Author's POV:

"You scoundrel stop running!"

Nidhi shouted running behind Varun. Varun was literally out of breath but he knows it is better to faint out of exhaustion than get in Nidhi's hands. He is aware of Nidhi's temper and in times like these, she can go to any extremes. 

And Varun knows that he is at fault. His car gave trouble the previous time as well and he didn't give it for servicing and now the car gave up together. Adding to their misfortune their company said they can't provide any transport assistance immediately. So they are drowned completely. 

"Did I imagine it will happen this way? No," Varun replied as took another round around the car and Nidhi kept running behind. 

"I told you to give your car for servicing. You never listen to me," shouted Nidhi. She stopped in her tracks breathing heavily. Seeing her getting calm Varun too stopped running and sucked in all the air greedily. 

"Now what will we do?" Nidhi asked once her breathing became normal. She is still angry with him and if given a chance she will leave this place leaving him alone. 

"Let's try Uber and Ola."

"No use. No vehicle is nearby. I have been searching for it for the past half an hour. And all the other vehicles left too," Nidhi sighed. All the other news reporters left the place and only some police officers were stationed there and they are local police. 

And they don't know any travel services available in that place too. All in all they are stuck with no way out. 

"Call your family," said Varun. Nidhi stared at him and said no word. She became silent. It's not like she is not interested in going home. It's just that it is her last and least preferred choice to take. 

"No. Call someone you know," replied Nidhi and looked away from him. Nidhi is not someone who will be good despite receiving shit from the people around her. Even if it's her family. It's been a month since she has been home from the hostel. It's just messages at times. 

"I called everyone I know and no help. And desperate times need desperate measures. So keep your ego aside and call," Desperation was visible in Varun's voice. 

"I have an ego. You say I have EGO. Do you know...." 

"No No. You don't have an ego. It just slipped out. But please call for help. I want to go home now."

Varun sincerely prayed she would call them. At the moment they were in even one word gone wrong and Nidhi shoot up and destroy him. He's been with Nidhi for the past three years and he knows her way more than anyone. Maybe more than her family.

She is a mix of everything, strong, sassy, funny, cute and evil too. Nidhi is not someone who needs protection or cared much as she knows how to protect herself. And she knows her worth and never lets anyone worth her down.

"I will never come to another reportage with you," sneered Nidhi and fished out her phone from her bag and dialed her brother's number. 

With every passing ring, Nidhi's heartbeat raced. It's not like they were not talking it is just that their talks are limited to messaging. She massages her whole family in times of need and sometimes her mother calls her. 

"Hello," came the voice from her brother, Nithin. 

"Hi," Nidhi replied and paused as she expected him to talk about anything. When he didn't she continued, "I need some help."

"Ohh. What?" asked Nithin. From his tone, Nidhi could understand that he is deeply immersed in work and doesn't want his time to be wasted. 

"Well.... I got stuck in the workplace.... Far from the city. Can you pick me up?" Nidhi asked slowly. 

"I am busy Nidhi. Patients are lined up and I have checked upon them." 

Nidhi sighed hearing his response. It's not something new to her and there is nothing much to expect from her brother. They are siblings for namesake, no bonding, no affection, no talks and no support. 

Nidhi was about to cut off the call when Nithin continued, "I'll inform Dad. He has taken the car today. Maybe he can come if he is free."

 "Ok," replied Nidhi slowly and dismissed the call. She conveyed the conversation with Varun and he too sighed with much less hope of getting out of there anytime soon.

Nidhi's family is not interested in her career. According to them, she is a failure in her career and lets her family down in shame. Especially her father. 

Nidhi was extremely close to her father since child and he was a hero in her eyes. And she was the apple of the family. But things changed as she aged and the distance also increased between her and her father. 

And she was unable to bear the burden of coming from such a privileged where her father is a neurologist, her mother is a dentist and her brother a cardiologist. It's too overwhelming at times and chokes her badly. 

Bringing her out of her reverie she buzzed, displaying 'Dad'. 

"Hello," came out a base voice from the other side of the call. 

"Hi," Nidhi replied meekly. If there is one person before whom Nidhi gets scared then it is her father. 

"Where are you stranded?" questioned her father in a serious tone. 

"30 km out of the main city."

"Are you alone?" 

"No. My friend is also with me," replied Nidhi as she gazed at Varun who got alerted as his mention came up.

"Who?" 

"Varun," she replied. 

"At this time you are with a man, at an unknown place. And your useless firm isn't doing anything to get you back."

"They tried their best, but they couldn't...."

"For your useless job they won't provide all the facilities," came out a snarky reply from her father. 

Nidhi poked her tongue internally to keep her mouth shut and not say anything at the moment. She remained silent waiting for his final decision on whether to help them or not. She was almost sure that she would have to spend the night in the place itself and can only get back home the next day. 

She swore to God to teach a nice lesson to Varun because of who they were in the current situation. 

"Share the location on Whatsapp."

Before Nidhi could reply the call got disconnected. She let out her breath which she was holding back for a long time. Terrifying every time, thought Nidhi. 

"What now?" asked Varun who was gazing at her from the time she started talking on the phone.

"He asked to share the location. That means he will come."

The smile on Varun's face was worth a million dollars. His face shows how happy he is to get back home. He raised his hand to give a hi-fi to Nidhi. She stared at his hand which got stilled in the air and turned back to the car. 

With no other option left Varun too turned back to the car and sat in as they both waited for her father to come. As another hour passed they both sat still in the car, one talking to his girlfriend and the other listening to music. 

The huge headlight of a car flashed before them which grabbed their attention. They came back to the present and checked the car ahead of them. Nidhi noticed the number plate and the car company and recognised the car.

"Dad's here. Come out," said Nidhi and got down the car and walked forward. 

The car in front of them stopped and a man came out from the driver's side in the dark. Observing the physique of the man Nidhi understood that the person before them is not her father but someone else and stopped in her tracks.

"Ms Nidhi?" came out a subtle and calm voice. Nidhi bent down a bit as she wanted to see who that person is in front of her. 

Suddenly Nidhi's phone rang it was her dad again. She answered it without moving her eyes away from the mysterious man before her. 

"Nidhi, I am unable to come so I send a junior doctor under me. He will bring you back. He must be there already. And his name is Darsh."

By the time he finished his sentence the man came before her and stood straight. Honey Brown eyes are the first thing she noticed, followed by his calm face with light stubble, and much taller than her. 

"Darsh?" she called out slowly. It may sound cheesy but the fact is, it felt like Nidhi already met him or knew him.

"Yeah.... Darsh here." 

Hello everyone.

Finally, the main lead is here.

Hope you liked the chapter.

I request all the readers to kindly share your thoughts and opinions on the book so far. I know not much has been written but want to know your feedback till now.

And I want to tell something important too. I want to keep 'Love Connection' book on hold. For People who don't know what it is, it's my other book.

I already kept one pair's story on hold and now I am unable to proceed forward with the other pair too. So I am keeping it on hold and may take it down too in near future.

I am very apologetic to all the readers who liked it and encouraged it but I am putting all my focus on this book and I am unable to gain any motivation for that book.

I hope you will understand me. Do comment your thoughts on this development too.

Please Vote, Comment and Share the story if you like.

Thank you.

Stay Safe.