Janhavi had stopped calling him gusty since the farm house hurt escapade 7 years ago. They stole glances for another weak. She was little nervous around him. However, they always kept it professional in the office infront of everyone. They didn't want to give fodder for gossip. People now knew, them being from the same school and hence the friendly repo. Only that much information was given out.

In a couple of weeks, one of their foreign clients from Germany was expected to meet them in their Mumbai office. It was one of those important clients for the project that had commenced when Agastya had joined. They all, as a team were preparing for the presentation, discussion and meeting. Just then they both received a message on their group chat that had Siya, Vihaan, Hridan, Janhavi, Aarna, Agastya and other kids of their parents' friends.

It was Hridan's message!

"Hey hey! Just to remind you all, my birthday party is due on next Friday night at CLUB XOXO. Agastya bhaiya and jaanu di, I hope you both are coming. The party won't happen without you both. See ya all soonest- love- Haitch!"

Janhavi giggled as she asked Agastya. "What's with this HAITCH nowadays? Like seriously he is spelling his name's initial? But HAITCH? Isn't it AITCH?"

Agastya laughed as he provided the reason. "Well! He is spelling it in Brit accent! Ha ha."

"Ahh! Our Gen Alpha thingy! Lol."

Janhavi remarked as she just bobbed her head shrugging her shoulders. They both texted back affirming their presence almost at the same time.

Apparently, Hridan was turning 19 and he wanted to go clubbing with all his friends and framily. Friends like family aka their family-friends group was addressed as 'FRAMILY' by Siya and Hridan. And that was what they had named their chat group too. Vihaan was in India already.

The two weeks flew by quickly with the work and preparations of the meeting. Their young German client 'Noah' had arrived and was received warmly by Murphy Motor's top management that included Agastya and Janhavi. He shook hands with everyone but held Janhavi's hand  a little longer. He smirked softly introducing himself and Janhavi politely smiled pulling her hand out. This didn't go unnoticed by Agastya.

The meeting was held the same day as the next two days were off being the weekend. Noah deliberately chose to sit close to Janhavi. His glances were orchestrated and she didn't like the way he spoke huskily while speaking to her coming closer to her. Agastya and Janhavi ran through the presentation on behalf of their company.

Noah tried to be extra friendly and little touchy with Janhavi especially. Janhavi was polite and tried to be as professional as she could. It was too much for Agastya to take.

"Is she really that naive? Or is she dumb not to notice that leech is chancing upon her? Jaanu! Ahh!"

Agastya mumbled few choicest expletives being irritated with Noah's overtly friendly behaviour with jaanu. Noah was pretty fast as he had already called Janhavi as babes a few times. And Janhavi's polite way of handling him added fuel to the fire. Agastya excused himself.

"Janhavi! Can I please have two minutes of your extremely busy schedule? Mr. Noah, can I please borrow her for a few minutes. Need to address something important."

Noah shrugged and smirked. "Sure! Why not" He spoke in German accent.

"What are you doing Jaanu?" Agastya asked her grinding his teeth in irritation.

She knew what he was hinting at. She tried to calm him down. "I am just being professional and polite, Agastya!"

He clenched his eyes shut. "Really? Isn't he behaving overtly friendly? He is deliberately trying to shake and hold your hand, calling you babes. Like really? Is it professional by any means? Is he a friend of yours to act that friendly? Care to explain please?" He almost growled.

"Agastya! Corporate me position aise hi nahi ban jati hai. I hope you know, it takes a lot to reach where I am, especially being a female. I know what you're trying to say and all that but I am just trying to be as professional as I can be. You got to do what you got to do, is my attitude professionally. I can't lose my cool. I can handle myself and Mr.Noah too."

Agastya was even more pissed with Janhavi. "Great! You can handle everything! Apne tareeke se karna hai tujhe to kar. I won't intervene now!"

He was about to leave, when Janhavi held his arm to stop him. "Agastya! Calm down please. And before you spoil your mood, chuck that Noah yaa. Client hai wo, chala jayega in a couple of days. Yaad hai naa, aaj Hridan ki party me jana hai CLUB XOXO. I have heard it's quite a happening club. The crowd is pretty classy and amazing. That club has quite a buzz!"

Her touch had managed to calm Agastya a bit but he was still pissed as she tried to cheer him up and steer away his mind from Noah. Janhavi knew him too well. She smiled slightly while Agastya didn't return the smile.

"Yaad hai mujhe. I shall pick you up. I am leaving."

He declared moving away. Janhavi gasped knowing he still wasn't his normal self. She too thought to wrap up for the day. It was the weekend following day.

"Hey babes! Would you mind taking me around some fancy restaurant tonight?" Noah asked with a wicked smirk and wink. This was noticed by Agastya as he was in the office lobby.

"Mr. Noah! I am so sorry to turn you down. I already have an unavoidable family engagement. For any help, please contact the reception and you shall be guided. Have a great weekend. See you!"

Janhavi conveyed politely as she left the office. While Noah smirked again licking his lips salaciously. "Sure babes! See you." He paused as he mumbled later. "At Club XoXo!"

Apparently Noah was eve's dropping while Janhavi was coaxing a pissed Agastya and was reminding him about the evening party at the club. He had a crooked plan in his mind to spend the evening with Janhavi by hook or crook.

As decided, all of them met outside the club. Agastya was instructed by the parents to look after the rest and keep them in check being the eldest one. Hridan's other friends too were there. The Club XoXo was quite happening. The crowd was indeed classy.

Janhavi was wearing a sleeveless black-silver piping peplum top that had a netted back paired with blue denims. She looked indeed sexy with peeping back and her long silky tresses were flowing freely. She had changed her nose ring to a silver stoned one that highlighted her sharp nose. Her doe eyes lined with black eyeliner could hypnotise any man present there.

Agastya had already cooled down looking at her. Least to say he was almost hypnotised with her flawless beauty.

"Fuck! Why do you have to look this sexy and hot baby!" Agastya thought. He was wearing an all black looking no less handsome. Janhavi too couldn't stop herself from staring at him without getting caught.

"Oh! Deliberate attempt to look too handsome and suave! Obviously, to woo all the girls at the club. They all will leer at him now. Fucking fantastic plan, Agastya Sehgal. Huh!"  She mumbled under her breath.

While they enjoyed cocktails and hit the dance floor, Agastya thought to have spotted someone familiar. But he shushed thinking it to be his imagination. He left to get himself another refill. While he was waiting to be served, his eyes again spotted someone and turned blood shot red at the sight. His veins puffed up as he fisted grinding his teeth.

"What the hell is he doing here? Fucking moron!"

He saw Noah saying something to Janhavi in her ear and trying to pretend how surprised he was finding her at the club. And later tried to purposely touch Janhavi. He was dancing closely with Janhavi facing him while she was looking uncomfortable. He had held her hand and was touching her inappropriately, trying to pull her closer as she resisted.

Agastya moved to the dance floor and his look was enough to convey how displeased he was. He was miffed with Janhavi and moved away leaving the club, without creating a scene.

Janhavi too left at his tail, going behind him. She knew he was extremely annoyed. Siya had spotted them leaving the club. She chuckled and informed Hridan. She pulled Aarna along with her asking her to be around her or Hridan and not to accept anything from anyone except from her or Hridan. She instructed Aarna to never leave their side till they were in the club.

"Agastya! Agastya! Stop I say. Please stop Agastya." She called out to him almost running behind him.

He didn't stop and kept moving to his car. Before he could open the car's door, Janhavi held his hand almost running out of breath.

"Agastya! Why are you leaving like this?"

"You really need an explanation even after all that has happened now in the club? What the fuck is that Noah doing in the club?" Agastya asked her tersely.

"How would I know that Agastya? All of a sudden he came and started dancing saying hi. I felt awkward as he kept coming closer." She provided an explanation.

"Usko raha nahi jaa raha hoga naa tere bina. His professional and polite babes! After all, so professional you have been with him. I can't blame him. His intentions were clear. And what about you?"

Agastya was extremely pissed and Janhavi understood where it all was coming from. She still tried to be calm.

"What about me? What are you even saying Agastya? You know aisa kuch bhi nahi hai." She replied softly.

"Main bol raha tha to tumhe professional rehna tha. Now see and be professional. You think I am a fool? So! Enjoyed his company and dance?"

Agastya almost spat the hurt that sounded like he was doubting Janhavi. She felt insulted and hated that he was doubting her. Her patience finally had given up and she blasted at Agastya listening to the last thing he had said.

"Really? You think I was enjoying him leeching upon me? Wow! Itna hi yakeen hai naa mujh par? That's how much you know me? Are you trying to question my integrity Agastya Sehgal?

He was done with it as he wanted to put a full stop to it. "Anyways your life your rules."

"Kya kaha tumne? What did you just aay? My life my rules? Come! Let me show you what my life had been."

She almost snatched the car keys from him and pushed him in the passenger seat. Taking to the steering wheel, she accelerated and the car sped. By now she was mumbling that was not clearly audible. Her cheeks had become hot due to the rage. In few minutes , they had reached her apartment. Thankfully her parents had been to Pune to attend a family function of a distant relative.

Janhavi almost pulled Agastya with all her might to her bedroom. She was still murmuring. "My life my rules naa? Batati hoon isko aaj. It's enough now. Samajhta kya hai khud ko. Iske mood ke hisab se chalu?"

She unlocked her cupboard and threw few clothes and bedsheets too fell out. Agastya was sitting in silence as he had never seen her like that. He had never seen his jaanu this irritated and fuming. She pulled something out and threw on her bed.

Looking at Agastya with tearful eyes being hurt, she said gritting her teeth. "This is my life Agastya. Dekh lo aaj acche se. Ye hai meri life."

Agastya saw a square chocolate tin that looked like painted with white. It had pink and red tiny flowers and hearts that added to the cuteness of the look. With a black marker two names were engraved that were decorated with crystals 'GUSTY' and 'JAANU'. By now the tears had been rolling down soiling her cheeks as she said softly caressing the box. "Ye hai meri life Agastya!"

She said opening the box and emptying it on the bed. Agastya was dumbfound finding the contents of the box. There were many things, old and yellowed being withered with time.
He softly picked a paper that was yellowed and dulled. It was his first thank you card to janhavi for helping him in exam studies. A blue cupcake eraser, few crayon pensils, his house batch, a small yellow toy car, a paper chit that had his roll number, a friendship band, chocolate wrappers, his beaded bracelet that he had started wearing in high school.

"Arre! This bracelet, ye to kho gaya tha!" As he remarked looking at the bracelet, she chuckled.

"Kho gaya tha, assembly hall me gir gaya tha. I've kept thinking to return it to you. Lekin nahi diya fir."

Agastya for the first time didn't know how to react. He felt extremely happy and sad at the same time. He was at a loss of words. He kept looking at the cute little things with smile when Janhavi brought out the grey hoodie that belonged to him and had been her mute best friend in his absence. She held and hugged it as it soaked her tears, like it always did.

"Hey! My most favourite hoodie. Lekin ye to picnic spot pe reh gayi thi naa?"

Janhavi kept hugging it with closed eyes and said softly.

"My most precious memory box. All these tiny things had been my life in your absence, Agastya. And this hoodie, my mute best friend has served as my true companion. My life on days depended on it at large. It has seen me through my worst and my best. It had your fragrance, your warmth. It was a piece of you with me when you had abandoned me all of a sudden. My life was never ruled by me Agastya. My life had never been mine, since I had learnt to spell it. Lekin tumhe nahi samjhega ye sab. You haven't been through this ever. You won't understand this feeling."

Agastya swiftly gathered the memory box and held Janhavi's hand dragging her out of her home, locking it back. He pushed her on the passenger seat and fastened her seat belt. They were inches apart when he mumbled.

"Right! I haven't been through it. Right, right!" And now was his turn to accelerate the car as he sped out of her residential campus.

________________________________

Whoooaaaaaa! It's getting steamy 🤣

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Shefali ❤️