"Hey Buddy how are you?"
"Who is this?" Rudy asked in a drowsy voice
"Can't you recognize me, Buddy? You used to say that I have a melodious voice but now you can't even recognize my voice? How did that happen?"
"What? Is this I..V..A..N?" Rudy questioned stressing on every letter
"Why are you so shocked buddy? Just take my name as you used to do previously," he said in a sweet tone
"Buddy Ivan? How are you here? You were bu.." Rudy was cut in between while speaking
"I am really in dire need of your hug. So let me hug you first" saying that he hugged Rudy tightly
Once the hug was done Rudy completely lost his senses which he had until then
"You know how we used to be with each other in our past? You never left my side and even protected me in many instances. Do you remember those golden days?"
Rudy in his beyond normal state started laughing heartily hearing his words
"Why are you smiling Rudy?" he questioned
"You know what I do remember the golden days every time. Nevertheless, the golden days just ended. We are left with nothing now buddy. Even though we all are smiling, there is an underlying pain in our hearts. I am speaking the truth Ivan since the day we lost you I never found a buddy again. Why did you leave us?" Rudy questioned
"Why is everything so dark on all the sides? Why can't I see you? Light up something, I want to look at you. It's been many years; we don't even know how you look now" Rudy said
"When life is consumed with darkness everywhere how can we find light in situations? Tell me, Rudy," he questioned
"Buddy why have you turned philosophical all of a sudden? You have always been a jovial person then how come you are saying all this stupid shit?" Rudy questioned
"How are you feeling now Rudy?" he questioned
"I am feeling all liberated Buddy. All these days I am feeling lot of pressure from all the sides and constantly taking care of Louisa learning all the martial arts, the job and all. Everything is pressuring me up from all the corners but now after coming here I don't know what took place but I am feeling free; I just want to talk and dance with joy. Buddy let's dance together just like our old days" Rudy said standing up trying to reach his buddy's hands
"Okay we will dance but before we dance don't you think we need a girl here; our girl just like the old days," he said with a smirk
"I don't think that will be a possible buddy. She is into clutches; a lot of clutches. My heart aches every time I think of her. She is not the same Louisa; a lot of things have changed. The pure soul is no more the same it's been shattered into pieces and every day a new problem arises just like now. I just don't know why this girl is going through all these even though she has no mistake on her side" Rudy spoke in his drowsy state
"Well Rudy, no one goes through something if they are not at fault; the destiny is always built on the way we are," he said with a chuckle
"See how you are turning philosophical again" Rudy smiled like a maniac
"Life teaches you a lot buddy and what is the so-called problems in your best friends life?" he questioned
"A lot buddy, where to start and how to start? She is facing troubles from all sides you know what? she is even staying alone in a small house; I don't even think it can be termed as a home or not. She stays alone, she prefers her own company socially distanced herself from everyone. Even though she stays in the media always she maintains a low profile. She has turned into a total rebel; if not from the heart of her appearance she wants to look like one. She forgot how to smile and everyone tries to prick her and break her but she is standing strong. But one after other something or other is troubling her. You know what Buddy; my heart aches to see her like that. She never deserved all these. Why can't just the clock turn back to the golden days we enjoyed?" Rudy said weeping
"If turning the clock would have been that easy I would have been the most happiest person but that is impossible right; so the only option I have is to turn the tables to my side and settle all the required things. This is my time now and I need to use that to my full advantage" he said looking at Rudy who is now in a state of trance
"Now the darkness is surrounding me but soon it will be on the Millers; their smiles are going to fade out soon," he said determinedly
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Meeting room, Main Office, Lox Organizations
"What do you mean by we have all security build-up access with Rudy? I know that he has a prominent position in the company but that doesn't mean we can leave everything up to him. Look at the position now; neither we have Louisa Miller nor we know where the hell Rudy is. What are we supposed to do now?" Stanley Flyer, the CFO of Lox Organizations yelled at the employees
"Sir, we need to do something fast or else we may lose everything. Anyone can easily get access into the systems. We already know how many eyes surround us; we can't prolong it any longer. We need to do something. We need to call Mr. Oliver Miller to let him know the real situation and he should let go of his pride a little and take help from others if he needs his organizations to work intact," one of the team leads spoke
"He is in pain and distress Clim, and you want me to convey him more worse news? You know what if we can't do the backup then no one can do it. We are the best in the business there is no match for us in any field. Our organization has the best ever teams and employees so who will be the other people who can help us? Do you even think anyone of that kind exists whom Mr. Miller can request?" Stanley questioned
After staring at everyone Clim spoke, "Yes there is one"