The tears in her eyes were a sign of realisation, and the smile that began from her eyes were the proof.

Collin kept asking Nivedya about the practice session at his house. He was all ears for juicy gossip, but sadly he wasn't getting any.

Nivedya was silent after lashing out at his beautiful guest. He kept justifying his anger and felt a burden off his chest after saying all that was inside him. But he couldn't understand why Nimrit was silent when he told her how ungrateful and inappropriate her behaviour was, but she outrageously defended her father.

Nivedya had a foolproof plan for settling things with Nimrit but when he saw her in the school, she took his breath away.

"Spectacles? Since when?" Collin commented observing Nimrit who was wearing spectacles today. "Damn! She is looking..."

"Wow!" Nivedya completed Collin's statement with admiration in his eyes.

"So, shall we begin writing the love story of the nerd and her fanboy?" Collin joked at the expense of his friend who was observing Nimrit intently. Nivedya didn't reply but they walked toward their class.

"Why do you study so much? See you got glasses. Do you even need to study?" The head boy, Raghav questioned Nimrit.

"I used to wear lenses but I lost one yesterday. So, I had to wear these glasses. Are they looking odd?" Nimrit asked Raghav playfully.

Raghav complimented Nimrit, "Nah! You look cuter. I can bet a few boys will crush over you today."

Collin heard the conversation and butted in, "So, it's just us you have a problem with? You are talking to him as if you are long-lost friends."

"We are indeed, "long lost friends". You have a problem, Collin?" Raghav rolled his sleeve challenging Collin.

"No! I don't, but Nivi has. Nimrit doesn't talk to him even though they dance together but with you, she is more friendly than the girls." Collin turned the entire conversation on Nivedya which shocked him. Raghav looked at Nivedya in surprise. He was about to question him but Nimrit stopped him.

"He doesn't have that mentality. Collin has a tendency to joke, I am sure the school knows about it." Nimrit left for her class leaving the boys standing in the corridor.

Nivedya also turned to leave but Raghav warned him, "Nivi, teach your friend to keep control of his big mouth. Jokes are no way to raise your doubts."

"Raghav, you know a lot about her. What's the scene dude?" Collin asked Raghav raising his eyebrows teasingly.

"Scene? Yeah! I know her since she was a child. We have always been really close... You know what I mean, right?" Raghav winked at his revelation making Collin's mouth form a big 'O' and Nivedya's heart was pounding inside his chest.
"Rascal! My mother and her father are best friends and that is how I know her. Mom asked me to help her get accustomed to the school because she has classmates like you. Good for nothing. Grow up, dude! This co-ed system is new to Nimrit and she is trying to get used to it here. Do not trouble her." Raghav gave a warning to Collin and Nivedya before leaving for his class.

After the morning incident, Nivedya was not his usual self. He was quite quiet and observant.
Unlike Nivedya, Nimrit was her new usual self. Calm and composed.

Even after Nivedya's rude behaviour, Nimrit came to his house and practiced giving her all. Their dance on skates was coming out well and the teacher was happy. Rose offered them sandwiches but Nimrit denied saying she was not hungry. When the teacher left on the pretext of an important call Nivedya came to Nimrit.

"I am sorry. I think I said too much yesterday. It's your life you can live the way you want. I... it's none of my business." Nivedya had no plans of apologising but he did and astonishingly it felt great.

Nimrit gave him a faint smile and said, "These seven mirrors in this room could not show me my true reflection. I was wrong. I was wrong all along and you were somewhere right since the start.
I did try to act pricy and grand because that is how I felt and wanted everyone to feel about me. The sense of belonging to India's best school has its glamour and wanting to use it as a little advantage should not mean any harm. But, I eventually realised Swarnbhoomi High was not bad either.
Yes, it is completely different from the school I come from but that does not mean it is not good. If at all, the children do have a better approach to life.
It took me time to realise and when I did, the damage was done. I was labelled the 'snob bitch', right? As much as I tried, things kept falling apart. The girls I befriended were not charmed by my academic scores or other skills but kept honesty and friendship above all these.
I have never really interacted with boys. So, I was happy to be finally studying in a co-educational school. My friends told me to date a dozen boys before getting a high school sweetheart for myself, but when I actually saw so many boys in the school... I... didn't want any attention. I dumped that plan."

Nivedya smiled listening to Nimrit's idea. He was just happy talking to her. She was opening up and there was so much she had to say.

"You were right on one more thing. I do not trust myself around boys, not because I am desperate but because I am scared. I swear I haven't done anything that makes my father insecure but he has been through hell and is just protective about me like every father is. You can't blame him if he has come across men who are a leech.
The sample size of the school is way too small for him to build trust. So, he is not unreasonable nor are his insecurities baseless. To me, he is just my father, and I love all his versions. You don't judge the people you love. I am trying to undo my mistakes of the past but I have my reservations and I need time to overcome them." Nimrit left the skating rink after revealing a part of herself to a boy. To Nivedya.

Nivedya stood in front of Nimrit and looked into her eyes which were so pale. "Nimrit, I am sorry. I didn't see anything from your perspective." Nimrit didn't say anything but realised a haze formed in her eyes.
She doesn't cry anymore. Was she on the verge of crying?

"It's getting late." Nimrit quickened her steps. But just before leaving the room she turned and said, "Nivedya, can I trust you to not make my confession public?"

Nivedya didn't reply. He couldn't. Was that his name that sounded like first rain's pitter-patter? He sat on the floor and rolled the wheels of his skates replaying what Nimrit said.

Nimrit sat in the car and wiped the tear that rolled down her cheek.
"Nimrit, if someone can bring back tears in your eyes then probably you are in love with that person," Nimrit remembered the words of Barkha.
This can't be true. She was just overwhelmed. These tears didn't mean love. They didn't, they can't. Nimrit wiped her tears vigorously. They were stopped forcefully when the teacher arrived and sat in the car that took her away from the palatial house of a boy who made her cry.

At Nimrit's house, the same night.
"How can you forget your school bag, Nimrit? Studies should be your top priority." Amber scolded Nimrit for leaving her school bag at Nivedya's place.

"Relax Amber. She must have got tired and forgotten. I will call Nandini and request her to ask Nivi to get Nimrit's bag to school tomorrow." Nimrit's mother Reet, dialled Nandini's number and told her the same. The call extended for ten minutes and Nimrit was curious to know what they were talking about. She hoped Nivedya would keep her secret. She did say a little too much. There was no need to reveal to him about dating a dozen boys. Nimrit mentally scolded herself.

"All done. Nivi will get your bag tomorrow." Reet informed with a smile.

Amber asked Reet, "Are you friends with Mrs Singh?"

"Yes. She is an incredible woman. Her NGO Gharonda is a heaven for oppressed women. Amber, I visited it and volunteered to help on holidays and whenever my services are needed. I am going to help the ladies learn about banking and investment. It's just been a day but I look forward to serving more. I don't know why her husband is on your investigation list but the work Nandini is doing is beyond just social service. I am glad Nimrit is in the company of her son. Nivi is a good boy and you can trust him Nimrit, and before your father raises his objections, Amber, Swarnbhoomi is not Bilaspur, and not every man is Parbatjeet." Reet said the line with such strong emotions that it changed the vibe of the room.

Amber looked at Reet with anger blazing in his eyes, but she put her hand on Amber's to calm him down. Nimrit left the dining room to give her parents privacy. The topic was sensitive and refreshed horrid memories.

Nivedya woke up before the sun because he couldn't sleep well the entire night. The way Nimrit said, "Nivedya" resonated in his ears and a goofy smile graced his face.

At school, he gave Nimrit her bth, and no words other than "thank you" and "it's okay" were exchanged.

When Nimrit opened her bag she found a fresh pink rosebud inside it. She read a chit attached to it "not going to judge if you throw it." A smile that originated in Nimrit's eyes graced her face. That moment she knew Nivedya would never reveal her secrets. Small or big. She took out her books quickly to cover her tinted cheeks.

She thought she was successful until Aarfa asked her, "Nimrit, why you are all red? Are you fine?"

Yes, Nimrit wanted attention but right now she wanted to hide somewhere. Why was the teacher not there yet? She wondered.

"I am good. Thank you." Nimrit replied calming herself.

"Is that a blush?" Aashna asked her teasingly.

"Na... No! I am just hot, I guess." Nimrit was suddenly shy but her answer made all heads turn and laugh.

The teacher arrived just on time but the laughter didn't stop. "What makes everyone laugh? Share the joke with me." The teacher asked her class with a smile.

"Ma'am, Nimrit is hot," Aarna replied, making the class laugh more.

"What?" The teacher questioned with a confused expression.

"Ma'am Nimrit was all red with blush and when I asked her "out of concern," she said "I am hot, I guess"." Aashna narrated the incident making Nimrit hide her face in the book. She cursed the casualness and friendliness of Swarnbhoomi High.

The teacher bit the inside of her cheeks and said, "I think she is just fine. Don't pick on the new girl now. Why don't you ask Nivi, why he is all red?"

All heads turned to Nivedya making him nervous and defensive. "Ma'am I thought I was your favourite. You directed the joke on me? Not fair." Nivedya fake sulked but his heart was hammering inside because there was a girl who was genuinely smiling for the first time churning his insides.