Arnav closed a door to his office shut and turned around to face tall lean man who was checking something on his mobile and paying no attention to Arnav's anxious face. Almighty ASR may have been a god in these premises - but not to Javed who was still unfazed with almost hostile silence surrounding him. Arnav exploded with his question:
- So... How was it? Do you need anything from my side?
Javed was silent for few more moments but then finally he hid his phone and answered with relief:
- No, I have everything in place now. Two separate search teams, two people following Aarav to his school and one surveillance team to cover Shantivan area...
He made a hopeful assumption to his friend:
- Ladies don't go out that much except for mandir trips so I guess we are safe... For now.
Arnav nodded and added:
- I just hope he's not stupid enough to show up here...
Jev tried stretching out his muscles – he didn't have much rest these last few days when he was running around organizing all the protective details he was reporting to Arnav now. To the last Arnav's comment Jev shook his head dismissively:
- I wouldn't put it past him - his vengeful side has pushed him beyond cold evil calculations before... Why not now when we have so much more to lose?
Arnav's head dropped... His family. His wife and kid... His Di. Why does this nightmare have to come back and hunt them over and over again? Till when?
His voice was a mere whisper when he spoke:
- It's just... Jev, I'm afraid. He is crazy and would stop at nothing at this point...
Jev raised his head from Shantivan blueprints where surveillance equipment was marked... Frankly speaking he was surprised to hear this new emotion in Arnav's voice. Fear. His friend has never expressed this facet of his character to Jev before... and that's saying something because Jev knew Arnav like a back of his hand. But... as weird as it was Jev was glad that Arnav had it in him - to be afraid. For Jev it only meant that Arnav has learnt to open up... to invite something he cherished to his heart. This was healthy for Arnav - to be afraid. But for Jev it was same kind of healthy - to fight this fear for Arnav:
- Man, you know I won't let anything happen to them, right? I swear!
Arnav nodded shaking off any sign of emotional weakness - he needed his composure more than ever. He turned to the table to review those Shantivan blueprints Jev was studying when new offer came from the latter:
- You know, Arnav, it would be much easier to protect the family if they knew that they need protection... I strongly believe we should tell them!
Arnav shook his head vigorously objecting to this idea:
- No way! The last time something like this happened half of the family went on with full-fledged rescue mission and almost got my wife killed! This time I want them all safely oblivious...
Javed shrugged - this was not his first attempt in this argument and Arnav's conviction on this point hasn't moved an inch:
- Be it your way, bhai... but I insist we tell NK - at least he's the one who they take to mandir while we are the office playing "business-as-usual" charade. He'll keep an eye on them...
Arnav considered this option and agreed:
- Good idea, Jev, I'll talk to him today. Or... you can talk to him. You're coming back today, right?
Javed looked away to avoid meeting Arnav's pleading gaze:
- No, man, I'm not. I still have few things to fix and... - Javed checked his watch; - one of them starts right about now so I have to fly! See you tomorrow, same time?
Even though his last words were formed into question Jev was not waiting for Arnav's answer as he turned around and strolled out of the office. He just knew that Arnav would be waiting for him at the same time tomorrow. As he did for the last month since... Shyam escaped.