Life is woven with threads of meetings and departures; each has its significance and its unique hue.

Rudra and Nandini's faces fell but they knew it was time. Silence filled in the house of Singhs but it was something they knew would happen from the start yet they were just not prepared for it.

Nimrit gave a very unique flipbook to Nandini and Rudra as a parting gift, in which she created caricatures of them depicting their love story.

"Oh! My God! This is just amazing. When did you make this? How did you know about our story? This is so special, Nimrit. Thank you!" Nandini was in awe of the book and engulfed Nimrit in a warm hug. "I am going to miss you so much that I cannot define it in words. You are special Nimrit. So so special. I bless you with your choicest desires."

Rudra was admiring the book and the beautiful bond his wife shared with a girl who was just a guest in their house but became an inseparable part of their lives. Out of other things, he was proud of his son's choice of sweethearts.

While Abhedya was denying and accepting his feelings for Swarnima because of the brooding mysteries that unfolded daily in their lives, Nivedya's love was an open secret that everyone knew and was happy about.

Nandini gave Nimrit a velvet pouch and said, "This is for you, darling."

"Aunty! You cannot be serious. I cannot accept this. It's like, you are giving me your treasure." Nimrit gave the pouch back to Nandini and Rudra was curious to see what was in it.

Nandini slid a chain-like bracelet into Nimrit's hand which had a charm 'N' hanging from it. She admired how the bracelet looked on Nimrit's delicate hand, and remarked, "If it belongs to anyone it is you. I know you will keep it safe and trust me, it brings luck."

Nimrit denied taking the bracelet Rudra gifted to Nandini when Nivedya was born but after a lot of persuasion she accepted it with love. "I feel like I robbed you," Nimrit said playing with the bracelet in her hand.

"You did. You robbed our love, our peace. The thought of an empty house is already making me gloomy. Visit us often Nimrit. We love you like our own." Nandini kissed Nimrit's crown and hugged her tightly.

Nimrit departed alongside Rudra for her home, an air of melancholy clinging to her. Concealing her tears, she delicately brushed them away.

"Aye, girl. You are making me emotional too. Come here now." Rudra offered Nimrit his shoulder to cry on and at that moment he felt that if Swarnima grew up with them, then probably she would have been a softer version of Nimrit. Both of them were so alike.

Rudra waited till Nimrit went inside her house and left signalling a guard to keep an eye around. He wanted nothing to harm her.

The moment Nimrit entered her house a familiar smell welcomed her. Even though Nivedya's house and family members were welcoming but there was something about your own house. Home is home for a reason.

Nimrit quickly mopped the house and started decorating their little abode. She knew her mother still couldn't walk properly so she shifted the bed closer to the bathroom. She didn't know how to cook properly so, she prepared basic cheese sandwiches and set them on the table.

When the bell rang Nimrit ran to open the door. Amber hugged Nimrit as if his life depended on the hug.

"Forgotten the broken bone lady, already?" Reet remarked to gain attention but Nimrit was sad to see her mother in bandages. She hugged her mother lightly, careful enough to not hurt her.

Nimrit and Amber helped Reet enter the house and they were happy to see their little home decorated with balloons and flowers.

Daughters were a blessing from above and the Khannas were happy to be blessed with an angel like Nimrit.

Reet and Amber never tasted anything better than the sandwiches made by Nimrit and they appreciated her little efforts. The entire night Nimrit kept talking to her father. They discussed her stay with the Singhs and the days at the hospital.

Nivedya was enjoying his trip as much as he was missing Nimrit. He purposefully didn't call her even after Vibhor Sir permitted him to call home because he wanted to test their bond and see how well they coped with separation. Young teenagers usually test their bond without any need or reason.

During the time Nimrit was at his house, most of the days they fought but those fights only made them understand each other better. He couldn't forget Nimrit's confession and her kisses. Within her, resided a complexity akin to a bag of assorted firecrackers, each with the potential to burst forth in a multitude of intricate patterns.

Nivedya avoided Janice's advances because he remembered Nimrit's threat, "If you can, I can too." The thought of any boy coming close to her and kissing her cheek like Janice did, made his blood boil. Therefore, he decided to respect the pact. 

Nivedya for the first time was happy that the trip ended because he was dying to reach home. He was overly excited and that didn't go unnoticed by his friends.

