Javed naam hai mera phir se

Chapter 12

They've spent two hours reading contract drafts and Anjali was more than ready to get interrupted by lunch. Not that she wanted to eat all that much but she wouldn't mind change in venue.

But "change" came in a form she did not expect - deep female voice caught them both off guard:

- Geez, this is a person I've least expected to see! J! What are you doing here, man?

Anjali couldn't see who was talking as Javed's broad shoulders were blocking her from their guest. Javed turned around to see who it was and almost shouted with excitement:

- Smiley! Long time no see! What brought you here except your nearly successful attempt to kill me with your astonishing beauty?

Javed bowed a little and kissed girl's arm she'd offered him graciously. Even though his welcoming comment was all kinds of pleasing and warm, she'd still found a reason to reprimand him:

- J, we've been through this - you should stop calling me Smiley! People might think I'm a teenage boy!

Javed shook his head laughing:

- And that will the shortest misunderstanding in their lives because no one in their right mind would think so once they see you! But hey - blame is on you because your smile lights up the whole room and can influence cardio activity in people around you! And I'm not the only one to notice - haven't you won Smile of the Universe title along with third place in Miss Universe pageant recently?

She'd inclined her head flattered by his words:

- That I did! Ok, you can call me whatever you want! You've always been good with words... Man, I've missed you so-so much!

And with that she flung herself to hug Javed with all the force her lean structure could master.

Anjali was surprised. Not only with something so... physical on Javed's part since he was usually more distant with ladies. But also with the fact which lady it was... Anjali stepped out from behind Javed to be seen:

- Hi, Lavanya, glad to see you...

...

- Di! What are you doing here? - asked Lavanya in squeaky voice, leaning away from Javed... Yet his hand never left her waist and Anjali's mind registered this fact with some unusual sense of displease.

- Um.. I am... - Anjali was struggling to provide an answer but unexpectedly Lavanya came to her aid:

- Wait! Are you THEE Anjali who is directing the show for AR Design?!

Anjali nodded shyly:

- I'm afraid I am...

- But this is so cool! We're gonna have so much fun!

Javed stepped away to look both at Lavanya and Anjali in the same time... but his question was still addressed to Lavanya:

- Luv, and what are YOU doing here? Don't get me wrong - I'm all for it and have no words to express my elation, - Lavanya rolled her eyes for "no words" comment because it was hardly ever a case with Javed, - but weren't you supposed to be in New York right now? I totally remember overseeing a contract for your modelling agency...

Lavanya made a dismissive gesture with her hand and Anjali almost sighted out loud - she wished she could be so effortlessly elegant and feminine in the same time.

- Oh, J, I was there and will be back in by the end of the month so... You see - Chamkili gave me a call and said you have this show coming and... Oh, whatever, I just had to come!

Javed squinted his eyes - he looked like he was calculating something:

- Luv, you came here to watch... or to work?

And this was Anjali's turn to do calculation - there was no way they could cover her modelling fee seeing how Lavanya was a high-profile international model right now. But before Anjali could say something Lavanya shrugged and answered:

- Neither - I'm here to walk the ramp in few of AR designs and for that Khushi would do her worst trying to mess with my waist line feeding me up with her jalebis! This was an offer I could not refuse!

Javed chuckled on this mental picture and Anjali nodded with understanding - her sister-in-law made the best deals with her jalebis. Lavanya added on a more serious note:

- You know, there's nothing I wouldn't do for this family.

There was some deep emotion under this statement that got both Javed and Anjali a bit uncomfortable. Anjali didn't know how to voice her concern so Javed asked first:

- Umm… Smiley, you and Arnav…

Lavanya snorted:

- Me and ASR? Oh, c'mon, J! It's been more than a year! It's all so far gone that I'm not even sure it has ever happened! Give me a benefit of a doubt!

Javed nodded relieved and Lavanya added:

- ASR paid for my model training for Miss Universe... and Khushi had sent me few cooking books where she'd marked "skinny recipes"… Mami-ji keeps texting me about beauty treatment ideas… and Nani-ji called my parents and scolded them for missing one of my pre-shows. None of Raizada's ever tried to forget me as a bad memory… and I will always see them as a family.

She smiled to Anjali with genuine happy smile – and she got the same in return. Javed made a comment:

- Yeah, we know how to keep the family together… the more – the merrier!

Quick thought has passed Anjali's mind "Javed-ji associates himself with our family… Why would he be upset with Chote then?". But this line of thoughts was interrupted by Lavanya's cheerful request to Anjali:

- So, Di, what would I be wearing? Make it something gold – I look gorgeous in gold!

Javed confirmed:

- Luv, you look gorgeous in anything – you're just that type of woman who defines beauty! So don't be picky and Anjali-ji will find you something to underline your grace!

Anjali nodded automatically and shivered a bit. Gallantry is one thing… but wasn't Javed getting a bit overboard with praising Lavanya? And wasn't Lavanya getting any wrong ideas seeing how she clutched Javed's forearm and eyed him adoringly?