Agastya was back from his family holiday and Kshitij too was back with bags full of snacks and sweets from Dubai. Before their college would start, he had driven to Boston to meet Riddhi and David. The weekend has been amazing for Kshitij and Riddhi and it would be bearable now, especially for Riddhi as Kshitij wouldn't be able to visit her for few weeks now.

The Sehgals had gone back to India soon after helping him settle. Aarna and Naina had been emotional having to leave after spending the amazing family time. Aarna, especially missed her bhaiya but Agastya had promised her his India visit as soon as he would get time. He too missed his home and his bestest friend Janhavi. Agastya's term had already started and he was enjoying learning the nuances of management. It was a one-and-a-half-year management program.
The 6 months passed in a breeze for Agastya, adjusting to the studies, institute and new peers at his management course.

On the other-hand Janhavi was just about to finish her MBA in a couple of months. She was placed with an American automobile giant Murphy Motors as operations manager. It was a giant in the automobile world with exclusive range of high-end cars. Murphy motors had recently opened its office in India a few years back and was doing good. The name and reputation itself had bragged them limelight and fame in Indian markets to establish their office.

Janhavi was more than pleased to get placed with that esteemed organization deemed among the best in automobile business. Arjun hugged congratulating her and was very happy for Janhavi. He was placed with a multinational financial institution for their Mumbai branch only and was happy as he would still be in Mumbai as Jaanu too would be working in her hometown. Many were found jealous for her getting placed with such a brand name and envied her, especially the girls. Sonia who exceptionally envied Janhavi and treated her as a competition even gossiped about her too with her friends

"Ohh.. so Janhavi used her charm in the interview too? First that Arjun. Usko to ungli pe lapeta hua hai jo wo sara time sath hi rehta hai uske. Bhav tak nahi deta kisi aur ko. Aur ye Janhavi jitni sweet banti hai naa utni hi cunning hai secretly. Pakka interview me Americans ko bhi lapeta hoga and snatched that only position. I so wanted to get placed in Murphy.. but that bitch!"

Her friends even stopped her finding Sonia curse Janhavi and asked her not to give Janhavi that much importance. Janhavi was over the moon as she came back to her hostel. Arjun walked along as she had called her parents to inform about her selection. Her parents were exceptionally happy knowing she will be back to the bay and will now reunite having lived few years away from them. Bidding good bye to Arjun who left for the boys' hostel on the campus, she came and lied on her bed feeling relaxed. Finally, she will go back to Mumbai, her home. She remembered to call and intimate aai aunty and she connected the call. Naina was very happy and congratulated Janhavi. Aarna too spoke with her favorite Jaanu di, her bhaiya's best friend whom she adored and she asked innocently.

"Jaanu diiiii.... yayyy you're coming back to Mumbai for work. I'm so happy you got the company in Mumbai. Bhaiya must be so happy knowing this. I can't wait to meet you. Please come soon then we will go to Juhu beach to eat cotton candy"

Finally, Janhavi messaged Agastya, how couldn't she share the happiest news with Gusty, her childhood best friend. It was night that meant it was morning in New York. She texted him informing about her placement

"Hiii... How are you? I've a news for you.. Got placed with Murphy Motors as operations manager. I'd be working at their India office in Mumbai. Thought to share with you 😊" she texted with a smiley and soon it was read with a broad smile.

It was a Saturday morning and he had no lecture today being the weekend. Kshitij had been to the library for some assignment group work. Agastya was over the moon for two reasons, first being her bagging a position that too with Murphy Motors and second for her going back to the bay.

He instantly texted her back "Heyyyy hiiiiii... I'm good and many many congratulations!! What an amazing start to my day listening to this great news! I always knew Jaanu will do something exceptional and Murphy Motors is huge! Super happy sweetheart... can't tell you I'm just elated and thrilled for you. You made my day!"

Janhavi smiled as she read his revert and texted him "Thanks for your wishes dear. Finally will be able to go back to Mumbai. Rest how are your studies?"

Reading that dear, Agastya was little disheartened again and he thought to make it clear to her this time and he did that

"Back to Mumbai - great. Studies - ok, terms will be in few weeks but this dear - not ok infact very annoying! What's with this dear? When did this dear come between you and me? I don't like it Jaanu 😔" he texted with a sulk emoji and Janhavi further typed

"It's there I guess since the last couple of years of our school. I am sorry. Got that you don't like me calling you dear. I won't repeat like other things. Well, take care and all the best for your exams".

Her reply made Agastya smile as he spared a look at something from his cupboard being alone in the room. He looked back at those memories from their school time.

Coming to Mumbai from Panchgani, they both had been admitted into the same school. They were happy being each other's company and needed no friend other than each other. Few boys wanted to befriend Janhavi but she was clear that she had her Gusty and needed no other friend. One new entrant Prince had asked her a few times to be his best friend but she kept refusing and Agastya had picked up a strong dislike towards him especially. Keeping each other a company, the years passed and they had grown up. They were in their adolescent years and both were exceptionally great in studies since always.

