The Visit

Neal stepped out of the bathroom in his boxers, rubbing his damped hair with a small towel. He went straight to his closet. He picked out his favorite navy blue t-shirt and white sweatpants. 

Hearing the notification, he walked towards the table beside his bed. It was a message from Reksha, Arjun's mother. 

Reksha : Please be safe on your way. See you afternoon guys. Take care of Arjun. I bet he didn't take the medicine. Just check under his pillow. Love you.. 

Neal : I will. See you. Love you too.. :) 

Neal connected the charger to his phone. Leaving it on the table, he walked out of his room going straight to Arjun's bedroom. He walked to the bed and searched under the pillow. There it is! 

Just in time Arjun's sneeze came from the living room. Neal shook his head taking the medicines and exit the room. 

He went to kitchen to make two coffees. 

His mind running back to the visuals he saw in the morning. The man was shot in the head. What kind of punishment will he receive when they find out about the chain? Will they spare him? 

"Of course. Dream on Neal." He muttered to himself. 

He poured the coffee in two cups. Neal took the medicine in one hand and one cup in other hand. 

Arjun was lying on the couch, his eyes closed. Neal put the cup on the small table in front of the couch, loud enough to wake Arjun. 

"What took you so long?" Arjun asked as he sat up. Before he can touch the cup Neal shoved his other hand infront of Arjun's face. 

Arjun's face paled even more as he looked at the untouched medicine which he securely concealed, or so he thought. 

Neal raised his brows expecting some explanations from his friend. Arjun avoided eye contact. He kept touching his left ear, a habit he shows when he is nervous. 

"Oh! you found it. Yay!!" He chuckled nervously before giving Neal his best puppy eyes. 

"That won't work my friend. You told me you took the medicine, then what is this?" Neal scolded his friend pointing towards the medicine. Arjun opened his mouth to argue but closed immediately when he thought it is of no use. 

"I don't like it. It's so bitter." He said with a pout, looking down. 

"Okay. I will tell your mother. She already messaged me. And, no coffee for you." Neal said taking the cup. 

"NO!" Arjun squeaked taking the coffee from Neal holding it close to his chest. 

"Fine. Just.....don't tell Ma." He whispered the last part. 

Neal nodded his head, and went to kitchen before coming back with his own cup. They sat in silence sipping the coffee occasionally. 

"Are you done?" Neal asked referring Arjun's work. 

"Almost." 

Neal hummed before asking what he is itching to ask. 

"So..... what was that?" 

Arjun frowned, not understanding what he was asking. Neal rolled his eyes. "The strangest thing you mentioned earlier." 

"Oh....that.." 

"Yes. What was that?" Neal returned to his curious self. 

Arjun sighed. He looked forward like he is watching the scenarios he is about to say. 

"When Gerald arrived at Froster's mansion, he was shocked to see the dead bodies. That's when Adriel came to the scene. He assumed Gerald killed his father and brother. And he attacked Gerald, but somehow Gerald escaped but he was bruised all over. Adriel wasn't the type of person who carry his gun always, otherwise Gerald would already be dead." 

"But that was a misunderstanding right? He didn't kill them." Neal stated his opinion. 

"Adriel doesn't know that Jay. They are rivals. What he is expected to do when Gerald stand beside his father and brother's dead bodies?" 

Neal nodded his head in understanding. 

"What happened next?" 

"What was strange that, Lyra, Valantin's wife, who was visiting her house got into an accident the very same day. The car was on fire." Arjun closed his eyes for a moment. Honestly, he felt a little sympathy for them. 

"I think a third party is involved. Someone who knew their rivalry. They planned everything very well and got exactly what they wanted." Neal said connecting everything he heard. 

Arjun chuckled. "What are we? Sherlock and Watson?" 

Neal glared playfully at his friend. "Then? What happened?" 

"Few days later Victor, Valantin's brother arrived. He was in Australia. A well known lawyer and sometimes the mastermind behind Valantin's all evil did." Neal listened intently. 

"Victor and August had a huge trouble in taming a furious Adriel. They knew the time wasn't right so they didn't do anything to avenge. Victor and Adriel vowed to get back at Rendells for killing their family before leaving for Australia." 

"Victor filled Adriel's mind with so much hatred and resentment for Rendells that he become more ruthless than his father. Victor trained Adriel for years to become a heartless person, just like Valantin." 

"7 years later they came back. First there were no attacks or murder. But three months after their arrival, Gerald's eldest daughter and her husband got into a car accident. Her husband died on the spot. Hazel survived. There were rumours that she was pregnant and lost her child. No one knows where she is now. Dead or alive. After that incident there were occasional clashes between Rendells and Frosters. And that dead man must be a part of one of their clashes." Arjun ended with a sigh. 

"Wait. What about Gerald and his son?" Neal asked suddenly remembering the two characters. 

"Two months after Frosters flee, Gerald had to deal with a few issues in his illegal business. Some other parties attacked his house and office. In the middle of the chaos Gerald was shot, along with his left hand, Robert. Drake's father." 

"Drake? Who is that?" 

"Hunter's friend," Arjun said before continuing, "After his father's death, Hunter had to take over everything. Till now he is the one who is managing everything, along with his right hand Kaiden and left hand Drake." 

Neal put his empty cup on the table. He leaned back on the couch staring at the ceiling with a sigh. 

"How do you know all of this?" Neal asked wondering. 

Arjun scoffed. "Come on Jay, I'm working for a news paper. Being nosy is my birth right." 

Neal looked at his friend confused before sighing. 

"I never thought LA had a dark side too." 

"There is so much for you to see yet, Jay." Arjun said leaning back and staring at the ceiling like his friend.

________________ 

"How are you feeling?" Neal asked his friend who is looking out through the window of the car. His head leaned against it. 

"Better." Arjun replied and sat straightly. 

"If you had took the medicine earlier, you would have felt much better." Neal said with a slight smile. 

"Yeah.. yeah. Whatever." Arjun said with a pout. 

They arrived at the hospital one hour later. It's been three years since Neal's mother admitted here. She is in coma after an accident. Selena was a school teacher. Three years ago, the bus she was traveling collided with a truck, on her way back from school. Since then she is in coma. 

Neal loved his parents very much. After his father's death, he was so much attached to his mother. And this accident caused another wound in his heart. 

Arjun's and Neal's parents were highschool friends. Arjun's parents and Neal's father was in military. Reksha was a military nurse. She resigned after her husband's and friend's death. Now works in the hospital where Selena is admitted. She is the one who taking care of her. 

Neal looked at the hospital name largely written in the front. 'V-CARE'. Just like the name, the hospital was nice and people there cared for the patients. 

Neal parked the car and got out, Arjun trailing him, taking his backpack from the car. 

They enterd the hospital. Their destination was third floor, room number 312. It took some time for them to reach the room. The hospital was crowded with visitors as it was saturday. 

Neal and Arjun entered the room. His mother lying there as usual. Reksha stood up folding the newspaper she was reading and put that away. 

She embraced both of them giving kisses on their forehead. 

"Happy birthday Ma." 

"Happy birthday aunty." 

Arjun and Neal said in unison pecking her cheeks. 

"Thank you. How are you?" She asked Neal, ignoring her son who was eyeing the fruits on the table. 

"I'm fine. How is she?" He smiled as he walked towards his mother taking the fragile hand in his hands. 

Reksha smiled. "There is a good news for you. She moved her fingers. Doctor said it's a good response." 

"Really?" Neal's face lit up as he heard the news. 

"That's awesome." Arjun cheered. 

Reksha turned to his son with a frown. 

"You! Did you take the medicine?" She asked feeling his forehead and neck with the back of her hand. 

Arjun rolled his eyes. "I did. And I'm fine Ma. Look what I got for you. Read when you are free and bored. This is from me and this from him." Arjun said, handing four books to her. Reksha smiled happily. She loved reading. 

They spent the rest of the time together, chatting and laughing. By the time they returned home, it already been 8 pm. 

"I want to sleep." Arjun said throwing himself at the couch. 

"Don't forget to take the medicine." Neal said as he made his way to bedroom. 

"Jay." 

Neal stopped and turned around when Arjun called him. 

"You have a mission tomorrow. Don't forget." He said. 

Neal nodded his head taking a deep breath. 

"Come here." Arjun said softly. Neal walked straight to his friend's awaiting arms and hugged him tightly. 

Arjun returned the hug. "I won't say I'll protect you, because I'm terrified as you are. But I promise you won't die alone." Arjun said patting Neal's back. 

"Arjun..." 

"Good night Jay. Please be safe." Arjun said and pulled back. 

"Good night." Neal said and returned to his room. 

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