In class during the lecture, Lilith took notes as Tiffany threw a paper at Lily and they laughed at her. Lilith calmed down and continued writing.
After class, she and her friends were all having lunch.
"So you went back home?" Gloria said.
She nodded.
"Oh Mila made this for you all," Lily said as she dropped the paper on the table.
It said,
Hi mil miss everybody
They read it together.
"I miss her too."
"This is so cute," Wiktor said as they read it.
"She and her Dad made it together," Lily said.
They admired the colors.
Just then Lily's phone rang.
She picked it up.
"Hello?" she said.
It was her father.
"Oh Greetings Baba," she said, standing up. "Excuse me."
They nodded.
"Yes Father tell me?" she said.
"How is Mila?" Sohan said.
"With Nikki we moved back with him she running around happily with him," Lilith said.
"How is college?" Sohan said.
"Hard baba classes Work studying and also some brats annoying me daily in class," she said.
"Bullies huh," he said with a chuckle.
"Haan Baba (Yes baba)," she said.
"So my child how is everything?" he said.
They spoke for a few minutes.
"Alright baba Love you," she said as the call ended.
She sighed and walked back to the table.
"Got the notes I sent?" she said.
As they chatted.
After the last class, she entered the Karate class.
"Lily how are you dear?" Ms Maho half Japanese half Russian said.
"Am fine and you?" Lily said as she wore her white Uwagi (Jacket) and Zubon (Pants).
White belt as a Beginner.
She paired with a girl as they started with the basics.
Beginner Karate Lesson 1
The dojo was calm and silent as the students stood in neat rows waiting for their lesson to begin.
Lilith stood among the other students wearing a clean white karate gi with a white belt tied neatly around her waist.
Beside her was another beginner student who was just as eager to learn.
At the front of the dojo their Sensei watched everyone with a proud smile.
The Sensei stood straight then bowed.
"Osu."
Lilith and the other student bowed together.
"Osu."
The Sensei spoke clearly.
"Stand with your feet shoulder width apart Keep your back straight Relax your shoulders Look forward."
Lilith and the other student adjusted their posture carefully while the Sensei walked around correcting everyone's stance.
The Sensei demonstrated a proper fist.
"Curl your fingers into a fist Place your thumb outside your fingers Strike with the first two knuckles."
Lilith looked closely before copying the movement.
The other student practiced beside her until both had formed proper fists.
The Sensei stepped forward.
"Step one foot forward Bend your front knee Keep your back leg straight."
Lilith and the other student copied the stance.
"Pull one fist to your hip Punch straight forward Turn your fist so your palm faces down Pull your other fist back to your hip Breathe out as you punch."
"Hai Sensei."
Lilith and the other student punched together focusing on accuracy and control.
The Sensei continued.
"Raise your arm Sweep it downward to protect your lower body."
Lilith practiced the downward block with the other student repeating the movement until it became smooth.
The Sensei demonstrated a front kick.
"Lift your knee Snap your foot forward Pull it back quickly Return to your stance."
Lilith watched carefully then performed the kick while the other student practiced beside her.
The Sensei corrected their balance and encouraged them to keep trying.
The Sensei gave the practice commands.
"Practice 10 right punches 10 left punches 10 right downward blocks 10 left downward blocks 10 front kicks with each leg."
Lilith and the other student trained together counting each movement while encouraging one another.
When the practice ended the Sensei gathered all the students.
"Always bow before and after training Listen to your instructor Train with control Never use Karate to bully others."
Lilith and the other student nodded respectfully.
The Sensei continued.
"Learn these Japanese words."
"Osu means greeting and respect."
"Rei means bow."
"Yoi means ready."
"Hajime means begin."
"Yame means stop."
"Kiai means shout with spirit."
Lilith and the other student repeated every word until they remembered them.
The Sensei smiled proudly.
"Excellent work everyone."
The Sensei bowed.
"Osu."
Lilith and the other students bowed together.
"Osu."
The first karate lesson ended with every beginner including Lilith leaving the dojo with greater confidence respect and determination to continue learning.
In Nikolai's office, Mila was asleep with her pacifier.
It was 4 days to his birthday.
He was happy to celebrate with his daughter.
"Does she remember…" he said.
Damian entered.
"Boss meeting they are waiting for you," he said.
"Check on Mila," Nikolai said and kissed her forehead.
"Okay Dammy do you think Lily remember my birthday?" he said.
"I think so boss but she will," he said.
Nikolai nodded as they entered the meeting room.
He read the paperwork.
"Begin," he said.
As they started talking he listened.
He didn't like it.
"Not good," he said.
They looked scared.
"Can it be supplied in 1 week?" he said.
"Y..Yes sir," the manager said.
Nikolai's face was cold and unreadable.
The door opened.
"Dada?" Mila said holding her blanket.
"Hi Mil," Sabrina said.
"H..hi mil."
"Yum," Mila said.
"Hunger love?" Nathan said.
She tapped her belly.
"I think that a yes," Nikolai said.
She waddled to him.
He kissed her forehead and carried her in his arms.
"Here mil a snack," Alexio said.
"Tank you," Mila said.
"Good job Baby," Nikolai said, kissing her forehead.
She ate the snack and they continued their work.
Meanwhile in the academy.
"She looks fully concentrated on the drawing," Laetitia said while drinking her coffee.
Lilith held the drawing border carefully.
Peter was also in the same Art club.
He watched her.
As he went behind her and saw her draw his eyes grew wider.
"Woah," he whispered.
It wasn't just a drawing but an emotion too.
She drew a boat of roses filled with thorns and 2 lovers laying holding each other and on the other side was also 2 lovers hugging and hands behind them trying to separate them.
