Javed naam hai mera phir se

Chapter 8

Yet, it was still unpleasant to be scolded and dismissed by Mr. Owl. Anjali felt really lucky that he was not her permanent boss and was here only to oversee the preparation of this particular collection which he worked on.

But this was some job or her! And she was really losing her… slowly but surely…

- Mrs. Anjali, leave my sleeves alone, you have no say in this matter!

- But, Mr. Samza, it's highly unpractical to have long and laced sleeves on otherwise common saree. Where would woman wear such thing? It's too delicate for household chores and a bit too trivial for festive occasions!

- What do you possibly know about sarees for festive occasions? Have you ever seen one? – owl's voice became high-pitched and his expression was disgusted as he looked over Anjali's simple yet very elegant deep-blue saree.

Anjali was lost for words – this man crossed the border of respectable work relations into open judgement of her character and her appearance. She suddenly felt herself covered in mud and she hand to fight the urge to scrape his look off her body. She wanted to respond with something witty and dignified but nothing came to her tired mind.

And then came the voice – very familiar but very unexpected:

- Wow, Mr. Samza, just wow! My imagination is running wild right now but I have to say – you are definitely going to win this race!

And he stepped out. From behind that bush that was concealing Anjali's secret hideout. Well, apparently not so secret, if Javed had spent last four hours in there and never made his presence known… Up until now.

Mr. Owl responded in the same high-pitched voice:

- I beg your pardon? What do you mean?

Javed smiled a crooked smile:

- I mean that I use all of my imagination trying to picture you in saree – be it a festive or common design – and let me tell you – you are looking gooood!

And with that Javed has made this appreciative whistle men use to harass women on the streets. Javed knew he was being offensive. He was trying for this effect intentionally. Mr. Samza also knew it was direct blow – and he took it badly:

- How dare you to meddle with my business? This girl has tons to learn from me and it's not your place to mock me for trying to teach her some sense!

Javed smirked:

- Why, do you have a lot of experience in wearing sarees? What makes you a bigger expert in women clothing that an actual woman?

There was an undertone to that "actual woman" – it swayed across Anjali's wounded ago and soothed it a bit… she didn't know why… maybe because it sounded like a compliment… or maybe because she liked to be recognized as an "actual woman" by Javed…

Mr. Sanza kept holding his ground:

- I design sarees! So I know a thing or two about them! While this girl…

- … wears them for the past fifteen years of her life. I don't argue with your expertise in colours, patterns and general ideas. But I believe this girl was assigned to this job because of numerous reasons including her talent, her ability to be a team player and, among other things, her being a women who personally knows practical use of sarees. So I suggest you to tone down your enormous ego and try to learn "thing or two" from her – which was the whole point of you two working together on this collection!

Mr. Samza went dark-red on this last comment and was gasping for air in a perfectly ventilated room. Before he regained his ability to speak, Javed added: