Kindle to Rekindle

7. Pearl from the Eyes

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.