However, Janhavi had now started bragging about Agastya as her best friend rather she being his best friend. During the growing up years, she was influenced by the movies and the world of dreams. Still she was adored by many guys and even had befriended a few from the class, yet her Gusty was the most special one. During their 10th standard internal evaluation's PTM, her teacher met her parents and said something to her mother that was heard by none other than Agastya. And that was the day, he felt disheartened and had started distancing from her slowly. The board exams were very important and Agastya scored highest while Janhavi just faired. They still were friends but other friends too had taken places in their lives.

Soon they choose their subjects in 11th grade, Agastya opted for mathematics while Janhavi chose to study commerce. Their classes were divided subject wise except the common language subjects that were combined classes. And thus, Agastya had now more friends from his division. Their interaction slowly got limited that Janhavi hadn't been liking but she said nothing. Remembering these and few other snippets Agastya smiled caressing something and just then his room's door opened. It was Kshitij and he again saw Agastya keeping something in his cupboard that he had even earlier but hadn't ever asked. However, he couldn't hold himself today and asked Agastya what was he hiding. Agastya generally made an excuse dodging it carefully "Nothing important bro, just some old stuff". Kshitij didn't ask anything further.

Agastya got a notification and checked it was from Amanda and one was from his school friend Anisha. She had commented on his picture from his university

Amanda had commented "I so miss you August-ya" to which Agastya had replied "Let's catch up sweetheart".

While Anisha had written "Looking great Agastya! Been so long.. Glad to see you've come so far!" and Agastya had replied to her "thanks buddy"

What he didn't know was someone was scrolling his social media and could see his replies. While he was reverting to them, notifications were seen. It was Janhavi who twitched her lips reading sweetheart for Amanda "Sabko hi bolta hai. American kahi ka" while his reply to Anisha took her down the memory lane. She remembered how Agastya had toned down on communication with her and had befriended others as well.

And her reply took her into the flashback of their school days as she hugged an oversized grey hoodie, that was Agastya's she had kept safe for all these years with her.

As their sections were divided as per Maths, Bio, Arts and Commerce, Agastya and Janhavi had separated and now only their common subjects like language and computers used to be together. Agastya had many friends and he had befriended Anisha, who was quite intelligent and scored second position after Agastya and was praised by their teachers. He always was driven by intelligence and logics. He and Anisha used to discuss quite a lot about studies and finding Agastya being too friendly with Anisha, Janhavi was disheartened and she had picked up a strong dislike towards her, understandably so. Now their interaction was limited to hi, hello and exchanging few words. Thus, slowly the distance had creeped between the two.

Everyone knew that Agastya and Janhavi were best friends and as they grew up many of them even linked them together and teased Janhavi. She would only giggle but slowly had grown possessive of Agastya. But the distance made her wonder and question her own self if he didn't find her good enough? Her mind and heart were entwined with his thoughts and she had slowly started losing interest in studies being insecure and feeling inferior. Her report card visibly looked not attractive to herself finding low scores. While Agastya excelled and topped every single year. She still used to wear her hair in a ponytail that would sway as she walked and once, she while in her own thoughts, even bumped into Anisha.

Anisha apologized while Janhavi twitched her lips and her hair were haphazardly scattered in all directions. She pulled them in the scrunchie and again tied a high ponytail and went along her way. She didn't know that Agastya had seen her irritated look. This snippet still brought a smile on his face as he remembered lying in the bed looking at the ceiling. Agastya chuckled remembering his sweet little jaanu in ponytail. While Jaanu had hugged that grey oversized hoodie that was damp with her tears now looking at his picture on social media profile. She caressed his face with her long fingers as she sniffed and wiped her nose with the sleeve. And all of a sudden she chuckled remembering how her Gusty used to hate her doing it while they were kids

"ewwwww jaanuuuuu... yucky... Don't wipe with my sweater. I have given you to wear it because you are feeling cold. Stop wiping your nosey with it... ewww cross fingers for that"

She had repeated the same dialogue and wiped a few more times looking a his picture and broke down re-reading Amanda and Anisha's comment and Agastya's revert to them

"Anisha still is your buddy but the one who was your best friend since childhood holds no place in your life Agastya. You didn't even deem me worth of telling that you are moving to Boston. You didn't keep in touch except few wishes a year. You even missed wishing me on my birthdays while once upon a time you used to be the first one to wish me. I still remember how you had told me the secret of uncle marrying aai aunty and she will be your mumma. You would say you won't let me go anywhere. You used to get upset if I ever went out of Mumbai. But as you grew I meant nothing to you. You almost abandoned me. I never made friends and alas I was left with no one to share my happiness and sorrows. You still are in touch with Anisha and she is your buddy" she pitied herself for having being so emotionally attached to her Gusty that even his though ached her heart and clouded her mind.

