Siya's birthday celebration with family and friends had been an unwinding experience especially for Agastya and Janhavi. Contrary to their last farm house family trip, 7 years back, from where the distance had started creeping in evidently, this one proved a blessing in ways more than one. Since the last night, Janhavi had a constant smile plastered on her face and Agastya looked happier, goofing around the youngster gang. His happiness knew no bounds since the night he had gotten to know that Arjun was just a friend.

The morning had brought hopes, happiness and quite a lot of cakes to make the day sweeter not just for Siya but for Agastya and Janhavi too. Time and again, he smiled looking at himself in the hallway and living room mirrors. Once, the reflection of Janhavi made him smile widely and he got cautious not to be caught foolishly smiling on his own. Throughout the evening, he was careful enough not to make Janhavi aware that he had been gawking at her reflection and smiling. His feelings had found wings for him as many doubts had gotten clear now. How he thanked his mother silently to have insisted him to attend this weekend family party! Had he missed it, his doubts and insecurities would have kept things messy. He would have been more miserable creating imaginary scenarios and feeling awful.

Agastya knew this could be the re-start of his once-fallen-apart-friendship with Janhavi, his Jaanu. However, Janhavi was probably still hurt with Agastya for having distanced himself from her, putting their bond on the flame to burn away and for having misunderstood Arjun as her boyfriend. The cake cutting took place in the evening, Agastya found himself being in proximity with Janhavi deliberately. As he saw Vihaan offer Siya the first bite of cake hugging her, a lot of memories from his childhood made him smile. He remembered how Janhavi used to be the first one to offer him a bite and how he used to share the same piece of cake on her birthdays. The happy grin was clearly visible on his face as he looked at Janhavi. However, Janhavi was still hurt and they hadn't spoken anything since the night before. She rolled her eyes at him and moved ahead to wish Siya. The cake cutting was followed by drinks and munchies as the cook and helpers were taking care of the dinner. It was a special sit-down dinner with a menu carefully curated as per Siya's and everyone else's choice.

The grand parents-gang had arrived in the morning to celebrate their darling Siya's birthday. Maa, mummy and daddy and even Aarav's parents had come along with Siya's nanu nani. They all had aged by now. Dadi-Maa had aged gracefully so did mummy-dadi. That is how Siya addressed her own dadi and Prashant's parents. As kids it had been confusing for them and Prashant one day solved her and Hridaan's problem asking them to add dadi to maa and mummy. The grand parents enjoyed their chit chats in the common room along with drinks and munchies. The parents had captured the lounge area near the pool while the kids were scattered all over enjoying the mocktails and choice of munchies.

Mistakenly, Janhavi's dress got a little soiled with the icing. Excusing herself, she went to clean it up. Two bathrooms were occupied by the guests. The one in Siya's bedroom was getting cleaned as Vihaan, Hridaan and Aarna had smudged an entire cake on Siya and her bathroom was all greasy and spoiled. Janhavi thought to use the wash-space of the spare bedroom. It was a very artistic space with 'his' and 'her' vanity. A huge golden framed rectangle mirror covered the wall infront of the sinks. Janhavi cleaned her dress. Thinking to wash her face, she splashed cold water. Applying the facewash as she looked in the mirror, she saw Agastya's reflection.

At first, she thought it was her imagination and she smiled softly. Moving her hands in circular motion rubbing the facewash gently, she again looked at the mirror. She saw Agastya standing few feets away staring right at her reflection with a subtle mischievous smile. Janhavi was bemused and quickly shifted her gaze away from the mirror. Her heart raced and the breaths fastened. She hadn't expected him to be there, looking smoking hot, bare chested with a just white towel wrapped around his waist. His sinewy body was a clear proof of his love for fitness. Janhavi had come to use this wash-space thinking it to be vacant. She had been keeping away from him deliberately but the destiny had other plans. That entire space had only both of them. The night was so silent that even their breaths could be heard.

The way Agastya was gawking Janhavi, made her nervous. She turned facing him but didn't look at him.

"Umm! I am sorry, I didn't know you are here. Umm... I...my dress got spoiled and other two bathrooms were occupied. Mujhe laga ye khali hai, everyone is down in the backyard. I am s..so..sorry."

She provided an explanation. As she had not even looked at him since the night before, Agastya threw attitude deliberately with his stern gaze. But as she looked at him not finding him say anything, his gaze sobered and he melted looking at her baffled a little. He soon broke into a throaty laugher unable to control, looking at her face smudged with soap lather a bit. She thought to quickly move out being flustered.