You know you have grown up when you want to go to school on a Sunday because there is someone you can see only at school.

When Nivedya reached home, Nandini and Rudra were ready to take him to the farmhouse to celebrate Abhedya's birthday at midnight. "Dad, can I please see Nimrit first? Just once, please." Nivedya begged his father but Rudra was very disturbed to agree to his plea so, he denied it. "What's so special about Abhey's twenty-first birthday? You guys are celebrating it like a festival."

"Nivi, after tomorrow your brother will not just be a random citizen of Swarnbhoomi but he will assume the duty he was born for." Rudra tried to explain to Nivedya but he cut him short.

"Oh! Do you mean from tomorrow he will become the protector? Will Nim claim the throne tomorrow? Wow! I will talk to Nimrit over a call and tell her I will meet her later. Where is Abhey's birthday party tomorrow? I am sure it must be a grand affair. Can I call my friends? Please. Please."

"Keep quiet Nivi. Just."

Nandini rubbed her hand on Rudra's arm to calm him down and requested Nivedya, "Nivi, your dad is feeling very pressured right now so, can we answer your questions later?"

"Yes of course. Sorry, Dad." Nivedya didn't know what was making his parents anxious but he was going to be strong and act mature for them.

The midnight celebrations for Abhedya's birthday were simple with just the Singh and Raichand families along with Swarnima. Nivedya momentarily forgot Nimrit amidst his brothers and family. He told Swarnima he couldn't wait to see her on the throne and how proud he was of her. But Swarnima's expressions were similar to Rudra's when he told him he was excited to see Swarnima sit on the throne. He wondered if there was more to the story than he was told.

The tiredness of travelling and the trip made Nivedya sleepy so, he just dropped a message to Nimrit that he was back and missing her.

Amidst the farmhouse breakfast, joyous laughter echoed, and Nivedya couldn't help but take delight in witnessing Abhedya's evident infatuation with Swarnima. To the point where he candidly confessed to not merely stealing glances, but openly admiring her with an unabashed gaze. It was a happy morning and Nivedya was glad to see his brother finally chose the best girl for himself.

While coming back from the farmhouse he decided to meet Nimrit and her mother. He checked his appearance and rang the bell of the house his girl on the wheels lived.

Nivedya was nervous to see Amber at the door but he managed to tell him he was there to visit Reet without fumbling. Amber wanted to act tough and not let Nivedya know that he was okay with his presence in his house and his daughter's life. He didn't want to give them a free pass till the case was solved.

"Reet is resting in the bedroom. You can go without looking here and there," Amber warned him and Nivedya reached Reet's room keeping his eyes on the ground.

He was about to knock on Reet's room but his eyes came out of their socket looking at the girl he yearned to see as the travellers in the desert yearned for water. Nimrit was in a short tank top and the shortest of the shorts one could imagine. She was in her growing stage and Nivedya could swear she was growing from all the right places.

'Not now. Not now.' Nivedya pleaded to his male member but it wasn't in his control.

"Nivi? Please come inside." Reet welcomed Nivedya and he went straight to Reet ignoring Nimrit. He gave her a small hug and a bouquet of fresh flowers. "Thank God, you came. This girl was bugging me." Reet teased her daughter who frowned at her comment.

"I am the girl she is talking about. Know me?" Nimrit stressed the words know me, to register her disapproval of Nivedya ignoring her. He just smiled at her cute complaint for two reasons, one Amber, and two her hot self.

Nimrit thought the least he could do was ask her how she was. But since he didn't she asked him, "How was the trip? Did you enjoy it?"

"I did," Nivedya answered her briefly and asked Reet, "How are you, Aunty? I am sorry, I couldn't visit you at the hospital."

"I am doing fine. You know the complications, son. No one could come to see me and trust me this old man, Amber bored me to no lengths." Reet made fun of Amber when she saw him coming inside the room with a glass of water.

Amber gave some medicines to Reet and checking her temperature, he warned her, "Have these medicines before this boring man turns hostile. Reet please rest. You should not exert yourself."

Amber turned deaf to Reet's protest and she was forced to sleep. Nivedya and Nimrit came out of the room while Amber changed Reet's bandage.

"What is wrong? Are you annoyed? Did I do something?" Nimrit questioned Nivedya as soon as her father closed the door of his room.

