You paint my stories in a colour so rare.
It's not bright like love
It's not dark like hate
It's somewhere in between.

Nivedya  was the centre of jokes the entire day but he didn't mind because Nimrit had a pleasant smile plastered to her face. During lunch, Nimrit  sat with her class and didn't leave early. She stayed to see and enjoy the fun her classmates had during a food break. She observed how it was normal to hold hands or sit close to boys. It was friendly and natural. She questioned her beliefs for the first time.

Nimrit was anxious about the skating class that day. Her opening up yesterday and the events of the day, made her a little conscious. Nivedya on the other hand, couldn't wait for the school to get over. He wanted to see her smile, up close and personal.
The car ride was silent like always. Nimrit was looking out of the window and Nivedya was also looking out of the window but on Nimrit's side.

"Is there something interesting on the left?" The teacher asked but Nimrit and Nivedya couldn't understand his question so he explained, "I mean,  Nimrit is looking on the left that's her side, but Nivi, you were also looking on the left, so I asked."

Nimrit's turned scarlet and she wanted to wipe that smile on her face that was threatening to widden. Nivedya just shrugged his shoulders as if the question didn't bother him but he was sure his heart would come out any moment. Since the morning his pulse rate was higher than normal and incidents like this amplified the situation.

Their progress was satisfactory and they finished more than half of the choreography. The teacher got a call and he excused himself. Nimrit didn't want this to happen and Nivedya was waiting for the same to happen. He sent prayers to God and his wish was granted.

"Nimrit,"  Nivedya called out in a tone he didn't know his vocal cords to produce. Nimrit turned and looked at him. Nivedya for a second forgot what he wanted to say.

He shook himself and took a deep breath. "I am sorry for judging you and your father. I mean, I have always grown up in a liberal environment and at school, you know- everyone is everyone's friend. In fact, most of us are together from kindergarten. So, your reservations were hard to digest and even harder to comprehend. But, I can assure you, our school and its male population is well behaved. Just open up and take baby steps in this new world. Your comfort and happiness is my motive now." Nivedya didn't know what made him say the last line but it was like a promise.

"You are responsible for your happiness and I am happy. See I am smiling." Nimrit gave him an artificial grin.

"True that, except that this smile of yours right now, is unnatural. I wish to see the smile that begins from your eye." Nivedya was loving this conversation while Nimrit was speechless. Her eyes were moving left-right, up-down tosettle the butterflies in her stomach.

The teacher came just in time and resumed the class saving Nimrit from the hard-to-ignore "cute" conversation.

The extended monsoon blessed Swarnbhoomi with beautiful greens and flowers were blooming like the interaction between Nimrit and Nivedya.

They looked forward to the practice session and the car ride from school to Nivedya's home was no longer silent. Casual chit-chat about school was mostly the topic of discussion.
Nimrit was gradually getting friendly with other boys in the class but she was still not comfortable with physical touch. So much so, that she refrained from holding Nivedya's hand in several steps of their dance.

While giving him a book once their fingers brushed accidentally and the spark made them jump two feet apart. It was not natural and whatever bookish and movie knowledge a fourteen-year-old could have, was not enough to resolve the matter. Asking friends was out of the question because taking serious advice from friends or taking friends' advice seriously, can prove fatal in such situations.

"Nimrit, you think you can hold my hand on the day of the performance, at least?" Nivedya asked with hope in his voice.

With a hints of naughtiness in her tone and shimmer in her eyes, Nimrit replied, "Umm... Not sure. Our protons and electrons are mischievous around each other."

Nivedya could not solve the puzzle of Nimrit's words so he googled about protons and electrons but nothing got into his head. Asking his engineer brother was an easy option but that would mean unnecessary and numerous rounds of Q&A so he dropped the idea.

Nivedya had his flute lesson that evening and his teacher was stunned by his performance of the day.

The teacher patted Nivedya's head with appreciation and said, "Nivi, this was by far the best you played. I had no doubts about your caliber but today I was spellbound. That is the power of the flute and you achieved it. Just keep practicing."

Nivedya's parents' congratulated him and took him for an ice cream party at his favourite joint. Nivedya hoped to see the girl who was the inspiration behind his impeccable music. It was her smiling face he imagined while playing his flute. Nivedya didn't spot Nimrit, but he was happy because his parents were happy about his little achievement.

Nivedya and Nimrit bonded more but still maintained a distance. Nimrit enjoyed the recess sessions, she no longer studied during free periods but played with her new friends. She was easing off her rules but feared her father's reaction so filtered the details she shared with him. Things were going smoothly for her and for the first time she was happy they came to Swarnbhoomi.

During one of the practice sessions, Nivedya told Nimrit about how he shooed away his tuition teacher and Nimrit couldn't stop laughing. She teased him saying, "No doubt your  handwriting looks like thousands of spiders crawling, and your science answers are like their web. No start and no end."

Nivedya frowned and said, "So, you are back to being the old Nimrit? Rude."

"I... I am sorry. I was just joking. I didn't mean to hurt you. Please don't be annoyed." Nimrit apologised immediately. She didn't want to lose a great friend like Nivedya. She waited for Nivedya's reaction but he kept his brows furrowed in anger for a while and then burst out laughing confusing Nimrit.

