Naina smiled at her husband as he geared up to reveal the surprise. Clapping his hands, he drew everyone's attention towards him as he spoke

"Thank you all of you for joining us for celebrating maa papa's Golden Jubilee. Now, we have a big surprise for you all, especially for maa papa as their anniversary gift and to all those who had waited for this probably. So, everyone, Agastya is back to India for good and is going to work in a US based multi-national company's India Head Quarter in Mumbai. Along with maa papa's anniversary we are absolutely elated to have Agastya back home and would love to celebrate his achievements overseas that he got such a huge opportunity"

Dadu, dadi and especially Aarna were super happy as Aarna held her bhaiya's arm, kissing his cheeks. Agastya bent to seek dadu and dadi's blessings. As he hugged Aarav, his eyes met with a shocked and even hurt Janhavi who had her eyes almost flooded with tears. Averting her gaze, she quickly wiped them before anyone could find her vulnerable but Agastya and Naina had already seen her. Naina felt her pain while Agastya sulked for making her cry. However, he was happy too and knew he would mend her hurt, well he hoped to.

Aarna and Siya immediately hugged Janhavi feeling happy as they almost screamed in her ears "Jaanu di! you must be super surprised and shocked like us. Right? Well, now your best friend is here forever. Yayyyy! How happy you must be!"

Janhavi could just smile a little as she really didn't know how should she react. Aarna again jumped as she declared

"what are you waiting for, Jaanu di? Go! hug your bestie. Aapki jagah main hoti to I would have been like mad. Like totally pagal ho jati finding such a news"

Siya too pushed her "Yeah Jaanu di! Poor baby is more shocked than surprised I feel. Go Jaanu di, give your Gusty a welcome hug"

Vihaan hugged Siya pulling her by her shoulder "Yaa man! Like Si pounces upon me every damn time. Right prettiness. Ha ha ha"

Finding all eyes on her, she had to oblige as she took baby steps towards Agastya. Her heart was beating erratically while Agastya's was thumping aloud. Every step she took, she grew more nervous while Agastya was excited. He had been smiling finding his Jaanu was stuck and had to hug him. He was just happy to hug her, to have her in his arms. While he was in his dreamland, Janhavi approached him and wished him, consciously "Welcome back Agastya" and hugged him.

Her hug was just a small one when Agastya enveloped her in his arms sighing deeply as he whispered softly in her ears

"Thank you my Jaanu, my sweetest heart. Ahh! After 7 years"

As he enveloped her, her heart was at peace, it wasn't thumping erratic. As if it knew this embrace. But his whispers made her shiver. As he spoke about 7 years time frame, her hurt was back and she was even deeply hurt as she didn't know he was coming back to India permanently. She wanted to leave but his hold got tightened as he just said in her ears finding her struggle to push him "stay" and she just did.

Dadu exclaimed "Lo bhai! Ho gya bharat milap. Ha ha ha". That's when Agastya realised that he was in the middle of a crowd. He loosened his hold and how he had cursed his fate finding the loss of that warmth. The entire living room and a few hearts were in smiles. When Vihaan asked

"Dadu, who's this Bharat chap? And what's that you said right now". Dadi explained how as per hindu mythology, Lord Ram had met Bharat, his younger brother after years and Bharat had hugged him after seeking his blessings. As per the story, that meeting still held the most talked about and hence the phrase of "Bharat Milap" was coined to signify "meeting after years, having yearned to see and hug."

The younger lot clapped listening to the story and Vihaan spoke "They were brothers, does that make Agastya bhaiya and Jaanu di too"

Before he could finish, Agastya immediately barged into the conversation shushing him up

"Shut up bro! That's just for the reference. We are just friends"

Listening "Just friends" from Agastya again pinched Janhavi's heart. Agastya could read disappointment in her eyes and he immediately corrected

"I mean best friends and friends too can long to meet. Right?"

However, Janhavi wasn't quite convinced. The 3 day wedding had wrapped up with broad smiles, happy hearts and few hurt souls. Agastya knew he had a tough task cajoling his hurt and disappointed girl. All the guests had left and it was time for Janhavi to leave too. Naina and Aarav hugged her for being a great help and helping in the wedding preparations. Aarna promised to meet her soon. Dadi called Janhavi and handed her a beautifully wrapped present

"Ye meri pyari Janhavi ke liye special gift. Khol ke dekh pasand aaya bhi yaa nahi"

Janhavi opened the present and found a beautiful purple banarasi saree and an antique saree pin as dadi said

"Meri shadi ke collection ki hai ye banarasi saree. Naina ko di thi ek uski shadi ke baad. Ek Aarna ke liye rakhwa di aur ye ek tere liye rakhi thi. Kya pata teri aur Aarna ki shadi dekh paungi yaa nahi. Ye mera pyar aur blessings hai meri pyari Janhavi ke liye"

Dadi smiled patting her head lovingly while her eyes brimmed with tears. She and Aarna had hugged her in a sandwich being emotional. Aarna kissed her cheek

"Dadiiiiiii ! Ugh, are you done with your melodrama? Why do you want to go to heaven so soon? Aapko to meri wedding dekhni hai and you forgot you have to brag about my husband in your kitty group? And please I want new outfits. Come on! stop saying such things"

"Dadi! Please aisa mat kahiye. Thanks for this love and blessings. Lekin meri shadi kyu nahi dekhoge aap. Mujhe new banarasi saree chaiye apni shadi pe. Please aisa mat kahiye"

Janhavi said with a smile when dadi asked her "Ohh hoo! To koi dhundh liya hai tune matlab?"

Janhavi spared a quick glance at Agastya "Ishha! dadiii". Naina and Aarav looked at each other and then at Agastya who was looking at her unblinkingly. Bidding everyone good bye, Janhavi left without saying anything to Agastya. He wanted to drop her home but she had her car.

Finally, Sehgal family was sitting together chatting about Agastya's India moving and the new opportunity he had got with his sheer hard work and diligence. A week passed by, Agastya had been busy settling down with his jet lag. Janhavi was constantly troubled with all those sudden happenings she witnessed in the past week. Not even in her wildest dreams she had thought Agastya would come back to India for good. And all that he had been saying in texts and now in person had not just confused her, but she struggled to understand his behavioral pattern.

They haven't spoken in the entire week past wedding celebrations. Janhavi got busy with her office and actually didn't know what she should say, ask or text Agastya. These seven years had definitely drawn that crack in their friendship. Janhavi, who once upon a time used to say whatever she felt to Agastya, now even hesitated to say a hi and meet his eyes. Agastya's all of a sudden move had done more damage than the distance could have. Her nights in the whole week went by thinking too much about everything related to Agastya and fearing again to melt and fall for him. She hence had thought to maintain the distance that already was. The fear was real and way bigger than her happiness of finding Agastya back for good.


However, Agastya had been smiling since he had seen his jaanu who was no more a girl-in-a-ponytail. She was beauty and elegance personified. His nights were more about reminiscing the Whatever little time he had spent with his Jaanu after seven long years. His quilt and his pillow gave him company being his mute friends that listened to all the things he said about jaanu. He was awestruck at her and would remember smallest of things, how she looked shocked, surprised, hurt yet her eyes felt happy. How elegant and sexy she looked in the saree. He smiled thinking about that particular trinker of her jhumki. And he had imitated that "ishha" grinning to himself remembering that perfectly sculpted face. But in all this he played and replayed that hug. That feeling made him giddy and he craved to see her that instant. Finally he texted her

"Roses are red, violets are blue,
I was missing you, So should you.

Om mangalam mangalam 🌹🌹🌹🌹
Ha ha ha ha what's up my sweetest heart? Missing you, are you?"

He had sent loads of roses emojis writing om mangalam mangalam and that indeed brought a chuckle to Janhavi. However, she didn't want to melt. Agastya had texted her from his indian number that she obviously knew but she deliberately acted as if she didn't.

"Excuse me? Who's this? I don't have this number saved" she replied with a chuckle. And Agastya too smiled broadly murmuring to himself

"Nautanki ho jaanu, kitni bholi ban rahi hai. Naam dikh nahi raha kya unsaved ho to bhi. Huh!"

He texted back, "Ohh! So there are more who call you sweetest heart? I didn't know that. Well sorry to have disturbed you then. Carry on, have just texted to update you that I'm joining India office formally tomorrow. Good night. Enjoy with your friends - Agastya"

Reading his text she knew that he was hurt. But so was she. Her hurt of all these years and the fear had blinded her and she acted more cautious around Agastya not to be heartbroken again. She replied

"Hi, sorry didn't read your name. Great news. Wish you all the luck and success" She deliberately didn't say good night. Her text was read while she waited for a revert but there was none. She knew he was way too hurt as he saw but didn't reply her back.

The morning energy at Sehgals was very infectious. Agastya was joining today and would be taking the big responsibility from here on. Dadi performed pooja for him. Naina made his favorite breakfast aaloo paratha and choco shake. She fed him first bite with tears in her eyes. Well, happy tears kissing his forehead. Aarav and dadu hugged him as he sought their blessings and Aarna gifted her bhaiya an expensive black pen with gold details

"Bhaiya, this is your happy first day gift. I pray that whatever documents and deals you sign with it may bring you unforeseen success parallel to none. I love you my biggy bro" she hugged him while he kissed her cheek thanking her. Dadi tied a red thread on his wrist

"Ye mata rani ke paath ka kaleva hai. Aaj pahla din hai naa aaj bus dal le fir utar dena to jalpravah kar denge fir. All the best mera bachha. Bahut man laga ke kaam kar, khoob tarakki kar, mata rani ka ashirwad bana rahe"

Dadu, Aarav and Naina too blessed him and hugged him as he picked up the car keys. Naina handed him a box of aaloo paratha

"Haan haan pata hai, tu ab bada ho gaya hai. Aur school nahi jaa raha, lekin bhook lagi to, aaj rakh le baby. Koi beautiful ladki ho office me to uske sath share kar lena. He he he"

Agastya smiled and kept the box without saying anything while Aarna pulled his leg "Mumma! Bhaiya is going on work, not on a date. Ha ha ha ha"

Janhavi had already reached her office when she remembered that it was Agastya's first day as well. But he was seemingly hurt last night. She wanted to text him before she started her day. Switching on her laptop, she pulled her phone out when there was a knock at her cabin door. The staff had informed about a common summon in the Murphy-meeting room (MMR). Getting out of her cabin she noticed quite a buzz on her work floor.

Employees wished her good morning walking along towards the MMR. It was the largest room that could house around 100 employees comfortably. Their CEO had come to Mumbai to address the employees and he would be there any minute. Everyone took their seats, while Janhavi thought to wish Agastya luck. She typed and sent but it wasn't delivered. Just then their CEO made an entry addressing the crowd in his American accent

"Morning everyone! Sorry to have you all gathered without notice. So this is to announce and welcome our new colleague. Please put your hands together for our "ASIA HEAD - PLANNING AND OPERATIONS Mr. Agastya Sehgal"

And with that announcement Agastya made an entry suited in midnight blue suit pants looking absolutely handsome and charming. Janhavi at first clapped to welcome the said new colleague but her ears rung at the name "Agastya Sehgal" and she was all the more shocked and numb. That's when Agastya smiled at everyone and his eyes stopped at his jaanu who was rooted at her place with her mouth open. He smiled and raised his eye brow slightly.

Just then he was asked to address his colleagues. As he was about to say something his phone beeped and he excused to find Janhavi's text that was now delivered. The CEO smiled at him as he said over the mic

"Good morning guys. Sorry, it was an important text. Umm! from my best friend. Wishing me luck for today. Can't help but open, you don't want to go home to a sullen best friend. Do you?"

And he spared a glance at Janhavi who looked hurt yet happy. He pleaded with his eyes and mouthed 'thank you' when his CEO exclaimed

"Young man! It is, you don't go home to a sullen wife" he tried rephrasing his sentence when Agastya chuckled

"Well! I don't have a wife yet. And whenever and if I ever have, I won't let her sulk at all. After a hectic day you want to go back and hug a smiling wife not a sullen one. Tips for you all, married or unmarried. So yeah! Thanks for the warm welcome and let's fire up our business and numbers, together. I can't do it without You"

He said looking jaanu in her eye that made her shiver "I mean you all, we all together will take Murphy's Asia businesses to sky. Are you all with me? Trust me I would need you the most"

While addressing the crowd he again said the last line only for jaanu to understand and she did. He winked at her softly and she looked down feeling jittery. The introduction meeting was wrapped and Agastya was shown his cabin that was opposite to Janhavi's. The CEO asked Janhavi to come along to Agastya's cabin for coffee and discussion. Professionally she was stuck to follow them. CEO introduced Janhavi to Agastya drawing Agastya to a soft chuckle

"So, Jain-Vi, this is our new colleague Agas-tyaa. He was working with our New York branch for a year and looking at his record and achievements, the board decided to hand him Asia market. Being Indian, it would be an added advantage for Murphy. So you shall report to him and he shall report to me. Together let's work capturing asian market for Murphy"

Agastya smiled and politely forwarded his hand for Janhavi to shake. She had to oblige to his drama

"Hi Miss. Janhavi J-A-N-H-A-V-I. Did I spell it correctly?"

He deliberately asked her holding her hand making her irritated "Hello Mr. Agastya, yes you did spell it absolutely right. Welcome to Murphy India"

She said glaring at him sternly and trying to pull her hand that he had held tightly.

Soon, the CEO left them both to discuss and call for a team meeting when they find it right. Now it was just Janhavi and Agastya in his cabin.

Not just Janhavi and Agastya but a hurt Janhavi and a naughty Agastya with plans churning his mind and heart to cajole his colleague, Janhavi. Nah his sweetest heart his jaanu.

_______________________________

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM US TO YOU

HAPPY READING 🤩