As she tried to leave, he held her hand "Wash your face. Soap lather laga hai!"

She quickly wiped with her hand that left lather patches. He held her by waist pulling her and caged her in between his arms against the wash sink. Her nervousness grew that he enjoyed thoroughly. Picking up a towel roll from the wicker basket, before he could dab her face, he gently picked up a blob of lather from her right cheek and applied it on her nose with a wink. She didn't understand his intentions. And before she could get more pissed, she left quickly, still being nervous at his doings.

Agastya smiled looking at his own reflection in the mirror

"I will be your only most special someone! Jaanu maanu, pyaar to hai tujhe tere gusty se! Lemme see how long can you stay away from me. Oh god! I love her!"

The sit-down dinner menu and décor was very well planned. Siya was the star of the night. Agastya made sure to sit infront of Janhavi and make her more nervous. He loved putting her in a tight spot, since childhood. But they were no more kids and he loved how he and his presence affected her making her flustered. He was loving this teasing game. He winked at her a couple of times and she was taken by surprise. He indeed looked very attractive, or so did she think.

"Ye aaj hi itna handsome lag raha hai yaa hamesha lagta hai? What the...he winked? How smart! Making sure no one finds out. Idiot! His parents and everyone else is here. What exactly are you upto Agastya Sehgal?"

She thought to herself, looking at him unblinkingly and he smirked with a slight frown. The day culminated on a happy note for everyone. They all would be leaving for Mumbai the following day.

The dusk broke and everyone was almost ready for breakfast. Their bags had been dumped in their respective cars. While they were helping themselves with the tea and sandwiches, the security called on the intercom informing about someone wanting to meet Janhavi. The security allowed on Siddhant's instruction and Janhavi was called out at the porch. The road side assistance manager had come to handover Janhavi her car that had broken down while she was on her way to Lonavala. He handed her over the keys and greeted her thanking her for choosing their company. Agastya too had come along with Janhavi. Having her car delivered, meant she would be driving back on her own. That implied Agastya had no chance to drive her back to Mumbai. But where did that mean that she can not drive him home?

Without wasting any time, he took the opportunity to ask her.

"Would you like me to accompany you back to Mumbai?"

She shrugged with a smile in affirmation and moved inside with a chuckle. She knew Agastya must have done a victory dance silently. She knew him too well. He had been smiling more since she had agreed. Finishing their breakfast, they all started their journey back home. Janhavi hugged Siya and promised to attend her post birthday celebration in the club that had been thrown for her close friends.

"Agastya...seatbelt!" Agastya buckled himself on Janhavi's instructions. It was such a metaphoric situation. Janhavi, in real too steered his life, lead this journey and made him buckle, safeguarding him from all the problems. She had always put herself forth, saving him even in their childhood days. He smirked slightly as he murmured "Ohh! Hukum? Such a wifey tone!"

"Did you say anything?" She asked and he twisted the topic telling her about his friends from university. He told her about Kshitij, Amanda, David and Fred. Soon the awkwardness diminished as Janhavi too told him about her friends mentioning about Poorvi and Arjun.

"You know, Arjun and I got introduced in our freshers party. And it took us both sometime to be friends. Gradually we became thick friends and he had always been there for me. And accidently hume Undegrad ke sath sath Master's ke liye bhi same institute me admission mila. It was such a relief to know someone already before entering into a new atmosphere among so many new faces"

It was the first time in all these years that they both were together and there was no one else, neither colleagues nor family.

"Kshitij and Amanda were my best buddies in my UG and we had a gala time, man! Kay..umm...I mean Kshitij, he was my room mate too. What a fun guy to be with! If he is around, there won't be a single dull moment. Ha ha ha ha.... bloody asshole! In a good way! Kay ne to Master's me bhi mera peecha nahi chhoda. He too secured a spot in the same university and course as I got into. Itna chapter hai wo, he calls himself an institution. Ha ha ha ha. Gosh! You should meet him sometime. Hasa hasa ke pagal kar dega."

Janhavi was amazed that suddenly, Agastya was including her in his life and circle. She took a subtle dig.

"Oh sure! I would love too. And why just only Kay, I would love to meet Amanda too." Agastya chuckled silently finding Janhavi's jealousy streaks active. They both were similar and they both were together in this.

Agastya casually teased Janhavi to lighten the mood

"See! Achha hua naa main sath aa gaya tumhare. Socho, akeli jaati aur koi lift mangta like those scary criminal movies. What if he would have been a murderer or a psycho? What would you have done all alone?"

She replied savagely smirking at him "There could be nothing scarier than having you drive with me. More than two hours of putting up with you! Kya pata kab u-turn le lo, like you do with your behavior. Can anything be scarier than that?"

Agastya smirked raising his eyebrow "Ab same galti baar baar thode hi karunga. Now I'd look out for new mistakes, baby!"

This hinted that he had realized that he had messed up things with his behavior. He wasn't going to repeat the same ever again. He laughed and Janhavi playfully slapped on his arm with a chuckle "Agastyaaaaaaa!"

"Jaanuuuuuuuuu!" He imitated her. Soon they were to cross a drive through restaurant and café. Janhavi asked if he wanted any refreshments. "Would you mind any refreshments?"

"Tere sath to zeher bhi, sweetest heart!" He replied to tease her making her laugh.

"Well! Yaha ki coffee zeher se kam nahi hai. If Anna will make, he will make sure you taste something similar to zeher only. Ab chalo! Do you want to keep sitting here?"

While they walked to the café, she told him about the tea, a roadside stall 'tapri' served little ahead of this café. And Agastya held her hand to stop her. "Hey! Then why are we going in here? Let's drive till that tapri. What say?"

Janhavi happily drove about a kilometer ahead and halted infront of the tapri. The owner, a lean, dark man in his late 50s wearing a kurta pajama with a typical red stripped stole called as 'gamcha' came out of the thatched shade smiling at her.

"Are aali tu bala? Kitti divas zhale bagun tula? Kashi ahe?" (Oh dear! Finally, you have come. It has been quite long I haven't seen you. How are you, kiddo?)

"Shankar kaka! Me bari ahe. Office la lay bhari kam. kasha aahe tumhe ani Urmila kaku?" (I am good Shankar kaka. The work load is too heavy in office. How are you and Urmila aunty?)

Janhavi inquired as he poured hot boiling tea in two cutting glasses, offering it to her and Agastya. His wife too joined him and happily greeted Janhavi enquiring about her in general. Soon they finished their teas and before Janhavi could pay, Agastya paid. He even paid extra tip that Shankar kaka refused to accept but he insisted with love and gratitude for the amazing tea he had served them. Janhavi too smiled asking them in gestures to keep it as their love. Before leaving, Urmila kaku, the tea stall owner's wife hugged Janhavi whispering softly into her ears.

"Jodi changli aahe! Mulga khup changla aahe. Sobat raha aani khush raha. Yet jaa ki bhetayla amhala." (Jodi achhi hai, ladka bahut achha hai. Sath raho aur khush raho dono. Aur milne aaya karo hame yun hi.)

Janhavi was taken by surprise and before she could ask anything Urmila kaku just said one sentence.

"Unhalyat kesa pandhre kele ahe? Samajhta mala" (Dhoop me baal safed hue hain? Samjhta hai mujhe.)

Janhavi couldn't say anything and just smiled feeling happy yet shy. She drove towards Mumbai.

"Chai was indeed very yummy. I had never had such tasty tea. Shankar kaka is a nice man. You come here often?"

Agastya admitted that he never had such amazing tea. Janhavi told him how once while returning from Pune, the weather suddenly got stormy and she had to take refuge at the same stall few years back. Shankar kaka made chai for her. She did not have cash and Shankar kaka didn't have a card reader. He without asking anything, served her hot tea and blessed her. After few days she returned while going back home from Lonavala with her parents and paid him for that day as well. Since then, she made sure to stop and have tea from his stall only. Over these visits, they had formed a bond. And she loved how lovingly they treated her.

Agastya was so proud listening to these details. He had always known her as a humble girl and she hadn't changed over these years, even a bit.

Battling the traffic, they finally had reached Mumbai. Janhavi dropped Agastya at his home. He got down and hugged Janhavi. It was a long parting hug but felt like the first, one of its kind. He didn't want her to leave, neither she wanted to go leaving his embrace. It was peaceful after many years to be in each other's embrace. Naina and Aarav saw them hugging from their balcony. They had arrived some time back and were enjoying coffee. As they parted, Janhavi buckled herself with a sullen face and Naina had tears in her eyes as she rightly commented hugging Aarav.

"Haay! Mera to jaane ka mann hi naa kare! My poor babies!"

It was a happy-sad feeling for both of them. They were happy to have cleared many doubts and having spent time alone. But they both were sad that it didn't last long and now they both had to go home, alone! Tears mixed with smiles had made a lethal combination that night, that they both couldn't see of each other's. But Naina and Aarav had witnessed those teary smiles as Aarav hugged his wife tightly whispering

"I love you jaan!"

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