"What is this Justin?!" Julian asked him.
"Hello to you too old friend!" Justin replied sipping his wine.
"Alysa, can you tell me what's going on?!" Julian asked Alysa who remained quiet since he got there.
"They just got in town and so they thought, MAYBE, we could hang out and I would get time to catch up with my sister," Alysa replied cautiously.
"By 'they' do you mean they are together?! I bet Kenneth would love this information." Julian said and started to laugh.
"You know we are here, right?!" Anna said frustrated.
"Am I supposed to notice that?! I can't do that shitty work." Julian said rudely.
"I thought being 22 would knock sense in your damned brain but you are as crap as I'd found you. You would never pass up the chance of being a jerk." Justin said.
"Justin stop it already! Just, don't be cocky." Alysa said protectively.
"I don't remember acting cocky even for a single minute in my life, let away being it for real," Justin said casually as he made a sympathetic gesture towards Julian.
Julian was starting to get angry but before he could do anything, Blake was there with two polices and Ethan.
"Julian Patrick Desai, stand still where you are," Blake said in an authoritative voice as he approached.
"What now?! You are under arrest?!" Justin asked and then started to laugh when he saw the watch blinking at Julian's hand.
"He is under house arrest. He has become such a crap... Wait, Justin?!" Blake didn't notice that Justin was the one who spoke.
"Yes senator Desai, it's me," Justin said confidently.
"I'm glad I finally found you," Blake said extending his hand to shake Justin's.
Justin shook it and asked him, "Were you looking for me?!" It wasn't expected after how he had left things with him.
"Yes, indeed I was. But then, I gave up. You are hard to find." Blake said ashamed.
"I don't think you really looked for me. Tell me something else." Justin said seating down again.
The police officer started to usher Julian outside the restaurant but Blake stopped him.
"I'm here I can take care of it."
"But Sir- " The police officer wanted to speak but he was cut off by Blake.
"I said I will take it from here." He said a little bit angrier than he wanted.
The police bowed his head and motioned for the other police to follow him as he strode out of the restaurant.
"I heard about your father Ethan. I'm really sorry. I wished I was there to pay my respects but I had exams at that time." Justin said with a concerned look towards Ethan.
"Thanks, Justin. We missed you as well." Ethan said and then turned to Blake. "Sir. People are watching, I guess it's time we go."
"Justin, why don't you come with us and I'll speak to you about what I was looking for you for?!" Blake said with a smile.
"We'll be there tomorrow after graduation," Justin said.
"Tomorrow?! Why not today?!" Blake asked puzzled.
"There are some things we need to catch up to for the moment and we need to rest as well. I'm sorry." Justin said composed.
"Dad, let's just go," Julian said in frustration.
"Shut the hell up!" Blake said to him with a deathly glare. "I will be waiting for you, Justin."
"Sure thing. And congratulations for the babies."
After that, he started to go with Ethan following suit behind. Julian did as well but he then stopped and turned to look at Alysa.
"Aren't you coming?!" Julian asked her.
"Just go. I'll meet you back home." Alysa said to him and turned back at Anna.
"The fuck you are saying??!"
"You heard her right, just fuck off!" Anna said frustrated.
"Stay out of this, Anna. It's none of your business!" Julian said.
"I don't think you realize what you're saying cause if not my opinion, then this is my family. How do I stay out of it?!" Anna questioned with bitterness in her words.
"Julian, get over here right now!" Blake quiets down Julian for whatever he wanted to say and just glared daggers at Alysa before he followed his father.
"What did you see in him to start dating him?!" Anna asked her younger sister.
"It's water down the bridge now. Let's just talk about us." Alysa said and tried to have a good time with her sister.
They got on and off about a lot of things but in the end, it went all well. And by the end means at nearly midnight, Alysa had to go to not miss her curfew, and also, Anna and Justin needed to have some rest for the graduation they had the following day.
And it was going to be a day they would never forget.
¶
"Anna! Hurry up the cab is waiting outside." Justin for the hundredth time said to try to make Anna hasten and leave the hotel for their graduation.
"I'm coming!" Her voice rang from inside the room.
Justin waited impatiently before he decided to go back inside to see what was taking her ages to leave the room and he found it just as he set his eyes on her.
She was wearing an open-back flower-pink dress with a transparent layer of black on the outside of it. Her hair was made into a ponytail and she had a simple touch of makeup as she didn't need any either way but still applied it. Her dark pink lipstick and eyeshadow matched her dress which went spiraling all over the floor. The black eyeliner complemented the heels she wore.
"Woooow!" Justin said.
"I told you I was coming," Anna said frustrated.
"You look stunning!" Justin complimented.
"Save those compliments for the after-party," Anna said and took her robe and hat and proceeded out the room.
Justin closed the door and went over to the reception to check out before they got in the taxi and went to uni.
It wasn't really a drive but who could say when they were to have another best day of their life. In less than 15 minutes, they were already pulling up at Jacksonville University.
Just as they stepped out of the car, cameras started flashing their way. They were looking great as it got. Justin never wondered why Anna was insisting on him to get the grey suit until now. He saw how their clothes matched and how they were like angels that descended from the sky. But that didn't last for long as a limo pulled up at the entrance and the Desais started to climb down the limo.
Julian got out first with Alysa following put. Julian had a brown suit and Alysa had a Cinderella dress, with light green sparkles. They matched well and when Julian had staked his hand behind Alysa's waist, it was so cute and lovely.
Up followed Stacy and Martin. They had graduated a year before and two years from then but it didn't hurt dressing up for three consecutive graduations. Martin had a three-piece black suit where Stacy went with a silky blue button-up dress. They also looked adorable.
And then came Celine who wore a lacy white dress that had flowers at the chest and made her breasts stand out. She was grown up then and beautiful as well. She looked hotter than how Justin remembered her.
Lastly then, came Kenneth with his maroon suit. The way he was fixing his suit made Justin nearly think he came alone but then a hand was brought outside from the door. Kenneth pulled the beauty outside and Justin nearly skipped a beat at the view. It was her. No, it couldn't be her, and then she looked like her, and that gold sari she wore wasn't helping.
As they stand still and Rick closed the door for them, that's when Justin saw her. She was really her. She was Dhamini. Indistinct chatters have heard this and that way but it was happening.
They had no time to say hi as a certain guy came to them and asked if they had graduated abroad. And they indeed did graduate abroad so, it was their cue to leave but Anna never failed to send a wave at Alysa who responded by smiling and bowing her head.
They then went through a lot of processes and soon they were ushered to the ceremony. They sat at the section reserved for abroad graduates. And after like ten minutes or more, Blake Desai arrived with the principal on his side.
The ceremony then started and soon the principal was to give his speech. But before he did so, he called Dhamini Anand Singh to give out a student's speech. Justin paid attention to her from when she stood up until the time she was at the podium and started her speech. He never really paid attention to what she was saying but looked at her strangely.
As if she could feel his eyes, Dhamini turned to look at Justin and tensed a bit before she smiled and continued with the speech. She finished in no time and gave the original copy to the senator and went back to her seat but not before sending a cautious glance at Justin on her way down her seat.
The principal then spoke and after her, the university band performed for the graduates. Before they gave the certificates, the MC welcomed Anna Peter Girlfriend to give her experience on the study abroad program she had attended at Toronto University.
Kenneth couldn't believe his eyes that Anna was there. He nearly stood up if not for Martin who pulled him down. Another person who was about to go crazy was Blake. He saw her with Justin and Alysa the previous night when he went to take Julian home from the restaurant, but he didn't keep it in his mind to ask who that was.
There stood Anna and started to share her experience from the four and 8 months' period that she had stayed in Toronto. It was lovely seeing how composed and confident she was and spoke on behalf of all the people who were in one way or another connected to the program and then went back to her seat.
The certificates were then given out starting with the normal ones, certificates of completion of a certain course a person was attending, and then followed by gift certificates.
"First up we would like to call, Dhamini Anand Singh to receive her certificate as the best student in arts and culture." Everybody rose and started to clap for her a thing which made Justin suspicious as to what had she done that deserved that much applause. It didn't last though as another person was called up.
"Then from Business and Management, it will be for the first time that a person who participated in the study abroad program had beat a student from Jacksonville University. Give applause to welcome Anna Peter Girlfriend." Well, she deserved it. That's what Justin thought after all the hard work she had put in her studies. Not to mention the innumerous times she had blown him off to have a space for her studies.