He went back to his drawing.
"Are you okay Lilith your drawing is not just a drawing your emotions What wrong?" Mr Ignat said.
"It just how I felt over 2 years ago when people separated My love and I and now….still learning about trust and strength," she said.
"Honestly Lily it not easy in love but these are tests and challenges to see if Both your love is worth it and strong Don't give up understand each other for your love don't leave again stay and fix yourself and Fix it all don't run from it," Mr Ignat said.
She nodded.
"Thank you sir," she said.
He hugged her.
At the cafe Lily was thinking.
Suddenly she remembered.
"Nikki birthday," she said.
Her eyes grew wide.
She checked the calendar.
It was 29 March.
She looked at 2nd April.
It was on Thursday.
"I have time," she said.
She took plain sheets and a pen and began writing and thinking about what to do for his birthday.
The Venom Syndicate walked in.
"Hey Take our orders," Baran said.
"Am busy asked someone else," she said still writing.
Alara slammed her hand on the table.
"Take them now."
Lilith looked into his eyes as Alara's dark gray eyes met Lily's green eyes.
"I Am Busy," Lilith said.
"You got nerves girl."
"Valen it getting to much you need to be taught a lesson," he said.
Lilith looked at him and said,
"Oh you want me to beg you not to do anything Ok ok ok hold on," she said standing up.
They watched her.
She dropped water into her eyes.
"Anddd action!" Ksenie said.
Gloria held her giggles.
"Arre Sir please don't hurt me or you might end up in the hospital the next day not because of the Karma but maybe an accident might happen maybe someone beating you up maybe?" she said acting like she was crying.
Students laughed at them.
She now looked at them and said,
"Why do we need to be scared of a group of idiots who goes around the school terrorizing students who also paid the same fees and has scholarships too because they are smarter than you all you don't get to treat people like they aren't worthy of being in the same school with all of you they work hard to get into the school Why you all just sit there while your parents pay your fees and still fail classes Now this is the last time I am telling you My anger is worse than my father I get mad at the smallest nonsense from your stupid kinds it better to mind your business and don't cross my part."
Lilith said,
Paagal log bas mujhse panga lekar khud ko aspataal pahunchana chahte hain (These crazy people are just trying to land themselves in the hospital by messing with me).
She said again pouting adorably.
Valen looked at her.
"You will pay——" he said.
"Arre Get LOST!" she said as she hit her hand on the table making everyone in the cafe flinch by her strong voice.
Valen also flinched.
She looked at him.
"Get lost," she said.
This time it was low and terrifying.
He moved back and left.
She rubbed her face out of frustration.
"That was so cool," the students said.
After the shifts.
She got her first salary.
"Here you go girls I really love the way you all run the cafe am impressed anddd we made over ₽2 million here and I add the salary amount to ₽800,000 Thank you guys so much for your hardwork," Mr Ulisse the gay boss said.
"Thank You Sir!" they said cheering.
Lily bit her lip happily as she got on her bike riding it fast.
She arrived at the wall filled with just bushes.
She knocked.
Not just any knock but a special one only family knew about.
The small wall door opened.
She looked around.
Nobody was there.
She entered.
"Welcome home Mrs Lily," the guard said.
They scanned the area to see if she was being followed but nobody was there.
She rode her bike past all the gates and parked it.
She happily skipped inside.
"Good evening," she said.
"Evening Baneva how was school?" Asif said reading work papers.
"Exhausted uncle," she said.
Rima walked in and gave Asif his tea.
"Thank you darling," he said giving her a kiss.
"Hey Lilith!" Valen and Valcien said.
"Hi guys where have you both been?" Lily said hugging them.
"Traveling working it tiredly," Valen said.
"There this bully in my school sadly you and him bear the same name," she said.
"Valen gross," she laughed.
They hugged her.
Later that night Nikolai put Mila to sleep and sat on the bed.
"Nikki Are you okay?" she said.
He lay on her.
"Hmmm I am now Lily," Nikolai said.
"What on Thursday?" she said.
He looked at her.
"You don't remember."
She knew but didn't want him to know she forgot.
My birthday….
Nikolai said in his mind.
He shook his head.
"Nothing," he said as he kissed her arm.
"Tell me Nikki what the one thing you always wanted to have as a kid?" she said as she was typing on her phone.
"When I was a kid I wanted to spend time with my family but everyone was busy I want to make tents outside and watch the stars on my 6th birthday everyone forgot it was my birthday," Nikolai said.
Lily's heart tightened.
"Except Grandpa he remember."
"I wanted 4 things."
"1 lay outside in a tent while watching the stars."
"2 games I always wanted to play video games like other kids I read and work hard for the family my Silbings to eat and have clothes to wear to be happy that why I start boxing my gloves are now old I have used them for 25 years now," he said.
She rubbed his face lovingly and also took notes on what he wanted.
"3rd?" she said as she kissed his head.
"3rd is...a black diamond dagger I don't have one that reminds me to get one," he said.
She rubbed his hair.
"4th is all my childhood snacks I always wanted to taste I always eat luxury foods and I just want to feel like a Kid a boy who yearns for all these things but never got anything good just pain deep heart broken pain," he said.
She wiped his tears.
"Shhhh come now My sweet baby boy Sleep now," she said holding him tight.
She got an alert from the school.
Her scholarship fees.
She received ₽300,000.
Now she had ₽1.1 million.
She looked at Nikolai who had fallen asleep.
"I will make your dreams come true," she said.
She began searching for things and ordered them.
Then she took some money from the black card, the one both the India and Bengali family sent on her wedding.