In these thoughts as she had walked down that memory lane crying to herself, she didn't want to get hurt further and she deactivated her social media account. She thought it was wise not to even look at his pictures and then get hurt with the comments and the replies thereafter hurting herself more. Kshitij was chatting with Riddhi while Agastya was still in her thoughts with a smile on his face and felt an urge to look at her picture. As he searched her handle, he did not find it. He was confused and tried searching a few times more as he had seen it a while ago but then later, she couldn't be found.

He re-logged in and again searched her but still she couldn't be found. He then opened his message inbox and her chat history was there but the user's name was blank. He was now sure that she had deactivated her account. Janhavi having deactivated her account got a text from Arjun asking her why he couldn't find her profile as he was tagging her on a congratulatory post for her selection. Janhavi had to make an excuse but later accepted that she was too worked up and needed a break from this social media thing hence deactivated her account. Arjun being the understanding one didn't question her further and just checked if she was alright. She dodged saying she just wanted to rest and she will be fine. Arjun let her be but again Janhavi felt a pull to look at Agastya's pictures and she logged back in few hours and now it was her turn to be flabbergasted not finding him on social media just like he couldn't find her few hours back.

Janhavi couldn't hold herself and texted him "Why do I not find your profile on sm? Tried searching but can't find you"

He smiled knowing she tried finding him, his mind told him that she made an effort and now needed explanations. He simply said "Well, I too tried finding you some time back didn't find you. If I may ask why I couldn't find your profile?"

"Well, that's not important. Mai hoon nahi hoon won't make a difference. Why aren't you is what I had asked first" she texted back and he chuckled knowing she was irritated with his question. However, he finally answered her

"Umm...deactivated. Koi hai hi nahi itna sm pe rehne. Dekha ki tum bhi to nahi thi ab and then term exam studies are demanding to deactivate kar diya. Lekin tum kyu nahi ho, now answer me" he finally unleashed something that again clouded her mind as she repeated reading aloud

"Koi hai hi nahi sm pe rehne. Dekha ki tum bhi to nahi thi ab.. What do I make out of it Agastya? Does that mean you were on sm for me? Does my being there matter and not being there bothers you? But why?"

She again got a text from him "Sweetheart you didn't answer me? Why did you deactivate all of a sudden? Aur jab deactivate kar hi diya tha to fir activate kyu kiya?"

She was now trapped as he was demanding the answer but she didn't want to give the details hence she tried dodging as she was irritated by his subtle hints since quite sometime

"Well I don't owe anybody an answer. To answer you, I by mistake instead of logging out had deactivated and realized later and so logged back in"

Agastya chuckled loudly as he murmured "Liar...liar... sach to bolegi tu Jaanu. Aaj nahi to kal... Let's see who wins baby"

He replied back to her softly "Well.. I am sorry if you think I demand an answer from you. I just asked casually. You definitely owe me nothing and I don't need to know and won't bother you again by questioning. I'm really sorry Jaanu to make you think so.. Well rest your mind and heart. Looks like you are too worked up sweetheart"

She felt bad reading his apology "Well nothing to be sorry about and yeah.. I owe nobody anything except handful of my friends. Thanks for the concern though"

As soon as she sent she felt she went a little far and just then he replied back "except handful of my friends. Does that mean we aren't even friends anymore? I didn't understand that sweetheart"

She was irritated by his repeated questioning and shot a sharp reply putting monkey on his back with the years of pent up "Well... I should be the one asking you this? Afterall, you have many to call buddy and sweethearts. Isn't it?"

"Hahaha... now you are talking baby" he murmured to himself chuckling

"Ohh.. Yeah that I do have.. But jaanu is Jaanu. She is the sweetest heart. Well chalo tum rest karo. I won't bother you anymore if you think we aren't even friends" he said very calmly and Janhavi rolled her eyes.

"Ye achha hai. Khud hi distance badhao. Sabko buddy banao. Sabse baat karo aur mujhse question karo.. Jab maine pucha to mujhe pe hi ilzaam laga do ki if you think we aren't even friends. Ulta chor kotwal ko date. Sahi kahte hain mere baba. Ab ise to bura lag gaya.. lekin main hi kyu manau. Well hold on, kya likha isne....sweetest heart. Agastyaaaaaaaaa..... you're so damn unpredictable yaa... sir fodne ka man kar raha hai... aaaaaaahhhhh"

And she switched off her phone while Agastya was enjoying her irritated self that he could read in her replies at her expense "Awwww... jaanu manu chid gayi... hahaha... Koi naa... bahot saalo baad chidaya tujhe. Itna to banta hai SWEETEST HEART...hahahaha... Agastya Sehgal you are wicked dude"

Kay heard his laughs and him calling himself wicked as he butted in "Wicked...yeah... that you are bro.. hahahaha... you actually laughed like old hindi movie villain... beer?"

Agastya cheered his can with Kshitij and re-read Jaanu's texts enjoying whatever it was with broad smile as he repeated taking a sip "Sweetest heart... are you Jealous?"

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Umm..as i write i fail to understand who is cuter Agastya or Janhavi? I sometimes pity Janhavi but also feel sad for Agastya

Bechare bachhe mere...❤️