Back in Mumbai, Agastya was home for diwali. It was an intimate diwali this year with the family, his dadu- dadi, nanu-nani, mumma-daddy and Aarna. Every year Aarav and Naina used to host a Diwali party at their home but this year they had swapped it to a pre diwali farm house weekend, owing to Agastya's wish to celebrate it with only family as he was flying to the US a day later. It had been an emotional Diwali, especially for the grandparents. It had never been easy for them to send their grandkids away. When Agastya was sent to the boarding while he was a child, they had contemplated a lot even then but they had no options. And now he was flying to a different continent altogether where even the time difference was about 10 hours, dadi and nani were too emotional.

They had been feeding him since about 2 weeks blackmailing in their own ways "Ye kha le bachhe... tere liye specially banaya hai... fir dekh tu US chala jayega... kaha kuch khilane milega hume! Fir mahino kya saal bhar taras jayenge tujhe dekhne. Baat karne ke liye bhi raat me jaagna padega... Achha chal bata aur kya khayega"

And he too was emotional and cranky "ohh hoo...dadi and nani...stop it please! Koi jail nahi jaa raha hoon main ki waha khana nahi milega.. Aap log aane wale 5-8 years ka abhi ek sath khilane wale ho kya mujhe? Mummaaaa please tell them! I am tired eating and with their emotional blackmailing... Dadi and nani! US is just 18 hrs away... I would come to meet you guys or else you both can come anytime. You guys have visa.. why don't you do one thing, both of you come with me? You can cook there and feed me everyday... what say? Ain't it a good idea?"

And dadi patted him on his head "chup shaitan... Tujhe kya pata hum tujhe kitna miss karenge... Tu to padhega waha.. Tere friends honge.. New life, new environment., new country, new time zone.. Hum to lekin old ho gaye hain naa... how would we survive?" Dadi had tears and so had his nani. Agastya hugged both of them lovingly, getting emotional himself.

"Come on you two! No more emotional rona dhona please... Mumma aap samjhao naa... Aap sab yaha ho sath me... Think about me! I would be absolutely alone there" while his heart reminded "Jaanu bhi nahi hogi waha mere sath"

His bags were packed and his documents were kept ready. His flight would be departing in the afternoon. Naina too was emotional but didn't want to see off her son with tears. However, she hugged Aarav from the back as she rested her face. Aarav knew as a mother it was tough for her to see her son going away for long. He too felt emotional looking at Naina and held her hand bringing her infront as he hugged her. Naina cried her heart out as Aarav shushed her

"Baby! Beta padhne jaa raha hai... aise man bhari kar ke vida mat karo please... Humne promise kiya tha naa that we shall support our kids... So please be strong and thank the technology atleast you would be able to see him real time. Choti choti khushiyon me sukoon karo... Ye kuch saal yun palak jhapakte nikal jayenge... dekhna! and then we too shall visit him frequently... Don't be sad... tumhe pata hai naa.. I don't like to see you in tears. Bete ke pyaar me tum to pati ko hi bhul gayi... Kitne time se I love you bhi nahi kaha... Come on say it now! Make me feel better... I too am a father but we have to be strong for our kids..hai naa? Aaj bhi naak pink ho jati hai....see!" he turned her towards the mirror and wiped her tears kissing her head from the side as she saw them in the mirror and smiled.

"Thank you shona.. bus man bhot bhari tha... I am strong but maa hoon.. itna to emotional hona allow kariye naa...Bus ho gaya ab! I want to see him off with happy smiles and blessing. I want him to do exceptionally well in his chosen career as he has always been so passionate about it... Ohh see off se yaad aaya... Janhavi ko call karna hai... Chhodiye mujhe! Let me call her.. usko pick kar lenge on the way"

And Aarav chuckled "Beta kam tha.. bahu rani ke chakkar me I love you bhi nahi bola" and Naina laughed listening him address Janhavi as 'bahurani'. He always had addressed her likewise and Naina had always laughed over it.

Naina had first called Janhavi at around 7 in the morning but her phone was switched off. Then she tried calling her aai

"Hi Madhura, Naina here... Actually main Janhavi ko call kar rahi hoon but her phone is switched off... Can I get to talk to her? Actually usko batana tha ki hum log usko pick kar lenge Agastya ko airport see off karne jaate time"


Madhura replied that shocked Naina "Hey Naina... Arre Jaanu to Delhi gayi wapas aaj subah 6 baje... Uski classes start ho rahi thi and assignments submissions bhi hain in the coming week. I thought you knew about her going back to Delhi"

Naina didn't know what to say and she just made an excuse saying probably the kids already knew but she wasn't aware about the travel plans. She disconnected the phone and a worried frown took Aarav's attention to his wife making him ask her what was disturbing her. She informed him worrying about the kids and their bond. Aarav smiled asking her not to worry and let the time decide what would happen with the kids. However, Naina sensed something was off but being the kind of parents Aarav and Naina were, she chose not to interfere as suggested by Aarav and let the kids sort it their way.


Janhavi was gone back to Delhi so she didn't have to see him off going away and Agastya didn't know about it. They had not been in touch as such after returning back from the farmhouse. As expected Janhavi was way beyond hurt and Agastya was in dilemma about whatever he had done was right or not. Afterall Jaanu was his bestest friend since childhood and he had hurt her knowingly.

His bags were ready and the entire family was ready to see him off at the airport. It was an emotional moment for him too leaving his home and his family and going away. He hugged everyone and there were moist eyes as all of them were emotional, especially Aarna as she applied her bhaiya tilak for bhaidooj and looking at her tearful eyes, Agastya couldn't help but hug her and cried kissing her forehead

"my Aarna is a strong girl... Hai naa? Aise rote thode hi hain... Don't be a pinnu baby! I will be back soon... bhaiya is going to a big school there for more studies... So you should wish me all the best...and not cry... Alright my sweetheart? Come on, now smile for bhaiya... and promise me you will call me everyday and tell me everything about your school and homework... pinky promise?"

Aarna still cried sitting in his lap as she hugged her bhaiya "Bhaiya... don't go.. I will miss you so much.. who will take me to get ice creams now? When will you come back?" and Agastya made her understand that he will visit her soon and she was now a big girl and big girls didn't cry like tiny babies. She hugged him again and kissed his cheeks with a smile. They all were at the airport to see him off and he found Jaanu's aai too. He hugged her but couldn't ask her. His eyes searched Jaanu but she was nowhere to be seen. Naina found him probably waiting for her and she casually told him about Jaanu. How he wished Jaanu would have joined them to see him off but she didn't show up and although it felt weird, he was kind of relieved knowing he was successful in hurting her to this extent.

Janhavi's aai gave him a navy-blue velvet box that had a white swan and the brand name engraved in silver. He opened to find a Swarovski crystal pen in silver. He kept it in his bag to see it later in flight. The see off was very emotional and Naina cried who had to be shushed by Aarav and Agastya. They took selfies as memories and Gusty waved bye with smile and tears in his eyes till they were in sight. Leaving India felt like a roller coaster of emotions. Where on one hand having secured admission in one of the top institutes for automobile engineering was a moment of pride but not having seen Jaanu and knowing he had hurt her deliberately made him feel very low.

It was an 18 hours flight and he opened that gift. What a thoughtful one it was, a pen and then he checked his phone to find a message from Janhavi that read "Hi..wish you all the luck and success... Have a safe flight.. Take care"

It was a very formal text that made Agastya think as he murmured to himself "Bas Hi.. itna formal? Didn't even bother to address me by my name" but then he knew the reason and he just reverted a formal 'thanks a lot' with a smiley. She read his revert and her eyes again filled with the tears caused by the hurt.

Janhavi was back to her college after diwali holidays. She had reached a day prior to her previous plan preponing her travel owing to not wanting to see off Agastya. Her roomie, Poorvi returned the next day, and was surprised to see Janhavi already in the room whereas she was supposed to arrive before her. She kept asking her about why did she come a day before her as opposed to the plan? It had been 4 months of college together and Poorvi had formed a good bond with Janhavi being her roomie

"Heyyy darling! I'm back! But wait... How are you here before your schedule? Tu to kal aane wali thi na? Then what happened all of a sudden? And why are your eyes red? Hmm... what did you smoke? Haha... Ohh shit! Were you crying??"

Janhavi kept reasoning about the assignment submissions as her reason to be back earlier than planned and her headache for the reason she had red eyes. But Poorvi felt that wasn't the reason and kept poking her for fun "Did something happen that I should be aware of? What the fuck.. guy matter? OMG... did somebody ask you out when I wasn't around? I'll see him.. poochha to tha usne...Lekin ek din ruk nhi sakta tha dil tudwane ko? Huh.. Tell me the gossip yaaa... Come on! I know kuch to hai... else tu itna Mumbai Mumbai karti rehti hai... Tu kaha plan prepone karegi... chal chal enough of this bhaav khana.. Tell me the gossip! What did he say? And why the hell that made you cry? Haww... usne call kiya tujhe? Didn't even tell me.. asshole!"

Janhavi didn't get the context of who Poorvi was talking about. And in that mind frame, she was least bothered about it anyway. When she wasn't able to take the questions anymore, she broke down telling Poorvi what was running through her mind and heart.

"I've never been this sad and hurt ever! I wished everything was as sweet as it was in childhood." Hearing this, Poorvi was left confused but she sat there patiently by Janhavi's side, waiting for her to take her time and open up.
Janhavi wasn't happy to not be able to bid her Gusty farewell but she was equally hurt with how Gusty wasn't bothered by her absence and said nothing at all.

"It hurts Poorvi! I wish sab bachpan jaisa hi rahta... I don't feel like the same Jaanu that I was for my bestest friend in our childhood" And now Poorvi was able to make sense that she was talking about her bestie, Agastya that she mentioned every now and then on instances.

Janhavi opened up, "It is nothing like that anymore. He didn't treat me even as a friend to let me know atleast prior to announcing that he is flying to US for higher studies. It came as a shocker to me during this weekend. Would you believe, we were at the same farmhouse for the celebration but he kept ignoring me like I have stopped to matter. I am no more his Jaanu maanu that I used to be... and the worst part is, it seems he is ok with it. Usko fark bhi nahi pada... Mera bestest friend, jo hamesha mere aansu pochta tha, aaj usko mera hurt dikha bhi nhi... Aisa laga 2 din jaise jaanta bhi nahi hai mujhe... I am mere an acquaintance to him. He just smiled and kept only with what was really required. He hurt me and didn't even bother to ask how was I feeling or why did he not tell me atleast... You know, we used to discuss smallest of things. If anyone used to say anything to me he was the one who used to shield me. And this time he was the one who had nothing to say. You know, I didn't see him off at the airport; to usne pucha tak nahi kyu nahi aayi.. This indifference from him is bothering me so much... It hurts Poorvi... it hurts really bad. So much that I feel broken"

And saying this Janhavi broke down in sobs. She hiccupped in despair as she repeated a few times, "My best friend has hurt me.. I don't matter to him anymore". Poorvi felt disheartened to see the otherwise chirpy and smiling Janhavi she knew in such a sullen and broken state. She hugged her tightly and patted her back "Shhh... please don't cry! Usne baat nahi ki to tu hi kar leti yaaa... You guys are best friends afterall! Then why this pahle tu- pahle tu? Did you tell him you were hurt and that he should have atleast told you about going to the US? Anyway.. so what and how did he tell you then?"

"He said nothing at all! Didn't even mention once in advance. Aarav uncle ne directly announce kiya ki Agastya US jaa raha hai... Kya puchti fir main usse? And what best friends haan? Is that how best friends treat each other? Batana, poochna kuch zaroori feel nhi hua.. The news was a shocker! How in the world could I ask him anything in that state?", she still cried until she dozed off in Poorvi's lap, who like a good listener and a friend was there for her.

While on the other hand, after an 18 hours flight, Agastya had landed in Boston, Massachusetts. He was received by the international student program coordinator and was settled in the hostel. He completed the joining formalities the next day and as he came back to his room, he met a handsome guy, Kshitij who was an NRI and hailed from Dubai. They both hugged shaking hands introducing each other. It was Agastya's 1st day in the class and he was super excited to know and study about his passion 'automobiles'. It felt like dream come true. He got busy with the academics as automobiles had always been his passion. Looking at his enthusiasm to learn, his professors got impressed with his dedication and interest from the first day and praised him.

Back in Delhi, Janhavi kept quiet and to herself in college most of the time. Despite the time difference, she initially tried to stay in touch with Agastya, asking him about him and his studies, his college, new friends; but eventually gave up, thinking he had his own life in the US. And she had already started to think that probably she wasn't as important to Gusty anymore.

Agastya on the other hand had pretty well settled in the hostel and the college environment but got genuinely occupied with his academics. He chose to pursue what he always had loved and so he was enjoying every bit of learning about it. But in all this busy schedule and time zone difference, he did miss his Jaanu even more whenever he wasn't busy with his 2nd love, automobiles!

Janhavi's messages gradually reduced with time. By degrees they both accepted the change and moved on with their new life, college schedules and friends. Two best friends since childhood had been living parallel lives in two different countries with a time difference of about 10 hours. By the time one would wake up, the other used to be looking forward to hit the bed, being tired. Although they were content with their current lives, were they really content living in this lives walking down the roads, all alone without each other?
______________________________

Thanks for reading. Do vote and comment if you too felt how the distance has crept hurting hearts

Love
Shefali and Asmi ✨💕