Chapter-48

"Lorenzo I'll kill you."

I hear angleo scream and smile.

They both have been acting like this for past two days. They are actually acting like siblings who are always sabotaging each other for fun.

They have a match going on about who annoys other the most. Yesterday only Lorenzo replaced Xavier's shampoo with slime.

Xavier also refused to backed down, he mixed laxatives in lorenzo's coffee. He was suffering from diarrhoea for almost two days.

I gave him some meds. He has recovered a lot since then.

I look at the dress laid in front of me.

"Ma'am, I think you should wear this."

One of the stylist says

"And pair this necklace with it."

The other stylist tell me.

I just smile and nod approving thier choice.

Lorenzo's uncle who hosted us in this island has invited us all on a dinner tonight.

So both Xavier and Lorenzo hired some stylist for me.

Ofcourse they took this as an opportunity to compete too.

I hear footsteps approaching and soon Lorenzo enters my room.

Walking hastily towards me he comes and pecks my forehead.

"Sweetheart I have to leave for work. I'll see you tonight."

"Where are you? You fucker."

We both hear Xavier's distant voice as he screams for Lorenzo on top of his lungs.

"What have you done this time?"

I ask him while putting my hands on my hips.

"Nothing, just gave him a taste of his own medicine."

He says while smiling like a naughty kid.

"Be prepared for the dinner. We'll leave when I come back."

"Now I need to leave before that bastrad catches me."

He says and again pecks my forehead.

He moves out hurriedly.

As he moves out the door, I turn back and see the stylists all looking at me and grinning.

"Well I thought we were done here."

I tell them

And they all nod and scurriedly move out too.

I move towrads Nikolai"s crib and see that he is still fast asleep. I sit besides the crib and gently bend down to put a kiss on his head.

My cute sleepy baby.

"Kuhu have you seen....

Xavier barges into the room while speaking.

But he stops mid sentence as he fondly looks at me and Nikaloi.

"Seen who?"

I interrogate.

"Never mind. Leave it."

He says and moves in. He comes and sits besides me observing nikaloi too.

"He is finally asleep. I heard he kept you up all night."

He says while lovingly looking at him.

"He is teething. Babies get really cranky at this time. It's normal for him to be up all night. Atleast now he is sleeping."

I tell him.

He looks up at me and smiles warmly. He cups my face with his left hand and says.

"You say we both saved your life. But I don't know what I would have done without you. You took care of nikaloi wondorously. You brought peace and care into my life with your arrival."

His words warm up my heart.

"And now I am bringing chaos. It is because of me that Nikaloi got so sick back there."

I say the bitter truth which has been weighing on my heart since I have known about my son being sick.

"You did nothing. It was merely a play of fate and you just got involved in. Besides sooner or later nikaloi has to learn to how live few days without you."

"No, he doesn't I'll always be there for him when he needs me."

I say and bend down to place a kiss on his head.

"Since the moment you entered our lives you have given us nothing but selfless love without wanting any luxury in return. If anything I am indebted to you."

He says and takes my hand in his, bringing it close to his face. His kisses the back of my hand.

"But now I am hurting you both intentionally or unintentionally. And it pains me to see you both suffer in any form."

I feel my tears surfacing.

"No, you are not. You are still doing us both father and son a favour by being there for us selflessly."

"Kuhu, I have seen your motherhood flourish in front of my own eyes.

Seeing you grow from a timid women to this firm mother. Noone could have done it better than you. You can never hurt nikaloi not even in your dreams."

He says and I feel my heart brimming with joy.

"And about me. What I feel is my problem, darling. It should never concern you. You have a spot in my heart no other women have occupied till now but that doesn't mean that I want you to force yourself into feeling the same for me."

"I'd be the most happiest man of the planet if you reciprocate my feelings but that doesn't imply I want you to push yourself into feeling something for me."

"Even your friendship is a treasure for me. I want you to do what your heart wishes without thinking about me and stopping yourself."

"Because truly my heart smiles with your happiness, even if it lies with someone else."

He says the last line with heaviness.

I see a sombre look on his face but he quickly masks it.

"I want your love not your pity, darling." He says smiling.

I wind my arms around him and hug him.

"Xavier, you are the friend I didn't know I needed so badly."

I mutter while hugging him.

"Well I am glad. I am of use to you."

He humors.

I laugh.

"You were looking for someone I suppose."

I ask him diverting the topic.