"God look at your face! You look as if a spider just crawled on your face. Hahahaha!" Nivedya teased Nimrit and she gritted her teeth in anger.

"Run for your life, Singh. I am not going to leave you." Nimrit warned Nivedya and he ran from the skating  rink to the huge garden of his house. He thought he ran fast but Nimrit  was faster. She was trying to avenge herself while Nivedya was trying to save himself.

Rudra saw Nimrit running behind Nivedya so, he stopped him and said, "You were told to behave but you never stop with your mischief. You should have at least respected your mother's words. She promised Nimrit's father that she not have any problem while she is here, but you are just next level notorious, Nivi."

"Excuse me, Sir. Thank you for your concern but have you never seen friends playing? It was just friendly banter. Nivedya is the most well-behaved boy you will ever meet. He may be naughty but has never harmed anyone or crossed the line of decency. Besides, you aren't our teacher and have no right to scold him." Nimrit defended Nivedya courageously making Rudra smile in amusement.

"Dear lady, I have all the rights on Nivi. I happen to be his father." Rudra answered politely hiding his smile. Nivedya was still trying to get over the fact that Nimrit stood up for him so, bravely. He thought it was a really cool act but then why did she look so hot defending him?

"Father?" Nimrit questioned and Nivedya nodded his head in positive. "Oh! I...I did not  know. I- I- am sorry. I just thought it was not his fault and so he should not be scolded and when you..." Nimrit looked flushed and a bit scared. She exhaled heavily and continued, "Good evening Uncle. I am Nimrit Khanna and I am sorry for whatever I said. It was umm... a misunderstanding? Goodbye." Nimrit quickly touched Rudra's feet to pay her respect and left with an embarrassed face.

"She's a keeper Son. You are lucky to have a friend like her." Rudra emphasised the word friend and smiled patting Nivedya's shoulder.

Nivedya was bursting with joy and euphoria from within. He had already figured out that he liked Nimrit more than a friend but today he was certain she was the girl meant for him. He  confessed in his heart and prayed for the night to end quickly.

Nimrit kept cursing herself for being impulsive which was not her true nature. Why she reacted the way she did, created a debate in her mind. So, she finally decided to seek advice from Barkha. She narrated to her the entire incident and they deduced that she had a serious "crush" on Nivedya. Maybe more but only time will tell. Nimrit's sleep partners were confusion and apprehension that night.

"Good news kids. The skating rink is  renovated and is waiting for wheels to roll." The teacher informed Nivedya and Nimrit who were avoiding eye contact with each other. Nivedya was in the lover-boy zone while Nimrit was in the pseudo-denial stage. The new phase was tough to handle and behavioural codes were unknown.

During practice, they had to look into the eyes of each other, and Nimrit's eyes captivated Nivedya. He was a happy hostage and that made the teacher frustrated because they skipped steps several times.

"What is wrong with you two? We have only five days left and you cannot do such stupid errors. Concentrate. I want it perfect this time." The teacher warned them and they exhaled a deep breath. Nivedya requested a five-minute break to calm his overactive sense organs.

"Nimrit, we both know things are not normal between us."

"I know! I am sorry about yesterday. I did not know he was your father and also I should have asked you if... you want to... I mean... you and I can... be friends? I just said it. Did your father scold you?" Nimrit  was concerned about Nivedya and he loved it but what made him amused was her asking for friendship.

"Miss Khanna, in Swarnbhoomi High we don't ask someone for being friends. We just are friends, by default or by choice and you were a challenge for us. How can someone ignore us?  And you ignored me? The best dude in town! So, I laid a plan and showed my best side to you. See, you fell into the trap. Now, even if you try you won't be able to free yourself from this trap of friendship." Nimrit was charmed with Nivedya's words and his honest smile.

"I am glad and willing to be caged for life in this intricately woven web of 'friendship'." Nimrit  replied wittily with one of the best smiles gracing her face. Nivedya wanted to kiss her cheek which was glowing like a yellow-coloured electric bulb.

"Enjoyed your break? Now start. No mistakes." The teacher played the music and Nivedya and Nimrit danced flawlessly.

A  thunderous round of applause disturbed the intense stare game between Nimrit and Nivedya while they were dancing gracefully on wheels. Their class had come to see the much-hyped performance and were in awe of the dance. They couldn't stop praising the duo who kept stealing glances while talking to their friends. The teacher was satisfied and left his star performers with their admirers.

"Dear Son, your father is happy with your  performance. Make a wish and it shall be granted." Collin stood on a stool to match Nivedya's height and the class laughed at him.

"Father, I just wish to keep this friendship and bond between our class intact." Nivedya put his hand forward and the entire class joined hands and vowed, "FRIENDS FOREVER!"

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Dear Readers
They say school days are the best days of your life. Friendships are pure and without any reason. Love is lust free and true.
Did you ever experience such love?
How will this budding relationship between Nivedya and Nimrit shape, read, and find out?

Happy Reading
Lots of love