Nikolai

23

Kiara POV

I try to not mess up my eye makeup as I concentrate on it. When I'm done with eye makeup I do my hair.

I don't leave them open knowing they would be messed up by the time we reach the wedding hall.

There was a knock on the door before it opened and Ishaan entered the room.

"What do you think? Should I wear this one or the red one?" He asked holding the marron jacket coat in his hand.

"Where is the red one? I didn't see you properly in the red one," I tell him before looking back at myself in the mirror.

"Ugh, I can't go to my room and change again. Why didn't you see it properly?" he groaned.

"Wear something or the other. Why are you so worried about your dressing?"

"It's important, Tanvi's side is very careful about what they are wearing. I don't want to look bad being on the groom's side," he said.

"This one looks good on you, your curly hair stands out. I think you should wear this one than the red one," I said.

"You didn't even see how I looked wearing the red one." He rolled his eyes as he said that.

"Red one looked better than this. I will wear the red one and are you ready?" He asked.

"In a bit," I reply.

"Make it fast, we will leave in fifteen to twenty minutes. Arjun has sent the car for us," he said.

"Okay."

"I will wait outside, when you are done just come outside," he said turning around to leave the room.

"Yup."

Xahria went to college, uncle and aunty are at their workplaces. I don't have any idea about Nico.

I haven't seen him in the morning nor have I heard about him from aunty. She didn't tell us if he left for the office or not.

When I'm done, I pick my low height heels and wear them.

"Perfect," I say looking at myself in the mirror before picking my bag and phone.

I check my phone to see missed calls from Ishaan and a text from him saying he is waiting outside.

'Coming.' I text him before wandering outside.

I was going downstairs when I saw Nico walking with his eyes fixed on his phone.

"Shit..." I say taking a step back trying to hide away but too bad he saw me.

I look away when our gaze met. His brows frowned in confusion and my phone vibrated.

'come on, how long are you going to take?' I read the text from Ishaan.

I gulped down the lump and started going down while Nico started climbing the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Nico asked me while his eyes are busy checking me out.

"Wedding," I reply.

"Whose?" he asked giving me a perplexed look when our gaze met.

"Friend's," I said pushing my hair strand back.

"With whom you are going?" He asked with a serious expression playing on his face.

"Are you stupid? I'm going with my brother," I tell him.

"Hmm..." His gaze went from head to toe as he took his time observing me.

I wore one strap pink blouse with cream Saree which has pink strip kind lines on it. I ended the look with a heavy gold choker.

I looked pretty and simple for the wedding.

When he looked up and met my gaze, I can see that he liked what he is seeing. His eyes are a bit hooded and dark.

"Your brother is here?" he asked taking a step forward.

I gave him a confused look. He met him last night but they didn't talk.

"You saw him last night Nico," I say shaking my head.

"Ugh? Yeah! Yeah, I met him." He gave me a sheepish look.

"So, how you two are going?" He asked pushing his hands into his jeans pockets.

"The groom, who is Ishaan's best friend sent us the car," I said.

"Oh, you could've used any of the cars in the garage."

"We don't know the wedding location and he said he was sending the car."

"Hmm okay."

My phone vibrated again. I know Ishaan is going to scold me.

"Bye," I said. I didn't wait for him to speak as I wandered towards the main door.

I saw Ishaan who is busy with his phone.

When he heard my footsteps he lifted his head smiling at me he opened my car door. He didn't scold me and I raised my brow.

"Woah! My brother is being a gentleman," I said pinching his cheeks.

"Ugh! Don't, I'm just being nice here because I missed you."

"Awe, I missed you too," I say kissing his cheek.

"Array yarr! You are leaving a lipstick mark on my cheek," he said whipping his cheek with the back of his hand.

"You can always use the tissue paper to wipe it off," I say.

"Oh really?" He gave me a blank.

"Yes."

"Shut up."

I laughed before getting in. He got in closing the door.

I buckled my seat belt and turned my head to see that Nico is standing near the main entrance with his arms crossed.

I frown my brows seeing him. I don't understand him, he ignores me and then again looks for me.

"You okay? Why are you frowning?" I turn my head and look at Ishaan.

"Nothing," I reply. His gaze goes to where Nico stood.

He didn't say a word and nodded his head. "Okay."

The driver started driving the car, I place my bag in the middle and look at the screen.

I waited as Ishaan got a call. He is probably talking with his friends.

"We will be there in thirty minutes at max."

"Yeah... Yeah... She is also attending the wedding with me."

He looks at me and I raise my bro. He ended the call.

"My friends are asking if you are coming or not. I told them that you are joining too," he said.

"Okay, so everyone from your group ate attending the wedding?"

"Not really, a few of them aren't attending as they are on other sides of the world. But most of them will be there. They know you and you know them," he said tapping his fingers on the armrest.

"Nervous?"

"Nah."

"Then why do I feel like you are nervous about something?" I ask him turning in my seat and facing him.

"Hahahaha, I'm not nervous."

I gave him a doubtful look. I don't say a word to him. "Okay."

Then we become quiet before I feel like asking him a question.

"What are you gifting Arjun and Tanvi?" I ask.

"Iron box, the new edition one. It's on the passenger seat," he said pointing to the seat.

"Iron box?" I ask him in confusion.

"Why would you gift your best friend an iron box?"

"Yeah! Iron box to iron his wife's clothes. Tanvi usually makes him iron his clothes," Ishaan joked.

"Wait are you serious about it?" I asked.

"Yup!" he said showing me the wrapped up gift.

"Idiotic."

"Trust me dee(sis), he gonna need it and I'm just helping him by giving one." He shook his head looking out of the window.

"So are you going to iron your girlfriend's clothes?"

"What a stupid question," he replied.

Even if Ishaan and I are close, I don't know a thing about his crushes or anything personal.

Ishaan likes to stay quiet, he doesn't open up about anything. All the time I saw him going for cricket practice or hanging out alone in his room.

"Tell me, it's not a stupid question. Tell me if you are going to do it or not?"

I watch his face as he looks out of the window. He is thinking about something.

"It depends... It depends on the situation. If she does my things why wouldn't I do her laundry," he said.

"Ohoh... Point. Do you have anyone you like?" I ask him with a smile on my face.

"I'm not into Arjun world yet. There's a lot of time for me to meet someone," he replied turning his face and looking at me.

"You never know."

"Not really."

I shook my head while laughing. Arjun the one whose wedding we are attending now is Ishaan's close friend. They both did schooling together before Arjun's family shifted to New York.

He is getting married at a young age because he doesn't wanna wait long when he loves his girl. I don't wanna complain though because I know him and his girl for a long back. High school sweethearts.

"Is mamu (uncle) and mami are going to Varanasi?" I ask.

"They are going. Even Dadu and dadi are going to Varanasi along with others."

"When?" I asked him.

"Probably next month. Papa and mama may join them."

"What about you?" I ask him.

"Nope, my training starts soon and I can't go on a vacation."

"We reached," he said as the car halted.

I get down the car along with him. "Thank you."

"Thank you." We both thank the driver. We walk towards the entrance.

We reached the hall where the wedding is going on. Ishaan helped me out. I met all my brother's friends. I know all of them because they used to come home daily, they used to have sleepovers.

I don't have any problem being with them as I know everyone right from their childhood.

*

"Look at Arjun, he doesn't stop smiling man!" Rahul said.

"True, he is happy that both the families agreed," Isha spoke out.

We all sat together joining the tables and bringing the chairs. Ishaan sat beside me holding his fruit juice. Ishaan doesn't drink, he is a nonalcoholic guy.

"What are you thinking?" I ask Ishaan.

He turns his head and lazily shakes his head. "Nothing, what about you?"

"Just looking around," I say looking at the couple.

Rahul and Isha started talking. I observe Ishaan as he looks around. I feel like he is searching for something.

"So Rahul," I say turning my head.

"Yes," Rahul replied turning his head.

"So all your close friends are here?" I ask him.

"Nah, one is missing," he said.

"Yeah... We thought she would be coming but she didn't come," Isha said.

"Who is she?"

"Kashvi... Kashvi our best friend isn't here," Rahul said.

"Kashvi? Have I met her?" I ask him.

"Nope, you never met her but she is our best friend and a part of our group," Isha said.

"If she is a part of your group, why didn't I met her?"

"Because Ishaan never invited her to our sleepovers. And she never came to your home, you didn't meet her," Rahul said.

"Why didn't you invite her when she is a part of your group?" I ask Ishaan.

He doesn't answer my question and rolls his eyes.

"Because he doesn't like her and they never spoke even if she is a part of our group. I think it's been three years that we have last seen her," Rahul said.

"I saw her seven months ago. She was in Mussoorie, working as a community manager of a backpacking hostel," Isha said.

I looked at Ishaan as he stopped tapping his finger on his thigh as he concentrated on what Isha is saying.

"Aw... Did you meet her? Wow man, I tried but couldn't. Heard that she is travelling a lot," Rahul said.

"Stop talking about her. Can we just watch the wedding," Ishaan said.

I roll my lips into my mouth as I stop myself from smiling.

"Okay..."

"Okay, we won't talk about Kashvi," Rahul and Isha said.

We become silent, Rahul and Isha start talking about some other matters.

"They look cute though," I whispered to Ishaan.

"Everyone looks cute in their marriage. I don't even understand how they gonna survive all life together."

"Ishaan, they love each other and they gonna live their lives together helping each other. And our parents are an example of that," I said which made him roll his eyes.

"Don't roll your eyes young man, I'm gonna tease you the day you get married."

"Like it's going to happen," he joked while I rolled my eyes.

"Let's go and congratulate the couple before they get attacked for pictures," Rahul said standing up.

"Yes."

"Yeah."

True to his words after we all congratulated and stepped down, they were attacked by the photographers to pose for many pictures.

Ishaan gave the gift to Arjun while I laughed knowing what it is. Ishaan smirked while Arjun gave us a confused look.

We were eating our food while Priya questioned Ishaan.

"Ishaan when Kia Adhi(sister) gets married you gonna cry?"

"She isn't going to marry soon, she still has three to four years. So you ask me that question that time," Ishaan said eating his food.

"Who knows she may marry next year," Pranav said. My eyes widen and I choked on my food when I heard that. I mean we are going to end this year in two months.

Ishaan patted my back, handing me a glass of water. "Stop it guys, she doesn't wanna marry soon. And I'm sure if she finds someone she would tell us."

I'm confused if I should feel proud that I have an understanding brother or feel bad that I didn't tell him about Nico on whom I got feelings.

I will tell him later tonight, he will be staying here in Xaiden's room for one night.

He will be returning home tomorrow night as he has his flight early in the morning.

I didn't use my phone all day. I spent my time talking and smiling. It's good to see all these people, I'm happy that Ishaan got some cool friends to be with.

He doesn't meet all of them or be in touch regularly but he trusts them like a family.

"Bye!" I said hugging everyone.

The chauffeur drove us back to the mansion. I thanked him for driving us and told him to drive safe. I walked in to see the lights off maybe everyone is sleeping.

"Dee, can we spend some time together before I leave?" Ishaan asked.

"Yup, go and change into comfy clothes and come to my room," I said walking towards my room.

I saw Nico standing on the first floor looking at me and Ishaan. Ishaan didn't see him I guess.

"Hey..."

"Hi, did you enjoy your day?" Nico asked following me into my room.

"Yeah, I had a good time with Ishaan, I missed him," I said smiling I turned my face to his side.

"How was yours?" I asked.

"It was good."

"Did you eat?"

"Yeah," he said. I nodded my head pushing the door.

We aren't talking actually but today he is willingly talking taking me by surprise. I turned around to face him, he was looking at the floor. Busy in his thoughts.

"Goodnight Kiara."

"Goodnight Nico... " he stared at me for few seconds before turning around and walking off to his room. I changed into something comfy and washed off my face.