Nikolai

11

Kiara POV

I woke up early in the morning to get ready. We all ended up sleeping in the living room.

Elora aunty woke us up, they returned last night. Kenric and Ezarah left home along with Elwen, Kreo and Aubree.

As soon as I entered my room I made a beeline towards the bathroom.

When I was done with my bath, I dried my body wandered towards the closet.

I called my parents, spoke with them whole air drying my hair. I spoke with them for an hour before ending the call.

I dressed in a chanderi and cotton silk anarkali. I left my hair open. I put the eyeliner and eye kajal.

I dabbed my cheeks and face with makeup powder before applying the blush pink lipstick.

There was a knock on the door. I looked in the mirror, Xahria walked in her red anarkali.

"Woah..! You look great girl," she said looking at me top to bottom while I'm putting on my earrings.

"You too, you look beautiful and red suits you," I said truthfully. She looked beautiful in her full sleeve red dress.

"You are done getting ready? The guests have arrived," she says.

"The guests are here?"

"Yes, the boys are taking care of them. We need to be downstairs," she said.

"Just a minute."

I changed my decision and decided to tie my hair into a low bun after I saw Xahria braiding her hair.

"Let's go before the puja began. I don't want Mumma to get angry," she said making me laugh.

It reminded me of my mum, she used to scold us in the evening about how late I was to the puja.

"I'm done, let's go," I say standing up from the chair.

"Yup."

"Is Aubree and Xahria came?" I ask her.

"Yes, even Angel and Kai are here," she said.

"They came?" I ask.

"Yes, yesterday night. It was late so they couldn't meet you," she replied.

We went downstairs, my eyes widen when my eyes caught the sight of Nico as he was standing near the staircase talking with someone.

I always saw him in comfy clothes, in a suit or jeans. I swallowed the lump as I slowly checked him out.

I surely developed a crush on him but I would never tell that out to anyone.

He wore a pearl white kurta and velvet jacket. His hair is nearly done, he smiled at the person.

"Xaiden bhaiyya and Aubree are standing over there," Xahria said. My gaze went to where she pointed out.

I looked at Xaiden and others, they all wore kurtas. Even Aubree wore a pink anarkali.

Aubree is the first one to see us. She smiled brightly as Xahria and I wandered towards them.

"There you both are," Aubree said.

"You both look beautiful," Aubree added.

"You too," Xahria and I said at the same time.

"Hey, Xaiden," I say.

"Hey, you look beautiful." He hugs me and I hug him back.

"You look good."

"Where is Angel?" Xahria asked.

"She went to the kitchen to bring something," Aubree said.

"Hey Ezarah," I say to Ezarah.

"Hey!" She smiles brightly. We hug before I greet Kenric and Kreo.

"Lorenzo uncle asked Elwen to bring something, they forgot something at home," Ezarah said.

"Everyone gather in the mandir room, puja starts in ten minutes. Don't bring your phones or put on silent mode," Xavier uncle said.

"Okay!" everyone said.

Everyone started moving to the mandir room. "Let us go, we can meet the others after puja," Xaiden said.

"Yes."

"Yes."

"Nico and you are wearing matching clothes," Xahria said in a teasing tone.

"Coincidence..." I reply. My gaze goes over to see around. He already left with the person he was talking with.

"What happened?" I heard Kreo ask Ezarah.

"Nothing," Ezarah replied.

"Then why did you suddenly lost your smile after checking your messages?"

I turn around to see Ezarah wearing a blank face, she was happy and smiling a while ago.

"All okay?" Kreo asked in worry.

"Everything's fine. You don't worry, there's nothing to worry about, Kreo."

"Why did you stop walking?" Xaiden asked who didn't hear Kreo and Ezarah.

"Huh? Nothing," I reply and start walking.

"Phones on silent mode, please don't repeat like last year," Xaiden reminded.

Xahria already told me about the phones so I left my phone in my room. We entered the mandir.

The whole mandir room or hall is filled with guests and kids.

Nico finally turned around, our gaze met. I couldn't stop myself from smiling as his eyes slightly widen before he composed himself.

"We need to sit on the left side while the elders sit on the right side," Aubree said.

"Yes."

A few of the guests turn their heads and look at us as we walk towards the left side. I sit in between Kreo and Xahria.

My gaze goes to the person sitting beside Nico. I have seen him in the pictures, he is Kai. Kenric and Ezarah's elder brother.

He turned his head and looked at me. "Hi, I'm Kai," he said waving his hand. A welcoming smile on his face.

"Hi, I'm Kiara," I reply with a smile of my own.

I understood one thing, that everyone in the Sniper's group is way beautiful and handsome than the photos of them. The photos don't justify their true beauty.

"Angel, come sit here," Ezarah said. I turn my head to see the beautiful girl wearing blue anarkali.

She smiled wandering over to us and sitting beside Ezarah. She lifted her head and met my gaze.

"Kiara... Hi," she said with a smile on her face.

"Hi," I say smiling back. I spoke to her on video calls when she called Xahria and Aubree.

Though they are only hi, how are you, wassup and bye. I mean we didn't get much time. Either she was busy at that moment or I was.

This is the first time I'm meeting her personally.

"Hay Kiara!" I heard a voice, I turned around to see Greg. Greg entered the room and the puja started.

