Melt your frozen heart
Reaching the bed, Shikhar checked the pulse and breathe. Noticing both had stopped, he turned to face Arik.
He was standing not responding to Shikhar's call. It seemed as if Arik was grieving due to the loss. None knew he wasn't responding because the old man's last words about finding love was all in his mind. He didn't believe he will ever find such a girl as his godfather described.
As he was lost in his thought, he noticed someone was shaking him. It brought him out of trance.
Raising an eyebrow he asked what happened.
Shikhar pointed to the old man and cried out, "Godfather is no more…"
Arik's feet couldn't lift his body and exhaustion came all over. Due to that he fell on the ground and blanked out.
###
It was already dark when Arik woke up. He wasn't in the medical ward but on a well furnished bedroom. He could hear noise of the people from outside.
He remembered being in the ward of his godfather and Shikhar had announced the old man dead. It was a fatal blow to him. The additional emotional burden, grief and fatigue made him lose his mind and as a result he blanked out. Not only that but the dead of his godfather reminded him the incident of his parents, more to say a nightmare.
Closing his eyes for a minute, he opened it back. The emotional fluctuation had been calmed down. The iris of his eyes turned more dark like a predator. His aura turned overwhelmed.
Walking slowly he opened the door, Ryan and Noah was outside the room.
As soon as Ryan saw Arik, he immediately hugged his boss and cried. Noah didn't overact but his eyes were misty too.
"Boo…Boss…godfather is no more. How can he left us as an orphan. Boo…" Ryan acted like a child as ever.
Arik blink his eyes a few times and the color of his iris and aura turned back to normal.
Arik looked to Noah and made a signal. Knowing what his boss meant, he pulled Ryan and consoled him. His boss hated the physical contact.
"Where are other?" Arik asked rubbing his temple while seating on the couch.
"Boss, Josh and Vik hasn't returned. Few of Neil and godfather's loyal subordinate have arrived and Brother Shikar is having a conversation with them. Would you like to meet them?" Noah asked in a hoarse voice.
"Don't let those two be noticeable by opponent. Make them aware. And you Ryan…stop weeping like a child and act as an adult. I am your Boss not a nanny." Arik was irritated.
"Boss, are you all right? If you want to cry then cry, don't feel mentally pressured—" Noah was about to show more concern when someone came into view.
"Oh!! You have woke up. Are you all right?" Shikhar was mentally disturbed too but still collected himself and stayed strong.
"I will be fine. How about you?"
"I have to be fine even if I am not. If you are in condition to chat then let's talk about the burial process." Shikhar dragged a chair and got seated.
"It would be better if we can do it early morning, before dawn. Noah, make arrangement for the burial. Godfather will be buried in the same cemetery as my parents and maternal grandparents. He deserves that. The guest and other preparation are left to you, Shikhar." Arik spoke each word clear and loud.
"I agree but don't have the energy to deal with those old coots for now so Ryan and Noah make the preparation. My people will help you too. I need a break." Shikhar held his head with both hand.
As the instruction both left the hall and got busy.
The remaining people stayed quiet.
"Ahem...Arik, would you like to use tomorrow funeral to make your grand entrance and let's people know about your existence? You will assume your position soon, won't you?" Shikhar asked with caution.
"Nah, I have my plans. Plus, it isn't good to announce my existence for now. Let these bastards jump how much they want. We will strike when they are unprepared. It would be quite fun." Arik smirked. He gave a dangerous feeling.
"Also, It would be better if the opposition don't know that Neil and godfather have been rescued or anything related. Let them be in dark. Lessen the presence tomorrow. We are bidding goodbye to godfather then the center of attraction should be him.
"Arik, you have changed a lot. It been years after we meet so I can't expect you to remain the same naughty kid. You seem more mysterious and unreachable. I don't know if it's good or bad. Just don't let the hatred consume yourself." Shikar spoke seriously.
Arik stood from the couch and walked towards the balcony. Shikhar tagged along.
Looking at the sky Arik spoke, "I will do my best to remain sane. I know what I am doing and you can't expect to me forgive those who hurt me and my people. I will make them and their family's life like a hell. I am not only back for godfather, it's time for me to take care of a few things of the past. I don't want to argue more."
"Nah, I will never tell you to forgive them. I just hope someday, you will be able to show emotion and find someone who will be able to melt your cold, frozen heart. Okay, let's not talk about those…"
"What do you want to talk about? I know you have something in mind so go straight to the point" Arik could guess this subject of conversation.
"Godfather was poisoned even before the incident, who knows when...Do you remember what was the date yesterday? I think Neil and godfather were on their way to the cemetery. You know the godfather is the most vulnerable on that day. How dare they attack when he is at his lowest?" Shikhar was burning in rage.
"Humm…how can I forget the date. I lost an important family member on that day...It was the death anniversary of my Grandfather. Those bastards have infiltrated our people. Maybe there are spies within our people who know our weaknesses. I have to show them who the boss is. Bro, Grasal won't be peaceful anymore. I will deal in my way. You just focus on Big Brother's treatment."
"Sure. Let's talk about other things later."
###
<<<Extra> >>
Actually, Neil's father wasn't the godfather of Noah, Josh, Ryan, and Vik.
Neil's father convinced Arik to be his godson in his teens days. Both took the relationship seriously. Because of that Neil, who was older than Arik became Big brother.
At first, Arik's subordinate called Neil as Boss's big brother and the old man as Boss' godfather. Later one day when the gang was drunk, they made an announcement.
"Boss is our brother, his brother is our brother and his godfather is our godfather. "
So from that day, Neil became the ultimate Big brother and the old man became godfather for everyone on Arik's team. Arik let them call however they wanted.
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