Javed naam hai mera phir se

Chapter 27

The big announcement happened the next day, as Khushi had predicted. Arnav and Javed tried their best to look surprised, but their happiness for Akash was genuine – there was no need to pretend.

Sure thing, Manorama took this news almost as a personal offense and made a whole speech about how she was "too young to be a grandmother". Her hysterics was going out of hand when Javed chimed in and saved the day – he convinced Manorama that in ten or so years she'd still be young and beautiful and will make all her contemporaries envy with how young of a grandma she is.

This has put things into perspective and helped Manorama to make her piece with the situation – she'd even congratulated Payal and gave her some dietary advices so she wouldn't gain extra weight.

…

But the festive atmosphere was too hard for Anjali to handle; it was choking her with tears she could not shed because it would upset the family. Anjali made an excuse to leave the breakfast earlier so the family could keep on celebrating the news.

…

He cleared his throat to make his presence known, but there was no need for that – somehow Anjali already knew that Javed came to her terrace. Maybe she was expecting him to check on her after her escape this morning… or maybe it was wishful thinking…

His voice was hoarse, uneven:

- If you want me to leave, just say it. I just came to see if you needed a company, but if you don't – I will understand… Do you… - he sounded unsure, - do you want me to leave?

- I want you to stay, - Anjali scooted over on a bench so he could sit next to her.

Javed followed her lead and sat beside her. Anjali hasn't looked at him, hasn't spoke to him – and so he kept silent too. This was a moment for Anjali to decide on how she wanted to grieve her loss.

…

An explosion of laughter downstairs was a clear sigh that Raizada's kept celebrating… and not even yesterday shootings could keep them away from their joy of expanding family.

Once Javed remembered the shooting he searched the neighboring forest hill carefully for any sights of possible attack. But then again – the sun was too bright and Shantivan's numerous metal and glass surfaces created a great blinding shine to try shooting at them now.

Relieved with this conclusion Javed turned to watch Anjali – only to see that she was crying. Was she crying all this time?

It wasn't a kind of hysterical cry when women wrecked havoc around them in their sorrow. It was silent, almost peaceful… because the real storm was happening so deep inside that it drained every emotion from the surface. Anajli's face became a stilled beautiful mask… and only tears kept rolling one after another… She was crying her soul out and not a sound has skipped her white lips. It was excruciating to watch.

Javed pleaded:

- Anjali, what is it? Tell me, what's happening? Can I help?

To his surprise she responded – in a bleak, hushed voice:

- Can you work miracles?

Javed held his breath horrified with the way she sounded – like from a grave. Anjali took his silence as an answer – but she'd already known it beforehand. She turned a bit in the direction of happy exclamations and laughter – a picture of happy family… Anjali whispered – more to herself than to anybody else, But Javed had still heard her:

- I would never bring this happy news to the family. Never.

Javed touched her palm and she startled as if she'd only just now realized that he was sitting next to her. Anjali eyed him with sort of surprised curiosity and Javed took this as a sign that she's willing to talk: