Few months pass by and Janhavi had joined Murphy Motors a few weeks back. There had been some organizational changes and Janhavi's location was switched from Mumbai to Delhi. She had joined Murphy Motor's Delhi branch. She was yet settling in the organization, understanding the functioning and picking up the pace with her work. With her polite and ever smiling nature, she had made few fans too, well her beauty and those long silky tresses contributed to some young male colleagues picking up instant liking towards her. Her sharp mind and diligence and streamlined approach towards her work had already been the talk of the office, even in the top management. The head of Murphy Motors, a middle aged bald, handsome American man in his early 50s who was on delegation in India from their US office too liked Janhavi for her dedicated approach towards her work when she had met him for an official meet in their Mumbai office. All in all, she had everyone who liked her and quite a few young colleagues who more than liked her and wanted to be-friend her. However, Janhavi kept to herself being polite and professionally friendly with everyone.

On the other hand, Agastya had gotten busy with his upcoming submissions, assignments and exams. He was literally running from one class to another as he had been busy not just with his submissions but infact got delayed submitting his assignments just at the nick of time as some other important stuff kept him busy. Kshitij even wondered as it had never happened with Agastya, he had always been very proactive and up-to-date with his submissions

"dude! Everything alright with you? How come did you lag this time for submissions! Hey Agastya....wait man.. kaha bhag raha hai!?"

Agastya could only answer him back while running towards the administration lobby "Kay! All ok...don't worry...just got a little late...was busy with some important stuff...gotta go to admin...aata hoon"! And kay was left behind smiling at Agastya's reddened face and answering Ridhhi's call in between.

Both Janhavi and Agastya's lives had been running busy and in fast forward mode with work, friends and family, studies, assignments, exams and their hearts probably beating fast even missing a beat with that one text notification. Life that felt on stand still for Janhavi once upon a time was now running at the speed of Mumbai local. Her new workplace, coming back to the bay regularly, catching up with her few old school friends when in Mumbai and spending time with her parents and Arjun on certain weekends kept her too busy. She was happy to have Murphy motors as her first employer. Arjun being the softest guy and one of the biggest support sources of her life, yet her heart pinned to just see her Gusty once. Afterall, it had been around 6 years she hadn't seen him. Just exchange of few customary messages had kept that bond kind of alive and since few months, Agastya texting and doing things that kind of looked deliberate with his texts and those subtle bold reverts made it way more confusing for Janhavi.

With Agastya being busy with his studies and assignments, he hadn't got much time to keep in regular touch with Janhavi and he almost again was missing in action

"iska kuch samajh me hi nahi aata... what does he exactly want to do...rakhna hai dosti...nahi rahna hai...kya karna hai....kabhi message karna hai adhi adhi raat ko bhi...hints ke bad bhi bye nahi bolna hai...kabhi apne whereabouts aise dene hain jaise mujhse jyada koi matter hi nahi karta ho...and then shun for weeks...no texts, no dms...he is such an unpredictable guy...yakeen nahi hota ye itna badal gaya hai....kabhi kabhi lagta hai mujhse jyada isko ye khud bhi nahi janta...aur kabhi kabhi lagta hai...main ise bilkul bhi nahi janti...ab wapas iska cold phase start ho gaya...no messages since weeks...main hi har baar kyu karu pehle react"

She had rolled her eyes and wiped few tears that had filled the corner of her eyes being hurt. However, she mostly kept herself busy with work. It was demanding being a new entrant in the corporate world. She still had few weeks to get her probation completed. She hustled a lot to make a mark in the new workplace and had instantly impressed people at her workplace with her smartness and work ethics.

It had been months that Agastya hadn't met Amanda although being in the same city. It was her birthday and she had planned a meet up with her friends and had decided to go partying to a very famous pub. Although Agastya was keeping extremely busy with studies, he couldn't deny Amanda's request and invitation for her birthday. Along with Agastya and Kshitij, Riddhi and David too had come for a week to New York and finally after months they all would be together again.

Amanda was extremely happy meeting all her friends and especially Agastya. Agastya had agreed for the party as that was what Amanda had asked for as her birthday gift

"hey Amanda! What would you like me to gift you? I know it's rude to ask the birthday girl herself....how about we all go for shopping and you choose for yourself?" Agastya had asked over the phone when she had called to invite for the party.

She chuckled "OMG....August-ya...is that really you talking....wow...how I would love to burden your pocket. Hahahaha.. but no...I want you to attend my birthday party and that would be my gift...be with all of us and we all shall dance, booze and enjoy the night away.. if you want to gift me something...gift me your presence and time and that would the most priceless and precious gift considering we don't get time to meet out of our busy scheds...would you gift me an evening of your busy life?"

Amanda was not just articulate but very logical, sensible yet a beautiful soul and that was why Agastya had always respected her. Finding how she had demanded "an evening of his busy life", he smiled and had agreed to gift what she demanded. Amanda's happiness knew no bounds as she was just happy to have Agastya as "her most special friend" who would be with her on her birthday eve.

They all had met at the decided time at a happening pub in Manhattan. New York was famous for its night life and the downtown was always buzzing with people. Agastya met and had wished Amanda hugging her and her face had lit up meeting him after months

"dude! We gotta meet often. We three live in NYC and still don't get time to meet is such a shame. Isn't it? well, I know you and Kay have studies so I forgive you..hehe!"

And Kshitij being himself had to poke his nose in between cracking a lame joke "well...had you said yes to me years ago...we would have met bloody fucking every day, your bad....you see....how unlucky you are to have lost out on a handsome and macho guy like me"

Kshitij smirked, Amanda shot daggers, Agastya punched him on his torso, David laughed at them and Riddhi got annoyed marching ahead swearing at Kay. And now it was time for Amanda, Agastya and David to laugh at Kay as he had a tough task to cajole an annoyed girlfriend. Riddhi wasn't jealous of Amanda, she used to get irritated with Kay's flirting with anyone for that matter. But most of the time she used to put up an act to make Kay cajole her, like any other girlfriend would demanding that special attention.

Finally, Kay had managed to cajole Rids and kissed her cheeks apologizing. Looking at them enjoying each other's company, suddenly struck Agastya with a pang of missing his dearest, his sweetest heart, his Jaanu. Just as he would have taken a flight to the dreamland, Amanda pulled him as the entry to the pub was open. They had danced, boozed and clicked pictures enjoying the night. Amanda clicked a selfie with Agastya and had tagged asking him to re-share it. It had Amanda side hugging Agastya while he had his hand hung on her shoulders. She was pouting with a victory sign and Agastya had his thumbs up with his endearing smile. She had captioned their picture in the story as "most special friend for life"

As she asked Agastya to re-share the story on his social media, he ideally wouldn't have shared as he knew jaanu wouldn't like it. But since it was Amanda's birthday, he didn't want to come across as rude and insensitive towards her hence he obliged and re-shared her story. And as expected Jaanu saw the story within minutes of it being shared and got annoyed that he was out and having fun. What she didn't know was he was actually tied up with his studies and had made an exception for Amanda's birthday, to meet her after months of almost having no contact. David, Kay and Riddhi too were a part of that celebration. Freddie couldn't escape an overseas business meeting with his dad and hence couldn't join them, but he wished Amanda on video call and they clicked a picture along with Freddie on video conference.

Agastya re-shared few more stories but Amanda's caught Janhavi's eye. She did not like the comfort between the two but who was she to complain?

"wow! sahi hai time nahi hoga mere liye. Baki sabke liye time hai bus mujhe hi ignore karna hai isko. Actually, galti meri hi hai jo main hi har baar pighal jati hoon naa. Anyone would take advantage of it. He knows I am little emotional when it comes to him and he makes sure to utilize my emotional vulnerability. Well good for him, sahi hai main hoon hi kaun. Just a friend, apni most special friend ko to time dega hi"

As she spoke to herself, she repeated what she said "apni most special friend ko to time dega hi" and suddenly an unknown thorn of jealousy pricked her "fuck! what if he really has a girlfriend. Is she his girlfriend? But he should have told me if he had. Ohh damn! But what if he didn't feel the need to share with me...no..no...no..no Agastya Sehgal can't have a girl friend and that too firang...possible hi nahi hai..uncle and aai aunty thodi hi allow karenge"

But her mind questioned her "kyu allow nahi karenge..ladki achhi hogi to what's wrong with firang"

And she took a deep sigh "ahhh! Whatever man...jo karna hai kare... mujhe kya"

The birthday celebration wrapped up in the wee hours. It was a simple sweet birthday with the closest friends meeting and making merry after a very long gap, just like Amanda had wished for. But still, in those happy moments, all Agastya could remember was his childhood birthday celebrations where most often his Jaanu would twin with him and proudly stand along with him during the cake cutting. He smiled as he missed her dearly. Finding her the first viewer of his story and not getting a reaction from her, he knew she might be pissed and upset. And that's when it stuck him that he hadn't been in touch with her since quite a long. Before texting her, he wanted a reaction from her and he subtly posted a solo picture of him with a caption that probably only she could decode. It was him standing at the bar lighted with neon and disco lights illuminating his face and had held a piece of cake and a glass of champagne. His caption said

"Birthdays always bring the fondest of childhood memories and one is left of thinking of the sweet gestures of their bestest friend having had matched clothes and twinned. The first wish from them and how proudly they would stand by your side patiently waiting for the cake to be cut and to be fed the first bite. We realize it later in life that no one can be THE SWEETEST HEART as they have been...since always...probably for eternity...I miss all of it but sometimes life keeps you so damn busy that you don't forget to keep in touch, rather you keep waiting for the ample time to spend with them..well virtually though...I MISS YOU MY CHILDHOOD"

Reading it, Janhavi couldn't hold herself back from shedding few tears. All these cryptic messages boggled her mind. She didn't understand why was Agastya doing all this on and off. She knew he wanted her attention but she didn't want to react. She simply liked his post but didn't comment anything. Whereas Agastya was waiting for her comment or a private message. Upon not finding it happen his way, he thought to buzz her and he did

"Hey jaanu....what's up...busy busy"

How could his text not spread a smile on her face melting her heart? Even though she was annoyed with him for missing in action, his one hi had made her smile. No matter how much did she try being rude with him, she just couldn't. Afterall, he was her Gusty

"Hi... all ok...what's up with you" she replied as she blabbered to herself "nautanki ho tum Agastya....bhot jyada wo bhi...jaan boojh ke karna hota hai aisa tumko naa"

While he grinned broadly finding her reply him "have been to a close friends birthday... life is too hectic here with studies and uni work"

"Hmm...everyone's busy in their lives.. isn't it? Well hope u had fun with your special friends" she kind of taunted him politely. He knew she was upset but wouldn't say it upfront

"Hmm..uni friends... those ones who kind of become your family in the foreign land... yeah met all of them after quite long...but i missed the childhood fun... how we used to celebrate...how we used to twin and feeding that first bite of cake to my SWEETEST HEART ❤️ 😊"

As he sent this text, it reduced her to tears reading it and she didn't revert anything. Agastya knew she might be crying and he texted her again

"Don't you miss all of it Jaanu? Main to bhot miss karta hoon.. i was in the celebration but my heart was in that innocent childhood"

Janhavi replied back that might pinch his heart

"hmm... but we are adults and we learn to live with what we have...poeple change, friendships change, the meaning of friendship's differ, more people add in the lives and become special and circumstances make us to live what probably we never intended too...things change and they changed"

Somehow reading the utter truth and knowing how painful it had been for her as it wasn't easy for him too, the corner of his eyes were wet but he questioned her yet

"That's true but have you too changed Jaanu? Just like the world does"

By now, she was crying rivers and hid her face in the pillow

"jab koi hamesha apke aansu poche aur achanak aap uske liye matter karna band kar do tab shayad khud hi seekhna padta hai khud ke aansu pochna aur khush rehna..adat kisi bhi insaan ki achhi nahi hoti kyuki jab sab badal jata hai to wo hi aadat apko tod deti hai...khud ko tootne se bachane ka ek hi tareeka bachta hai tab...change for better"

She was wounded bitterly by Agastya but after all this, his cute little nuances were her cure that she hadn't realized

"I don't want my jaanu to change ever... my SWEETEST HEART...please don't say that you've changed...my Jaanu can't change and i know that for sure sure 🤗" he texted her and she sobbed learning how often he kept saying "my jaanu" and wondered why all that distance then had been created by him. Why did he push her away?

"I know there are lot of things we need to talk...it has been ages we have met... i would just say there is more than it meets the eye...and i missed you today.. deadly...i miss the kids that we were before life happened...i just can hope that my jaanu is still the same, cute, giggly...a girl in the ponytail whom her Gusty loved annoying...rest your mind and heart my sweetest heart... chalo i gotta go"

While Jaanu was still reading, comprehending his text, there was another one from him

"And yeah...i am sorry for cutting off for long.. i truely am...i shall try my best to keep up now on...just in case I couldn't plz do buzz me a hey and i shall be back to you...all right..we are good my beautiful...take care...miss you deadly byee...tight hugs 🤗 ❤️"

What could she do but to cry her heart out hugging that grey hoodie of his, her best friend in his absence as she screamed hiding her face "whyyyy Agastya...why....damn it! I loved you... whyyyyyyyy"

Just while she was still in the moment reading and re-reading his texts, her phone rung

"Sweeti..come down...let's grab a coffee and take a drive around"

And Janhavi just wiped her tears, cleaned her tear sticken face, tied her hair in a messy bun, pulled a T-shirt over and went off to meet Arjun.

How could he let go of a chance meeting Janhavi when she was in Mumbai for official meetings for a few days. The more the merrier.

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Thank you for reading
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