October, the start of the colder climate, the season of harvest and festivities as the year winds up and people get ready to welcome the new year shortly with new hopes, new goals. The month when the west receives it first snow, the days become shorter and the winters knock the doors. Dense fog spreads across the hilly areas making them visit worthy.

Aarav-Naina had a tradition to host a get together with their closest friends and their families. Their entire gang of friends had joined this pre-diwali party at their farmhouse except Asmi and Aneesh who were in Delhi and Anaya and Rohan who had been to an international conference. Even Manasvi and Akshay had joined too who were introduced by Siddhant after Aarav and Naina had gotten married. Although Manu and Akshay used to live in London, every year they used to visit India especially for Diwali. This year Aarav and Naina had an announcement to make to all their friends.

Janhavi, had grown up into a beautiful girl all of 18 years and had been a part of Agastya's and Aarav's friends' circle since childhood and hence Aarav and Naina had invited her too. Being his childhood bestie, all the kids of the gang knew Janhavi and all were fond of her. In all these years all the kids had grown up. Siddhant and Sanaya's daughter Siya and Prags son Hridaan both were 11, while Manasvi-Akshay's son Vihaan, 13-years-old had entered his teens and the youngest on the block was 9 years old Aarna, Aarav and Naina's daughter. Agastya and Janhavi were the eldest.

The fleet of cars took a sharp turn as a sweet girl all of 18 years apologized being little shy having tumbled towards the young handsome guy "Ouch...I am sorry". The guy instructed the driver
"Bhaiya! Dheere chalaiye naa... lag jayegi kisi ko.. bahot sharp turns hain" and the driver immediately expressed regret.

"Sorry Agastya baba... galti se ho gaya... yahan sign boards bhi nahi hain aur ye rasta pahli baar travel kar raha hoon.. Janhavi didi lagi kya aapko?"
While the other kids chuckled and Agastya shuffled his seat to the front and made Siya sit next to Janhavi "Ohh Jaanu di... mane to pahle hi kaha tha...but you know wha... anyways leave it! Well well... I'm so damn excited for this weekend... woohhooo". Siya, Siddhant and Sanaya Mehra's daughter looked all excited as she spoke in the little accent. All the kids had been traveling to Igatpuri, Aarav and Naina's farm house for the yearly pre-diwali get together.

Igatpuri, a beautiful hill station round 2.5 hrs from Mumbai served as a relaxing gateway for Sehgal family when Aarav had bought a farm house. The monsoon and winters were the best time to visit and unwind from the rush of the city life. Aarav and Naina had been a regular with their families and friends. Even their closest friends would accompany them sometimes to enjoy a short break from the mundane life. It was a 6-bedroom farm house overlooking the valley with two huge family rooms and a verandah converted into entertainment and gaming lounge that opened into the huge backyard. The property was built on an inclination overlooking the Sahyadri mountain range. During monsoons and winters the fog made it look absolutely stunning and worth the visit. The entire route from Mumbai to Igatpuri was scenic as the winters had made the landscape green that soothed the eyes. It had become a tourist destination in the recent years with many high-end resorts and many camp sites for the travelers.

Aarav's farmhouse was tastefully decorated and was well furnished with a full stocked up pantry. The open plan kitchen attached to one of the family rooms gave the cook, who so ever it would be a chance to even enjoy family time. During the initial days of their married life, it served as a perfect minimoon destination for Aarav and Naina. Even today, a decade later, nothing much has changed except now their romantic escapades are constrained to their own bedroom. But they have nothing to complain. The garden was perfectly manicured with a couple of swings and a fountain too. The side space of the kitchen had a small vegetable garden and the extended land was a full fledged farm that was used for farming of the local veggies and fruits. Their caretaker and his family used to live at the farmhouse's outhouse. His wife Radha used to look after the cleaning and cooking whenever anyone would visit and Kanhaiya bhaiya, the caretaker used to look after the outside chores and the farming with the help of few workers. The farmhouse had all the facilities for the guests' comfort. In short it was a home away from home.