Everyone became silent, Greg wandered over to me.

"Nico, can you move a bit," Greg asked. Nico moved and Greg took the space beside me.

"Hi," I whispered as the puja started.

"Hi, you look beautiful," he said looking at my face.

"Thank you," I said tucking my hair strand back. My gaze shifted to Nico who sat beside Greg. He has a scowl on his face.

My brows frowned before I looked at the statue of Ganpati. As the minutes passed many people joined. By the end of the puja, everyone got ladoo as Prasad.

"Thank you for attending the puja, please don't leave with an empty stomach. Everyone gathers around in the backyard," Xavier uncle and Elora aunty said.

Everyone started going to the backyard. We kids waited as we want to eat at the end.

"We will go and check in the backyard," Xaiden said.

"Okay."

Nico, Xahria and Xaiden went out to make sure that everyone is eating.

"When did you come?" I asked Greg.

"I came before but had to go back," Greg replied.

"Why?" Kreo asked.

"My roommate needed the guest room's keys and the keys were in my car," Greg replied.

"You are staying in the same apartment?" Xahria asked Greg.

"Yeah but new roommate," Greg replied.

"Why? Your old roommate was a good man, isn't he?" Aubree asked.

"He is but he shifted to a new apartment with his girlfriend," Greg said.

"Oh, good. How is your present roommate?" Xahria asked.

"He is good but I don't see him. He stays out most of the nights and returns in the morning."

I was talking with Greg and others when Nico came out of nowhere.

"Hey Greg," he greeted Greg.

"Hi, Nico."

"Sorry man, I have to take Kiara with me," he said to Greg. I looked at him in confusion.

I was about to ask him for what he wrapped his hand around my wrist and pulled me towards the backyard. I looked at Aubree and others who are giving me a knowing smile.

Everyone was eating, Xahria is standing with a couple along with Xavier uncle and Elora aunty.

"What now?" I asked him.

"Be with me," he said.

"Huh?" he pulled me to an older couple.

"Hi Mr and Mrs Lee, did you enjoy the food?" he asked them politely.

"Hi Nico, we enjoyed it. If you don't mind can you pack us a box of these curries," Mrs Lee asked.

"Sure, Mrs Lee. Don't forget to take the sweet box with you," he said.

"We wouldn't." The couple laughed before Nico pulled on my hand.

"Please excuse us."

"Come on, let's go and pack curries for them," he said slipping his fingers in between mine.

His hand is larger than mine as I looked at our intertwined hands.

"Pack them in this disposable box," he said handing me three boxes. He stood there while I packed them neatly.

"You look beautiful," he said all of sudden.

"Thank you," I whispered. He laughed shaking his head because he knows I'm feeling uncomfortable.

"I will take them." I nodded my head making space for him. We walked back but this time I maintained space even though he wanted to hold my hand.

He made sure that I stayed beside him all the time. Elwen was the one who was in charged to take pictures of everyone. Kreo was with Greg and others.

Later I spoke to Angelique and Kai. They both are special in their way and terms. I enjoyed and loved their personalities.

Angel is truly an angel, innocent yet strong. I got to know that she is an artist. She is in Spain because of her six-month workshop.

Kai... He is a good man just like Kreo. Seems cold and distant but once you are friends with him you know that he is a softie.

For some reason, Nico didn't leave my side at all. He stayed close all the time even when his friends came to talk with him.

Sadly, Rowen and Ryder didn't come. Isabelle aunty and Zara aunty both missed their sons.

"Kids, go and have your lunch," Lorenzo uncle said.

"I'm hungry, let's go and settle down," Aubree said.

"Yes," Xahria said following Aubree. One by one we all went to the backyard where the lunch is arranged.

My stomach is growling as we didn't have our breakfast. My mouth watered seeing Indian food. Ezarah sat to my right, my left side chair is empty. Before Nico could sit.

"Greg sit beside me," I said patting the chair beside me.

"Okay." He sat beside me, I saw kreo and others smirking. I just ignored them.

Nico walked in he saw Greg beside me. He scowled before going and sitting beside Kai. I ate my food talking with Greg.

"Did you call your parents?" he asked.

"Yeah, I did in the morning. They were happy that I woke early," I said which made him laugh.

"How is your mom?"

"She is good now, her sugar levels went low," he said.

"Tell her to take care from my side," I said.

"Will tell babe," he said winking. I laughed before looking straight. Aubree and Xahria are laughing for some reason.

The lunch went peacefully, we laughed and joked around.

"Let us all gather for a picture," Elora aunty said.

We all stood in a group while one of Elwen's friends stood with the camera. I stood between Kreo and Angelique.

"Kreo gives me some space," Nico said coming in between me and Kreo.

"Can't you stand where you were," I whispered?

"I want to stand here, you have any problem?" he said rather loudly.

I looked at everyone to see them looking at us with amusement. I growled before turning my head.

"Change the poses for every click!" Xaiden said.

We changed many poses and in three photos Nico wrapped his arm around my waist.

"You can remove your hand now," I said ditched. He is behaving differently and I don't want others to gossip or tease me about this new behaviour of Nico towards me.

I even doubt that someone saw the interaction between Nico and me in the Mandir room.

"Nico... Remove your hand," I say. He removed it but stayed close to me.

He didn't say anything but smiled. What's with this man!