Amber, Nimrit is like my daughter too. You think I will do anything that is not good for her. The centenary year is going to be a big event and lots of renowned personalities will be invited. I think it will be a huge achievement for Nimrit." Shakti narrated the reason behind Nivedya hitting Madhav and Nimrit was shocked to learn the truth.

Nivedya was surely a boy with high morals. She misunderstood him and had not behaved well with him.

"Okay, Shakti, trusting what you said was what happened, I think I can give the boy a chance. But, Nimrit there is no need to get friendly with him." Amber warned Nimrit and left the office.

Nimrit came back to her class and took a seat in the last row today because she planned to observe Nivedya with a new perspective.

"Nimrit, Nimrit... Where are you lost? I called you twice. What's the answer to question five?" Nimrit's teacher asked her. 

Nimrit saw her blank notebook and said, "Sorry ma'am. I don't know."

Some of the boys giggled at Nimrit's answer.

"There is no question five, Nimrit. Pay attention." The teacher instructed Nimrit and she exhaled heavily.

What was wrong with her? What Nivedya did was a good deed but what he was doing with her was not good. He was creating chaos in her life, in ways more than one. She closed her eyes and ordered her brain to focus. The brain disobeyed and focused back on Nivedya.
Nimrit dodged the concerned questions of her 'female' friends about her diverted attention. She had no answers or she did not want to answer, she couldn't decide.

The school was over for all but Nivedya and Nimrit were asked to stay back for practice. Nimrit maintained a distance from Nivedya. She didn't want her brain to mess up the situation further.
Nimrit's unusual behavior confused Nivedya and he ditched the idea of apologising to her for the day before.

The skating teacher warned Nimrit and Nivedya, "First of all I need you both to clear your differences before we start preparing for the dance. A little birdy whispered to me about your showdown."

"It was nothing major, sir. Just a casual squabble." Nimrit told the teacher candidly, and he smiled. Nivedya slapped his forehead making Nimrit furrow her brows.

"I just trapped you. The way you were coming with at least a ten-arm gap between you two, I figured there is an issue and voila you just proved me  correct." The teacher laughed at the teenagers standing in front of him. "Alright, I will show you what we are planning." The teacher took out his phone and played a video but Nimrit couldn't see properly because she refrained from standing close to Nivedya.
"Nimrit come closer." The teacher told her so she shifted an inch closer.

Nivedya was amused at how Nimrit still smelled so fresh. A hectic day at school made him stink like a pig, but the girl standing next to him smelled like fresh mint. He got conscious of his body odour and planned to use his brother's Gucci Guilty intense from tomorrow.

"It's very complicated sir," Nimrit said after the video was over. Nivedya regretted being lost in the minty aroma. He didn't see the video to comment, but if a champion like Nimrit was finding it complicated it sure must have been.

"Yes sir, it's so... Tough." Nivedya gave his important opinion.

"Tough? No. Complicated? Yes. But with practice, we can do it. So, let's not waste time and start with the basics." The teacher asked them to wear their skates and do basic exercises. They were just doing rounds at a slow, medium, and then fast pace. Nimrit realised Nivedya was indeed a good skater. He had skill and caliber. The teacher announced a break and Nivedya and Nimrit sat on the bench. Nimrit drank water from her bottle but Nivedya's bottle was empty. Nimrit forwarded her bottle and as surprised as Nivedya was to see Nimrit offering him something, he drank water.

Water is not tasteless. Whatever the teachers taught him to date was wrong. The water he was drinking was more tasteful than any drink he ever had.

"Thanks." Nivedya passed the bottle and the teacher whistled for them to restart. After a few more rounds they left for home. No byes were exchanged but at least no arguments were exchanged. What was exchanged was 'Water' and hope that they could be amicable with each other.

Nimrit narrated the events of the day and the reason for the fight between Nivedya and Madhav to Brakha.

"Nimrit, if all boys become so considerate, the world will be a better place to live. Go and hug him from my side." Barkha was in awe of the boy who protected a girl when she needed support. After a little more chit-chat  Nimrit slept with a smile on her face.

Nivedya drank water as soon as he reached his house. Why did it not taste sweet? He checked the water tanks, the purifier, and all the sources of water supply in his house.

"Abhey, I think the water department is faulty. The water is not sweet in our house. But the one I drank from my classmate's bottle was so good. I felt like I was drinking nectar." Nivedya asserted after sipping another glass of water.

"Was it a girl who shared water with you?" Abhedya questioned innocently and Nivedya nodded in yes.
"That is why it was sweet." Abhedya elbowed his brother.

"How do you know? You and your friends don't drink water. You share "drinks". I doubt you have ever shared plain water with anyone." Nivedya taunted his brother drinking yet another glass of water.

"I have. And that girl is... that girl was..." Abhedya left the sentence incomplete and came out of the room and announced to himself "that girl was an elixir, my elixir."

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Dear Readers
Do you think Nivedya and Nimrit can be amicable with each other? Will skating practices change their relationship?
If  you are curious to know Abhedya and his elixir's story, read Twists Twirls Perils and Pearls. It is a saga of love between two childhood sweethearts. Find the story on the profile of @dramaticaurora.

Stay hooked!
Happy Reading