Javed naam hai mera phir se

Chapter 20

- Bhai, I need to talk to you…

Arnav put down the watering can next to roses bushes he was tending to and turned around to look at Javed. His friend sounded kinda awkward… and he called him "bhai" which was Jev's tell for intense and dramatic moments. And since there were no news on Shyam this evening (or Arnav would've heard directly from Mr. Thompson) then it must've been something else… But what else could get Jev into this state of unease – shaky hands, wandering eyes?

- OK, Jev, stop searching around – I'm in front of you! Say your piece because we have about half an hour before Khushi will drag both of us to some big family gathering that she so suddenly announced!

Javed overstepped his feet and said:

- Well, that's what I kinda was going to talk about… I called for that meeting and asked Khushi-ji to get it together…

Arnav raised an eyebrow and smiled in surprise (Khushi called it his "signature smirk"):

- Well, bhai, you've got my attention! What is it that you want to discuss both with me and our family? I hope it's not one of those "I'm going away to South Africa for a year" conversations?

Javed laughed nervously and straightened his kurta. Arnav made a mental remark to mock Jev on his choice of suit later – they were both not fond of this "traditional clothing" stuff.

Javed cleared his throat and said:

- Bhai, it's quite the opposite – I want to ask for your help so Nani-ji wouldn't kick me out from the house.

- What the..? Why would Nani-ji kick YOU out? You are her favorite grandson, if she had to choose one of us – I'd be the one packing my suitcases!

Javed nodded along with this statement – he knew he was really loved in this family:

- Yeah, true, true… but I'm afraid the tide may turn when I will… - he inhaled deeply, - ask for Anjali's hand in marriage. Today. In half an hour.

Javed was expecting Arnav to lead with his traditional "What the…" – instead his best friend went silent. And kept silent for few more minutes… and then he suddenly clapped his hands and exclaimed:

- How does she always do it?! I mean, really?!

It was Javed's turn to be surprised:

- Ok, Arnav, you've lost me… Who does what?

- Khushi! – Arnav went on to explain with awe and a bit of envy in his voice – She told me like few days ago that soon enough you two will… - and then he stumbled and coughed to conceal his embarrassment with this situation.

Javed nodded and cleared his throat, which in men's world universally meant "yeah, yeah, moving along" – so neither Arnav not he had to finish that sentence and label it.

Still, Javed wasn't done with this topic:

- But how would Khushi-ji know?

This was an important question for him – Javed needed to know where he'd slip up before and gave away the essence of their relationships with Anjali to Khushi's observant eye.

Arnav waved off Javed's question:

- How does she always know? Last time it was about Di's favorite colors, this time it was something about Anjali not buying Rakhi for you… I dunno – there always something she sees! And in her crazy mind this "something" means something more, and one thing leads to another, and so on and so forth… My wife is crazy, I'm telling you!

One would think that this was a scolding speech on Arnav's behalf… but it was said with so much warmth and love that it would fool nobody – and definitely not Javed. Jev nudged Arnav: