Xenia looked towards the door for a brief moment before quickly pulling her hair together in a ponytail. She checked her dress in the mirror and then headed out of the room. Ashwini was waiting for her outside the room. Hand in hand they walked, laughed and smiled. A minute later they were in front of a big pool which had at least fifteen people in and around it. Ashwini and Xenia walked up to a slide, hand in hand. It was a broad slide which could accommodate both of them. Sitting together they laughed hysterically again. Then closing her eyes Xenia slid down with Ashwini, laughing. But as she broke through the water, she went deep inside, deeper than she expected. Her heart starts beating faster. Alarmed she opened her eyes abruptly. 

The last second was troubling, horrifying to be specific however the overall scene and multiple laughter made it a pleasant dream. She was still recovering from the alarm when she felt something. It took her a moment to understand that it was her phone vibrating. She moved her hand aimlessly on the bed only to find it under her leg. It was her cousin calling.

"Good morning!" Two of her cousins exclaimed together.

"Morning? What is happening?" She said softly with a frown on her forehead.

"Did you just wake up?" Tina asked.

"Yeah. It is okay. What happened? Why did you call so early in the morning?"

"Xenia di it's ten in the morning not early," Shaina said laughing.

"Too early for me. Why are you two so happy today?"

"Okay Listen. We have a plan. We are all going to make dolgona coffee together. Like, we will be on a video call as we make it and then we will drink it together, take pictures and post. It will be fun," explained Shaina.

"A little late on the trend but okay."

"It will be fun di! Join us. We will do it in the evening," said Tina

"I am in. Just message me the time."

"We will. But more or less it would be around five. Be ready by then."

"Okay. Now hang up. I want to sleep."

Her cousins laughed and tried to keep her engaged however she managed to disconnect the call. She tried sleeping again however failed. After fifteen minutes of trying she left her bed. Pulling her hair in a bun she walked to the kitchen. "Who was it?" Her mother asked referring to the call she received.

"Tina and Shaina. They want to do something together. They are bored."

Her mother furrowed her brow as she said, "What will you do together? You all are in three different places, three different houses."

"Video call. We will make Coffee together."

"Coffee?" Her mother exclaimed. "Is there nothing left?"

Xenia chuckled, "it's a new trend. Didn't you see any video of a coffee which has milk as the base and coffee which looks like chocolate above?" Her mother shook her head softly. "I will show you. It's called. Dal, Da, Dalu-lo? I do not know how to say that. I will show you."

Shaking her head her mother pointed towards the fridge, "Hand me the watermelon."

Without wasting time she did as was asked. "What will you do with the Watermelon in the morning?"

"Making some juice. Maier is very upset. He didn't have his breakfast. I thought he should at least have some juice."

"I never got the juice, " she complained before saying," Why is he upset?

"Because his flight got cancelled. He really thought he would leave on the nineteenth. I was sure he wasn't. Everything is locked even the airport, almost all the countries. I did not want to ruin his mood so I stayed quiet but I knew that was not going to happen."

Xenia pressed her lips together when her eyes fell on the window. Feeling the pain she witnessed the previous night she went to her bedroom. Her high spirit was altered as she remembered his face when he was notified about the flight. Never before Xenia wished with all her might to change something. Maier, whose colour changed, was depressed more than she or anyone else thought. His face was enough as evidence.

As quickly as her mind drifted towards sorrow it drifted back towards joy. A shower helped calm her nerves and forget the grief. She was vibrant and optimistic. Stroking her hand through her hair she felt content and at peace. Her hair felt soft and nice, a dream of every girl. When she walked in the kitchen again she was jubilant as compared to when she walked out.

"This new conditioner has a weird smell," she said upon entering the kitchen.

"Really?"

"Yes. I used it last week it was fine then but today maybe I used it a lot. All my hair has that smell. "

"I cannot smell it. It is not strong. Hey, keep an eye on the milk I have to return my sister's call. She had something important to say."

She quietly watched her mother leave. Then turned her attention to the milk. It was fairly chilled which meant she had a few minutes before it boiled. She stayed in the kitchen chatting to her friends. In the past, she had made the mistake of leaving the kitchen and then returning to a white counter and she did not wish to repeat that.

She was smiling and furiously typing when Maier came into the kitchen. Feeling guilty for her smile she kept her phone away instantly. She stayed quiet, wishing to be unseen. He looked around and then looked at Xenia. "Water?"

She nodded her head and quickly picked up a glass. Filling it she passed it to him. "Give me your bottle I will fill that too." He again looked around and found nothing.

"I am not sure where the bottle is."

"It is okay. I will give you another one." She walked to the fridge and took a water bottle out. He was still drinking his water so she leaned on the counter making no noise. "Do you want some breakfast?"

"No, thank you. I have a meeting in a few minutes."

"Eat fast. Eat something."

He shook his head. "I am fine, thank you."

"Do you need anything?" He forced a smile before shaking his head. He had not finished shaking the head when abruptly he gasped. "What happened?" She asked with a deep frown on her forehead.

"Nothing nothing." He understood he overreacted. "It is my nephews birthday today. I remembered it and had a plan for him the whole time but I forgot when the day arrived."

"That happens. We plan and arrange everything only to forget at the last moment. Call him now. I am sure he will be happy to receive a call. It will help you feel better too."

He shook his head and extended the glass towards her. "Thank you." Xenia smiled and took the glass and gave him the bottle. Taking the bottle he left the kitchen, saying nothing but leaving the emotion behind. Xenia had never seen him upset which was why she was clueless as to what to do. She was not very well at handling people with distress however she tried. But her lack of knowledge about him and the situation could not let her do anything. Maier was invited to have dinner with them that night. Her mother proposed that they all sit in their respective kitchens and have dinner together. He had initially refused however with no breakfast and barely any lunch he could not say no to dinner. He was low in spirit for the entire meal. He talked if asked something and ate when he remembered.  Xenia's mother tried to cheer him with talks and topics which had been discussed and enjoyed before however nothing worked. His dull spirit and dark expression made everyone wish for relief. Xenia out of them all prayed the most. His distress distressed her. His low spirit affected her spirit.

Maier's mind had only one thought and his heart had only one wish. Similar was the case of his neighbour. Sitting with her fingers entwined and her eyes closed she prayed for help, she prayed for a source of happiness, not for her, not for a friend, not for a family but for a stranger who felt like a friend, like a family.