The Circle of Life - Addicted Series - BOOK 4

Extra material (part 2)

The kids were all lying in the make belief tent as Nick dims the lights and starts a movie.

"Ari, if you don't behave like the good girl I taught you to pretend like, you are not hanging out with your cousins in a really long time. I don't want any funny business." Ria warns her.

"Fine." Ari pouts.

"The problem is genetic, Ria. What will she do?" Nick quips at Ria amused.

"Shut up okay." she flick his shoulder as he pushes her out of the room laughing.

"Enjoy the complete movie experience guys. Knock the door if you want to come out. We have a guest." he tells them.

"Your kids are so perfectly behaved. Gosh! Especially Lana." Ria shakes her head, walking out to the dining table where everyone was waiting for them.

"That's coz I am an awesome parent, Ria."

"L.O.L!" Ria rolls her eyes. "Did you hear that Lia? Nick proclaims his awesome parenthood."

"He kind of is!" Lia smiles.

"Whatever you both. You know what, it's fine!!! I will take comfort in the fact that my daughter is much cuter than yours."

"She is SO not!" Nick immediately snaps at her.

"Woah! Dude, true fact - she totally is." Adi looks at him as if it the most obvious thing.

"Yeah, if the world is made up of only you two!" Nick looks at them outraged.

"Are you guys really having this conversation?" Lia points towards Mandira.

"Oh, so sorry. Hi Mandira!" they all wave at her. Mandira was this perky girl who had the sunniest smile stuck on her face permanently. She smiled like she is in a candy store. She dressed perfectly in a dark green evening dress. Perfectly styled hair layered around her face onto her shoulders. Perfect manicured nails. Perfect manners.

And then they all turn to Neal who had pulled on tracks and an old sweatshirt looking grumpy and surrounded. "Hi Neal."

Neal looks at all of them silently scoffing. "I want pizza." he gets up and goes to the counter.

"You begged me to make these dishes." Lia looks at him angrily.

"I don't like them anymore."

"He wants Paratas, Lia. You should have got them made." Ria looks at Neal with a straight face as he shoots fire at her.

"So, what do you do Mandira?" Lia asks.

"You can call me Mandy." she tells them.

"Mandy." Lia amends.

"I am an interior designer." she tells them.

"Oh cool. You work some place or are you on your own?" Nick asks.

"Well, my Dad has all these real estate properties and hotels. I work on them mostly."

"Neal, isn't that interesting?" Lia nudges him. Neal was completely on mute. He just shrugs.

"What do you do for fun, Mandy?" Ria asks.

"Gardening. I am into Ikebana. I like cooking. Baking."

"Perfect." Adi looks at her impressed. "Ria...here cooks too. Once every six months."

"Ungrateful!" she glares at him.

"Kidding baba. She cooks whenever she is in love with me. Which is.....once every six months."