I
A family of three is a simple nuclear family but Rodriguezs were far from a nuclear family although currently they lived as a family of three, over a hundred people waiting for them back home.
For the Rodriguezs always believed, 'Family is not determined by blood but by memories .Not who birthed you but who brought you up. Not who gave a roof over you head but who kept you in their hearts-loved and safe.' That didn't mean that the Rodriguezs had feud with their blood relatives, on the contrary they mingled quite well.
James Rodriguez, the Indian Foreign Service officer of Italy born and brought up in Goa who fell in love with Adriana Rosellini a native Italian Neurosurgeon when she treated his bestmate-Lucian. He soon married her after a long wait to get permission from the relevant authority.
James and Adriana welcomed their first and only daughter after 2 years of marriage-Leonie Rodriguez. Leonie had blue eyes way paler than her mother's and shiny auburn hair like her maternal grandmother. She resembled more of her mother than her father but nonetheless was loved by both of her parents. Her almond shaped eyes were sharp unlike her mother's kind eyes that her father believed held the entire universe.
Leonie was welcomed with happy tears in her paternal family being the only female born after three generations of all Rodriguezs male heirs and her other cousins desperately wanted a little sister.
They conceived her through IVF so both of her parents were sure that the child was theirs. And none of the family members questioned. Ever. They loved the child way too much. She was everything that brought life in the Rodriguezs household after a decade when her oldest uncle was killed tragically in an accident. But now due to the newly welcomed daughter-in-law and the granddaughter the Elders in Rodriguezs household were the most happiest people on the earth. Her parents named her Leonie because she was their little lioness. But her Grandmother Rosie ( Aishwarya née Rathore) called her Riddhi because she was their little source of happiness. Even if Leonie was her government name most people back in her homeland called her Riddhi.
Her maternal family on other hand called her by many names...any names most of them being endearments and others being shortened forms of her name. The Elders of Rosellini household loved the fact that Leonie resembled more of her maternal grandmother- Isabella (née Moretti)- the auburn hair, the fierce blue eyes and yes even the same glare. A born genius and ace in many fields. Studies. Archery. Shooting. Fitness. Poetry. And Beauty!
Leonie grew up to not only being a fine woman but also an intelligent and kind one.
She was kind to most. But her temper was on another level. She might forgive you once twice or even thrice but once the line is crossed you'll see how sharp teeth the lioness has.
At age of 18 she passed the IMAT and got admitted into a famous medical college where she would now learn to be a fine doctor just like her mum.
In short- Rodriguezs were a family of geniuses for generations.
Lombardis were a well off family with mining business in northern Italy-that was how the citizens saw them as. None wiser than the other to actually know that it was the very same family that was responsible for deaths of many dear to them.
The Italian mafia that ruled over the mountainous region-The lombardis were secretive. Noone knew that it was the lombardis ruling over it. They feared the person who controlled the area though so the citizens called him, 'Diavolo' which literally translates to devil in English.The face of the Don was never revealed nor was his name.The terror remained at bay for the citizens believed the rumour
'Diavolo never strikes first'
that is until a few bodys were found illegally buried or deposited somewhere in mountains with evidence leading nowhere. So the inhabitants assumed it was the work of the Diavolo.
Gallahan Lombardi was the current heir of Lombaris with four sons and a daughter.The don being his father-Antonio Lombardi.The heir wasn't evil or ruthless. No. He was so much more. He was the devil. The Diavolo. But in the lombardi household he was just a dad of five children that made him lose his weight especially the his precious daughter who he had to raise himself.
The eldest by two minutes- Alessandro the well mannered and the most elegant son Gallahan ever had.
Currently managing all the accounts of the Lombardi family after graduating in Economics.
The second- Alessio who was younger by two but would never agree if you asked him(only if you're able to survive his temper) was opposite of his twin. He graduated in liberal arts even though noone knows how. Alessio usually handled the tasks related to physical toils.
The third- eldest of the second pair of twins Matteo and the fourth-youngest of all brothers-marcello were both pursing pharmacy- not because they actually required it but they needed the license. For the pretense.
And then there was the youngest of all siblings -the daughter Gallahan wanted so bad that they have had applied for ICSI techniques to specifically birth a female child-Alexie. A daughter they all invited happily but soon there mother died due to excessive blood loss making alexie unable to learn what motherly love was.
That wasn't the reason why the brothers didn't like their younger sister though.Frankly they loved her when she was a toddler. Nor was the very different jet black hair in the family of auburns the reason which noone judged because they were told that the Artificial Insemination might alter some of the genes. But the fact that Alexie was spoiled rotten by her father to the extent that she thought she would get away with anything everything.
But alas the Lombardis beleieved in blood bonds and would always side with their 'sister' even when she was the one in wrong and that made alexie arrogant and snobbish.
Gallahan loved her nonetheless. He was hardly around and Alexie was a very convincing actress.
Alexie wanted to pursue medical sciences but her grades weren't good so she had to buy her way in and she was not sorry about that.
That is how Alexie ended up going to same institute as Leonies.
