Author's POV:

Nidhi kept on staring at the person before her. Many emotions swirled in her mind in these few seconds and finally settled on her favourite mood. Disappointment. 

Disappointment rushed through her as her father didn't show up. When her father asked to share the location, the least she expected was his presence here at the moment but he couldn't even do so and sent someone else in his place. 

"Why didn't he come?" Nidhi asked. 

"Well, an emergency case came up and he had to stay back. So he sent me," replied Darsh. Despite feeling a bit awkward under her scrutinizing gaze he tried to maintain himself well. Her big black eyes are like a way through her soul, which projects every feeling of hers and he could see the twinge of sadness in them. 

And because of the cold weather, her whole face turned red as though she has cried for a grave reason. 

Before Darsh could say anything else he noticed another man coming towards her from the back side of the car with a large bag attached to his shoulders and another small office bag in his hands. 

It is Varun with his whole camera set up and mic on his backpack and his laptop and power bank in the smaller one. 

"Shall we leave?" Varun asked Nidhi who was looking down at her feet. He looked ahead and found Darsh standing fidgeting with the car keys in his hands. Varun don't know who he was and when he was about to introduce himself, Darsh's phone rang. 

"Hello Sir," Darsh greeted as Nidhi's father called him. 

"Yes, sir I've reached just now...... No problem in tracking the location sir. I found out the place easily...... Yes sir......Yes sir...... We will start back now sir..... Okay, sir. Okay."

He ended his conversation with her father only to hear another serious conversation going on with other two people present at the scene. 

"What happened now?" Varun asked Nidhi. He is unable to understand why she is upset now. They can finally go back home and instead of being happy Nidhi is sulking about everything as always. 

"Just look at the hypocrisy of father. He has a problem with me being alone with you, a MAN. But he has no problem sending some unknown person to bring me back home. Who knows what kind of a person he ....."

Nidhi turned around to point at Darsh only to realize him looking at her. Nidhi thought he was still on the call but Darsh happened to listen to everything. 

Nidhi closed immediately stopped talking and acted as if she never spoke anything. Varun's mouth turned dry as he imagined the consequences which will follow. 

While Darsh didn't show what he felt. And he didn't feel much too. He asked her father will she be ok with some stranger going to fetch her back home, but when her father has no problem then he has to only follow his command. 

The awkwardness intensified between the three as the air turned even colder. Neither of them talked anything but zipped up the lips. 

Breaking the ice, Darsh said, "I'll reverse the car." Varun nodded as Darsh proceeded into the car. 

"Psycho! Your mouth doesn't have any control, right?" Varun whisper yelled, fearing Darsh might hear again.

"I didn't lie though," Nidhi stated. Though she knows her in the wrong she is too blinded by her frustration to care about her other emotions and others' emotions.

Saying so she walked to the car heading towards the driver's seat. Darsh sat over there waiting patiently for them to finish their conversation and sit in the car. A knock on the window made Darsh turn and notice Nidhi standing out. Darsh rolled down the window without breaking eye contact.  

"I'll drive," Nidhi asked as she forwarded her hand.

"Will you?" asked Varun from behind as he settled his bags in the passenger seats. 

"Yeah. It's my car and I will drive," Nidhi replied, annoyed by being constantly questioned by Varun. 

Darsh immediately stepped out from his seat and went behind to sit in the passenger seat. Nidhi was confused to see him bear and endure all her tantrums without any reason or deserving to listen. That's when Nidhi felt regret. For no reason, she is showing all her frustration on someone who is not involved in either way. Sighing Nidhi got inside and ignited the engine, ready to start off.   

"Varun, come front. I don't like driving sitting alone," Nidhi urged Varun.

"You are not alone. We all are in the same car. And you drive rashly, I don't want to risk my life," Varun replied.

"Shut up! Do you want to go home or not?" Nidhi questioned in a warning tone. 

Before Varun can make any move the door on the other side got opened. Without any words, Darsh went straight to the front seat and sat beside Nidhi. It would be an understatement to say both Nidhi and Varun were just shocked. Especially Nidhi. 

"I have to get back to the hospital. Can we start?" Darsh asked looking at Nidhi. That's when she observed how cold his eyes were. Though his face is still stoic, there is some kind of aura around him which shouts, don't push my limits. 