"Yeah, I was just finding Lorenzo.

He replies.

"You both are fighting again."

"It's not my fault. He pokes me."

He says with an annoyed look on his face.

"You both are equally insufferable."

I humor.

"Don't associate me with him. I am much wiser than him."

"I think he has the same opinion about you."

I say while trying to stifle my laugh.

"But I must say you two have gotten rather close."

He averts his eyes and makes a look of pure disgust over my remark of their changed dynamic.

"That's not true."

He says defensively.

I look at him with a look of don't lie.

He sighs and says

"Okay fine. He has grown a bit over me. But still if I ever got the chance I'd knock him out without a second thought."

I grin like a Cheshire cat after hearing him.

You will not.

I say in my mind.

........................

I look at myself in the mirror.

The black dress clings to my body like second skin.

I adjust my diamond earring and smooth out the uneven lines of the dress.

The dress is beautiful no doubt but I haven't wore something like this for so long that I don't feel confident enough to go out like this.

"You look beautiful ma'am."

The stylist says as she fixes my hair.

I smile and utter.

"Thank you."

They bring my heels and I put them on.

"Then we should get going."

They say and I look at the watch seeing it's time for me to go.

They walk ahead me as we all move out of my room. I reach the stairs and look down.

I see both Lorenzo and Xavier standing by the end of stairs. They are conversing, no they are actually arguing about something.

I feel jitters as I inhale deeply. I don't know why I am fretting so much. It's not like they are seeing me for the first time.

It's fine.

I tell myself as I start moving down the stairs.

I avoid looking at them as I move down the stairs. I could hear their distant voice. They are fighting about something.

I keep moving down but halfway down I don't hear their voices anymore. It's complete silence.

Out of curiosity I look up at them and see them already looking up at me.

Both their eyes fixated in me.

Why are they both looking at me with that expression?

Admiration.

Oh God! They are making me more nervous.

I look at Xavier and see him look at me fondly. The same you look at a serene riverbed in midst of a dense forest.

I shift my eyes over to Lorenzo.

While he is also looking at me affectionately but there is nothing serene about the way he is looking.

He is looking as if he is about to seize his prey. He looks at me ardently. I see him putting his hands in his pockets as he tilts his head back. His eyes shifts from my face to my body. He bites his lower lip as he again looks back into my eyes.

I feel myself tripping.

"Kuhu"

Both of them shout and come over to me.

I catch the railing before I could fall.

They both stop in front of me.

"Careful, darling."

Xavier says

"Are you alright sweetheart?"

Lorenzo asks.

"I I am fine."

I say as I avoid looking at Lorenzo.

"We should hurry or else we will get late."

I say and they both nod.

I pick the end of my dress falling in the floor and lift it a bit.

As I am about to move down they both forward their hands to aid me.

God, no.

I just want to have a peaceful night.

I say internally.

I look at both their hands and then at their face. They also look at me and then stare at each other with a look of hate.

What do I do now?

I think

Just when I thought that I was doomed I see luca calling out for me.

"Cognata. Come see Niko is crying."

He says and enters the hall with Niko is his arms crying.

We all three look at him.

I love you luca.

I rejoice on seeing him.

"Coming."

I say as I ignore both of them and move down hastily.

I could hear both of them groan as I move towards luca and take nikaloi from his hands.

"Now now mumma is here."

I say as I pat Niko's back.

"You look hot cognata."

Luca says while complimenting me.

"Really?'

I ask him still unsure about the dress.

"Yes, you are absolutely killing it. I am sure many boys are going to swoon over you."

He says reassuringly.

"Well I think we should be respectful even when complimenting. Don't you Lorenzo?"

Xavier says as he comes besides me.

"Yes you are absolutely right, Xavier. Luca has still a lot to learn such as how not to interrupt."

Lorenzo says and stands by me too.

"Yes, he should learn from you a thing or two."

Xavier utters.

What, now they are supporting each other?

What the hell is going on between these two?

They are going to give me headache.

"I think we all should get going."

I say putting an end to the argument.

We all move out and see the cars parked for our departure.

I move towards the black Maybach parked just in front of me to sit. But befor I could reach the car I see both Xavier and Lorenzo hurriedly move past me towards the car. They both grab car door handle.

"Oh! You both want to sit together."

Luca says

"What?"

They speak utterly astonished at Luca's remark.

"Don't worry fratello I'll take cognata and we both will come together. You both can travel together."

He says

"Luca, are you really my brother?"

Lorenzo asks as he looks at luca with a look of helplessness.

"I doubt that."

Xavier intervenes.

"It's fine. I'll come with luca. You both can come together."

I say and sit in the other car. Luca soon follows me.

He comes and starts playing with nikaloi, trying his best to make him laugh.

Soon the drivers come and we head towards the dinner.

.......................

I look at the get together organised my Mr Vitalli. The decorations were really cute and minimalistic.

I thought it was a small event but by the opulence of it I think I am mistaken. I look at all the people flocking in.

I was feeling uncomfortable as I thought it to be a close contact dinner but it turned out to be a fucking ball.

That's why they both hired the stylist.

I thank them both for saving me from being improperly dresses for the event.

I hear a ruckus going at the entrance and turn around.

Ofcourse

It had to be these two stupid men.

Just when I was appreciating them.

God knows what they are doing? Sometimes they are united and the other they are fighting like dogs.

"Luca here take care of nikaloi for a moment."

I hand over nikaloi to him and move towards them.

They are creating a drama, people are looking at them.

"What are you two even doing?"

I scold them

"Kuhu"

"Sweetheart"

They both look up at me.

"Yes me and would you please enlighten on what is going on here?"

I ask them

"He stepped on my shoes."

Lorenzo says while pointing on his shoes.

"He stepped first."

Xavier exclaims.

"No, you liar. I did not."

"You are the one lying."

They both point fingers at each other.

"Stop it. Quit acting like kids and be on your best behaviour today. I don't want you two bickering about anything."

"And if I catch you two fighting or creating a scene then you will not like the consequences."

I threaten them as they both look at me dumbfounded.

They both nod their and I say

"Now follow me."

I start going back to luca and I hear the footsteps as they accompany me.

I take nikaloi from Luca's hand and say

"I think we should sit over at the dinning table. It would be dinner soon."

"They all just nod and follow me. As we approach the table I see Lorenzo and Xavier fastening as they both hurriedly go ahead, moving past me. They go and sit side by side at the table with a seat left in the middle.

"Oh it's a race."

Luca says and he also runs behind them sitting in the middle.

"Why didn't you both tell me it's a race?"

He says and I see both of them hold their head in between their hands.

I stand back and look at their antics.

"What are you doing here all alone my child?"

Mr Vitalli asks as he approaches me.

"Nothing. I was just about to sit at the table."

"Well them let me have the pleasure of having you and this cute guest beside me."

He says as he lightly pinches nikaloi's cheeks.

Niko laughs.

"Aww he is adorable."

He exclaims. His eyes shining with excitment on seeing nikaloi reaction.

"Now I have to force you to sit besides me because I can't let this adorable guest unaccompany me."

I chuckle and say.

"Ofcourse, me and Niko would love your hospitality."

I say and we both move towrads the dining table. He sits at the head of the table and I along with him.

Whole time he is smitten by Niko as he continues to try different methods to make him laugh.

I look at other end of the table and see three of them sitting. Luca is saying something but I don't think they are paying him attention. Instead they both are looking at me with a sombre expression.

I pass them a smile and it seems their mood brightens up a little.

I feel the stare of people and look around to see them looking at me. I am sitting with the host of the party and that too Mr vitalli, who is reputed. He is known to be reserved and now that I am sitting with him ofcourse people are bound to talk.

I feel the scrutinizing gazes and the gossips floating in the room. The room feels smaller.

I feel parched and feel the anxiety rising in me.

"Don't pay them attention. They are vultures who feed on other people. They try their best to put other's down."

"When you came in you were nervous and timid. I saw you looking around but then you marvellously overcame your anxiety. You also put Lorenzo and Xavier in their place."

"You were impressive."

"If you can control those two morons these people are no big deal. Just be yourself."

I laugh at his words.

I see Niko getting fuzzy.

"What happened to him?"

He asks

"I think he is hungry it's his time to eat."

"Well then we will serve our adorable guest some food."

"But it's still not the time of dinner. There is still an hour left for it to began."

He suddenly gets up and clinks his glass with a spoon grabbing people's attention.

"Ladies and gentlemen I think it's the time we begin the party. I am grateful to host you all and I hope you have a wonderful night. The floor is yours.

And the dinner is being served so don't starve yourself."

All the people cheer and laugh at his words and the dinner finally begins.