"What? No! Why do..." Nivedya looked at Nimrit and regretted it. He certified himself a pervert with the thoughts that ran inside his brain.

"You never called. You overlooked me and sat next to mumma." Nimrit sounded hurt and Nivedya thought it was best, to be honest.

"You look hot."

"Huh?" Nimrit couldn't infer the meaning of Nivedya's words but the conversation of their last date reminded her what he meant and she gulped her saliva in embarrassment.

Nivedya looked behind and asked Nimrit, "Does your house have CCTV?" Nimrit nodded in a "no" and Nivedya gave her a quick peck on her lips.  Nimrit widened her eyes in surprise and Nivedya gave himself full marks for guts.

He kissed his girlfriend at her house, in the presence of her parents. They didn't speak for a few seconds and kept looking at each other.

"Nimrit I am not angry with you. I just avoided you because I saw you after six-seven days and you looked so damn hot. I told you earlier too," Nivedya whispered in Nimrit's ear, "your legs are too sexy to be displayed in front of a jerk like me." Nivedya took a chance and planted a kiss near Nimrit's ear.

A spine-chilling horror movie also couldn't give Nimrit the goosebumps that erupted with a feather-light kiss near her ear. Probably, that was her sweat spot. She got up abruptly to get a glass of water for Nivedya buying time to cool the steamy atmosphere.

She asked him about the trip and Nivedya gave her the highlights. He was sharing the fun things they did and Nimrit had a smile plastered on her face. They sometimes laughed and sometimes just looked at each other like they met for the first time. When Amber opened the room they got conscious but he went to the kitchen without telling them anything.

Nivedya thought it was time for him to leave but Amber told him, "Don't go. Wait for ten minutes."

Nivedya sat down and Nimrit went inside with her father. Nivedya tried to behave but he looked back and he found Nimrit's butt more perfect than any peach he had ever seen. He apologised to God for his deeds but the raging teenage hormones were making him feel things he had never felt.

"Tada!" Nimrit gave a plate of kebabs to Nivedya and he felt guilty because he was happier to see the kebabs than he was to see Nimrit.

"Umm... You didn't have to uncle. I mean you already have so much to do. But thanks." Nivedya didn't wait for Amber's reply and dipped the Kebab in chutney before treating his taste buds. "Mmm! These are just wow!"

"I was apprehensive about this new recipe but since you were here so, I thought why not experiment it on you," Amber remarked sarcastically and that didn't settle well with Nimrit.

"Papa, you cannot be so mean to him. He is someone really special and you have to accept that." Nivedya choked on the kebab he was eating because he wasn't prepared for Nimrit's sudden announcement. Amber left the room warning Nivedya he was watching him with a gesture.

"I am sorry, Papa is... Papa. You eat. Hope you like them." Nivedya was happy that Nimrit defended him but he felt pressured too. He just smiled in response and they resumed talking. Nimrit told him how much she missed him and asked him the reason he never called her.

"I wanted to understand how much we could stay away from each other. You see we are still young and as you said, we don't know what the future holds for us. This was just a small experiment. I am sorry if, I hurt you." Nivedya kept his hand on Nimrit's after looking around for Amber.

Nimrit laughed looking at his scared face and got up from her place.

She sat next to him and told him to not be so afraid of her father. He was just playing tough because he liked his scared face.

Nivedya stopped eating and admired Nimrit's legs which casually touched his while talking. He gave up calling himself a pervert, a jerk and a creep because he just felt those things for the girl he loved and that was acceptable.

All of a sudden Nivedya announced, "I love you, Nimrit." The abrupt confession stopped Nimrit from speaking and she looked into his eyes. Drawing close to each other inadvertently their lips were just an inch apart when the loud ring on the old green-coloured landline telephone, made them aware of their positions. Smiles of realisation and desperation on the face of the teenagers was pure and organic.

Nimrit got up to pick up the phone but Amber shouted, "Don't pick up the phone." He ran and pushed her away from the phone. Amber's mobile rang in his pocket and he stared at the number with fire blazing in his eyes. The phone stopped ringing and after a while, his mobile stopped too.

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Dear Readers

Nivedya's physical attraction is at its pinnacle and he feels no reason to be ashamed of his feelings.

To know who was calling Amber, wait for the next update.

Stay Hooked!

Lots of love!