In universe where it's just us!

Nivedya clapped his hands and the glass room was illuminated with fairy lights. "Wow!" To say, Nimrit was impressed would be an understatement. She twirled with glee making Nivedya want to embrace her tightly in his arms. "This is so beautiful," she exclaimed with wonderment in her kohled eyes.

Nivedya wanted to say the cliched line 'not as much as you' but he remembered Aadya's advice to "be original", so he kept quiet and admired the gorgeous face of the girl who called him love.

He made Nimrit sit on a recliner chair and occupied the seat next to her. He took special permission from his father and called the andro-humanoid "Gene".

"Hello, gorgeous. I am Genesis, Gene for short. Nice meeting you." Gene shook hands with Nimrit who was spellbound to see a robot for the first time. "Uh! Don't look at me like Nivi looks at you when you exercise."

Nimrit couldn't understand the reference the robot used and Nivedya couldn't give it a chance to explain. He cut it short and asked it to set the projector screen. Genesis used her laser vision and the glass wall was converted into a projector screen. Nimrit was amazed at the high-tech date she was at.

"Dear Nimrit, this one is for you..." The message appeared on the screen and Nimrit held a cushion close to her preparing herself to see the most beautiful video of her life.

A series of pictures of Nimrit that Nivedya captured with and without her permission flashed on the screen. The photographs were beautiful, silly, and candid but the background music was the soul-soothing sound of Nivedya's flute. There was also a video of Nimrit enacting as Nivedya in front of the triple-A. Nimrit was shocked to see the video because they were making fun of the boys and acting like them. She covered her eyes with embarrassment and Nivedya just wanted to gobble up the cute marshmallow in front of him.

The video ended with pictures of them in the glass room. They had made funny boomerangs, captured food falling from the mouth, and also a moment when they were lost in the eyes of each other.

"I love you, Nimrit like no simile or metaphor could ever describe." The sound of the flute faded with the last message that popped on the screen and gradually the dark room was illuminated once again.

Nimrit was silent, falling short of words to describe her feelings for the most knockout video she had ever seen. She jumped off her chair and hugged Nivedya as tightly as she could. He reciprocated the hug with equal fervour. The barren lands were filled with a fresh rainshower of love and devotion.

In moments of amor, emotions transition quickly. Nimrit was feeling overwhelmed after watching the video but soon the strong smell of Nivedya's perfume hit her nostrils and she drowned in its fragrance. The hug was no longer tight but loose. Nimrit's hands felt the strong shoulder blades of her boyfriend which according to her was so sexy. Nivedya had put his heart into making the video and he felt accomplished with the rewarding hug.

"Dinner time, sweethearts." Gene broke the moment and set the dinner for them.

Nimrit flinched hearing Gene's voice because she was lost in the ginger-woody aroma of her lover and was not prepared to hear any other voice than his.

"Hey, Gene, don't scare my girlfriend," Nivedya warned the robot and helped Nimrit get up from above him. They sat at the white-coloured rot iron, round two-seater table that had just three items on the menu. Their favourite cheesy pasta, wood-fired pizza, and sandwiches.

Nimrit was hungry and she helped Nivedya serve dinner. Gene was dismissed from duty for the complete privacy the couple required.

Just as Amber wanted it, Nivedya and Nimrit were having dinner like two friends and not lovers. Teenage love is different from adult love. You say things to each other without using any filters and the response is organic too.

Nimrit and Nivedya deserved these beautiful two hours that helped them cement their fortress with better quality. Nivedya clicked pictures of Nimrit using funny filters available on Snapchat and warned he would upload them if she ever fought with him. Nimrit surprised Nivedya taking out her new phone and doing the same.

Nivedya clapped his hands like a toddler because he always wanted Nimrit to get a phone. It was a basic necessity in modern times and would help him contact her whenever they wanted.

He took the liberty and saved his number on her phone with the name 'You' because, "I am the definition of 'love' in your dictionary. Right?" He said with a goofy grin.

"Yes. You are. What name will you save my number?" Nimrit asked Nivedya scrolling her phone.

"Lifeline." Nivedya asserted and Nimrit rolled her eyes.

"Ew! So cheesy. I do not like such names."

Nivedya pulled her close and said, "So, will you like to be addressed as a princess to your prince?"

With eyes spitting fire, Nimrit told Nivedya in a slow, deep warning tone, "Do not ever call me a PRINCESS."

Nimrit's statement didn't settle well with Nivedya. He didn't know why she got so offended with a word, girls normally love themselves to be addressed with.

Nimrit took a deep breath to calm herself and said, "I am sorry. I should not have snapped at you like that. Nivi, I mentioned earlier too, that just like you, I have my share of secrets, and I do not have fond memories attached to being called a princess or any other royal title. I will not lie, but I was upset when I learned that you were a prince but stories with similar plots can have alternate endings. So, I accepted your title with grace and prayed to God that you do not turn into a tyrant." Nivedya chuckled softly at Nimrit's thoughts.
"Be humble, kind, and empathetic Nivi. People will look up to you as their ideal. You will see a change in the way people treat you at school, just do not let all this get in your head."

Nivedya couldn't decipher the reason Nimrit was so touchy about the topic. He wanted to know why all this affected her so differently.

Nimrit could see several questions on Nivedya's face, so she stepped closer to him and took his hand in hers. She rubbed his hand slowly and said, "Thank you for giving me space and not pestering me to share my story with you. It is not that I do not trust you, but these twists in my life are attached to my parents too. I hope you understand."

Nivedya nodded in affirmative and kissed Nimrit's hand to make her believe he understood her point. She trembled with the kiss and smiled like a rosebud in its blossoming stage.

Time flew and soon Nimrit's house arrived. They waved bye to each other with fuzzy hearts. Nimrit had a pump in her walk as she knocked on the door of her house. Nivedya was the zen she sought, and the date helped her achieve it.

Reet fired questions on Nimrit as soon as she entered the house. She wanted to know the details of her daughter's first date. Amber pretended to work, but his concentration was solely on the conversation between Nimrit and Reet.

The scene at Nivedya's house was no different. His brothers abducted him and threatened him to share every detail of his first date. Nivedya thought Swarnima would help him, but she was a lost case since morning because she confessed her love to Abhedya, and they shared their first kiss.

Arya got bored with Nivedya's childish date and asked him directly, "Dude, tell us about the juicy part. Did you guys kiss? As in, a real kiss and not just pecks here and there? Or did something steamy?"

"Arya they are just fourteen. That is the max they should do." Maan wanted to believe what he said was true.

"Abhey was seven when he kissed Nim for the first time. Age is just a number big brother." Arya's comment diverted the attention from Nivedya to Abhedya. Swarnima felt shy and wanted to exit. She knew Arya practised a zero-filter policy just like his mother and would not spare them from his remarks and comments.

Abhedya put his arm around Swarnima's shoulder making her magical eyes go wide in surprise. Their renewed relationship was still new, and she was not used to any PDA. "What? Don't look at me like that. You are my protector only during my work hours but in my leisure hours, you are my girlfriend. So behave like one."

Swarnima was too reserved and shy to reply. She just smiled in response and Maan gestured Abhedya to be patient with her.

Nivedya found it a perfect opportunity and left on the pretext of school the next day. He did a happy dance before sleeping peacefully in his new bed, the mattress of which was made of layers of natural materials like horsehair.

The following day, Nivedya was anxious to go to school. He knew he would not be looked at the same way as before. He was royal to whom everyone bowed their head, and he didn't want to do anything that put his family's name to shame.

As per the protocol, he couldn't travel on public transport and a guard with a gun shall always stay close to him. The moment Niveyda entered the huge gates of his school he could see the children talking in a hushed tone, and he knew he was the topic of discussion.

Raghav walked to Nivedya and gave him a fist bump. "You look like a nervous bitch, dude. The more you look like that the more you feel awkward. Where is that clown of yours?"

Someone spanked Nivedya on his bum and he turned around to see Collin standing with a smug face. "Clowns spank with slapsticks. I used my hand that's it." Nivedya felt relieved to see his best friend, and they walked inside their class with style and stance.

The board of their class had congratulatory messages for Nivedya that made him happy. His classmates met him the same way as before easing off his tension. But when his eyes connected with Nimrit he found calm seep through him. Nimrit also had a message on the board for her classmate Nivedya "Roll on your new role with humility and kindness."

Teachers were distributing the answer sheets and Nimrit's marks made everyone wonder if she mugged up the entire book.
The English teacher gave the checked answer sheets to all the students to see their mistakes and question their doubts, but she didn't give Nimrit her paper.

"To score a perfect 100 in a language paper is nearly impossible, but I don't know where should I cut your marks? I mean all the answers were correct including the grammar portions. Your essay, and passage writing were outstanding. Come here Nimrit." The teacher called Nimrit in front of the class and said, "This girl deserves a huge round of applause."

Everyone clapped for Nimrit but the loudest came from Nivedya whose marks were competitive too. He felt proud of his girlfriend's achievement and decided to gift her something special. Nimrit was the undisputed topper of her class and soon the word spread in the school. She broke Abhedya's record for the highest score ever scored by a student of Swarnbhoomi High School.

Nivedya had kept his restraint for the school hours but as soon as the last bell rang he dragged Nimrit to their spot in the canteen store room and lifted her high. He twirled her twice before gently putting her down. He held her face between his palms and gave a lingering kiss on her forehead. "This is huge Nimrit. I am so proud of you."

