Surprise guests can either bring a smile or a frown to your face.
How long that expression lasts depends upon your equation with the guest.

Nimrit was standing in her regular jeans, and t-shirt, talking to his father while he was trying to explain something to her. Nivedya rubbed his eyes to get a clear view that was it actually Nimrit at his house? Was she there because he refused to talk on her behalf so she decided to take the matter into her hands? No way would he tolerate his father answering his stupid girlfriend.

He reached where Rudra and Nimrit were standing and heard his father saying, "Please understand, Nimrit. Trust me. Everyone will be safe in this adjustment."

"Why are you here?" Nivedya asked rudely to Nimrit who was lost in looking at him.

"Is that the way to talk to someone, Nivi?" Rudra scolded Nivedya and turned to comfort Nimrit. But what he saw made him go 'aww' because in Nimrit's eyes, he saw a sense of relief on seeing Nivedya.

"She always says that to me when I go to her place. Just giving her a dose of her medicine." Nivedya answered Rudra, but his eyes never left Nimrit's.

He took her to a side leaving Rudra standing alone in the large living room. "Why are you here? Didn't I tell you my father and phuphu won't hurt anyone unnecessarily? Get that in your thick head. My father doesn't owe you any explanations. Don't question him." Nimrit looked at him with a blank expression and not understanding what he was saying.

Nandini called everyone for dinner and Rudra put his hand on Nimrit's shoulder gesturing for her to come. She walked with him, leaving behind Nivedya who joined them after Nandini called him again.

A butler served them chicken soup and bread, and they ate it in silence. Nivedya was tapping his foot continuously as he didn't know the reason Nimrit was at his house. Therefore, he questioned again, "Why is she here? Her father won't appreciate her coming here. He's too prejudiced towards me."

"Nivi, what is wrong with you? You don't talk like that. She is here with her parent's permission. She will be staying with us for a week or so. Her... her..." Rudra paused before saying further. He didn't want to repeat the horrid incident that happened with Nimrit's family.

"My mother was returning from work when she met with an accident. She was severely injured and might have to undergo a few surgeries. My father will have to stay with her at the hospital. So, Rudra uncle and Nandini aunty were kind enough to take me in with them." Nimrit narrated the story to Nivedya without a single tear or despair in her voice.

"I... I... Didn't know. You could have called me..." Nivedya stopped saying further because Rudra gestured him to not say anything. Nimrit was putting on a brave face, but they could feel she was miserable from within.

Dinner arrived and Nandini served Nimrit with love, but she held her hand and said, "Thank you, aunty. I can manage on my own."

Nandini tried to make Nimrit feel welcomed so she put the curry on her plate and asserted with love, "I know you can, but I want to. Besides, I know you are your father's princess and princesses should be treated, well."

Nimrit fisted her palm on being addressed as "princess", but she knew she could not react as per her heart's choice. She took the serving spoon from Nandini's hand and put a little curry on her plate and asserted in the similar tone, "Princesses should know how to treat well, too."

Nandini and Rudra were bowled over by Nimrit's reply. Their eyes held adoration for the girl whose mother was in a hospital bed, but she didn't forget her manners. Nandini touched Nimrit's cheek with love, and they resumed eating in silence.

Nivedya was staring at Nimrit intently so, Rudra cleared his throat to gain his attention but he was asleep at the switch. Rudra hit his leg from under the table and shook him. "Nivi, start eating." He kept his instruction short and Nivedya followed it.

Nandini gave a small tour of the house to Nimrit before showing her, her new room. Nimrit widened her eyes and exclaimed, "This is so big that I could possibly get lost here. You have decorated your entire house so aesthetically, aunty."

"Thanks, Nimrit. It's just one of the dreams every woman has. Decorating her house as per her liking and comfort of her family members." Nandini sat on the bed and creased the already perfect bedsheet.

"In our house, papa does all that. Mumma is just too lazy. Papa has spoilt us..." Nimrit stopped abruptly and unzipped her bag to divert her attention.

"Nimrit, it's okay to miss your parents and think about them. Don't pent up your feelings, hon."

"What do I do? Papa told me to be strong and... I am missing them terribly." Nimrit could not hide the distress in her tone.

Nandini got up to comfort Nimrit when Nivedya came inside Nimrit's new room which was two rooms away from his. He saw her forlorn face and commented, "Only strong people can cry and exhibit their feelings. Weak hide them under fake emotions."

Nimrit didn't reply to him and continued to set her clothes. "Are you still not going to talk and avoid me?" Nimrit looked at him with astonishment because Nandini was in the room and Nivedya was bringing up their fight in front of her.

"It is not like that. I am... umm... busy. We will talk tomorrow. Goodnight." Nimrit avoided looking at him and Nandini gestured Nivedya to not probe in.

He argued non-verbally, but Nandini's death stare made him quiet. He sprawled on Nimrit's bed and waited for her to finish arranging her things.

"How many books have you brought? You are not going to stay here, forever, are you? Not that I mind but I should know." Nivedya was surfing his phone and talking casually not realising his words made someone blush visibly.

Nandini knew her sons had the genes of their father who never shied away from saying anything in front of anyone. To save Nimrit from feeling embarrassed she said, "Alright, Nivi, time for bed. Nimrit if you need anything, just buzz on the intercom. The list of numbers is on the side. I hope you are comfortable sleeping alone?"

"I can stay with her, or she can stay in my room. I can handle the ghosts, well." Nivedya was aimlessly tapping his phone while talking in between and Nimrit wanted to hit him for his thoughtless talks. Nandini took Nivedya's phone, and he shouted, "mom! I was about to cross the stage. How could you?"

"Watch your tone, Nivi. Now, let me brief you on some ground rules while Nimrit is here. You will not come to her room without knocking and will not disturb her unnecessarily. Please do your best to make her feel comfortable. Only if she wants, you can play or study or do stuff she wants to. No. Don't make those faces. She has the right to choose, and you don't, because I have said so. Am I clear?" Nandini knew Nivedya and Nimrit shared a special bond, and she had promised Nimrit's father that she will ensure the kids behaved.

Nandini felt Amber's concern was understandable beacuse if she could feel sceptical about letting Swarnima stay at the farmhouse with her nephews and her son, Nimrit's father was sending his daughter away to a family he didn't know much about.

Nivedya took his phone back and shut the room door loudly. He wanted to settle things with Nimrit, and comfort her, but she didn't respond to his jokes or remarks.

"Don't mind him, sweetheart. He is..."

"Khota!" Nimrit completed Nandini's statement, and they shared a small laugh. "Aunty, I hope you all know what you are doing. I am just so confused." Nandini kissed Nimrit's forehead with love and assured her all will be well.

Nimrit changed her clothes and slept with the lights on. She was scared and missed her parents. She prayed for their well-being and hugged a pillow. Her thoughts travelled to Nivedya who was just two rooms away from her but her heart was so distant from him. She was disappointed with his behaviour and didn't want to give him the benefit of owning her heart, this time. Though she knew she would fail terribly in the task.

The room was huge with modern high-tech facilities. The bathroom spoke of luxury and the furniture was classy mahogany. The window of the room opened to an enormous stretch of lush green garden and colourful roses. The view was so serene and spectacular that Nimrit forgot her worries for a while.

She was enjoying the cold morning breeze when her eyes fell on a tall figure running with headphones and a fitness band tied on his right arm. Nivedya was dressed in black shorts and ganji making Nimrit feel slightly aroused. She wanted to fight her attraction towards him, but she failed miserably because she loved him hopelessly.

She didn't cry when her mother met with the accident or when she was kidnapped but her love for Nivedya blurred her view making her hate herself. How could a boy who always misunderstood her and fought with her, churn her emotions so rapidly?

The intercom buzzed and Nimrit jerked because she wasn't used to it. She picked up the receiver and with a shaky voice answered, "Hello!"