"Up then comes science which is divided into three categories. The first category is health science which for another time this year, a study abroad program student has taken a lead with a massive 5.0 GPA compared to the first student here at Jacksonville University who is the second one that got a 4.65 GPA. Let's all welcome Justin Raichand Solanki."
There were a lot of people screaming in compliance with the act. Justin went to receive his certificate and just as he finished, Dhamini crushed him into a lung-breaking hug. He hugged her back and then proceeded to hug Anna.
"Well that was a lot but let's proceed with the second category. Science in practice and technology. And here we get a common name to be heard in these past graduations. Well, let's give it up for Julian Patrick Desai." He is a genius but still a jerk. Justin thought as he clapped for him.
"And lastly in science, we have the best student in general science and that is Kenneth Lawrence Webster." Everybody clapped for him as he went to take his certificate.
Three people followed after to take general course award certificates before they started to call additional skills certificates. As they started, Kenneth glared daggers at Justin as he moved near Dhamini and kissed her on the cheek.
"First up we have the project of the year certificates for which the head of yearly project programs will give them." The MC then moved from the microphone and a lady in her thirties proceeded to the podium to take her place.
She spoke of what the project was all about and how a lot of graduates had participated in the project and then said. "We have four students who had won gold medals at this project and due to time, I will mention their names and they should come forward to receive their medals and certificate of participation.
"Without further ado, the first up is Kenneth Lawrence Webster. The second one who should be in tow is Jessica Publis Dempsey. The third to follow is Konan Blairy Nader. And the last one who is the only person who is not Jacksonville University's inside graduate is Justin Raichand Solanki."
People started to scream at what a show Justin was putting. He was up against Kenneth, the genius, talented and creative student Jacksonville has ever seen.
"Among the four, the person who had the best points over all others has scored 49 points out of 51. And that is no one else rather than Justin Raichand Solanki. For his marvelous incompetence and attempt, the board would like to give him a token of appreciation which is the promised reward of 3000$." People erupted in awe and started to cheer for him.
He took over his reward and while going back to where he was standing, he saw how colors drained from Kenneth's face for the fury. He paid no attention to him and just continued to stand beside Anna.
Then followed the sportsman award of the year which went to Julian. The angel in discipline that went to Dhamini. The home advantage mentorship award went to Kenneth and the international debate championship award also was received by Kenneth. At the point where everybody thought Kenneth had won the battle, Justin was called up for three more awards, the world creativity award of the year, the scholarship gratitude award of Jacksonville University, and the entrepreneurship skills award of Europe and North America.
It sealed everything before even the principal took the mic to announce it.
"After all the special awards were given and everything sorted out. I, the principal of Jacksonville University, on behalf of the University board and all allies, would like to welcome the senator of Florida, Mr. Blake Lauren Desai to give the trophy to our best student of this year."
The principal then moved aside and the senator stood up and went forward with a gold envelope. He took out the card which had the name written on it and chuckled before he started to speak.
"It is three consecutive years now that I have been invited to the graduation ceremony of Jacksonville University. The first year I was here, Martin Barnes Desai was the best student and I was so proud of him. He is my first son and well he carried the legacy his mother started.
"The following year which is last year, Stacy Moon Lacoste was the best student. I am also proud of her, and I hereby in front of you all, would like to announce that Stacy is engaged to Martin and soon she is going to be part of the Desai family."
Everybody cheered at that because who wouldn't when the couple had made Jacksonville University shook from side to side. Even Justin cheered and whistled at Martin and made a bowing gesture of respect.
"Well, that being said, we should come back to the present. Among the graduates, there are three who are from my house. Julian Patrick Desai is Martin's brother, Kenneth Lawrence Webster, who is their cousin, and Dhamini Anand Singh who is my friend's niece. All of them are at the front and as expected or as the University tradition says, one of them is to be crowned as the best student and receive that trophy.