Without any other words, Nidhi started and sped at a speed of 80kms. She learned to drive quite a long time ago but was never given the chance to drive. Her father doesn't give her the vehicle unless and until for important situations. But the pleasure and peace of mind Nidhi get through driving cannot be explainable in words. She rolled the window down and enjoyed the cool breeze hitting her face. Slowly all her negative thoughts are clearing out and she felt at peace.    

Half the way she slowed down the speed and even grooved to the music she started playing on the radio. And in between Varun and Nidhi chatted over things and work and all the while Darsh remained silent. Varun tried to indulge him in any chat but Darsh showed the least interest which is quite evident to him. And Varun and Nidhi signalled through their eyes, and Varun accused her it is all her fault and she has to be careful after Varun gets off as his place comes before hers. 

And from time to time Nidhi kept checking if Darsh if he caught their eye-to-eye talks or any other expression on his face, but he was immersed in his thoughts staring outside the window. Even he didn't close his window and enjoyed the breeze.   

Soon Varun's place came about and he hopped down taking all his baggage. He went up to Nidhi's side to bid goodbye for the day. 

"You know you can't go to the hostel now. It is even farther from here. Better stay at home and take rest. And eat something. Ok. You getting me?" Varun asked Nidhi as hung his backpack. 

"It's only 11. I will reach my hostel in an hour. So don't worry. I'll message you as soon as I get there. Don't worry." 

"You won't listen, right?"

Nidhi rolled her eyes at him and waved bye to him moving away from his house. She messaged Ravali, who is her roommate in the hostel to inform the warden and to be awake till she reach. It's been three months since she last went to her house. Except for her grandmother, there won't anyone to welcome her home and her parents and brothers were always busy and stay out of the house. So she choose to be selfish as well and left the house to live life in her way. Unless any kind of emergency like this she won't reach out to them much. 

"Your father asked to drop you at home," Darsh said as his voice came out so quite reacting to her previous statement. 

"He won't mind even if I don't come home. No problem," Nidhi replied without looking at him. 

Darsh mumbled ok and went silent again. Even he wants her to reach her destination as he will be free from this work and go back to his work again. Even though he was getting late for home and his mother and brother must be waiting for him. 

He thought of informing them that he will come late and took his phone out, but the car turned a sudden right and kicked into the footpath. The phone in his hand dropped down and both of them jerked forward because of the impact. If not for their seatbelts they would have flown out. 

Darsh looked at Nidhi with utter shock on his face only to see her widened eyes and mouth and fear written all over her face. 

"Why you did do this?" Darsh asked as he checked the interior of the car for any damage. His boss will skin him alive if anything happened to his car under his care. 

A small whimper came from outside and Darsh feared they might have run over any stray animal. He immediately went out and bent down the car to find any animal wounded, but saw a small dog running away from the car all scared. By the dog's movement, he could say no harm was done to it and got scared because of a racing car. 

Then he noticed that the damage was done on the outside of the car as the tyre ran over a sharp object and got punctured because of which such impact was created. His head automatically fell. Why all this is happening to me? thought Darsh. 

Shaking his head he stood up and saw Nidhi standing beside him. The fear on her face got reduced as she was glad no harm was done to any animal but she failed to notice the tyre of the car. 

"Thank God. Nothing bad happened," Nidhi sighed.

"Bad happened," replied Darsh as he pointed his hand towards the car tyre. Nidhi looked in that direction and disbelief surfaced on her face. Her hands went to cover her mouth as she started to drop down. 

"I am doomed," uttered Nidhi.  

Hello everyone.

The longest chapter in the book as of now.

So how is the chapter? Is it interesting?

I felt like I should have taken some more time in establishing my characters even more, but I like to go into the story directly too. Do tell me if you liked this fast pace. Or else I will try to write more plot from individual perspectives.

And I guess many of you must not have liked Nidhi so far. Did you?

Well, she is one girl whom we see in our daily lives as our friend, sister, cousin and all. We like them, hate them, support them and also fight with them. That is her.

And showing Darsh takes even more time so I hope you will stick with the plot till the end.

Hope you liked the update.

Please Vote, Comment and Share the book. Your comments encourage me to write more fast.

Thank you.

Stay Safe.