Words spoken in the spur of the moment are often those deepest thoughts one never wants to surface.

After Amber left the area Rudra and Randeep still stood there speechless. "Is he for real?" Rudra questioned Randeep who had no answer. "He knows the name of our heir and is still keeping the information to himself? I mean, who hides such million-dollar information? I just hope he stays true to what he said. I cannot let anything happen to our princess."

"I place my money on this man's word, Rudra. He and I both work for our respective governments and I can tell when a man is not loyal. He is way too honest for his good. I don't know how he is surviving considering it's three months since he last got his salary and the cost of living index in Swarnbhoomi is relatively higher. He could earn millions if he leaks the name of the heir of Swarnbhoomi. He has earned my respect. He cracked the name of our heir in such a short period? Bloody rascal is a genius."

Nimrit felt proud and relieved hearing Randeep's words. She always considered her parents next to God and incidents like these made her belief firm.

"Nivi, is dating this man's daughter?" Randeep's question made Nivedya imbalanced and he hit his hand on the side table. He wasn't prepared for the discussion of his love life after an intense conversation.

"Nivi is totally crazy about her buddy. I just hope these things don't get in between them. They look cute together. Though that girl, Nimrit is pretty smart for my khota." Rudra and Randeep laughed and left the ground sitting in their respective cars.

Nivedya and Nimrit became conscious after the conversation and without exchanging words came out of the cottage. They walked to the car and Nivedya gave Nimrit's address to the driver. "I am sorry for whatever happened Nimrit. Can we pretend what we saw between our fathers never happened or we never saw it?" Nimrit didn't answer and Nivedya didn't pester her too.

Nimrit's house arrived and before getting down she told Nivedya, "Our firsts don't deserve perfection and efforts. So, I guess what happens impromptu between us, is better than any planning. Thank you for the flowers but I will not be able to take all of them."

She took one rose from the bouquet and kept it in her purse. She waved bye to Nivedya who was still dreaming about his spoilt plans, the missed kiss and whatever that could follow.

When he reached his house, the elders were having fun over some conversation and he found it hard to believe how his father and phuphu transitioned from angry men to happy family men, so quickly. He greeted everyone and sat next to his mother. They asked him about his dinner with friends and Pri was very curious to know about his love life. He felt shy to discuss everything openly but he finally told them he shared a special bond with Nimrit.

"Oh! My heart is so happy. She is so cute and understanding. She makes me feel, of how Nim could be if grew under normal circumstances." Nandini completed her sentence but her voice dropped at the end.

Before Nivedya could pop the questions about Swarnima and her circumstances, Nandini briefed him, "Nivi, you know Nim's parents were attacked but she was saved by our ex-queen. The queen gave her the best of education but at home. She was homeschooled her entire life and only subjects that would help her in engineering were taught to her. Two months in a year was all she got to do other activities she liked. She was trained in Mixed martial arts, boxing, skill war and other specialisation for around six hours daily. She wasn't allowed to go out or make any friends for security reasons. These are just few things that I am telling you. Her life was tough, more than we can even think of. They say it was essential to keep her safe and prepare her to rule our state. Probably. Probably not?"

Rudra suggested,"Nivi, Nimrit's father knows Swarnima is the heir to the throne. He may or may not tell Nimrit about it. If he does, and Nimrit asks you about it, state only the basic things you know. If he doesn't, continue your act of unawareness."

Nivedya wanted to ask his father about the showdown with Nimrit's father but he couldn't find an excuse for his presence in a deserted cottage. So, he preferred to keep quiet. He just wished it doesn't affect his relationship with Nimrit.

"Dad, can I request one thing?" Nivedya asked Rudra and he motioned him to proceed. "Dad, I don't want your differences to create a difference in our relationship."

"Then build your relation so strong that nothing can shake its walls. I know family is your priority but she has nothing to do with all this. Her father is doing his duty and might I add, with so much sincerity that it's almost unbelievable." Nivedya started making plans in his head about strengthening his relation after Randeep's suggestion.

"Nivi, come with me. These oldies are too boring. Give me juicy gossip. So, have you guys kissed?" Pri raised her brows and asked him excitedly rubbing her palms.

"The world is against us kissing. Damn!" Nivedya bit his tongue and closed his eyes. Pri trapped him and he fell into it.

"Nivi, I think you both are pretty small for all this. Just... maintain limits." Nandini warned him strictly and Pri gestured him to not listen to her.

Nivedya tried to cover up as best as he could, "Mom, it's not like kissing, kissing. We don't. I mean... We haven't. We have never gone on a date alone too. School is the only place we meet and it's covered under CCTV, you know."

"So, if you had a chance to meet her alone or the school was not under CCTV surveillance, you would have kissed her?" Pri's question was a googly Nivedya couldn't duck.