"I will be glad if the trophy comes back to my house but this is an institution and not a place where my family gets rewarded." He stopped at that and made the whole population that attended the graduation break into laughter. "I'm saying all this for you to understand where I'm coming from and what I want to say should stay in your heads. The person who is going to receive the trophy as per the card given to me says I know them personally. I have lived with them and spend time with them. All kinds of time there are to name, know that I have experienced those with them.
"If it was going to be somebody else, I would have said it's fine though somebody is more than qualified to be that best student. They might have their flaws and have a lot going on here and there but deep down, they have clear and pure intentions and they are the best I have ever seen.
"He is the best I've ever seen and he deserves this. I would like to welcome Justin Raichand Solanki to get his trophy."
Anna couldn't believe what she had heard. She hugged Justin and kissed him before she started to cheer for him. Julian who was still pissed off went to hug him as well and whispered at his ear, a muffled sorry. Dhamini followed and hugged him as well before she slapped him and then hugged him again. Out of nowhere and unexpectedly enough, Kenneth also hugged him and took his hand to lead him to the senator but Martin and Stacy cut him short and took each of his hands to where Blake and other school committee members were standing.
Justin wasn't believing what was happening but still, he went over there and waited for Blake who gave him the trophy and shook his hand. He then turned for pictures and he was left with the whole stage for his own.
"Thank God for everything. Thank god for this. And thanks for helping me out with everything that had stood on my way for all the time since I was born to this day." He sighed.
"I, Justin Raichand Solanki, would like to tell you a story. A story of my life." He turned to look at the main table before he continued. "As I have said my name is Justin, I also have to say that I'm just another ordinary Indian boy who has bigger dreams and this is the place where those dreams start to get real."
"My story starts with Mr. Blake Desai bringing me here. Well, if he wasn't the one to bring me here, then another person would. Or worse, I wouldn't even be here at all. So, thank you so much senator Desai for all this." He turned to the main table and bowed his head a little. "So, that's where my story starts."
It was completely quiet that Justin started to shake but he got ahold of the podium that he was at to keep him stable.
"I didn't know anything and yet through him, I met Martin, Julian, Celine, and Kenneth who walked me through most of those that I needed to know. I felt insecure and so cast out, but again through him, I met Matron, Alysa, and all others who made me feel loved and showered me with their care.
"I lost my family just at the start of this journey, but that man's family welcomed me and made themselves a family to me. A family I never asked for, a family I never thought I would have, and a family that will forever have a place in my heart. Oops! I nearly forgot this. A family that connected with my previous family and made them family as well." Laughter erupted soon after Justin had said that.
"Those people are the ones who brought me where I am today. It is by no smartness of mine or any knowledge that had opened my mind or anything. It is them. And to them, I'm so thankful. They are the best I have ever seen and the best that I wish everyone to see or have. One last thing though, you have to get your shit together, man up, and try to understand why you are in a certain situation or place and what to do in that situation or place. So, my story ends here and it also ends with him." Justin was crying at that moment but he cared less. "This trophy and everything about this whole journey are about you, Blake Desai, and your whole family. Everything I did and achieved is for you and all those who had my back and believed in me. This is all to you."
"Thank you all for listening and I would be glad if anyone wanted any piece of advice or anything, to follow any of the people that are up there. Nobody has lost and everybody will win but not in the same time. Thank you."
As he left the microphone and started to go away, he was lacked by applause and Indian students started to sing Om Jai Jagdish Hari.
It was beautiful and marvelous and soon the ceremony was over and they looked forward for the after-party that was to start at 4 till 7. The graduates who received special awards earned a VIP treatment for the party which strangely enough, Blake was attending. The senator attending after-party for the first time since the last senator who did so in about 38 years back.
¶
At exactly 3:15, Anna left the hotel with a promise of meeting Justin at the after-party. Justin asked her to go with him but she refused and said she will meet him there. After so much pleading, Anna told Justin that she was going to go with Alysa. And then she left.
Justin wanted to wear the same suit he had worn for the graduation but something kept telling him that he should get another one for the after-party just like Anna who was having another outfit for the after-party.
He went downstairs to the shops and entered one where formal clothes were sold. He paced back and forth and when he was about to give up, he saw a dark blue suit alluring and calling for him. He approached it but before he could inspect it, a hand stopped him and a voice rang in his ears. A voice he recognized very well. A Desai's voice.