Soon the cars reached the farmhouse that was guarded by a huge iron gate. The gatekeeper opened with a smile and the security guard saluted closing the gate behind. The row of huge lush trees and the garden made the sight a happy one. The kids were excited to spend the weekend. Kanhaiya bhaiya and Radha bhabhi were already there at the foyer to welcome everyone

"Namaste bhaiya bhabhi.. Aaiye aaiye.. Kab se intejaar kar rahe the aapka hum log.. Late ho gaye mummy ji batai... bambai ka traffic bhi bahot hoga na... Arre arre Agastya baba bag chhod do.. Hum aur munna le jayenge...Radha! bhabhi ji logo ka bag le jao... aur bachho ke liye kuch khane laga do... Sath hi chai chadha do.. Hum aate hain taja makkhan le ke Patil ji ke yaha se"

Kanhaiya, who hailed from Patna instructed his marathi wife Radha, who was from Kolhapur. They had been unmarried when they came to this farm 8 years ago. Radha was Sehgal's house help couple Raghu bhaiya and Malti bhabhi's niece and hence her family knew it was safe to send Radha for work here. Her real name was Radhika but Kanhaiya had started calling her Radha when they fell in love as he would say "Kanhaiya ke sath Radha jachta hai jyada... hum to tumko Radha hi bulayenge" and she would blush. That's how she was now called Radha.

Kids loved Radha and Kanhaiya as Radha aunty cooked their favorites and Kanhaiya took them to the farm and told them stories of his childhood and also about farming. In these years they together had planted many fruit bearing trees with "Uncle K". That's what the kids used to address Kanhaiya and Radha became Rads aunty. The kids ran towards the kitchen with their Rads aunty.

"Rads aunty... Mera wala fav kaha hai? Noooo... mujhe noodles nahi khane.. momos khane hain... Wo same to same last time wale" the youngest gen Alpha, 9 years old Aarna scrunched her nose looking at the noodles that were one of Agastya's favorites.

The mothers laughed as Naina instructed "Aarna... baby! First handwash go quick... Sana chachi is making your momos but not today. Today she is tired.. tomorrow! ok?"

"Mom! Uncle K will get makkhan or wha... ummmm I love this Indian white butter with aloo pratha... I love India for the food and the family we have...and not to forget my cutie pie SI" Vihaan asked Manu in his typical brit accent as he squeezed Siya's neck lightly oscillating her from the back as he held her in a hug.

"Jaanu didi... Bahot dino baad aayi naa... phrom many days you not come to our pharm... I cook you elso aloo paratha.. your Kanhaiya unkal bring makkhan... Agastya baba ko pasand hai naa" Radha had studied till 10th standard but her medium of study being Marathi she wasn't well versed with English. But whenever Agastya used to visit he would teach her little sentences in English and she very religiously learnt. And that's how Radha knew little bit of English. Listening to her Ragini even chuckled "Kya Radha.. hindi me hi bol le" and Radha smiled broadly "Are bhabhi... why not English...my tutti futti only...but I speak... Agastya baba! Aaiga... sikhaya ko kya bolte? Bhulich gayi...majak bana re kya bhabhi mera?". As she forget a word to fill and complete her sentence, the kids chuckled as Janhavi said "Agastya baba taught me... aisa bolo Rads aunty". Janhavi had a mellow smile taking Agastya's name.

The kids had been busy playing snooker in the verandah, half of which was converted into gaming zone for those rainy days when the kids couldn't play outside. Agastya, Vihaan and Hridaan had been at the pool table as the elders too joined them with cans of beer. Agastya passed the cue stick to Aarav "Daddy...chachu.. up for a game?" and the dads too joined the boys. The ladies had been busy putting the luggage while Kanhaiya bhaiya had got fresh makkhan from Patil's farm, a local dairy farm. Radha served snacks for everyone at the verandah. There were flavored popcorns, crisps, onion rings, patties and fresh fruits platter with a couple of dips and chutneys. The evening menu was a barbeque. Kanhaiya bhaiya had been helping the other men in decorating for Diwali. The farm house was decorated in the bright yellow lights and the back yard cum pool area would serve as the party place and bonfire.

Being hill-station, it had gotten cold. The fog although wasn't dense, it still had spread across obstructing the view of the hills from the backyard. The pool was temperature controlled hence even in the winters they could enjoy a swim amidst nature. The whole house was lit in the evening. The dusk fell and the party came alive. They all had decided to wear traditional wear as it was a pre-diwali bash. The ladies and the girls lit the diyas and candles all across the house. The pool area looked beautiful and ready for the party. The music was in place, the food was kept in the chafing dishes, the drinks were ready and so were the fireworks, literally and otherwise as Aarav spared a glance at Naina and smiled

"So everyone.... although we all come here every year to celebrate our friendship, this time, it's a special occasion as a new chapter awaits for Agastya"

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So guys, those who had been waiting to see Agastya and Janhavi's journey unfold, it begins this moment.

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HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE 🐇 🌸 🌾🥚

Love
Shefali & Asmi ❤️