A stream of emotions flooded Nimrit's eyes as the moment that marked them as one flashed before her. She pushed Nivedya aside and hurried her way to the ladies' bathroom.
Nivedya regretted mentioning the topic because he thought Nimrit associated it with her father's death. When Nimrit didn't return after ten minutes, he thought to check on her but he couldn't go inside so he patiently waited outside.
When Nimrit came out after checking her emotions and setting her saree, she saw Nivedya waiting for her. A burst of energy fueled her confidence, and as Nivedya often did, she pulled him to a secluded corner at the passage's end.
With glistening eyes, Nimrit looked into Nivedya's eyes and, in a shaky voice, confessed, "I thought you didn't remember."
"Remember? I..." Nivedya's voice faltered, but he composed himself, gently cradling Nimrit's face in his hands as he spoke, "The decision I made wasn't just to save you; it was because I love you more than anything else in life. I honour my vows, and although I have a reputation for breaking promises to you, I am determined to keep this one for as long as I live. Every year, I kind of celebrate... our anniversary... by eating cakes and whatever good is available."
Nimrit felt overwhelmed by his words but she laughed when he mentioned eating. She put her hands around his neck and asked him, "This year we were together then why didn't you..."
"Because we were going through a rough patch and I wasn't sure if you would appreciate it. Even today I thought it might have reminded you of your father's demise so..."
Nimrit kissed him in a slow passionate kiss caressing his face lovingly. When she ran out of breath, she broke the kiss and looked into his shining eyes that were a window to his soul.
"Khota, I..." She paused, looked down shyly, put a loose strand of hair behind her ear and admitted, "I consider you my life's biggest blessing. That day when you slashed our palms to mark us one, I took marriage vows that I intend to uphold for eternity and beyond. Nivi, it is said that royals possess a power bestowed upon them by the Almighty. If this is true, then I wish to marry you in every life that is to come."
Nivedya held Nimrit in a tight embrace and he almost shouted, "Noor, I love you!" He kissed her all over her face feeling elated that his girlfriend accepted to be his wife. "I hope I can prove myself worthy of your love."
"I hope I can love you half as much as your family loves you."
Nivedya jerked Nimrit closer and mandated, "Just love me the way you do because it's more than what I deserve."
"Shut up and kiss me fervently." Nimrit hit him playfully and brought her lips closer to his but Nivedya bent on his one knee and took Nimrit's hand in his.
"Khanna, You have given me so much but if you could just give me one more thing: Never leave me. I never want to hurt you but I know my impulsive and irrational attitude. So be kind and just forgive me and give me one more chance. Fight me, call me names, hit me, just don't leave me. I would die without you." Nivedya's eyes teared up and Nimrit wiped his tears before they could fall. She gestured for him to get up but he said, "I know this confession is not original and I have said this before but that only shows my feelings for you are the only constant in this variable life. Noor... you are my shine, my glory and my pride."
"Listen, my make-up is waterproof and all but I don't want to take a risk. Stop saying these things else I will cry and won't stop because I am just... high on you." Nimrit bent to Nivedya's level and hugged him tightly. "Nivi, we accepted the relation we made in a state of need but we are still young and need to achieve our goals. So..."
"I know, don't mention it. In public, we'll act like lovers, but can we drop the act when we're alone? Can we stop pretending to be just girlfriend and boyfriend?" Nivedya asked and Nimrit giggled nodding her head in yes.
They walked back separately to the mandap where the pheras were going on and skipped answering the questions of their friends about their whereabouts. Nivedya just shrugged his shoulders, and Collin and Shwan guessed how he must be spending time alone with his girlfriend.
The ceremony concluded and Abhedya and Swarnima proudly stood as man and wife. Nimrit felt emotional seeing them as she prayed hard for their union.
Nivedya held her hand secretly and professed looking at the sacred fire, "When I will marry you next time, there will be no space for tears, or necessity but only love, trust and respect."
Nimrit gazed at him lovingly and smiled with sparkling eyes, while Nivedya offered secret prayers, hoping his dreams would manifest into reality.
"Perfect!" Shrey, Tara's best friend and the candid photographer of the wedding captured the moment in his lens and said, "Rajvanshi, men carry some allure, their sweethearts are in awe of them." He showed a picture of Rudra and Nandini and Abhedya and Swarnima in a similar pose to Nivedya and Nimrit who smiled timidly watching the pictures.
While Abhedya and Swarnima were being escorted to their room, amidst lots of tease and comments by the younger clan, the elders were thanking the guests and relatives for their presence.
It was dawn and everyone was tired but Arya, Aadya, Maan and Nimrit sat in the garden to discuss the highlights of the wedding. Nimrit got up to narrate a funny incident she encountered with a woman when Nivedya came and hugged her from behind. He kissed her cheek and proclaimed, "I love you."
Nimrit felt flushed in the presence of the other three and eyed him to stop but he continued looking at her with all the love his heart had. While Arya enjoyed his brother's drama, Maan got up to tell him to continue his romance later.
"Nivi, have you drunk?" Maan sniffed Nivedya but his strong perfume had overpowered the smell of alcohol.
Nivedya rubbed his forehead and blinked more than usual as he spoke, "I went to see off Abhey's friends and they offered me a drink they toasted him and I just took two shots but I guess it was something strong."
Maan and Arya exchanged a look and told Nivedya to go to his room and rest. Nivedya took Nimrit's hand in his and started walking.
"Nivi, leave me."
"Why?" Nivedya slurred and questioned in surprise. "We were supposed to do things, remember?"
Nimrit slapped her hand on her forehead feeling embarrassed by her drunk boyfriend. Aadya laughed and motioned Arya to take Nivedya away.
Arya and Maan carried their brother to their room ignoring his protests while Aadya pestered Nimrit to spill the beans and explain "things".
Nimrit was well aware of Aadya's persistence and she knew there was no escape so while they were changing their heavy dresses in her room, she told Aadya about their little game of subtle seduction.
Aadya smiled, laughed and teased Nimrit but suggested to her, "Nimrit you both are madly in love but are still young. Take your decisions wisely. Have sex if you want to, I will give you tips, if you'd like, but take precautions."
Nimrit threw a cushion at Aadya and with an amazed expression she remarked, "Why are all women around me always thinking of me and my boyfriend having unprotected sex? FYI, we haven't seen each other naked or touched anywhere here and there."
"Is that a statement or regret?" Aadya commented and the two girls laughed for several minutes discussing the topic further.
Nimrit was going to her room but decided to check on Nivedya first. She swiped his room's code to unlock the door. The room was quiet and dimly lit. Nimrit heard the soft snores of her lover and smiled watching him sleep with an open mouth. She kissed his forehead lovingly and blew air on the hair that fell on his forehead.
She was uncertain if a faint smile graced his lips, but her eyes brimmed with tears, unable to contain any more love than what already dwelled within.
"Goodnight, love." She whispered in his ears.
"Arundhati, let's tell Nimrit. Not hide..." Nivedya left the sentence incomplete and turned his back to Nimrit who was standing with a shocked expression.
She didn't know what Nivedya and Arundhati were hiding, but he was dreaming about her, which irked Nimrit. She wondered whether Arundhati also called him 'love' because he responded to her in dreams, though it was Nimrit who usually used that term of endearment for him. Nimrit suddenly felt powerless as if she was snatched of everything she ever owned.
She came back to her room and quietly slipped beside Reet holding her. Reet's motherly touch helped her sleep but she couldn't stop thinking about the words that slipped from Nivedya's mouth.
When Nimrit got up in the morning Reet had already packed their bags and was ready to leave. She instructed Nimrit to hurry up and she obliged mechanically. Her brain was strained with the thoughts of the previous night and she wanted to confront her boyfriend.
Nivedya was busy welcoming the eminent members of Swarnbhoomi at Janta Hall of the palace to bless the new king and queen. Seeing him occupied, Nimrit postponed her plan and left the palace with Reet.
She unpacked her luggage with varied thoughts in her mind. She trusted Nivedya but his words troubled her. She invited him to meet in the evening if he was available, but he explained that he would be busy as Swarnima and Abhedya were departing for their honeymoon.
Nimrit found her distraction in preparing for the upcoming board exams and slept early because of the tiredness of the wedding. Nivedya came to meet her late at night but left as she had slept.
The next morning he reached her house with a bouquet of fresh roses. Nimrit smiled brightly and they headed to his car to go to the college.
Seeing Arundhati on the passenger seat made Nimrit angry. She felt it was time and fisting her palms she said, "Arundhati, I believe you should consider sitting in the back since it's well-known that the front passenger seat in Nivi's car is reserved for me."
Arundhati widened her eyes in surprise as she didn't expect Nimrit to talk so poorly. She quietly stepped out and sat behind with a sullen face. Nivedya was shocked by Nimrit's reaction too and raised his shoulders in "why".
Nimrit ignored him and fastened her seat belt. Her anger was visible in her demeanour. Nivedya clenched his jaw in anger but refrained from saying anything. He drove to college and the car was as quiet as quiet could be. All three of them were thinking about something and no one was ready to share their thoughts.
Nimrit got down when they reached her college and touched Nivedya's hand that was on the gear. "Bye, Love." She used 'love' on purpose to see if it reminded Nivedya of anything but he just smiled and wished her well for the day.
The tension between them was palpable and they could feel it. Arundhati and Nivedya felt the reason for Nimrit's behaviour was their fallout during the wedding.
"I apologised wholeheartedly to her even though it wasn't my fault alone. I was only looking out for you and I do have the right to protect my self-respect. The way she asked me to sit behind shows that she doesn't forgive or forget." Arundhati put forward her viewpoint leaving Nivedya to think upon the developments.
Arundhati was at fault during the wedding and Nivedya tried explaining it to her. "You spoke too much and went out of line. I am highly impulsive sometimes and trust me Aru, I land up in trouble. I agree Nimrit was rude today but we give her reasons to behave like that. How can we expect her to recover just like that? It's not like we are completely not guilty. We've kept secrets from her, and it makes me feel guilty for leaving her in the dark for so long, especially since she's shared her deepest secrets with me."
"Did she tell you why she still fears her Mama?"
_____________________________________
Dear Readers,
How many of you remember Nivedya and Nimrit's unique marriage? If not, re-read Kindle to Rekindle part 1.
The marriage that was a result of need and circumstance more than love has found validation but how long will such a marriage last, shall be interesting to find out.
Stay hooked!
Lots of love!
