Boston University of Science and Technology (BUST), Boston welcomes you. The large signage at the huge rusted iron entry gate welcomed everyone. The red bricked building structure against the lush green manicured lawn on either side of the walkway looked exquisite. The cemented road that led to the foyer of the university entrance was lined with green bushes. Many students and staff could be seen walking in groups and chatting, smiling among themselves. BUST, as commonly known among people, the university boosted majorly all the undergraduate, post graduate and doctorate courses. The university was quite well known and ranked amongst top 10 in the US. Securing the admissions wasn't a piece of cake but Agastya having had great score in academics, had been lucky and deserving to get one.

The classes had just begun, the formal introductions had still been happening. Students and professors were still getting to know each other while the winters in Boston gave Agastya a cold feet literally to get started to mingle. He was a private guy who spoke not much and to the tee and kept himself busy right from the beginning in studies. He wanted to do exceptionally well. It was morning 9:30 as the thin sheet of fog had made the entire place look like one out of the movies when Agastya's phone buzzed. It was around 7 pm in Mumbai when Aarav and Naina had called him

"Hiii daddy...how are y'all?" Agastya said with an evident happy smile while Naina had tears in her eyes. It had been the first time she hadn't seen Agastya in person for so long and that made her emotional.

"Mumma! please no...why are you crying? I am happy. Are you all not happy for me? Wait I will show you guys around my uni campus" he said chirping to take Naina's attention away. As he switched his camera he too wiped the moist corners of his eyes while his throat hurt feeling emotional. It wasn't easy settling down away from his family too for him. Aarav smiled as he pulled his wife closer and she leaned on his shoulder soaking the lush green and the red bricked beauty of the university building

"Sweetheart! Come on, don't make it tough for my champ. See he is so happy. Usko khush dekh ke to muskurana chahiye tumhe. Ulta tum ro rahi ho. Hey champ! the building is infact even more beautiful than it looked in the prospectus...Wow! I am so happy beta.. Fir classes start ho gayi naa? Did you make any friends yet?"

Agastya smiled as he showed around the entire campus. The university had a mixed crowd with students from all across the world and from different ethnicity who had been admitted into different courses. The class rooms boosted state-of-the-art facilities, the 24 hrs library was well stocked with a audio visual room to watch documentaries and other study related visual tapes. The comfy cushioned den chairs that pulled out into a bed to take a snooze while studying made the library look stunning. The group of students studying and brainstorming was a sight to watch. Their café too was as good as a restaurant with all-that-you-can-eat continental menu. There was a student union den that held extracurricular activities and hosted party nights in the campus. The gaming zone was just near the temperature controlled indoor Olympic sized pool with life guard on duty. All in all, the university looked a home away from home having everything one would need except family. But no one was complaining as the students had an aim to fulfill.

Aarna came running and had tears as she missed her bhaiya "Bhaiyaaa.... I miss you so much! You know jab se aap gaye ho naa, I haven't had ice cream and cotton candy. When will you come? Please come soon... I want to learn that sum from you" she sobbed as Aarav hugged his baby girl and shushed her. Agastya too had tears looking at his peace of heart sad and sobbing

"Aww my baby... Aarna look at me! Since when have you become a pinnu baby.. haan? You had promised me you will not cry. Didn't you? Good girls don't break their promise... Hai naa? I will come soon to meet you or else you come here in your winter holidays...ok? Now stop crying and smile for me. You're my brave girl... come on...eyes pocho and show me your teeth! Eeewww.... where is your one teeth? Hahaha hawww... mousie took your teeth. Ab to aur nahi pinnu karna Aarna, nahi to bada wala mosquito andar chala jayga"

This made her giggle and Naina had brought an ice cream for her as Agastya made her eat over the phone and they talked a while. Dadu dadi too were happy although they too missed him dearly but they didn't put up an emotional show and rather smiled and took his university tour with enthusiasm. They all had put up a brave face to make his settling down easy. Soon they disconnected the call as he had to go for his class "Bye mumma daddy... dadu dadi... I love you guys and I miss you but I love my Aarna baby the mostest... I miss you my doll... Chalo daddy I have a class! Will call you guys tomorrow. Take care and no crying ok my doll? I love you". They all reciprocated his love you with kisses and Aarna finally giggled waving bye with her small palm to her Agastya bhaiya.

Agastya after recently realizing that Jaanu was moving on and doing well, was now feeling weird but relaxed. He was getting involved in academics and classmates, basically enjoying his life at the campus in the university. Boston University of Science and Technology, in short BUST was one of the top universities for technological and science studies. Being academically smart and handsome in looks was fetching him a lot of attention from fellow students, not just girls but also from guys who had their interests skewed towards same sex.

Often complimented in the class by teachers, he was praised at the very first solo project that was assigned to all students for student potential assessment that were known as 'SPA grading'. All that had put him in a little more limelight. He usually didn't like having many eyes on him, but this time it was different. It was for his potential in the field he had always been passionate about. And hence he didn't mind garnering the publicity as an outcome of his hard work and love for automobiles.
A few weeks in, the class was given another project that had to be done in pairs. Kshitij, his roomie cum classmate passed a smile to Agastya, whispering

"Dude! This is gonna be fun.. I wish I get a hot girl as my project partner. This whole project thing would be so much fun then! haha"

Agastya had a mellow smile as he commented "You are one spoiled brat. Tujhe actual me padhna bhi hai kya yahan? Huh... Project me bhi date dhoond raha hai tu! You're just crazy!"

And just then Agastya heard his name being announced from the professor's desk along with his project partner, Amanda, a not so spoiled, rather sweet and sexy American girl of 17. Having heard the teacher announcing her name with Agastya as her partner, she turned from her seat and smiled, waving at him. He passed a smile back.

Just as the class was over, Kshitij patted on Agastya's back, but with envy "Why do I get that moron, David as project partner and you..." before he could finish his sentence, they heard someone chirping "Heyyyy partner! Let me catch up!" And in seconds Amanda stood across them.

"Hey, my name is Amanda! Umm sorry if I mispronounce your name.. can you teach me how to call you?" Before Agastya could answer, Kshitij shook Amanda's hand and answered in flirtatious tone, "Hi.. its Kshitij, with a silent K. You can call me 'baby'. And this is...umm..Agastya!"

Amanda chuckled "Oh hi 'Shitige' with a silent K. I will call you Kay, if you don't mind. By the way, I was asking my project partner that question. May I?"

Kshitij rolled his eyes "Well.. that's not too sweet Baby girl. And yeah! I don't mind you calling me Kay. I'd have loved being called Baby though" he winked.
Agastya rolled his eyes murmuring "Tu nahi sudhrega! Majnu kahin ka!" And cut him further shaking his hand with Amanda "Hi Amanda! My name is AGASTYA. I know it might be a little tricky for you to pronounce."

Amanda smiled shaking his hand "Ohhh.. Like Augustus, the saint?"

"Yeahh.. it's like August-Ya" Agastya pronounced slowly teaching her.
Amanda had a broad smile "Cool! Augustus! I mean August-Ya.. haha.. bear with me buddy! I might rather keep calling you Augustus" she declared while Agastya responds with a subtle smile,

"Yeah yeah... It's alright! Augustus is fine with me. Indian names are often tricky for non-Indians. So, I completely get that."

Having had the formal introduction done, they laughed and hung around in the campus for the day, exchanging numbers and got on their ways to their hostel rooms in the evening, waving a bye with a friendly smile. Back in the room, Kshitij was all envious and complained "That's not fair bro.. you get the hottest project partner. Lucky dude! Meri kismat tere jaisi kyu nahi hai?"

Gusty shrugged him off telling him to focus on his own project and not on his roomie's project partner. "Project ke baare me bhi soch le.. thats what the partners have been assigned for. You can't submit yours by hitting on my project partner. Rest, you can keep all your flirtation on, at your own risk! Just not when I'm doing my project. Got that?"

Kshitij laughed, "Cool bro! I'll keep that in mind. Oooh... Don't get too possessive!" he smirked putting his hands up in the air, mocking a surrender.

Agastya didn't react much to that comment and turned to his desk, setting up his computer and opening some books, going about his work. Just then he heard his msg tone. It was from Amanda.

"Hi Augustus! I had a great idea on the project on my way back home. I'll sort it a bit and discuss with you in the morning before class. What say? You up? College café at 8:00?"

Agastya replied back, "Yeah.. cool. See you there then"

Kshitij peeped from the back and commented instantly "Wow.. you're such a star. One day and already planned a date.. haan?"

Agastya punched him playfully, "You cannot mind your business.. can you? Project discuss karna hai hume. Sab tere angle se nahi sochte all the time."

Kshitij looked at him in exasperation "yeah! Nerdy and boring.. I'm glad I'm fun to be around. Warna tera kya hota dude!", moving to his side laughing, anticipating a solid punch from Agastya this time if he kept blabbering around him.

Agastya put on his headphones and got busy with his thing. It was 6 pm in Boston as he finally confirmed Amanda and later opening his Instagram, he scrolled through something and closed it with a smile that lingered on for a while. Agastya was transported into a world full of smiles as the thought bubble blew larger in his head, which broke with a notification tone.

An Instagram notification popped up- "Amanda Williams wants to follow you"
Agastya came back to reality to open up the app accepting the request and also following her back. And in the next moment, he received a dm from her

"Hey.. who keeps their Instagram private dude? What's the secret treasure?"

Agastya replied "Haha.. nothing! Just like to keep it personal. There is nothing to show off to the world either. That's just how I am."

Amanda was dumbfounded as the young kids in their generation even showed off drinking water and breathing if they could, she was forced to think how Agastya was so different

"Ohh didn't think it that way. You're quite interesting! Okay then, see yaa tomorrow!" waving a bye and Agastya reacted with a wave too, closing the app.
Next morning, Kshitij opened his eyes to see Agastya all dressed up and ready to leave. Rubbing his eyes Kshitij asked in his sleep laden groggy voice "Morning buddy! Off to your date already? Oops I mean project meeting..haan?"

Agastya gave him a look buttoning his overcoat "Don't act too smart! Sab samajhta hoon main. Chal bye! See you in the class. Don't be late! Get up!"

Saying this he left for the college café.
He walked in through the café door to find Amanda already waiting at the corner table with coffee in her hand, laptop on the table top plugged to the charging point and her eyes glued to the screen. Agastya approached her with a handshake "Hey.. morning! you came too early? There's still 5min to 8:00"

Amanda flashed a broad smile, reciprocating the handshake as she too wished him back while adjusting her chair to show what she had on her laptop. "Hi..good morning.. yeahh got up early in excitement. My ideas wake me, all charged up. Haha.. thought, reaching early won't be a bad idea. Besides I love this coffee...umm sorry.. can I get you one?"

Agastya smiled grabbing a chair besides her as he kept his laptop bag and took out his wallet "Yeah.. I'll grab one myself. Do you need anything to eat? I'm gonna get a quick sandwich."

Amanda declined as she already had one before him, while working on the system. Getting his coffee and grub, Agastya rested on a seat besides hers to discuss her idea. They were half way through the discussion and brainstorming, jotting down all their inputs, formulating the final idea when they heard a loud chirpy greeting "Hey guys!". It was Kshitij waving at them from the entrance with a smile that looked like a smirk. Agastya patted his forehead as Kshitij settled across the table. Amanda greeted him "Morning Kay! You look fresh and chirpy!"

Kshitij didn't let go of a chance to complain about his studious roomie "Yeah this guy woke me up early. So I thought to join you guys here. I was told it's not a date. I hope you don't mind me here" and winked at Agastya.

Amanda gave a brief confused look to Agastya and responded, "Not at all Kay! We're almost through with the project idea discussion. I'd have to leave. I need to do something before the class. I'll see you guys around" saying this, Amanda grabbed her stuff and waved bye, making a move.

Kshitij murmured to himself "Better luck next time Kay!" While a punch landed on his biceps "You just made her uncomfortable. I hope you realize that idiot!" Agastya frowned getting up from his chair.

And just like that, life at the campus seemed to be settling in Boston for Agastya with a naughty yet nice roomie and classmate. Kshitij looked promising enough to keep him entertained while the sweet and sexy new friend in town, Amanda to give him company in studies. Well, new friend? Amanda? Was she a friend? Agastya had no idea as he was too occupied in researching the details and study material for their project. However, it did look like getting along well for him as he sighed closing his eyes with a smile, little tired "I miss you my home"

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Thank you for reading...let us take you to the streets of Boston this time, after Dubai and Finland...those who had had finished their college...let's relive those beautiful years through Agastya and Janhavi

Plz do vote and comment and follow my wattpad too...we hope it brings fond memories of the years at campus leaving you smiling as you rest for the day

Love
Shefali and Asmi 💕✨