“As I enter Aryan’s Mansion, I feel the tension and discomfort in all the faces around. His guards salute me in their usual manner and one of his henchmen greets me with his pale worried face. I ask him through my eyes about Aryan’s presence and he directs me to his office room. I stare up and take the staircase to the room. Since last night, we haven’t talked to each other. Aryan was over the top and so was I. I know we notorious 5 never used to like any other person’s presence among us. In fact, we had an unsaid pact that if any of us date any girl, he would keep her out of our company. Notorious 5 will never compromise with their bond. However, the time has changed. So, we. Nandana came into my life like an unexpected storm. She not only has changed me as a human being but also has changed my priorities in life. I can’t deny that friendship has taken a back seat after that. But still, I can’t deny that friendship will always be an important part of my life. I can’t lose Aryan or any of them as my friend. And here I am to make him understand this. When I was about to open the ajar door of his office room, some scattered words hit my ears. Aryan’s ship consignment has been confiscated by Indian port guards. Well, this is not a rare scenario in business. Giant business companies often face these situations and come out of them as well. But in the Mafia business, this matter is a bit dicey because here nothing is in white and where there is darkness there is a problem. Only then, Aryan’s hoarse voice catches my attention. He said he doesn’t need any friends to help him. My jaws get hard. He is really upset with me. And I can’t allow this to happen. I barge in and counter his words. Aryan turns at me. I can feel the fire in his eyes even from this distance. Two more people in the room are staring at me with sheer surprise. Well, I know no one dares to enter Aryan’s office room without his permission. And here I am the exception. I ignore them as my whole concentration is on Aryan. We lock our piercing eyes at each other for some silent moments. And then he commands in a virile voice."

“You both, buzz off. Let me handle this consignment thing and make sure no one can disturb me. No one!”

Aryan puts stress on his last two words. This indicates that he wants to talk to Aditya as well. Both of his men nod and leave the room immediately. Aditya saunters to Aryan and sits on one of the chairs opposite his desk. Aryan gets up from his revolving chair and walks towards the bar corner.

“Make one for me.”

Aditya sounds casual. Without replying to anything, Aryan gets two scotch glasses and pop opens the bottle.

“What brought you here? I think we concluded our fight last night only.”

Aryan mouths sarcastically. Aditya lifts a paperweight from the desk and spins it.

“Do you remember, in our 5th standard you and I had a huge fight over an issue? The issue I can’t recollect but I remember that our verbal fight eventually ended in a battle royal. You broke my tooth and I hit your head with a brick. You fainted then and there.”

Aditya utters unmindfully as the incident vividly comes in front of his eyes. Aryan approaches the desk with a slow gait. A snigger is lingering on his lips. He places one of the glasses in front of Aditya. The thud sound brings Aditya to the present.

“So, have you come here to finish the fight in that way? Don’t forget that you still have enough teeth to break and I love to punch.”

Aryan mutters in a light tone while observing his fist. A broad smile gradually beams on Aditya’s lips. He grabs the scotch glass and reclines on the chair.

“No, I am here after remembering what happened after that bloody fight. You went to the nursing home and I got 7 stitches in my gums. Everybody thought that our friendship has broken. I remember even Aabir, Aarav and Arjun started doubting that maybe this is our last. Notorious 5 will break. But…”

Aryan snatches Aditya’s words and continues,

“But…the exact opposite happened. You were the person who continuously attended me when I was unconscious for 18 hours.”

“And you were the person who kept on giving my updates to Abhiroop Uncle on the phone as I was not able to move my tongue because of the stitches.”

Aditya concludes with a satisfactory smile on his face. Aryan sips on his liquor and budges on his seat before uttering,

“Hmmm…it proved how strong my punch was.”

“No, it proved how strong our friendship was. We perhaps can shed each other’s blood but we can’t leave each other in our tough time.”

Aditya’s voice is grave and stern. Aryan breaks his eye contact with Aditya and asks in an unsure tone,

“What do you mean?”

“I mean…I need you as well as you need me. Nothing can break our friendship, Arya. Nothing means nothing.”

Aditya mouths in a baritone voice while scooting forward to meet Aryan’s eyes.

“Not even your love for Nandana?”

Aryan’s voice is laced with jest. His eyes are dancing with amusement. Aditya halts for some seconds and gradually the infectious mirth spreads to his lips. He sits squarely and dodges the question with a teasing tone,

“Aryaaa…get a steady girlfriend, Bro. You are giving me bizarre vibes. Don’t say that your sexual preference has changed. Because you are jealous of a woman…seriously?”

“Shut up, you jerk. I am very much straight. If you have doubt then join me tonight at my sex party. But I just can’t stand the word, love. And I just can’t believe how this word got a place in your life. The Aditya I knew…”

Aditya halts Aryan and counters,

“Okay…not again. I am not here to lecture you on love once again. So, let’s be with our own beliefs until you have someone special for you. By the way, what is the issue with your consignment? Is there any serious problem?”

Aditya’s words immediately harden Aryan’s jawline. He gets up from his seat and walks to the bar counter again.

“One of my big arms and drug consignments has been seized by the Indian coast guards and I have no idea how will I manage this matter.”

He perhaps would have continued but Aditya’s next line pauses him with surprise,

“One of my ships is passing by Honnavar Port Karnataka tomorrow. Manage the customs officers and transfer the consignment to my ship. Your load will be intact and safe.”

Aryan turns at his friend with a jerk. Till now, whenever he showed interest in joining Aditya as a business partner, he always rejected his proposal. Then why today? A repayment for his help?

“You know, what you meant by that? You will be involved in the Mafia world, directly. Are you trying to repay my favour?”

Aryan sounds unsure. Aditya raises his glass and utters in a flat determined tone,

“I am repaying your friendship.”

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

“As my eyes open, I unmindfully stretch my hand to my side in search of Aditya’s touch. I grope for a couple of seconds with my drowsy mind but don’t get his warmth. Suddenly, last night’s memories nudge my conscience. I turn to my right side and find the empty bed. A sigh of regret comes out of my nostrils. Aditya slept in his study last night and I kept on staring at the ceiling till 4 am. A sinking sensation hits my mind and I sit squarely with a jerk. My eyes fall on the wall clock. It’s quarter to 9 am. God! I am damn late. Mini must be awake. My little monster. And what about the Big monster? My inner self questions me. A smile creeps on my lips. Let me wake up both of them. I make up my mind and get down the bed.”

Nandana takes half an hour to fresh and hastily comes to Adirah’s room. However, the sight makes her relax for a while. Her little monster is still sleeping putting her thumb into her mouth. She takes a sigh of contentment and comes to Aditya’s study. After a brief hesitation, she twists the latch to peek inside. Her brows scrunch. Aditya is not in the room.

“Is he having breakfast?”

She mumbles under her uneasy breath and heads to get downstairs. Before entering the kitchen, her eyes fall on the breakfast table. Aditya is not even there. The frown on her forehead deepens. She steps inside the kitchen and asks the butler,

“Kishor, where is Aditya? I mean where is Sir?”

Kishor greets her good morning and informs her that Aditya left early in the morning. It was near about 6 am.

“Did he have breakfast?”

She again enquires and Kishor wobbles in negative. A lump of discomfort obstructs her throat.

“What kind of anger is this? You did wrong and now you are making me feel guilty. Not fair, Aditya.”

She murmurs and comes upstairs to get her phone. But as she tries to dial Aditya’s number, his name flashes on the screen as the caller’s name. With a bright smile, she slides up the green button.

“Hello…yes…speaking. WHAT? HOW?....NOOO…”

These distinct words escape her mouth. She staggers back as her head reels for a nanosecond. Only then, Adirah’s wail comes from the adjacent room. Nandana rushes towards it.