"I'm buying this suit."
He turned to find Julian blocking him and motioned for someone who looked younger than Julian himself to come over. That guy had about five suits already packed and Justin thought he may be the salesman of the shop but he cared less as he only wanted to piss Julian off.
"I can buy it. I have enough money to do so." Justin said.
"I didn't say I'm paying for it so you can have it. I'm taking this suit!" Julian shot back with displeased tune.
"I can't let you have it because it is my outfit. I'm having it for the after-party and nothing else." Justin said and stretched his hand to grab it but Julian stopped him.
"Stop it, Justin. This is ridiculous." Julian said pushing Justin a little bit backward.
"You are getting violent. The cops won't like it when I call for them." Justin said as he composed himself and looked at Julian.
"What do you want, Justin?! I don't want to get into trouble again. Especially not today." Julian said with a defeated voice and disgust written all over his face.
"I only want an outfit and I'll be out of here as well. It's mutual." Justin said trapping Julian.
Julian thought of it for like 5 seconds before he lit up and moved closer to Justin. "Why don't we make a deal?!"
"What type of a deal?!" Justin said acting cautiously.
"Listen to me first."
"I'm all ears."
"So, you are here to get an outfit for the after-party and it happened that we both want the same outfit."
"So far yes."
"Then why don't you let me have this outfit and in return I'll show something nice which I'm pretty sure you will rock with it."
"I don't want something nice, I want something I will like." Justin replied and waited for Julian to speak again and indeed he played along his game very well.
"I'm sure you will like it and love it and rock it."
Justin acted like he was thinking but inside he was laughing at Julian and made a mental note to refuse everything he suggests. "Kay. Deal."
"Deal!" Julian said happily and shook Justin's hand.
He tried to get him across the store to another one where he had come from but Justin said he had no time for that.
"Justin you are making this difficult and we already have a deal."
"Yes, we have a deal. A boundless deal. Only if I like the piece of clothing you show me that I'll let you have that dark blue suit."
"I wanted to take you-"
"Mmh mmh, there was no taking me in the deal. There was just showing me. I thought you had that something here with you and that's why you wanted to show it to me." Justin cut off Julian.
"You don't mean these garments, do you?!" Julian asked him motioning for the suits he had bought.
"I don't know. You proposed this deal." Justin said.
"But Justin -" Julian wanted to plead with him but he was cut off again.
"I don't have all day here. Either let me have it or show me something I can't take my eyes off of." Justin said acting frustrated.
"Fine!" Julian said defeated and turned to the young man who was carrying his garments. "Finneas, bring them here."
The boy brought the four garments and Julian opened the first one which was a black suit embedded with flowers. It was a nice elegant wonderful and respect outfit but Justin was never a fan of black outfits and so he said no to that one.
The second one was an orange suit. It was a light orange and it was so bright like it was a showoff or something like that and so he said no to it as well.
The third one caught Justin's eye. It was a light pink suit with a baby grey shirt and a pink bowtie. He checked the trouser to find it the same color as the coat and electricity ran through his body.
"I'll have this one." Justin said grinning from ear to ear.
"But he already paid for it." The boy Finneas, said as he zipped up the garment.
"I can always give him his money back or buy him the blue suit in return."
"No!" Julian detested.
"No what?!" Justin asked Julian.
"Just take it and I'll pay for this one. I don't need you to buy anything for me." Julian said rudely.
"Seems dad's paycheck is still smiling. I'll take you up on this." Justin said and started to go but then he remembered that Julian had no one to go with to the after-party.
"Why don't we do this?!" Justin asked him.
"What now Justin?!" Julian asked in clear frustration and no need of speaking to him.
"Pay for that suit and follow me upstairs to our room. I know Alysa bailed out." Justin heard Julian cuss under his breath.
"I'm going home with Finneas." Julian said.
"You are going with finesse to tag along with your family that each of them has a date. Let's make it Bros entrance." Justin said.
"What do you mean?!" Julian asked him.
"Finesse, go home with those clothes," Justin said.
"It's Finneas sir." Finneas corrected him.
"Whatever, just go!" Justin said.
"The card!" Finneas said again.
"Go!" Justin said in a rude and angry manner that Finneas didn't turn back after he turned to go.
