"Love is a complicated thing, you don't chose the person you fall in love with, whether a boy or a girl. Embrace your true identity, don't hide behind a mask. Love whoever you want to love freely."
Madhav is packing his clothes in a bag, his face screwed in irritation.
Why we have to go to Naniji's, I hate it. We have to for 5 days and UGH! That place sucks.
Unwillingly or by the fear of his mother's wrath, he packed his bag. With a smile, a fake one, he went downstairs to eat his breakfast. His father and sister were already present there. His sister was unusually happy today. She loves to go and visit Naniji. His sister's willingness to go to Naniji's makes Madhav hate it even more.
"Finally, you are here." Said Mom and she started setting food up on the table for Madhav.
Madhav sat down and started eating the meal. His sister was eating rapidly, she was in a hurry because she thinks eating fast means going as early as possible. Madhav got more irritated.
What actually she loves about that place? Smell of cow dung I think she craves.
He smiled on his own thought. Madhav and his family lived in a city and their Naniji's house was in a small village, there phone signals also don't work properly. They finished the breakfast.
"Madhav and Divya, now go and get dressed." Said mom.
"yeah! Let's go, don't be late brother." Said Divya. Madhav sighed and went to his room.
Madhav is 16-year-old boy, beautiful eyelashes and facial features. A little healthy than usual 16 years old. He is almost perfect but no one in this world is 100% perfect. He got dressed in usual 'going to relative outfit', blue denim jeans, coffee colored shirt with blue dot print and his favorite Nike shoe. Madhav hesitated for a second, he doesn't want his shoes to get dirty but on a second thought he decided he will double check every step he will take.
They all got ready and went to the car, Madhav and Divya sat in the back and mom and dad at front. Madhav had thrown a tantrum for sitting in front with dad and obviously Divya thrown tantrum of her own. But the mom decided it's better if she sits in front. They started their journey. When you are on way to a village from city you can notice the transition. The city buildings and traffic vanish as one approaches near villages, buildings replaced by trees and vehicles by domestic animals. You cannot see people dressed in formal wearing a tie and going for work, you see framers working in fields, grazing livestock wearing sometimes just shorts and women doing household work; fetching water or firewood. The children covered in mud and playing. The happiness on their faces is a proof of how happy they are.
It's not like city life is bad, it is for some like Mohan. In cities, everyone has work to do, children have their tuitions, if not tuitions mobile phones and not enough open space to play. Mohan is envious of the children living in village and it could be the reason he hates it so much. Madhav's life is not perfect, he is under constant pressure of his family. He has to live up to his family's legacy of being a perfect student with top grades.
But this doesn't affect him a lot, the main thing bothering him is his sexuality. He is always worried about it; he knows he likes boys but he has to stay closeted forever because of his father's thinking about this matter. He knows what will happen when comes out as gay.
"what will others think about us?"
"Look at Mr. Sharma's son he is perfect."
"I cannot show my face to anyone now."
These will be his father's replies to his coming out. This secret he has to take to his grave. No one there is to understand Madhav's feeling not even his friends; they to have their own typical notions about gays. He confides it to himself only, it kills him inside. He wants to openly say to his friends, "Damn, that boy is sexy." Like they talk about girls not just pretend to find a girl perfect.
After a long two hour drive, finally its time for Mohan to stretch his legs and get away from Divya's usual blabbering about her life. They have reached their destination, they came out of the car. Mamaji, Mamiji and their son Parth was there to welcome them. As soon as they came out, they are greeted with great enthusiasm. Mohan's mamaji hugs him and he smells the cow dung but he hides his disgustion, he shakes hands with Parth who is of his age, shorter and slim. But not attractive at least not attractive to Madhav.
"Lets go and play. I want you to meet my friend." Said Parth. Madhav laughs.
"Not yet he has to meet his naniji first." Said Mamiji and she glared at Parth
Oh god, thanks mamiji I don't want my shoes to get dirty yet. Who is this friend Parth so excited to introduce me to, anyways. Hope hr is a handsome dude.
Madhav grinned on the thought and suddenly his ribs ached. *Ouch*
"Lose the grin brother." Said Parth, he pinched Madhav because he thought he was laughing at him. Madhav ignored this with a smile that he was faking from the start of the day.
Chill Madhav, don't pay attention to the nuisance. Keep your head low for just five, FIVE more days.
Then they went inside, Naniji was siting on her favorite chair waiting for them to arrive inside. Madhav may hate the village but seeing her Naniji's face always cheered him up. He went ahead of the others and was the first one to hug her.
"Oh! My son you have grown so much." She said, she says this line every time she saw him. Middle of the hugging, Divya pulled Madhav off Naniji and hugged herself. Madhav got annoyed but he was not in the mood to fight this time. After that, they settled to eat, Madhav was only able to finish the cooldrink when he found himself in the grasp of Parth urging him to go out. Madhav was irritated, he titled his head but saw his mother glaring at him. He had no choice but to go outside with him.
They went outside, the usual play ground of Parth was the ground of the government school of his village which was just ahead of his house. They walked toward it, Madhav's skin was burning and sweat was dripping of him like he was melting away. In contrary, Parth had no sign of sweat on his skin. They reached there, Madhav immediately took the shade of the Neem tree that was grown inside the school.
"Look at you Town people, can't even stand in sun for a minute without looking you are going die right now." Said Parth an obvious triumph in his voice. Parth was not bad, Madhav loved him because Parth takes care of him whenever he came to village. Its just sometime he likes to make fun of Madhav, which Madhav doesn't mind at all.
"Not every city person sweats, its just me." Added Madhav who didn't knew why he was defending city people.
"Yes you are right not everyone, just chubbys like you." Parth chuckled, Madhav slapped him in the head. Madhav slaps Parth everytime when he make joke of him. Parth loves to tease him and he loves to slap him.
"Tell me what game exactly two people can play?" said Madhav, irriated he already was but waiting in the heat made him more irritated.
"We are waiting." Parth stopped talking, Madhav who was busy admiring trails of ants entering the holes suddenly looked up to see why his brother stopped talking.
"There he is." Said Parth pointing his finger toward the gate. Madhav followed Parth's finger and what he saw shocked him.
A tall boy was coming inside, he was tall but a little slim. Facial features were bold, except his lips were big. Madhav was not able to take his eyes off the boy. Something felt different about this boy. Although, he was not perfect, he seemed perfect to Madhav.
What is happening? Why my heart is beating faster? I am nervous, too nervous all of the sudden. Is it because of him?
Madhav had never experienced such feeling, he was immediately attracted to the boy. As he reached them, he shook his hand with Parth. He looked at Madhav, their gazes met for the first time, Madhav's heart was going to explode. Madhav noticed the stranger looking him with unusually loving expression. The boy smiled.
Oh! His smile, don't act stupid.
He took out his hand which Madhav immdieately holded. "I am Prabh." He said, his voice sounded musical to Madhav.
"Oh! I am Madhav." Madhav's cheeks turn red.
"You are the cousin of Parth that he talks about." Said Prabh. Madhav looked at Parth, wondering what he talked about him. In the middle of this, Madhav felt a hand touching his cheeks. His heart may have skipped few beats, Prabh was touching his face.
"Why your cheeks are red." He said, squishing Madhav's cheeks and he laughs. Madhav gave a nervous laugh which was not fake. He was shy all of the sudden. What was this feeling.
This is I think what people say having butterfly in your stomach.
Madhav was mesmerized by Prabh, he thought what he thinks about him. Why he was caring so much of what Prabh was thinking about him? His thoughts were interrupted.
"Introductions done, now let's play something." Said Parth, pulling Madhav back to the earth.
TBC
A/n: It's insane people are judged on the basis of sexuality in this day and age. It's embarrassing and heartbreaking that Gay people have to suffer and have to go through such pain. It's very difficult to be an openly gay in country like India.
So, I have decided to write in support of it. Actually, I got the idea from my friend TheWritingAddict, she has received a request to write about gay relationship in India for her story Prabhaav. I got inspired and wrote mine too. I hope you guys will love it, I will keep it short. Hope you guys love it. Don't forget to like and review.
Stay Safe.