He remained quiet because he didn't want to lie. Pri ruffled his hair with love and explained to him, "it's okay to want to kiss someone you love. I know it's love in your case. It's written all over your face. Nivi, we live in a society where touching itself is considered taboo, kissing is only for married couples. In reality, it's impossible to restrict yourself to just admiring them from afar, if it's mutual. So, if you feel the urge to kiss her, tell her. Trust me the blush on her face will be so satisfying to you. Yes, you may not have space to kiss but she is your miss."

"Pri, he is just fourteen. Spare him." Randeep knew his wife was not wrong but her theories were not meant for the normal world.

"Nivi, your bhui is not wrong but we need to understand society as well. Just, don't rush and firstly build your relation strong." Rudra put a full stop to the discussion and Nivedya left for his room with varied thoughts on his mind.

Nimrit prayed to God for keeping her father safe. The picture of Rudra and Amber pointing guns at each other shook her to the core. She wanted to hug her father but he understood every movement and emotion of her and the last thing she wanted was to trouble him with her worries. To suffice that she hugged her mother and asked her to sleep with her until she falls asleep. Reet gave in to her demand and Nimrit found solace in her mother's embrace.

Nimrit and Nivedya behaved normally with each other but they knew their spark was missing. None were ready to break the ice. Nivedya was happy Nimrit was with him and he felt with time, everything would be back to normal. But Nimrit was finding it hard to continue the act, that all was okay. After debating in her mind about all pros and cons for a few days she pulled Nivedya into the canteen storeroom.

"I can't do this." Four words from Nimrit scared Nivedya more than watching the Conjuring.

"Don't say that Nimrit. I have spoken to my dad and phuphu and they are totally in awe of your father. They think very highly of him. That day they were just baffled by the information your father had and they feared he might leak it. Just don't leave me Nimrit. I swear we will sort this out. Just don't leave me, please." Nivedya was clasping Nimrit's hands tightly and his eyes were desperate. Nimrit looked at him for a few seconds before wrapping her arms around him tightly.

"Khota! I was not talking about leaving you. How can I? You are my life. I would rather die than walk away from you." Nimrit tightened her grip around him when Nivedya didn't hug her back. She put her palm on his cheek and explained to him, "I was missing us and could not pretend that all was okay when it was not. Nivi, look at me."

Nimrit requested and Nivedya looked into her soft eyes. "I think we should stop behaving as if what happened that night did not change things between us because, for me, it did. I cannot just take the image of our fathers holding guns at each other out of my mind. We both love our fathers and they are stubborn heads when it comes to their duties. But I want to assure you that my father will never leak any secrets that will create unrest in any part of this nation. So, if you could tell your father and phuphu to give the benefit of trust to my father and not harm him."

"Nimrit, they would never harm anyone. I have told you before too. What do you think of them? They are not murderers." Nivedya's tone was a little defensive and he did not like Nimrit's analysis.

"I am not saying that. I am just pitching for my father. I was so scared to see your father pointing a gun at him and then punching him. It's... I am just requesting you to tell them that my father..."

"Even your father was pointing a gun at my father. He must have said something to get a punch. My father is a black belt holder in karate and if your father just got a punch, then that was probably because you're my girlfriend. My father and phuphu know very well what they need to do and what not." Nivedya was losing his calm and so was Nimrit.

"I am sure they know karate but my father knows too. He is brilliant at his job and that scares your family. I do not know what is the need to be so secretive about the heir who is not even bothered about the state." Nimrit spoke what was on her mind.

"What do you know about the heir, huh? Do you have any idea about their sacrifices? No? Then just don't comment." Nivedya realised at that moment how deeply he was attached to Swarnima and his state. He wanted to defend her even at the cost of fighting with Nimrit.

Nimrit didn't like Nivedya's attitude and asked him, "Why are you talking like that to me? I just shared my worries with you and wanted to normalise the invisible issues between us. Clearly, you do not have ears for my concern and resolving the issue is not what you desire."

"I don't want to resolve or you want to twist things? You want to fight with me so that I blurt out some critical information and you can help your father. He is not getting his salary and things must be difficult for you guys so, you must have thought to help him. Was that your plan?"

Nimrit looked at Nivedya in amusement. His words were like properly aimed daggers. "Yes, that was the plan. Damn! You are a genius, you cracked it. I was with you because I wanted to get "critical information" from you, to pass on to my father."
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Dear Readers
They say words said in anger are the deepest thoughts one harbour inside them. Did Nivedya actually mean that Nimrit wanted crucial information from him or he just said it in fury? It will change things between them but how, wait until the next chapter.
Teaser- A beautiful phase of their love story is going to start from here on.

Stay hooked!
Lots of love!