IN DELHI:

It had been a while Janhavi had been settling well with her peers. Ever since the freshers' party, she had been getting more comfortable in college and also was doing well in academics. Sitting in the library, she saw Agastya's insta stories with landscape pictures from around his campus. The sceneries often brought a strange calm and smile on her face. She entered into Agastya's dm and typed something, only to backspace the text and exit the app. She was lost in her own thoughts when she was startled by a tap on her shoulder. It was Arjun,

"Hey am so sorry! Didn't mean to scare ya. Just came to the library and saw you here. It's pretty crowded here today. Can I take that seat next to ya if it's not taken already?" he asked with a visible grin.

Janhavi responded with a smile, "Yeah sure! I kept the seat for Poorvi.. was supposed to study with me today. But looks like she's stuck somewhere, she texted. So yeah! Not taken! I mean, the chair.. haha"

Arjun had seen Janhavi checking Agastya's insta and then abruptly exiting the app when he made the entry. However, had failed to clearly see the insta id. He felt it could be her boyfriend but wasn't yet in a position to ask her if it was. The best he thought was to keep mum. They studied and often chatted in whispers until it was time for their separate classes and had to leave.

In the evening, Janhavi was back in her room and made a video call to her parents as it was their anniversary and she wanted to see them. Having to rush in the morning for class, she could just give a quick call to wish them and promised a video call after college. They had been eagerly waiting as her mom told her picking up the call

"Hello aai... kashi ahes? (kaisi hai?)" Janhavi asked as soon as she saw her aai on the screen.

"Hello beta! Mi majet.. ushir jhala (main maje me.. late hua?)... Your class was supposed to end earlier I thought. Is everything ok there?" her aai enquired.

Mother's worry made Janhavi smile as she assured that everything was fine "Ho ga... Aga aaj project cha kaam hota (yes.. all ok... Aaj project ka kaam tha) was stuck with it... So just got a lil late. Come on aai... Did you get my cake? Let's cut it na... I too have got pastries here to cut with you. Ahh.. where is baba?"

Her mother was relieved knowing there was nothing to worry "Ruk baba ko bulati. Aaho Prasad... laukar yaa (Prasad! jaidi aaiye) Janhavi is waiting for you to join so that we can cut the cake." Soon her baba too joined them on the video call.

Her baba while waving at her, "hello beta....kaisi hai? Aaj class ushira sampli ki kahi azun zhala (aaj class khatm hone me late hui ya kuch aur hua hai?"), he enquired.

"Hi baba... kuthe hote? Mi kevha chi vaat bhagtiye (Where were you? I had been waiting since long)" Janhavi complained with a sad pout, "Haan bas thoda project ke kaam se late hua. Rest all absolutely fine. But Delhi is pretty cold for me. Bombay was never this cold. Well, I remember my Panchgani days. Delhi is even colder though. Baba! When are you guys comin to meet me yaa? Chala chala.. cake cut karu naa aata (come on lets cut the cake)" she said after giving details about everything and later made them cut their anniversary cake.

It was her parents' first anniversary that Janhavi wasn't with them, but they thanked the technology for being able to celebrate it together virtually. And on this end, Janhavi enjoyed chocolate pastries with Poorvi as she joined in. It always brought a smile remembering fond memories as she thought about Agastya's love for everything chocolate.

Her baba and aai cut the cake together and shared a bite each of the cake that Janhavi had sent. They smiled promising her to visit as soon as he would get free time from his office. Her aai informed Jaanu about Naina who had called to wish them and was asking about her too

"Beta! Naina ka call aaya tha.. Call kar lena kabhi time nikal ke, poochti hai wo tere bare me, jab bhi baat hoti hai... Boli mujhe, Janhavi ko college schedule me disturb naa ho bolke tujhe call nhi karti"

Janhavi nodded in affirmation, telling her aai that she would give her a call and soon after wishing them for their anniversary again, she disconnected the call. Immediately, she gave a small formal call to her aai aunty,

"Hi aai aunty! How are you?" Janhavi said with a smile and Naina's mood was instantly lit up listening to Jaanu's voice.

