Javed naam hai mera phir se

Chapter 6

- Anjali, you will drive with Javed and this is my last word! – Arnav's voice was booming with firm resolve – much to Anjali's dismay:

- Chote, I don't want to be a burden to Javed-ji, and I want to…

- What makes you think it's a discussion, - Arnav's voice became dangerously calm and levelled which only meant one thing – he was in his "ASR mode" and this was almost undefeatable…

Anjali sighted collecting her courage:

- But, Chote, I really can do it on my own; it wouldn't be my first time taking a bus to the office…

Arnav shouted again – he couldn't keep up his calm façade with this issue that was far less trivial than it seemed to abashed Di. But he couldn't tell her the real reason behind his decision so he opted out for second best real reason:

- Should I remind you that you've almost collapsed few days ago because of exhaustion – and we were just lucky that you were already in the office?

Anjali stiffened and clutched her saree nervously – she didn't want her family to know that her bad leg failed her once again but the guard who helped her out that day reported this incident to Arnav despite her saying not to. The whole family was worried, they catered to every her need, they were loving and protecting… yet Anjali couldn't shake off the feeling that Raizada pariwar was pitying her… again. And by now she knew that it may end really badly.

And this is why she was not going to lose this fight to Chote. She would manage on her own – even if it meant she'd have to fight off her Chote!

- Arnav, don't you forget that I'm your OLDER sister and this is not the tone I would tolerate from you!

Snap! This was Arnav's turn to remember that Anjali is as much Singh Raizada as he is and she would fight back if forced to.

- Touché, Anjali, that was a good one, - came amused voice from behind Arnav. He turned around to face his so called accomplice who was supposed to be helping him to convince Anjali – but instead were mostly silent apart from occasional smirk or sarcastic comment on Arnav's expense. Feeling cornered from every side Arnav went to an "offence is the best defence" tactic:

- Oh yeah? Why don't you tell me your solution for this problem, Mr. Harvard?

Javed smiled on this old nickname awarded to him during their uni days – usually Arnav addressed him this way only to underline his irritation and poorly concealed anger. But Jev didn't need this sign to tell Arnav was fuming – he could see that much in his best friend. But he could also see things that omitted Arnav's clouded sight… he saw Anjali. Not the sister who needed protection from her maniacal ex-husband… but a woman who wanted to be free.

Arnav was all kinds of a great businessman, in some aspects he was really brilliant… but diplomacy was not one of them. He could never read people, could not see past his preconceived notion of them and past his own superiority complex. Granted – with Khushi's entrance to his life he Arnav was slowly changing for better… but it will take him some time to actually SEE.

This is why Javed could not have held this failure against Arnav – it was almost predestined that Anjali would fight back on this issue. To make it worse Arnav chose dinner as his fighting scene and was this close to embarrass his Di in front of the whole family which only made her fight harder…

Which is why it was a time for his entrance. He would do what they'd agreed he would do… guilt her into driving with him to the office. Not reason with Anjali, not argue with her or try to overpower her… but use her warm heart and soft nature against her.