It would soon be the end of their graduation. Their final project submissions had just been over. Soon the evaluations would reveal their grades followed by the convocation ceremony. The date for the convocation ceremony had already been conveyed by the university to help the students' families make their travel arrangements.

Agastya and his gang hoped to have done great in studies while they also had fun alongside. No one knew what the future held for them and hence they had decided to spend as much time together as they could. Kshitij seemed rather getting emotional over few beers when once after the submission they all were enjoying these last few weeks of being together

"Dude! 4 saal kab khatam ho gaye pata hi nahi chala. Man! I m gonna miss you and pulling your leg and also irritating you. I guess I won't ever find a better room partner than you. Although I'm glad to have finished the course finally, it makes me sad that we all now have our own paths to lead on. Bahot weird feeling hai Agastya.. like fucking can't describe man! Bro you got me emotional. Come on! pass another can"

He playfully punched Agastya as he pulled Kshitij in a brotherly side hug "Dude! You were extremely annoying.. like fucking shit annoying! But I loved bossing you around as I was almost always right. Ha ha ha.. I guess Amanda will miss you flirting around more. Isn't it Amanda?"

Riddhi, Kshitij's girlfriend who too was present there, looked at Kshitij shooting daggers and he instinctively swore at Agastya in Hindi, that none but only the two of them could understand. Kshitij was seen cajoling Riddhi for a good half an hour. By the time he had convinced her and was back to being with everyone, Freddie looked gloomy. He broke the news about him having to join their family business with his dad. And what made him even sadder was not to be with David. Just then Agastya got a call from home and he excused himself

"Hi mummaaa....Yes! Done with my submissions. We all are together sitting here. Few more weeks till we go our own ways" he told Naina.

"Hey baby.. why do you sound sad? Don't you know a hindi saying, duniya gol hai, aur bahot choti bhi. Don't spoil your mood. Make the most of this time with your buddies. Ye time, ye dost kya pata fir dubara mile naa mile. Collect all memories that will make you smile whenever you will think of these times later. After all memories are all we are left with. Hai na beta? Achha lo, daddy is waiting to talk to you" she smiled at her son motivating him.

Aarav took over the call smiling at his son while Naina stood there watching Aarav smile at his soon-to-be graduating son. The Sehgals would be joining Agastya for his grand graduation ceremony in Boston.

"Hey champ! How are you my boy? We all are so excited for your graduation ceremony. So, how's are things with you and...your best friend, Amanda?" Aarav pulled Agastya's leg and smiled slightly while Naina looked at him with questioning eyes.

Agastya had a smile as he further said "Daddy! Best friend to sirf ek hi hai, hamesha se hi. Baki sab to close buddies hain. Rest all is good with me. We all are just chilling and enjoying these last few days together till we all go our own ways"

Naina heard what Agastya had said and both Aarav and Naina had a lingering smile listening to Agastya comment about his only one best friend. Soon the call got disconnected and Agastya was still standing looking out of the window with his can of beer reminiscing the day when someone had almost confessed that he was her someone special.

.........................................................................

5th Semester: Year and a half ago from today

The uni days had been as hectic as they were fun for Agastya and his group. They all would study together as well as hang out often. They all would mostly spend time in each other's comapny. By then Kshitij had found Riddhi, their junior and they both had been going strong. His flirting with Amanda had now been put to a full stop. However he would not miss a single chance to pull her leg and she had always been sweet to him. She would always smile and participate in the laughter ride with all of them. Freddie once commented too on her such jovial nature,

"You know Amanda! You're an amazing girl. Unless you laugh at yourself, you actually haven't lived. And that makes you the amazing person that you are."

She smiled shrugging her shoulders while Kshitij hugged her from the side "You're a star babe. Well 4 star 'cause my Rids is 5 star. Bhai apni bandi ki kam tareef kar ke kisko sofe pe sone ka risk lena hai" he winked at Agastya while Riddhi passed him a look. She wasn't too well versed with Hindi, having born and brought up in the UK, however could understand and speak basic.

Amanda narrowed her eyes as she spoke in Hindi in her Anglo-american accent, she had learnt a bit as fun from Kshitij and Agastya

"Kya bo..bola? Tell me, is he making fun of me August-Ya?" They all laughed again and Kshitij bowed infront of her joining his hands "No! I bola you're good but my Rids is better. Gotcha girl?"

"You sure?" she asked looking at Agastya and he confirmed gesturing in affirmation and thankfully Kshitij was saved from her punches. After a few days it was Amanda's birthday and she had invited her gang including Riddhi over dinner and drinks to a famous restro-bar. It was famous not just for food but also for its vibe that attracted the young crowd of the city. The music was happening and the ambience too was chill. Agastya and Amanda had reached a little ahead of time while the others had yet to join. Amanda thought to utilize that opportunity and she took to the mic and sung a song dedicating to her most "special friend"

The song lyrics verbalized how they had started off as friends and then the girl fell for her best buddy, while he was absolutely unaware of her feelings. However Agastya had always kind of found her inclined towards him, yet he never had made it obvious to make it awkward for her and jeopardize their friendship. But today, Amanda had been indirectly vocal about her liking. Their friends still hadn't arrived and Agastya had taken Amanda aside on a little less crowded spot and just looked at her. She could read questions in his eyes, as she further said

"See August-Ya! I know you might think I am weird and all but I want to be honest with you. I know we're great buds but I feel a strong vibe for you, and I know for myself that it's not just as for friends. I kinda like you more than a friend and wanna see where do we head from here. I always had wanted to ask you if we can give us a chance? You know what I mean! I just held back as I didn't wanna spoil our bond. But I still feel I should give myself a chance; us a chance! I want you to know you're really very special to me and how I feel about you is something I haven't felt for anyone else till now. So can we? like, explore us?"

Agastya smiled at her honesty and he valued and respected what all she had said and confessed. He held her face in his hands and smiled broadly at her. His smile was very genuine and affectionate. He further said,

"Amanda! I truly value and respect your emotions, and you are a very dear friend of mine. But I have an unfinished chapter back at home. I can't commit and comment until and unless I sort that. I don't want to disrespect you and your emotions and I get what you're hinting at. But it would be unfair to you and to your friendship if I jump into this without sorting out my personal business. I hope you understand and I really hope we still will be as thick friends as we were before this conversation. I'm really sorry to have hurt you, if so. But I need to be honest with you on this topic. I wish I could respond to you positively but at this point, I can't"

And he hugged her tightly to convey that he understood her feelings for him but he can in no way reciprocate them in affirmation as someone probably was waiting for him back home that he was answerable to. His someone most special. But was that someone whom he treated the most special still waiting for him after all that had happened? Or the life had taken a turn on a parallel road, where the paths may run alongside but would never meet and cross?

This sudden thought brought Agastya back from his trans.
..........................................................................

He found sweat beads on his forehead. He was restless and uneasy. This mere feeling of separation sent him through frenzy. He wanted to go back home and meet his someone special but he couldn't. His grad ceremony was soon due. He quickly sent a message.

"Hey! What's up? How are you doing? My grad's ceremony due soon. What's with you?"

And there he got a revert that put a smile on his face. His heart wasn't as heavy although those thoughts still did cloud his mind

"Hey hiii.. Ohh wow! All good with me. Same old. My post grad 2nd sem exams would be starting in a week's time. So yeah! Life's still gonna be submerged in books, studies and assigments. Rest pretty well good"

And there was another message before he could revert "Hey and ya! Congrats! Finally achieved all what you always wanted. Happy to know that"

Agastya did answer it quoting the chat message "Well almost! But not all. Something's still on hold. Kind of. But hopefully soon.. I mean, don'know. Let's see. Well all the best to you. Finally, you'll get your masters from India's premier institute. And would soon be a corporate woman. I'm super happy for you sweetheart"

As soon as Janhavi read that sweetheart, her heart thumped but then in the next moment she knew, Agastya was in America and such monikers were common to address almost everyone and plus their generation it was more casual to call someone with that moniker. What struck her eyes as she re-read his text "Something's still on hold".

"What does he mean by something still on hold? This guy is always so mysterious! Anyway, whatever it is!" she thought to herself and then just replied back

"Thank you so much. Yeah.. but it still has another year to get into corporate world. So let's see hopefully, if everything falls into place"

Agastya threw a bouncer this time "Well, hope is what we all have. Isn't it? And I'm sure like always, you will do absolutely amazing. Just keep your hopes high"

She was unable to decode Agastya's messages and she didn't want to derive meaning from it. She had no hope for them, she was happy with him being just a friend and with those on and off updates. Rest she had given up on that hope long back unaware that what Agastya said was true "Hope is what we all have", but that kept ringing in her head boggling her mind.

Soon these few weeks had passed and the Sehgals were in the US to attend his graduation ceremony. The family meet was very emotional as Naina had happy tears seeing her son all grown up into a handsome and responsible young man. While Aarna cried hugging her bhaiya as she had met him after almost year and a half. Agastya couldn't go to India owing to his studies and the last year and a half being extremely crucial. Aarna had grown into a beautiful big girl, she had grown in height and looked very much like her mother, Naina. They had planned to stay a fortnight and Aarav wanted Agastya to take a week off so that they all can go on a family vacation in the US only after his post grad formality would be completed.

The graduation ceremony was a grand one. Naina and even Aarav had happy and proud tears in their eyes to see Agastya being felicitated with the topper's medal. They all met his friends and their families. Aarav and Naina hosted a dinner to honor and celebrate their son's success. All his friends and their families were invited and they all had a gala time spending probably these last few hours with each other. However, despite having excelled, even though Agastya had a smile Aarav caught it didn't reach his eyes and he almost knew the reason. He was missing his best friend on this most special occasion. Naina too felt vulnerable but Aarav smiled at her and soon handed a glass of champagne to Agastya as he patted his back with a broad smile. And he said something to his son that affirmed Agastya's trust further

"Jab bhi kuch adhura lage aur ye muskurahat aankho tak naa pahuche ya man bhari lage aur lage wo magic feel nahi ho raha...Always remember my boy, HOPE IS WHAT WE ALL HAVE and always put the technology to good and optimum use" Aarav just smiled and winked at him as he subtly showed him his phone that he was holding in another hand.

Agastya instantly felt better as he repeated the words to himself as Aarav had left to attend to the guests

"Yes daddy! Hope is what we all have. I miss you my Jaanu! Sab hai sirf tu nahi hai mere pass, mere sath aaj meri sabse badi Khushi baatne. It all is incomplete without sharing it with you, without you by my side. I miss you so much"

And he posted a picture of his graduation cap flying in the air as he had jumped smiling holding his degree scroll in his hand and he had captioned it "HOPE IS WHAT WE ALL HAVE. I DID SOME.. SOME IS STILL LEFT"

And Janhavi was the first one to have seen it. She liked and congratulated him on his success and for being felicitated as the topper. He, on the other hand reverted to her wish "Thank you so much sweetheart! The first wish is from you. Thanks Jaanu!"

She was on cloud nine reading that moniker addressed to her in public and reading that Jaanu, she broke down walking down the memory lane.

--------------------

Agastya has been running extremely busy with his final project and would have met you all yesterday but was caught up with one of his professors

Finally he could manage to
excuse himself.

Thanks for reading. Do touch the star to vote and comment if you've missed Agastya and Janhavi as much as they've missed all of you

❤️