Shantivan was unusually quiet. Anjali was sure that there were men outside the house assigned to the security… but inside it felt like world just stopped mid-spin… it was almost too quiet.

Today was the day of the show. It wasn't a moderate success Anjali had hoped it to be… It was tremendous success! Their new collection (and Anjali was credited as a designer for most of it) was called "visionary" and "inspired" in terms of "fresh and upbeat combination of patterns and fabrics". Anjali secretly laughed at the notion that this "new spin in fashion design" came from her assistant's mistake in fabric order… but Anjali tried her best to make this mistake work and, unexpectedly, it turned out to be really good!

But apart from being huge and unprecedented success this show was very exhausting. It took every ounce in Anjali's body to go through official part but when show has shifted to press-conference and then to after-party…

People after people who wanted to pick the brain of "new home-bread talent of Raizada's house"… camera fleshes and "look over here" screams that made her feel way to self-conscious… shining jewelry… shining dresses… shining people.

Anjali was getting down quickly till somebody took her by the elbow and turned her to a dark corner. She should've get scared… but she was too tired to get scared now… and it was Javed.

- Anjali-ji, I have a favor to ask.

She raised her eyebrow to express polite… but sardonic interest… let's just say he was not in her "best behavior" list today.

- Yes, Javed-ji, how can I be of assistance? Do you need me to introduce you anybody else or have you already met all of our…

Javed was overlooking a crowd behind them and wasn't paying attention to Anjali's snarky remarks – so no wander he interrupted her before she finished her sentence:

- Can we go home?

Anjali suddenly became aware of his disturbed gaze and looked around worried:

- What is it? Is he… here?

Javed looked directly into her eyes and smile revealing some of the tension – if he was smiling it couldn't be that bad, right?

- No, Anjali-ji, nothing like that… I just need to finish some work for tomorrow's meeting and… Well, Lavanya is having a time of her life… so does NK… Arnav said he has to see this show through… and Khushi-ji, obviously, wouldn't leave his side…

Javed shrugged nonchalantly and finally voice his request for Anjali:

- So I thought… You could say you were tired and I could volunteer to escort you home.

- Ah-huh…

So he wasn't offering her a ride IN CASE she was tired… he was basically suggesting her to PRETEND to be tired so he could have an excuse to leave… and that with a big neon sign on his forehead "knight in shining armor helping out a damsel in distress".

Anjali hated the fact that she wanted to agree to this so badly! She was no longer required for the party and she was so very tired! So Anjali decided to play along just this once and nodded:

- Let's go, show-off! I'll go tell Chote we are leaving.

Javed bowed and offered his hand to lean on. Anjali didn't want to but she took his hand nonetheless – her leg was killing her and she needed all support she could get.

And that is how Anjali ended up back home. Alone… except for Javed being somewhere upstairs doing his homework.

Show-off!

…

Maybe it was the thrill of today's evening or she wasn't as exhausted as she thought she was but Anjali couldn't fall asleep. She went wandering to the kitchen thinking of glass of warm milk and some jalebis… there were always jalebis in the kitchen.

Anjali limped on her way to the kitchen because her leg was still bothering her a lot and warming balm she'd applied earlier didn't help as much.

- What are you doing here? – came startling voice from the common room and Anjali halted looking around.

Javed stood up from the couch and stepped towards her. Anjali turned away defiantly trying to express her displease with him today. Javed seemingly paid no attention to her little show as he reached her in few steps and touched her forearm:

- Anjali-ji… what has happened? Are you hurting?

Anjali looked down and realized that she gave away her pain yet once again – her palms were covered with semicircle marks from her nails. And Javed knew this was her tell for when she was in pain. Damn that all-knowing smug man!

Anjali hasn't had a chance to stop him as he sat her to the couch and took off her chappal. He started massaging her foot in little exact movements and Anjali would've resented it immediately… if it wasn't so gooooood! Aching pain that accompanied her for the last few hours was leaving her body with every pressing he made… and she couldn't fight it. Not now.

But still… it wasn't proper, she knew that. Anjali tried to take away her leg:

- Javed-ji, stop it, I don't want to bother you, you are busy with your…

She wanted to say "work" but when she'd turned around and looked at the couch she saw only book he was apparently reading when she came. "Hm, - Anjali thought to herself, - where are those tons of work he was supposed to do till the morning?"

Javed grabbed her leg by the ankle not letting her to move:

- Sit, Anjali-ji, you need this. No reason to be so formal right now, nobody will see your fall from grace, and I solemnly swear to keep it a secret!

His voice was warm, friendly… and mocking. Anjali rebelled:

- It's so kind of you, you are a real gentlemen! I bet hundreds of women can vouch for this! Is that how you got your massaging experience, Mr. Harvard?

- W-what? – Javed has this incredulous expression that meant he understood none of what she just said. He either was playing dumb (which usually wasn't a case for him) or it was one more of his innocence pretence and Anjali couldn't take it either way. She yanked her foot almost making Javed to fall on a floor as he was kneeling beside her. Anjali spoke in harsh voice and all the hurt and betrayal she felt this evening was running through her words:

- Thank you, Javed-ji, but I'll manage by myself! I don't want my ugliness to spoil you cumulative impression of today's "astonishing beauty" and "impeccable grace" and "angelic smiles" and the rest of it!

She did her best to mimic his deep profound voice he used for his compliments… numerous compliments he gave away today.

Javed stood up in stepped away shaking his head a little as if trying to recover from dizziness. His crooked smile gave away his amusement:

- Was it supposed to be me? Oh my, Anjali-ji, you are a lady of many talents!

She folded her hands on her chest and turned away frowning. Javed's voice was insinuating as he asked:

- Anjali-ji, what's so interesting about my persona that you were eavesdropping on me this whole evening?

She turned to face him fuming with holy rage:

- Who needs to eavesdrop on you if you were fountaining with compliments throughout the show! If we'd stayed a bit longer you'd probably be awarded with Prince Charming title right there on the spot!

Javed's eyes were getting wider and wider with every word she said and he was breathing heavily. Javed was very quiet for a long time and then his face lit up:

- Anjali… are you… jealous?

She stood up abruptly but lost her balance and would have fallen back to the couch if Javed wouldn't catch her by the waist. And even though he was practically embracing her right now, Anjali tried to object his semi-question/semi-statement:

- Who's jealous? Me? Why would…

And Javed pressed his lips to hers. Wild, raw energy filled him as Anjali's soft body aligned with his and she whimpered a bit surprised by his actions. He invaded her mouth with desperation of a hungry man – concurring, claiming, trying to imprint a feeling of her kiss in his memory…

Javed stepped away abruptly and Anjali's hand has fallen midway. He didn't have courage to look her in the eyes as he said:

- I'm sorry. This should not have happened.

His steps were still echoing in empty corridors when Anjali fell down to the couch crying.

He was sorry it has happened…