Expecting the Unexpected

Chapter XII

The moment the screen cleared, Sirius saw Rajiv on the other side clearly sitting in his study at the Chakravarty Mansion.

He had visited it a few times in the past and from the looks of it, it seemed he was alone. Sirius smiled in a forced way and  asked," What's up,Raj? I haven't heard from you in the longest time."

Rajiv gushed in his oh so dramatic manner,"  Siri, how are you? Oh you look so emaciated ,you poor thing! Are you fine?"

Sirius chuckled and joked halfheartedly," Well they don't serve meals like Hogwarts in Azkaban. I intend to fatten up a bit now that I'm out."

Rajiv cracked a grin just like old times and said," You could always come up to the manor for a good meal. Mehtaab told me she misses you a lot. I still don't know how you manage to befriend every house elf you meet but still haven't managed to befriend the one you live with."

Sirius asked," How'd you know I still don't get along with Kreacher?"

" Well, if he would have liked you then he wouldn't let you waste away like this."

"You believe I'm innocent?" Rajiv put on a mock offended expression and said, "Of course we do. You know we were in India settling 'her' ends when you were imprisoned. When we returned, I and Nayonika pressed for a visit to you but it was impossible to meet you at that time. By the way how'd you break out, mate?"

Sirius smirked,"You know the usual, turned into Padfoot and just slinked out sneakily with my super ninja powers."

Rajiv chuckled and said," Well I'm glad you broke out. Nayonika is too. Would you like to see her?"

Sirius' expression changed from mirthful to terrified at once. He shook his head  frantically and replied in a shaking voice," No, I don't think I can see her right now." Rajiv nodded sympathetically," I understand if you can't bear to see Eva's face right now. But remember that Nayonika is your friend too and she's worried about you. Please try to speak to her as soon as you can."

But Sirius wasn't listening. He had stopped hearing the moment he heard the name 'Eva'.

His brain was assaulted immediately with images of her. Laughing and looking like the very image of life. Her brown hair shining in the sun, her chocolate eyes glistening in the light, her face stretched into a brilliant smile.

Then he was hit with the images of their shared flat on that fateful day.  The horrible sight he had seen on returning from the Order mission. The dark mark above their house,her blood on the walls. The house torn apart and clear signs of a violent struggle.

He felt the despair come up again and could almost feel the box in his pocket burning his skin as it had on that night.
Rajiv saw this and took a guess as to what Sirius might be thinking.

He shouted as firmly as he could," Padfoot! Padfoot, listen to me. Calm down. We're not there. It's not happening right now, it's already over. Calm down and breathe with me slowly. Yes that's it...one,two,three..."

Sirius breathed deeply for a while and after regaining some semblance of being calm,asked him," When did you become so proficient at helping anxiety attack victims?" Rajiv sighed and replied," Nayonika still has them about the same night. I had to learn how to help her over the years. She kept waking up our daughter with her screams and I could not see both of them suffer like that."

Sirius was surprised," You have a daughter!?" Rajiv smiled sadly and said," Yes we do. She's gonna be fourteen this July." Sirius was then struck with a thought."  So she must be at Hogwarts with Harry, right?"Rajiv fidgeted a bit and said,"Yeah. You see, Padfoot, about Harry..."and he trailed off.

Sirius panicked,"Harry? Tell me, Raj. Do you know where Harry is? Is he alright?Tell me!"(A/N:cookie points to those who understood that reference)

Rajiv looked a bit troubled and said," Well you see, I and Nayonika were in France at the estate a few days ago. Our daughter was supposed to floo there the next day but when she departed on The Knight Bus to go to one of our friend's house, she found Harry on the bus not looking so hot. She brought him home and took care of him for a few days . When we came back, we asked her about him but she replied that she too didn't know what had happened but couldn't leave one of her friends injured so she nursed him back to health. He's here at the mansion now."

Sirius let out a sigh of relief. He could trust that Rajiv would have seen to it that Harry was comfortable and alright. He meekly inquired," Could I see him right now if possible?"

Rajiv replied," Yeah, why not? Shona( a Bengali term of affection), call Harry up here please? His godfather needs to speak to him." Then Sirius heard a familiar honey sweet voice," Yes, Dad. One minute." And a pattering of feet.

He questioned Rajiv," Who was that?"" That was my daughter. She's become quite friendly with Harry these days. They've bonded." Sirius joked,"So are we gonna become in-laws or something in the future?"

Rajiv chuckled and said,"No! They're just friends. My lord, you have no idea how that is wrong on so many levels!" Sirius smiled,"Why so?""You wouldn't understand",he replied.

Then a voice rang out," You asked for me, Mr. Chakravarty?" And Sirius felt almost crushed by the amount of relief he felt on hearing Harry's voice.

Rajiv turned sideways and announced in a mock official voice," There's someone who'd like to speak to you, Heir Potter."