GAY-TOGETHER- FICTION

It’s been 10 years that the Engineering Batch of 2000 is meeting for a get-together in the College Canteen this Valentines Day. Everyone is nostalgic and happy to see each other after a gap of 10 years. A lot has changed in these 10 years, some have got married, some have just returned from Onsite and some have managed to complete their MBA and working in big Investment and Consulting Companies. Everyone is busy hugging and greeting each other but Charitra is somewhere standing near the corner, alone, wearing a specs, a rugged denim jacket with a letter in his hand, waiting for someone to come.

Suddenly, his eyes sees Ruhaan entering the canteen with a girl and a small kid in his shoulder. Even after 10 years, Ruhaan looks the same. He is “STYLE” personified with an ever-charming smile on his face. Charitra is in a fix whether to approach Ruhaan or not. For few moments, he tries to hide himself thinking to tear the letter he is holding in his hand. Sweating, he goes to the washroom, splashes water on his face and stands numb for sometime. Suddenly, someone from back….

Ruhaan: Kaisa hai tu?? (How are you?)
Charitra turns his head and sees Ruhaan infront of him with a smile on his face….
Charitra: I am fine. That, girl and kid….
Ruhaan: That’s my wife “Shaista” and my son “Suhail”….
Charitra: Ohh, nice to see that. I am happy for you…..
Ruhaan: What about you?? You married??
Charitra: No, just couldn’t forget someone…the letter is still with me, I would have questioned myself 100 times why did it happen??

Saying this, tears starts rolling down Charitra’s eyes….Seeing Charitra crying, Ruhaan hugs him and perhaps, that’s the moment Charitra been waiting for 10years. He can feel the same warmth and affection from Ruhaan.

Ruhaan: Let’s go out. I will introduce you to my wife and Suhail….
Ruhaan: Shaista, see’s who’s there with me??
Shaista: Ohh, are you Charitra??
Charitra: hey, how do you know me?? I think we are meeting for the first time…
Shaista: I know everything about you. You know what, sometime I feel jealous of you. Ruhaan told me about his and your’s relationship before we got married and he still has the same affection for you…

Charitra is shocked to hear all this…He couldn’t believe his ears for sometime…

Shaista: Don’t worry Charitra. I trust Ruhaan and I have accepted him knowing his past and happy to have him in my life…..
Charitra: Suhail is cute, bilkul baap pe gaya hai….

And, everyone starts laughing…

Ruhaan: Charit, Me and my wife are leaving India tonight and settling in US. I have got a good job there and even Shaista has got an offer of a research fellowship….And, I knew, if I don’t meet you today, I would not have able to meet you ever….

Charitra for the final time hugs Ruhaan and he bids adieu to them…

After they leave, Charitra opens the letter and see the note “I love you Charitra” written by Ruhaan 10 years back. With moist eyes, he leaves the get-together and goes to his car….and shocked to see something attached in his car’s window, a letter perhaps….he takes the letter in his hand and sees the note in it…

“Charitra, there are some things that do not change with time and one of them is our love for each other. But, then some relationships are just not meant to happen. It was sad to see that though 10 years have passed, you have stuck up. Move on!! That’s the only thing I can say…I know, you will not be able to forget me but then that’s the beauty of our relationship, taking the love and memories ahead in our life and cherish it forever…Trust me, there is someone for you who can understand you better and be with you when you need the person…And, one more thing, YOUR SMILE means a LOT to me, so, DON’t CRY!!”

and, yes

“I STILL LOVE YOU CHARITRA”….

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. If any characters, places or incidents bears any resemblance to anyone, then it’s purely coincidental and unintentional.

Dedicated to all those FRIENDS who are close to my HEART!!

Khumaare-e-gham, mehakti fiza main jeete hai,
Tere khayal ke aabo hawaa main jeete hai

Bade ittefaaq se milte hai milne wale mujhe,
Woh mere dost hai, tere wafa main jeete hai

Firaaq-e-yaar main saanson ko rok ke rakhte hai,
Har ek lamha guzarti kajaa main jeete hai

Na baat puri hui thi, ke raat tut gayi,
Adhure khwaab ke aadhi sazaa main jeete hai

Tumhare baaton main koi maseeha basta hai,
Haseen labon se baraste shabah main jeete hai