"I know I look damn hot but if you keep staring at me, you will get late for school and I will lose my concentration." Nivedya hung up the call without waiting for Nimrit's reply. He knew he had done his bit of teasing her, but little did he know he made her cry even more.

Nimrit's emotions were all over the place, and she couldn't gather herself. To fight with the one you love is easier than fighting with the love you feel for them.

Nimrit checked the time and quickly took a bath. She dressed for school, packed her bag and headed downstairs. Nandini had already called to tell her they were waiting for her at the breakfast.

Nimrit greeted Rudra and Nandini and sat on an empty chair. The butler served a variety of breakfast ranging from sandwiches to parathas, bacon, and pancakes to name a few dishes. Nimrit was answering Nandini's questions, if she had any problem or if she was comfortable but her eyes were secretly searching for Nivedya who had yet not arrived.

Nimrit thought he probably ate in his room but an energetic, "Good morning!" greeting brightened her day. The boy she hated to love was standing in all his magnificent glory, flashing his sparkling white teeth.

"You are late. Now hurry up."

"My attention was diverted while exercising so I didn't realise the time," Nivedya explained to his mother and glanced at Nimrit but his comment didn't bring any change in her. He decided to break the ice and asked her, "you will come on my bus?"

"Do I have a better option?" Nimrit's savage reply made Nivedya clench his teeth and his parents tried not to laugh.

"I could drop you, Nimrit. Trust me I am better company than this, khota." Rudra offered maintaining a stoic face stressing the word 'khota', but Nimrit smiled and nodded in a 'no'. "On a serious note, Nivi when your friends ask you why is Nimrit staying at our place just tell them because her parents are out of town for some important work and Reet trusted Nandini enough to leave her daughter with her. You will not say a word more than what is being told to you. Got it?"

Nivedya didn't reply to his father and continued eating his food. So he repeated and Nivedya gave him a "yeah! Whatever" reaction.

The bus honked and Nimrit and Nivedya quickly picked their bags. "Bye, mom! Bye, dad!" Nivedya kissed his parent's bye as a daily habit.

"Bye, mum... umm... Bye, Aunty! Bye, Uncle! Hope you have a wonderful day." Nimrit corrected herself from calling Nandini "mummy" and it pained everyone's heart but they kept quiet and wished the kids good luck.

Everyone in the bus were shocked to see Nimrit and Nivedya come together. Nimrit was dreading the moment but she knew they had to face it. Most of the kids found Nimrit's story valid and she breathed in relief.

Collin sat next to Nivedya and in a language, only the two best friends could understand conversed. Nimrit could not understand what exactly they were talking but the blush on Nivedya's face gave her an idea of what the slimes must be talking about.

At school, everyone teased the couple and told them it was their golden chance to concrete their relationship with love and understanding, but Collin suggested practising other things lovers did.

He started showing off his newly acquired knowledge given to him by his elder cousin, but he was asked to keep quiet and not create awkwardness between the guest and the host.

Nimrit waited for Nivedya to ask if she was fine but he never did and just like that, the last bell for the day at the school, rang. Nimrit sat on her new school bus to her new home. If it wasn't for her father's helplessness she would have never stayed at Nivedya's house. She felt as if she didn't know him at all.

"Come, our house has arrived." Nimrit's chain of thoughts broke when Nivedya addressed his house as theirs, making her feel emotional.

Walking the long road that led to the residential part of his house, Nivedya followed his routine of turning the mouth of sprinklers in an opposite direction making the gardener wet. Nimrit smiled at the sight, but she missed talking to him. He wasn't talking to her even like a normal classmate. She knew something was going on in his head because it wasn't his nature. And she was correct because Nivedya barged into her room before she could close the door.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Readers
A very interesting part of the story has started. Nimrit is a guest at Nivedya'shouse but they are fighting rather than making most of their time. Will they sort out their differences or will they grow further? Read and find out!

Stay hooked!
Lots of love!