AKANSHA POV:

Dressed formally?

Check.

Done my makeup formally?

Check.

Took my phone?

Check.

Ate breakfast?

Double Check. How can I forget that?

Feeling nervous?

Double Check. But why am I feeling so nervous? It's just a simple thing-- um-- maybe an important day of my life.

My Graduation Day!

The last day at my college. At Crescent Academy!

I have planned to do my major in Architecture. I have applied to two universities, at Melbourne and Sydney. I hope I will be selected in at least one of the universities. The mail will be reached within one or two days; that's what they informed me when I contacted the universities.

How does time fly so fast? It feels like I joined this college just yesterday. So many things happened in my life. And I am standing in front of the mirror and speaking to myself like I used to do in my important days.

"Kanz, COME FAST ",Kryz shouted.

Here comes the awakening call for me to go.

"Coming Mother ",I tease-shouted.

Kryz has been selected to do a major in Literature at Harvard University. I am really proud of her. She is a great writer. I read all her short stories and novels she had written in one go when she told me that she had written these books for quite some time. It came as a special surprise to me. But I am really grateful for her. She is a natural, talented writer. Andy and Kryz are a fighting, cute couple. Speaking of them, I think I should be a cupid. I guess I could pursue that as my hobby or second job.

"Let's go and get our Graduation done the right way "Chloe exclaimed when I came down.

Kryz, Chloe and I had our girly night yesterday. It was pretty cool with all the gossip, fun, movie-cry emotional stuff, dancing like crazy heads.

Chloe has chosen her career to be in the Cinema Industry. Her passion in Dance and her skills in acting will surely help her a lot. I wish her all the success. She has got a seat in the famous Acting College in New York. That's quite a great achievement. Chloe and Harry are the sweethearts of our group, full of cheesy love and all. Harry and Andy have decided to pursue their Football career since they are great at it. They have enrolled their names in the most famous football club in London. Theo is a computer genius unlike his family line who are deeply in medicine but they support Theo's decision helping him in all ways.

Just like girls, the boys too had their boys night together. Parthu, Theo, Andy, Harry, Neil and Sam must have had a great time together. Neil and Harry had grown close with Parthu, Theo and Andy. Now, they have a closer, stronger bond. At the start, they used to feel jealous when Neil spoke with any of us but after Neil introduced his sweet girlfriend, Daisy to us, everything was solved.

How did I forget to mention this? Damn!

We had a video call chat with Neil's girlfriend, Daisy and Theo's girlfriend, Farina and Sam's girlfriend or I could say fiance Kate. Yup! You heard that right. Sam has been engaged to Katelyn. It was a simple, elegant engagement with close relatives and friends. They will get married after two years. Sam graduated last year and went to help Dad in his business. As Sam left after his studies, I felt lonely. So, I went back to Kryz's apartment. Hearing my arrival, Kryz came back from Andy's house and started staying with me; just like those starting days. This idea pissed off Andy the most but who cares??!! Evil grin! I guess I am a badass too.

Sam came back just yesterday with Dad and Mom for my graduation. Dad and Mom were tired of traveling. So they went to sleep after having their dinner. By now, Sam must have gone home to pick up Dad and Mom for the graduation.

I guess all my friends are committed, including myself. Andy and Kryz will be both in London and will enlighten their lives. But Harry is gonna be in an annoyed mood while seeing them as Chloe will be in New York and he had to take a flight of seven to eight hours to see her. Theo and Neil are already in a long-distance relationship. I will really appreciate the people who have long-distance relationships with lots of trust and love.

"Should I just smile at the person who is giving me the certificate and shout to the crowd that I got my graduate certificate? ",Kryz asked breaking me from my thoughts.

"Or maybe you can just shout at him for giving certificates so slow like a tortoise and making you wait in line for getting it ",Chloe sarcastically said.

"Wow! That's a great idea. Let me execute it so that he doesn't slow down the next time ",Kryz blinked and nodded her head childishly.

By the time their bickering stopped, we had reached the college.

"Kanz seems a little distracted ",Kryz said more like a statement.

"Um-- I was just thinking about our future ",I muttered my thoughts out.

"We three will be scattered in different parts of the country ",I whispered, feeling sad.

"And why are those technologies created? It's not like we had to write a letter and wait for months for the letter to be delivered and wait for another few months for the letter's return. Once a week, we shall have a video call and be connected in each other's life. Simple ",Chloe said, trying to make the atmosphere happy.

"Yeah, that will be done for sure ",I chuckled.

Jacqueline walked past us in silence. After she came to know my identity, she tried to coax me. But I asked her to keep some distance from me. That was just a sentence but after that she didn't tease or mock me. She just avoided me which was very fine to me. More people came to me and tried to make themselves as my friends; an impact of being rich and popular. But I hated it. So I avoided them bluntly. After looking at the boring videos Jacqueline made from Parth's punishment, Parthu said that he won't waste people's time by making them see those clips she recorded tirelessly. The look she gave was totally worth seeing! Haha.. And Erica! She didn't even approach me and left me alone which was very cool and fine to me. My life was so peaceful and filled with joy.

A shadow fell upon me and the next moment, I was held in strong, warm familiar arms securely placed around me.

"Parthu ",I gasped.

"Missed me? ",he rasped, giving a peck on my lips which made me shudder at his touch.

How does he always make me shudder in excitement and energy whenever he touches me? It doesn't get old. Day by day, I am attracted to him more than before and my love for him keeps on growing.z

"Yes ",I smiled at him. His eyes twinkled at my response and a small, cute smile formed on his lips.

I turned to look at Kryz and Chloe who are already in the clutches of Andy and Harry.

"I get it bro ",Neil and Theo comforted each other with a knowing look.

They are missing them. How will their reaction if they kno--

"Surprise ",voices erupted making everyone in shock except me, Chloe and Kryz.

Both Neil and Theo were stupefied.

"Daisy " "Farina ", they whispered.

"How can we miss 'THE GRADUATION'? ",they chuckled and hugged their partners.

"Woah. Farina.. Daisy ",exclaimed Sam. "I didn't expect you guys to leave your medicine thing and come here. It's-- um-- sweet ",he thought for a second and filled his words up.

"Kate didn't come. She is filling up for me ",Farina said, making Sam feel a little disappointed.

"The wedding bell is nearing right? She is gonna come to see you soon", Farina winked at him and Sam smiled at them in return.

"Dad.. Mom.. ",I smiled at them and hugged them warmly.

"The graduates are asked to assemble in the main hall as the graduation is about to begin shortly. May I repeat. The students are requested to assemble in the hall and get seated in their allocated seats ", the voice in the speaker announced.

"That's the call. So go and be done with it guys ",Sam cheered.

"Yeah ",everyone agreed.

*******

My phone vibrated. I took it out to see Parthu's message. Parthu?!!!

'Did I vanish into thin air?' ,the message read.

I looked up to see Parthu staring at me, more like sulking at me like a small boy. Him and his childish acts!

The graduation went smoothly. Parthu was angry because he was not seated next to me. As the seating arrangement was in alphabetical order, he had to sit far away from me. After the graduation function, we had a big party. All our parents wished us and then returned back home. Since it's the last day, we all played a lot of party games. When the team was divided, Parth and I were separated. And since my concentration was in the game, he sulked more.

I looked at my phone to see notifications from my mail. Oh shit! This is too bad.

"What happened? ",I heard Parthu's voice beside me.

He pulled me out to some quiet place and stared at me.

"What's wrong? ",he asked seriously, looking at my grim face.

"I got the mail from the university ",I mumbled.

"So, which place? ",he asked excitedly.

"Um-- I got the registration form from both the universities. "

"Wow! That's great. So, you are selecting Melbourne, right? ",he asked, a smile forming on his lips with delight filling his eyes.

"I-- I don't know ",I mumbled.

"Are you abandoning me and planning to go to Sydney? ",he asked in a shocked, frustrated tone.

What am I supposed to say, Parthu? I am in a dilemma of what to do. I am stuck from both ends. One side, my dream. And on the other side, you, my life. I gu--

Me being silent, Parthu thought that I was agreeing to him silently.

Parth's smile turned grim.

"H-- how could you? You are also abandoning me! ",he threw his words out and walked away before I could register all the cruel, sharp words he spoke.

Parthu has decided to do his Dad's business branch in Melbourne. Even though the relationship between his family is not perfect, it's better than before. And also he wished for me to be with him. That's the reason why I applied my resume to Melbourne too. But my first wish was to study in Sydney. But now, I have got both the Universities. How am I supposed to select now? Argh! Sydney was my dream University.

Parthu didn't return back. I waited for him so that we could solve the fight. I messaged him but there was no reply back. When I called, the phone was answered much to my relief but the sweet, irritating voice of the machine spoke saying it's unavailable to attend the call right now making my relief shatter. But it seems like this is going to stretch longer than I expected. After sending my adieu, I reached home in a sour mood with a terrible headache.

Mom, Dad and Sam will be at our place. I would have gone there but my mood is totally off. So I messaged them that I am having dinner with Parthu which was a small plan we made today. Kryz messaged me that she is staying the night with Andy. I guess the house is all mine today.

I freshened up and walked towards my favorite place.

Balcony.

The cool air brushed my hair tendrils off my shoulder and I inhaled deeply to calm myself.

But nothing sort of calm I could get. My mood was totally off. I stared at the moon.

"Come to me Parthu, I need to speak with you ",I whispered.

I closed my eyes and hugged my legs and placed my head on my knees. Headache! Go away! I am not interested in spending my night with you.

To my utter shock, a pair of hands softly touched my head.

I shrieked loudly and tried to move but the stranger held me tight against his firm chest, his muscular arms resting on my waist. I was about to kick him hard but-- the touch was familiar! A familiar touch?

"Sorry ",he whispered, his lips touching my ear lobes.

"Parthu ",I called and turned towards his direction.

"Why the hell did you scare me like that? What would you do if I had hurt you accidently?", I shouted at him. Thank god I came to my senses that it was him. Or else I -- Never mind. Nothing happened!

"I shouldn't have reacted that way", Parthu looked at me with a guilty look.

"Um-- it's just that when I get close to someone, they tend to leave me alone and br-- break me. I know that you would never do that to me. I shouldn't have used that abandon- word. I am really a dumbass! I know that your dream was to go to Sydney university but I know that you would have selected Melbourne just for me--- shhh-- let me finish ",he said when I was about to intervene.

"You must join the Sydney University and shine in what you do. I will never allow you to sacrifice your dream for me ",Parth said, melting my heart.

"This was not what you said before ",I teased him.

"That was me being unreasonable and scared of you leaving me", he confessed.

"I just walked off and cleared my thoughts. I then felt that I was being totally unfair to you. When I was about to call you, I noticed my phone's charge had gone to zero. When I came here, I used the key I had with me to open the door. And well, I am here. Are you having a headache? ",he frowned, touching my head and started massaging it with his magical hands. We both sat in a comfortable position, me leaning on his chest and his hands doing magic relieving me from the stress and headache.

"To be honest, at first, I thought about applying in Melbourne after seeing your reaction. But then I thought, why should I give up? Wasn't it my dream to join Sydney? I should also be serious about my career too. So, I actually decided to apply at Sydney. B-- but I am glad you convinced yourself and encouraged me to pursue it", I poured all my thoughts out.

"This is one of the reasons why I love you. You don't keep any thoughts within yourself ",he rasped his words out.

"It's just that long distance relationships sucks. And I don't know how I am going to survive without doing this", he whispered and kissed me deeply with passion and I was completely under his burning, scorching touch of love. Both his and my heart beat fiercely. He left my lips softly when my breath was ragged.

"We have survived a lot. This wouldn't be very difficult. We have technology with us to always be connected with each other. It would have been very difficult if we had lived in the ancient time", I chuckled.

"How about we have dinner and then some fun? ",he teased biting my ear.

"Parthu ",I hit his chest softly.

I am not a virgin now but still I feel shy whenever he speaks this way. Yup! You heard that right. We did the deed on his birthday and he promised me to cherish it forever. That strange feeling was a little odd yet beautiful and sexy. We had connected both our souls and body on that da--

"Are you dreaming of me Kansha? My special birthday? ",I heard Parthu's teasing voice making me blush furiously, ears turning red in shyness and embarrassment.

How does he manage to know what's in my mind?

"Your cheeky pink cheeks revealed it", Parthu rasped.

"I love you Parth Saxton."

"I love you Akansha Winston."

"Always and forever ",we both said in unison, staring at each other's eyes.

I hugged him and he hugged me back, the warmth filled with love hit me hard and I engulfed it to my whole body and closed my eyes to feel the intimate vibe more and sighed in content.

There is no hate. The deep hate has fully vanished and been converted into deep love. Only deep love! The deepest Love! I don't know how my life is going to be but I am cent percent sure that Parthu will be in it. And we will face all the struggles and challenges together with our deep love and friendship.

************************************************************************************

That's it!!! The book is completely done. Happy tears!! I hope you like the end.

And do tell me how the epilogue was? Thank you very much to all the readers for taking your time to read my book. Thank you very much for your votes, comments and support!

See you all next time,

Until then,

Love you all,

S. M. Skyler.