Julian was a little bit thankful and lit up as well. He paid for the suit and followed Justin upstairs to his and Anna's room.
"Where is Anna?!" Julian asked after he saw no one was in the room when they got in.
"She is with Alysa. And you'll be with me."
"Why did you call me bro back there?!" Julian asked Justin.
"Is it wrong? My bad." Justin said as he dropped his suit on the bed.
"No, it's confusing. You hate me then why sugar-coat it?!"
"I never hated you and I never will. I hate how you treat people. I hate how you only considered yourself and say to hell for others, your selfishness. I also hated what you were doing to Alysa, taking advantage of her desperateness on what you did to Anna. This goes on you know."
"Let it all out. Tell me what a shitty person I am. Tell me I should rather die." Julian said angrily and then broke down.
"What are you saying, Julian? Everybody deserves to live. If everybody who does something wrong dies, then who will be there to correct their wrongs if not themselves?!" Justin asked.
"But my dad doesn't think so. He thinks I should die and spare him the embarrassment."
"That's not true!" Justin wasn't believing what he was hearing. He hugged Julian to help him ease the anger and hate.
"That's true. I am going through house arrest because he can't ground me anymore and he can't chase me away, it will ruin his reputation. I broke into his office to take some money for the project you won. He never gave me a dime when it came to school. He only paid my tuition fees. I really wanted to do my best in that project. I thought I was changing but he doesn't want me to." Julian spoke while still crying at Justin's shoulder.
"I'm sorry Julian!" Justin comforted him with a low voice.
"I don't need pity, Justin. I feel like you are the only person who I have known in my whole life though we only stayed together for four months and one day."
"I'm not being modest but that's the vibe around me," Justin said and at the same time his alarm went off.
"What's that?!" Julian asked.
"I set an alarm for the after-party," Justin replied getting off the hug to silence it.
"How many minutes does the ride to the venue take?!" Julian asked drying off his tears.
"About 15 minutes or less."
"Then we can be fashionably late," Julian said flashing Justin his million-dollar smile.
"I never thought of you being this dramatic but I knew a little bit of your fashion sense." Justin chuckled.
"What can I say?! My mom was a fashion geek." Julian smiled sinisterly.
"Okay, I'm calling downstairs to have them prepare a car for us after 10."
"What time is it?!" Julian asked.
"3:45"
"Tell them after 30," Julian said smiling.
"We can't be that late." Justin protested.
"But it's still fashionable."
"20 minutes."
"Ugh fine." Julian agreed with a pout.
Justin called downstairs and told them to prepare a white limo after 20 under the reservation for Julian Desai.
"It's done. So, we gotta hit the showers." Justin said.
"Do you have a tub?!"
"This room has but I'm going first," Justin said.
"It's a couple's suite, we can share the bath."
"I'm not having you in the same bathroom as I. I don't want to face what Rama Round had gone through." Justin said to him.
"You know about him?!" Julian didn't expect Justin to know about Rama. "Well, he had it coming."
"Even though he irked you, stuffing hot chili in his ass sounds dumb."
"He knew pretty well I hated hot pizza and yet he got me one. If that wasn't enough, when I was crying, he started to talk shit about my mom. What was I expected to do?"
"Anything, less surgical attention needing," Justin stated.
"He got what he deserved. So, will you go first, or should I?"
"I think I will. Or if you wanna go first, I mean it's fine." Justin said.
"Let me go first," Julian said and headed in. He didn't take long in there and Justin was glad of that as he was getting impatient sitting there doing nothing.
"You could have come in you know," Julian told Justin right after he came out of the shower.
"I could wait just like what I did."
"I'm just saying so you know I wouldn't mind if you did." Julian raised his hands in a sign of clarification.
"I know you wouldn't but I just don't like to shower with other men. I get this weird feeling just by the idea of it."
"I do know what you mean. I understand that feeling very well."
Justin didn't understand what Julian meant. "I thought people in sports shower together all the time!"
"They do. I'm just special."
"I don't understand what you're getting at?"
Julian rolled his eyes at Justin.
"Just tell me that you want to hear me say it and you'll make fun of me."
"I don't get it. Hear you say what?"
"That I like boys."