Silent Tears - 9

CHAPTER 9:

It was a beautiful day. Julian was walking towards the summer villa where his former lover lived. Fanaa. She was pretty but she was also deaf. And that was something which the hottest player in school wasn’t gonna have. He wanted the best. And now… when the best had ditched him for someone better, he had come looking for a girl he needed for a national level ball. His father had been invited. So he wanted to go along too. And he needed to show off his manliness…. By calling a girl to go with him to the ball. It would be great to go with Fanaa. She’d look great in an off shoulder, black, figure hugging dress…. And her arm on his, they could dance through the night… oh but she was deaf… she wouldn’t want to dance…. He’d make her dance. It was easy. She’d beg him again to let her into his life. And oh! How the people would praise him for loving a deaf girl… he would tell the media how he had always loved her and how because of misunderstandings they’d drifted apart. And how their love had survived….
"Excuse me, are you looking for someone?" Fanaa’s voice echoed from the garden. Julian looked up. She was looking so… happy! Yes! She was still in love with him. Aryana’s death had given him a good opportunity to get back this hot female in time for the ball.
"Long time no see babe…." Julian croaked. It wasn’t really a croak, still. Fanaa said sarcastically, "If you haven’t heard the rumors in my hometown, I cannot perceive sound…."
Julian looked flustered but said, "Hon, you know it was all in anger…. All’s fair in love and war remember?"
Fanaa sighed and said, "Are you here for something? Say it and get over with it…."
Julian tried to maintain a neutral expression, but his disappointment and confusion showed through it anyways. He spoke after a few seconds of hesitation… "well you know darling,"
Fanaa cut him short and said coldly, "Don’t call me darling."
Julian continued getting more and more flustered by the minute, "Uh…alright, sorry for that… I thought you’d need a shoulder to cry on after your best friend’s death…."
Fanaa snorted and scoffed, "Don’t you think it’s a bit late to offer a shoulder for me to cry on? That too coming from you…. Still. As courtesy, I must ask, would you join me for evening tea?" It was getting dark and she had to strain her eyes to lip read. They walked back into the house. She felt weird. Feeling hatred to a human she had loved with all her being. The repulsion he generated was excellent. Optimum to hate him but not enough to murder him. Alone with him in this huge house.
‘Hmm… it’s time….’ Thought Fanaa as she scooped up her mobile in one hand and went to the kitchen. Julian was looking at green coloured vase. It didn’t look like Fanaa’s work. There was none of the compassion of her heart. None of the perfection that reflected in everything in her life. No… he was the imperfection in her life. But so what? Life is imperfect and that’s what makes it beautiful…. Fanaa returned in a few minutes and switched on the TV.
She left saying, "Entertain yourself with it…." As she left, he heard her say, "Oh! And please don’t make yourself at home, it’s not yours…."

***
Fanaa worked her way through the pancakes and coffee, all the while messaging Alian.
-"You there?"
-"How’s everything going?"
-"Just as planned, I think I hurt him…."
-"As if he’s a saint and he’s never hurt you. I’m sure u didn’t hurt him enough"
-"Alright. Pancakes ready. U’d best come over. I’m gonna flaunt off my new best friend."
-"Hell yes Let him believe whatever he thinks."
-"I’d best go back. He’ll start suspecting. I’ll keep messaging. Just for the act you know. Come on over. Me waiting."
-"Ok. Limo ready. Going to come in all glory. He he he"

***
Julian looked at Fanaa. She had surely done something to her hair. Ah yes… she’d gone and let it down. It fell around her softly, fluffy and wavy, it perfectly framed her face. Yes… She would look good for that ball.
She set the tray on the table and sat opposite him. It was the farthest from him. He could have sworn she was waiting for something, maybe his offer for her or something. Sigh… he’d take his time. A mobile beeped somewhere. And he realized she wasn’t paying attention to him at all. She was texting someone. Oh just great! He had to make a move and fast.
"Uh… Fanaa, I was wondering if you know you’ll be going for the… you know… national ball for the executives of the Astros Office. Uh… it’s next week. I thought it’ll be a great change from all the gloom you’ve been in since Aryana’s death. …"

Fanaa replied still distracted by her mobile, "next week? Sorry I’m busy most of the days…."
She messaged Alain- "Hey! Hurry up. I’m gonna gloat over you. And he’s asking me to go with him to the national ball. I’m telling I’ve to go for some other work."
He replied back hurriedly, "Tell him that I’ve invited you as special guest to my concert- ‘Revive’ in town."
Fanaa asked- "Will you be able to manage that?"
The message which came next, shocked her moderately enough and made her euphoric- "Not everything of that plan is a setup to avenge Aryana and ur hurt, u know. I’m here. Let’s begin the play"

Julian had seen various expressions cross her face. She looked happy and content.
He asked, "So… where are you gonna be the next week?"
"Obviously, Alian is coming back. I’m not gonna miss out even a single performance…."
Julian said shocked, "Performance? For god’s sake Fanaa, you can’t even hear… And Aryana would be disappointed to see that you haven’t mourned for her."
He wanted to tell her that he had to take her to the ball. No other girl would go…. His reputation had gone with the wind after Aryana’s death…. That was a different matter. But still he needed her to come with him. Who cared for the consequences….
Fanaa stood up and started pacing near the door. She wasn’t even talking. She wanted to make him think that she was waiting for policemen to come and take away this insensitive wretch to a lock up where he’d see no girls for quite a few of his youthful years. Her stomach was churning itself into a twisted knot. Where was he? Why was Alian taking so long. He had asked her to just play along and not show surprise if he placed a hand around her shoulders or something. He said it was all to help her. And she believed it. But Alian wanted to believe it that his chance to act like her closest friend would be really true….
Julian interrupted, "Fanaa honey, what are you tensed about? Please tell me, I’ll hear you out…."
Fanaa’s back was to him and she hadn’t heard him. Instead she was picking up the key to the door and walking to open the door.
Julian’s eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Who could it be? Here? To visit Ms. Plain Jane- Fanaa….

Fanaa caught sight of the limo and before she reached the door Alian was at the door and the calling screen showed a bunch of flowers behind which someone was here. Fanaa smiled mischievously and thought as she unlocked the door, ‘He sure knows how to put up a show….’
Click…
The atmosphere changed suddenly, Fanaa became cheerful as she saw her friend standing in the doorway with flowers and a medium sized brand new painting canvas; Julian stood up as he realized who was at the door. Alian grabbed Fanaa’s hand and thrust the bouquet into her hands. She placed them in the green vase and walked over to Alian again. They started chattering in the hallway.
"Fanaa! Hmm…" he looked at her and pretended to scan her and spoke, "I’ve made my diagnosis…. You need a jumbo burger right away…."
"Hey no! I made pancakes for you…."
Julian processed what was happening- Fanaa was friends with one of the hottest pop stars, who definitely adored her, and yes she was a painter and uh… the pancakes were for the other guy, not for him…. Their conversation broke into his thoughts-
"… So I decided that getting you a new canvas for that would be a good idea…. Man! I can smell those delicious pancakes…" slipping his arm around her shoulders, he squeezed the hand he was holding and said noiselessly looking into her relieved eyes- ‘Everything going perfect. Don’t worry, I’m with you…’ Fanaa nodded as Alian stopped abruptly and asked, "Hey, whose this?" He smiled politely and said, "I believe we haven’t met. Alian Jordan." He extended a hand towards Julian who looked astounded. It really was him. The pop star.

Julian said about to shake Alain’s hand, "Julian… Julian Gold."
Alian’s hand dropped. He had seriously not intended for that to happen but for some reason he wasn’t able to make himself polite.
Alian said a bit rigidly, "Julian… as in Fanaa’s ex?"
Julian said or rather retorted, "I’m not her ex! We’re still on solid ice aren’t we Fanaa?"
Fanaa who was looking at the two guys said quietly before leaving for the kitchen with tears in her eyes- "I thought we broke up the day you called me a sucker and went on to suck up to Ms. Cheerleader…."
She was gone but Julian was provoked because she had injured his pride, in a fit of fury he yelled loudly, forgetting that it wouldn’t affect Fanaa, only his cry rang in the house, "Why you slut! I’ll get you for this…."
Alian’s lean but muscular arm stopped him midway to the kitchen.
"Did she ever get you for what you did?"
Julian stared at him. What was going on? "I… I…. it wasn’t my fault. I just came to ask her to the ball. I…."
Alian cut him short as he steered him away from the kitchen, "Don’t you know she’s the chief guest of my upcoming performances. I asked her first and she accepted me."
There was a finality to his tone which weakened Julian’s decision. Fanaa appeared wiping her face with a tissue. She had a tray in hand with pancakes and ketchup. Alian took it from her and ok… it was very sudden but it wasn’t part of the play either. It was an impulse and he followed it. He hugged Fanaa lightly and with his arm around her made her sit down on the sofa.
He glared at Julian and said, "It was an experience meeting you. Are you staying?"
Julian shook his head and with a look of utter confusion walked out of the door and out of Fanaa’s life.