Javed naam hai mera phir se

Chapter 32

Two month later

Javed walked into Arnav's office unannounced - partly because it was his long-term right, partly because Arnav's secretary was a bit intimidated by Javed to stop him on his approach.

Javed found his friend watching the office through the glass wall behind his desk. Arnav was very deep in his thoughts, rocking slightly in his chair. Javed speculated for a moment as to what could've brought his brother into stupor, as there were no ongoing contract negotiations or other pending issues that would require so much thought. But then Javed waved off these musings, as nothing was more important than the issue he came to discuss.

- Arnav, mere bhai... - Javed couldn't finish his greetings because Arnav suddenly halted alarmed by his voice and almost fell off the chair. When Arnav finally regained descent standing position he answered impatiently:

- Geez, Jev, you scared me to death! Did you really have to sneak up on me like this?

Javed looked offended by this suggestion:

- Relax, bhai, I did not sneak up on you, you were basically on a different planet when I came in! What was I supposed to do - sing you some calm lullaby to bring you down to Earth peacefully?

Arnav chuckled on this offer - they both knew that Javed was terrible in anything musical. That relieved the tension in the room and both man sat down comfortable around coffee table. Arnav asked:

- Man, I'm guessing you did not come here to serenade me... so what brings you here today? Missed me already?

Javed snorted:

- You give too much credit to your completely ordinary personality, man! And I'd seen you this morning, not much room for nostalgic longings yet... No, I came to talk about our housing arrangements. I came to talk about where Anjali and me will live after the marriage.

Arnav's heart sank. This was exactly the thought that occupied his mind when Javed came in. Arnav knew from the shogun ceremony that officially launched the engagement period for Di and Jev that Anjali will move out from Shantivan eventually. Javed was self-reliant, wealthy and hugely independent man who appreciated his space way too much to live in a big joint family such as theirs. Arnav knew Javed has already had some estate in Canada, France and India (both in Delhi and Mumbai) as his family and business kept him moving across the world all the time. But Arnav was sure that for Anjali Javed would build something completely new, something grand... and probably far away. Paris most likely seeing how this was a fashion capital of the world and Di was, after all, a really talented designer.

Arnav dreaded the moment when his sister will leave him for real... for the first time in his life. But he knew he had to let her go... His sister deserved her own home... his brother deserved his long-awaited family life with a women he loved. Arnav respected Javed too much to ask them to stay.

That is why Arnav composed himself and patiently waited for Javed's announcement of the sentence. And the only thought that ran through his mind was "Please, God, let it be India"... and than Javed said simply:

- We are staying in Shantivan.

…

That sounded like some cruel emotional prank so Arnav threaded carefully:

- Man, what do you mean - you're staying? For how long? Have you started some elaborate construction and need some place to wait till it's over?

Javed shook his head visibly oblivious to the tension and hope in Arnav's voice:

- Nuh, we're staying in Shantivan for good. To live. Forever.

Arnav gasped and leaned forward ready to bear-hug Javed anytime now: