~5 years later~

' Where the hell are the firecrackers, Ru?! '

Adi shouted on top of his lungs from upstairs. Ruhaan rolled his eyes and replied,

Ruhaan: It's in the cupboard next to dad's room!

Adi: I can't find it!

Ruhaan: Adi-

He felt a tap on his shoulder and jerked his head to the right. A smiling Tapasya stood beside him.

Tapasya: I'll help him find it.

Ruhaan: Please do.

Tapasya smiled at his puppy face and made her way upstairs to help Adi find the box of firecrackers.

After all, what's a new year celebration without firecrackers, right?

Even though the idea was not evidently eco friendly, but the gang decided to burst a few just to celebrate the five year  anniversary of their friendship.

While Adi kept Tapasya busy with finding the fireworks, the rest huddled in the guest room downstairs.

Mitali: Are you sure Tapasya is out of hear shot?

Ruhaan: Yes , Adi is keeping her busy upstairs.

Ananya: Okay fine.... let's go through the plan once more. So at first we'll all gather in the backyard to watch the fireworks and....

Ruhaan: Once the last firework goes off , I will pop the question in front of Tapasya.

Everyone nodded. Shanu suddenly chimed,

Shanu: I still can't believe you're gonna ask her to marry you!

Ruhaan grinned and replied,

Ruhaan: Same.

Ruhaan had struggled to take out time in the last few days to find the perfect ring for Tapasya. Ever since he had joined as a psychiatrist in Vasudha School for the special kids, he had been very busy.

Last week, Tapasya had complained with an annoyed face that he didn't spend as much time with her anymore. And that's when he decided that it was time to pop the question he had wished to ask her since he was 9.

Well it wasn't very easy and he clearly very nervous. So he asked his friends to help him with the plan.

His friends were very supportive when he had broken the news to them. Adi had almost cried.

He figured it was best that he did this on New Year's since everyone had already decided to celebrate at his place.

It was really remarkable that despite having such busy lives, the gang still took out time to hang out together.

Ananya and Daksh had opened a small cafe named Cafe Old School. Throughout these 5 years, they had struggled to make their cafe a flourishing business. And they did indeed succeed. Theirs was the one of the most known cafe near the Aksa Beach.

Shanu had went on to become a journalist in a reputed news channel. Given how much she loved to talk, it was the probably best possible job for her.

Sahil had opened a dance academy named ' VIBGYOR',  where he taught dance to younger kids who had a passion for the art.

Tapasya was currently working as an assistant to a really reputed fashion designer. She too had struggled to make a career, from modelling to fashion designing.

Adi had went on to give several auditions and then finally landing a role in a web series, which had been a great hit. Since then, he had been getting a lot of offers from Bollywood too.

And Mitali had become a political science professor in St. Marcus itself. She had bought an apartment just few months back where her and Adi usually spent the most of their time.

But despite their busy lives, they had rushed to Janet's the second Ruhaan had asked for their help.

Back to the present situation, it was 5 minutes to midnight. The gang except Tapasya and Adi , quickly went back to their respective work before Tapasya and Adi came downstairs with a box full of crackers.

Ruhaan grinned and shouted,

Ruhaan: Guys, let's set up the fireworks. It's almost midnight!

Everyone excitedly gathered in the backyard. While Adi , Sahil and Daksh went and checked the firecrackers, Mitali's phone buzzed.

She picked it in an instant looking at the caller ID once.

Mitali: Rishi! How are you?

Rishi smiled and replied,

Rishi: Everything's going just fine! Isn't it midnight there? Aren't y'all celebrating New year's?

Mitali: Yes! Yes! It's almost 5 minutes to midnight. We're all gathered in Ruhaan's backyard and setting up firecrackers. How's the celebration going over there?

Rishi: Ah it's still morning here. So there's still time. I'm at Cece's right now. Her parents are making a ginormous cake for the celebrations at night.

Mitali: That's great! How are things going on with you and CeCe?

Rishi: Great actually! Everything's just amazing! Dad and CeCe got along pretty well, so half of my problem is solved! Anyways, I just called to wish you all new year's.

Mitali: Thank you, Rishi! Happy advanced new year's to you too. I hope your 2025 goes bomb! Wish CeCe and Arjun uncle a happy new year from me !

Rishi chuckled and said,

Rishi: Same to you too, Mitu! Wish everyone a Happy New Year from me!

Mitali: Will do!

Rishi: Okay, love you, bye!

Mitali: Bye!

She cut the call as Adi announced,

Adi: Guys, we're ready! Let's begin the countdown!

Everyone excitedly started counting,

10!......9!......8!.....7!....6!....5!.....4!...3!...2!...1!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Just as the clock struck midnight, the gang exchanged hugs and wishes. On noting the time, Adi lighted the shots and the sky lit up in glittering hues of golden and red.

Mitali held Adi's arm and both of them gazed at the sky in awe.

Sahil and Shanu held hands and watched the fireworks lit up the sky.

Daksh put his arm around Ananya as they both stood and gazed at the beautiful view.

As her face lit up with the light from the explosions in the sky, Ruhaan looked at Tapasya who had her eyes capturing every moment of the beautiful view, and sighed. He finally had everything he ever wanted in life.

The last cracker went up in the sky and the gang looked immediately at Tapasya. Unknown to the plan, Tapasya kept glancing at the sky as the sky lit up in golden writing with the words,

'Will you marry me?'

Tapasya chuckled and said,

Tapasya: Adi, dumbo, you brought the wrong firecracker. This one is the one that they use to propose to someone-

She stopped mid sentence and looked at the others who were grinning at her. She looked at them with confusion and said,

Tapasya: Why are you all grinning at me like that?

Ruhaan:  Turn around.

Tapasya turned around in a swift and gasped at the sight. Ruhaan was sitting on one knee with a beautiful ring his hand which was extended towards her.

Ruhaan : Tapasya, I don't know how to begin. But I guess I'll just try to be as honest as I can. When I met you at the age of 9 , I was smitten by you. I fell in love with your smile, your eyes, your heart..... everything . You have been my only love throughout my 26 year old existence.

Tapasya chuckled through her tears. The gang looked at them in awe.

Ruhaan: Five years ago, when you said you loved me, I was on cloud nine. It felt so surreal. You made me the happiest person alive that day. And you have went on to make me feel that way for everyday since that day.

Tapasya smiled widely.

Ruhaan: And I want to spend my entire life making you feel the same way.

Tapasya grinned.

Ruhaan: So Miss Tapasya Dhanrajgir, will you do the honors of being my life partner forever?

Tapasya chuckled softly through her tears and nodding, she exclaimed,

Tapasya: Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes!

Ruhaan smiled widely and slipped the ring in her finger. He stood up and kissed her. The gang exchanged smiles.

Adi: This is one of the bestest new year's ever!

Everyone laughed and agreed. Once they were done congratulating the happy couple, everyone sat down near the pool area.

As Mitali rested her head on the chair, she said,

Mitali: I seriously can't believe that it's been 5 years since I met you guys for the first time.

Shanu: True! Time flies by so fast! It feels like yesterday that we were in college!

Ananya: And you had this ginormous crush on Sahil !

Shanu blushed and smacked her arm.

Shanu: Like you're any different! You were attracted to Daksh when Ganguly sir showed you a picture of him!

Ananya widened her eyes and blushed.

Daksh: When was that?

Shanu: Remember how she was the one to pick you up from the station? She recognised you because Ganguly sir gave her a picture of yours and I bet she still hasn't deleted that picture from her phone.

Ananya: Shanu!

She blushed while everyone laughed.

Adi: Ru, remember the time when these two(pointing at Mitali and Tapasya) had that huge food fight in the canteen?

Mitali giggled.

Ruhaan: Of course I do!Even though I wasn't present there at the time, I had to face the consequences of it!

Mitali: Hey! at least because of me, you got to dance with her in the empty parking lot!

Ruhaan: Who told you that?

Mitali smirked and said,

Mitali: Oh Ruhaan! Haven't I always told you? I tend to know everything.

Ruhaan turned to Adi and said,

Ruhaan: You told her , didn't you?

Adi raised his hands in mock surrender. Ruhaan smacked him slightly while the rest laughed at their antics.

Tapasya: But jokes apart guys, I'm really thankful that you guys are a part of my life and that I have you as friends.

Sahil: Same. I can't even begin to imagine what my life would be without you guys in it.

The gang exchanged knowing smiles.

Ruhaan: Everyone grab your drinks, I wanna make a toast.

He raised his glass above his head. Everyone followed suit.

Ruhaan: To our ever lasting friendship and amazing bond!

Clinking their glasses together, they cheered.

And everything at that moment was perfect!

❣️