"Hello beta.. Main ekdum badhiya. Tu kaisi hai? Aaj hi teri aai se baat hui. Pooch hi rahi thi main how is Jaanu? Bahot time se koi khabar hi nahi mili teri. Fir laga bahot busy hogi padhai me to disturb nahi kiya" Naina said from the other side.

Janhavi felt a little guilty for not keeping much in touch with her especially after the farm house Diwali party "Sorry aai aunty... Just got a little tied up with settling and catching up. I am sorry to make you feel I didn't bother. Bas yaha studies and projects me hi time khatam ho jata hai. But I will make sure to keep in touch. BTW, how is everyone at home? Uncle, dadu-dadi and my cutie Aarna... kaise hain sab?"

Naina smiled as she understood the pressure of studies indeed might have kept her too busy "Arre beta.. sorry ki koi baat hi nahi hai. Family ko sorry thode hi bolte hain. Hum sab thik hain ekdum. Tere uncle to kab se yaad kar rahe the, Jaanu kaisi hai poochte rehte hain. Abhi bahar gaye hain. Aarna homework kar rahi hai. Now she has to look after her studies and everything all by herself naa. Aur dadu dadi bhi thik hain. They too keep asking about you."

Janhavi had a smile and her eyes even got moist knowing they all asked about her that showed she was important for them but what pained her heart was, why was she no more that important for her bestest friend, her Gusty

"I miss Bombay aai aunty...it will take me sometime to like Delhi probably. Nonetheless I shall get used to this too like other things. Baaki sab thik hai. You please take care and I shall call you sometime soon. It had been so good talking to you after such a long time"

Naina understood that it wasn't easy for the kids to leave their home, parents and their city where they were born and brought up and nest in an entirely new city and call it home, although temporarily. Naina smiled

"Thank you for calling beta. Take care of your self and it felt even better talking to you after such a long time. Do keep in touch. Eat well and rest well. Rest I know you will soon like Delhi too. With the new people being familiar soon, Delhi will treat you like home too. Chalo, I shall now disconnect, you take care. Lots of love and blessings"

The call was disconnected with smile and a pinch for Naina as there was no mention of Agastya in the entire call. And Naina again sensed something was off between the two. However, she didn't poke on the topic to avoid making Janhavi uncomfortable.

Meanwhile At Boston:

Agastya and Amanda had finished their project before the deadline and were finally relaxed from the hustle. The whole period of the project weeks had turned out to be the bonding week for the newbies at BUST. Surprisingly, David and Kshitij bonded well at their project too. They would often hang out together with their group.

David, a well-built, tall Afro-American guy of 17, had already been a good friend of Amanda, as they were buddies from high-school. Kshitij being the guy that he was would never leave a chance to flirt with Amanda and she would take it lightly and would often respond for fun. They had formed a good friend circle at Boston and had caught up with studies.

Christmas was just around the corner. They were passing by the hallway when they saw a flyer at the class notice board. It was an invitation to a "Penthouse Christmas Bash" at Freddie's. The only kid to a super-rich couple, Freddie had planned to host a Christmas party at his parent's penthouse across the city. Kshitij saw the flyer and asked everyone to be there.

"Okay guys! So that's our first official party calling us!" he said pointing at the invitation on the noticeboard sounding excited.

Freddie hadn't been the typical friendly talkative guy but he seemed like a cool kid. Having negligible interaction with him, Agastya seemed reluctant while David informed him how that party was a happening one. They would expect actually to meet new people that had been around you.

"That's what the idea behind these party usually is... Small friend groups hang out together, get acquainted and a bigger friend circle forms. He is just a newbie like us. Let's see how it goes. I'm in. And all you guys are coming with me!" David declared.

Amanda quips in, "Alrighty! Mamma's gonna drive you boys to the partyyy", pointing both her index fingers to herself. They all laugh at her sudden little act. And that's how they all join in for the party plan.

What will the party fetch in Agastya's life? With the new friends and a new city his life seemed settling down pretty well. The new trio in town, Agastya, Amanda and Kshitij, was doing really well and David too was a great company for them. Freddie's Christmas bash at the Penthouse would mark a lot than the eyes could meet.

_______________________________

We hope this reminds you of your college days and the new friends that you might have met...enjoy the read

Plz touch the star to vote and comment
Thanks for reading

Love
Shefali n Asmi