Kindle to Rekindle

34. Knee and Nose

Some love stories are like finely crafted rom-com scripts, capable of evoking both laughter and tears in equal measure.

Raghav and Nimrit left from there and sat in their respective buses. Nivedya was still behind the tree with tears hreatening to fall from his dark eyes. Nimrit chose him from the start and he thought he was just the next best option.

Swarnima was doodling in Nivedya's notebook while explaining matters of the heart to him, "She liked Raghav but he was committed to someone else. So, she very gracefully kept her feelings aside and maintained a friendship with him. When she felt your love, she chose to reciprocate it and shower you with her love too. Let's assume if this was the true story, how does it matter? Love is not a game where you need to win the first trophy. Remember, participation is what matters. Being someone's first choice doesn't mean you will be their forever choice."

"You were Abhey's first choice too?" Nivedya could sense she related her story to his. From whatever hints Arya gave and the small encounters he witnessed between Swarnima and Abhedya he could make out that they had a special connection. A love story like no other.

Swarnima looked at him and smiled, "Love is not always about choices. It is a feeling and how you deal with the feeling is all that matters. Anyways, I won't help you in understanding your story because I want you to explore it. But I would suggest just one thing to you again, don't jump to conclusions without knowing the whole situation."

Nivedya nodded in understanding and they resumed their studies because the next day, they had a very important Mathematics test.

Nivedya recalled all the moments Nimrit and he shared. The fights, the laughter, the blushes, and the romantic encounters. 'Since the day the most alluring whirlwind on wheels collided with me.' Nimrit's confession echoed in Nivedya's ears and he slept with a plan to do everything right.

Nimrit came to school with a heavy heart. She wanted to lie down in her bed all day and sulk over her situation. She wanted to pity herself and console herself by eating ice cream but  "Damn! The Mathematics test!" She cursed under her breath and sat on the seat assigned to her for the test. Her seat was next to Janice who according to her, disliked her.

Nimrit wanted to see Nivedya but he was sitting in a different class for the test. The paper was distributed to all the students and everyone started to write.

Janice asked for an extra sheet and peeped in Nimrit's direction. To her amusement she hadn't written a word so she whispered, "Nimrit, what's wrong? Why haven't you written a word? Need help?"

Nimrit gained her senses and saw the blank sheet in front of her. "How can I ignore studies like that?" She thought and glanced at her wristwatch which indicated that she was only left with half time so, speeded up but could only manage to do some questions. She wasn't failing but she knew even if all her answers were correct, she will only get sixty per cent marks, which was very less.

The word spread quickly that Nimrit didn't write her paper till half-time.

"I was doing calculations. Don't listen to rumours. Come let's eat. I am famished." Nimrit dismissed the rumours and started eating her lunch. She was gulping down her food because for the first time in her life, she compromised on her studies and it made her angry at herself. All this was happening because of one boy who broke her heart. One boy who questioned her true feelings.

Nivedya finally appeared and Nimrit swallowed her bite. She couldn't deny the peace she felt looking at him. He sat next to her and Nimrit straightened herself.

Aashna was checking them like a hawk and scolded them, "The least you could do is ask each other how your paper went?"

"Ask her? I know she will ace it, like always." Nivedya received an "aww" for his reply, but Nimrit felt as if she let him down too. Before the break got over, Nivedya asked Nimrit to come and talk to him in the storeroom. Nimrit didn't know what to do. The last thing she could do after a bad paper was fight with him.