Nimrit kept her head on his chest and said, "I cannot believe it myself. Are you sure the teachers did not give me the benefit of being a new student?"

"Uh! Stop being so modest. Time we celebrate. Tell me where's the party?" Nimrit's forehead creased with the question.

Nivedya cocked his brow and said, "It's a ritual. The one who gets the maximum marks gives everyone a treat. This time it's you. So, tell me where will you take me? I mean, all of us."

Nimrit thought for a while then replied, "I will have to ask Papa. I do not think he will deny but..."

"Hey, relax. Don't get all worked up. Discuss with your parents, but we are not leaving you without a party."

Nimrit put her arms around Nivedya's neck and in a very sultry voice said, "I am never giving a party then." She gave a quick kiss on Nivedya's cheek and ran out of the storeroom.

Simple and impromptu kisses are the best kisses the freshness of the kiss blossomed in his soul.

Nimrit gave the good news to her parents whose happiness knew no bounds. They asked Nimrit what they could do to celebrate, and she said, "Just stay by my side, always." The Khanna family restocked the love they had for each other and felt lucky to have a daughter like Nimrit.

Reet gladly arranged a party for Nimrit and her friends at a fancy cafe located near the foot of the hills. She made an extra effort and decorated a section of the cafe with streamers and balloons. Nimrit was elated to see the arrangement and thanked her mother for her sweet labour.

Soon her friends started to arrive and congratulate her. Triple A gave her a set of Nicholas Sparks' famous books. Nimrit's eyes shined brightly at the sight of the romance novels and the girls hugged each other strengthening their friendship. Prince Nivedya arrived last but in a style that none had ever seen.

Dressed in a crisp white button-down shirt and navy blue corduroy pants, Nivedya looked like Adonis graced the earth. A weird sensation in Nimrit's pelvis region made her aware of the attraction she felt toward her boyfriend.

He greeted all his friends and gave a small hug to Nimrit congratulating her. He brushed his cheek with hers making her tremble under his touch.

Fast-paced heartbeats are often a result of excitement or a workout and in Nimrit's case, it was both. She was overly excited to see her handsome boyfriend in a hot avatar and her body was inadvertently practising kegel exercises.

Nivedya was surprised to see Hans at the party but he decided to not question it. If Nimrit liked him as a friend he would respect it. Besides, Hans was a great boy just too reserved.

Nivedya sat opposite to Nimrit much to her dislike. She wanted him to sit close so that they could at least hold hands, secretly. Everyone ordered their favourite food and beverages and Nimrit mentally calculated the bill. Even though Amber had got his salary still she didn't want to spend it unwisely.

"Nimrit if you promise to throw parties like this, I would pray to God every day for your good grades," Collin remarked munching yet another slice of pizza in his mouth.

"She is the girlfriend of a prince, she can throw as many lavish parties as she likes." Grade eight boys who were there for a party too commented and laughed teasingly.

Nivedya gritted his teeth in anger and warned them, "Just watch out, okay."

"Or else what? You will get us slaughtered, Prince Nivedya Singh. I mean Rajvanshi." Their arched rival Ashwin was back to being mean and the group of boys were laughing their asses off.

Nivedya and Shawn got up from the table to deal with the boys but Hans stopped them and took a deep breath before telling the grade eight boys, "Prince Nivedya Rajvanshi might require a reason to get you slaughtered but Mr Khanna, Nimrit's father has the authority to encounter anyone and not be accountable for."

Grade eight boys stopped laughing and quietly walked out of the cafe. Everyone had read in the newspaper about Amber's achievements and they didn't want to be dragged into any mess.

"Woah! Hans, dude, that was just mind-blowing. What a way to tackle the enemy. A silent attack is the best attack. Now I don't think they will ever comment about Nimrit and Nivi. I am impressed." Aarfa appreciated Hans's tactic and winked at him making him nervous.

Everyone agreed with Aarfa and Nimrit thanked Hans for handling the situation in the best way. "Truly Hans, fighting with them has never stopped them from creating a ruckus probably this threat might put a halt on their stupid thoughts. However, I do not think my father can encounter anyone and not be accounted for." Nimrit knew her father's agency had many loopholes in the system and this authority was definitely beyond it.

"I know that. You know that, but they don't." Hans's statement made everyone laugh and Nivedya joined them too but somewhere he felt a pang of jealousy. He wanted to be Nimrit's hero but today Hans stole the limelight.
_____________________________________________
Dear Readers
I hope you like the cute date and the part after that. The first part of the story is nearing the end but there's a lot left to be told.
Stay hooked!
Lots of love!