CHASTE GANGES
{10}
Nihal broke into a cold
sweat seeing his pet sister. Nithyayuvani rolled her eyes. Nilanjali was
dumbfounded. None of them spoke. The two elder siblings were still unsure of
how much she had heard.
‘Did amma and appa really
have to bring her on this earth?! She is always a spoilsport!’ muttered
Nithyayuvani. Nihal’s threatening look stopped her from saying anything
further. He swallowed hard and took a few steps towards Nilanjali. He adored
her more than Nithyayuvani and pampered her like his own child. Being a decade
older than her, he was more like a father figure than an elder brother to her.
She was still naïve and he could not guess how she would react to him being
gay.
‘Nilu… when did you
come?’ he asked softly.
Nilanjali was stoic.
Nithyayuvani walked up to her.
‘Aey, what are you doing
here? Why didn’t you sleep?’ she bullied her.
‘You have a boyfriend!’
said Nilanjali widening her eyes.
‘Yeah. So?’
‘You too have a
boyfriend?!!’ she said in a shocked tone to Nihal.
‘Anna… you are gay! How
can you do this? You were my hero…’
Her voice was saturated
with pain and disappointment. He had fallen in the eyes of his most loved
sister. Her words tore him apart and his eyes almost welled up.
‘Nilu… please listen to
me. It is not what you think… I don’t—’
Words failed him and why
wouldn’t they? How could he explain homosexuality to his teenage sister?
He touched her shoulder
but she flinched at his touch and moved back.
‘You are so disgusting!’
said Nilanjali and stormed out of the terrace. The tears that he had been
holding for so long, streamed down his cheeks. Nithyayuvani squeezed his hand
gently.
‘Anna… please don’t hurt
yourself over her words. She is still a kid. She will certainly understand you
some day. Just ignore what she said. Trust me, she will come back to you,’ she
assured him. Nihal wiped his tears and kissed her forehead with affection.
‘Thank you for
understanding me, Nithya. I really can’t bear, if Nilu continues to keep a
distance with me. I want my child back.’
She gave him a warm hug
and rubbed his back.
‘Anna, you know her. She
is such a baby! Her world revolves only around exams, college and home. She is
yet to grow up and it will certainly take time. Gay or not, you are still the
same loving brother. She will realize it soon because, it is impossible for her
to stay away from you. We all know that.’
Her words put some of his
fears to rest but he was still not at peace.
‘Hmmm… I hope you are
right,’ he said at last with a sigh.
‘So… the deal is on?’
Nihal looked at her
dubiously.
‘Seriously, Nithya?! You
are so mean!’
‘Anna, we both are in
trouble and this time it is not going to be easy. As long as we don’t guard
each other’s back, we are doomed forever. You have no choice other than
supporting me and you know that. I am going to Mumbai and you are convincing
our parents about it.’
He hated being cornered
by his sister, but he knew that he had to give in. He needed her as much as she
needed him.
‘Alright, I will speak to
them. I hope you know that you are very shrewd! Nilu is much easier to handle
and she is such a sweet girl,’ he rued.
She smiled at him wryly.
‘I agree. Be glad that I
am shrewd because I don’t leave you when you need me.’
Nithyayuvani had driven
home her point and at last, it made sense to Nihal. He mutely nodded his head.
***
‘This was pretty much
expected…Nilu is still too young to understand,’ said Krishna letting out a
long drawn breath.
‘Yeah, anna is very upset
about it. She is barely talking to him like before. In front of our parents we
are just keeping up the farce of normalcy, otherwise she doesn’t even look at
us. I can manage but I know that it very hard for him. He dotes on her,’ said
Nithyayuvani shaking her head. They both were sitting in the living room while
Nihal was working on his laptop in the bedroom of Krishna’s flat.
‘You should have been a
little patient with Malavika at office. Your rude behaviour could get you into
trouble.’
‘I know, Nithya. I was
such a fool to react that way but my temper flew when she held my hand. She did
not understand my repeated refusals and insisted on spending time with me over
the weekend.’
Nithyayuvani could not
snub her laughter.
‘I won’t blame her
because I can totally understand her situation. Don’t you look at yourself in
the mirror? You are a very handsome man and any woman would easily fall for
you. Moreover your supposed “single” status will only get you into more
trouble. Let us just pray that she doesn’t get suspicious about your sexual
orientation.’
She said it on a lighter
note but it gave rise to a new fear in his mind.
‘Do you think she will
suspect about it?’ he asked in a tense tone.
‘Hmmm… we cannot rule out
the chances. There are not many reasons for a man to be single for so long. Anyway,
unless some serious problem arises, don’t worry about it.’
Her words gave him little
consolation.
‘When are you leaving for
Mumbai?’
‘After two weeks. Somehow
anna and I managed to convince our parents to let me go. They are still not
convinced about it but I stood my ground. My friends have found a ladies PG for
me and it is close to my office also,’ she said cheerfully.
‘Good… you will also get
to spend more time with Ronav in Mumbai.’
‘Yes,’ she smiled.
For some reason Krishna
looked uncomfortable and shifted in his chair.
‘It is a new city and you
are going to stay away from your family… with your boyfriend. I hope you are
aware of the risks involved,’ he said hesitantly. Nithyayuvani frowned at him.
‘Of course, I know the
hardships I will be facing in a new place. But I can handle them and I have my
friends from office too who will help me. There is nothing to be worried about
my safety, Krish,’ she assured him.
‘I know, but—’
He swallowed hard before
continuing.
‘I mean, Ronav is also in
the same city. You should be cautious. You both will be meeting each other
often and spending time together.’
‘Obviously! But what
exactly are you trying to tell me?’ she asked perplexed.
Krishna did not look
straight at her and his cheeks changed colour. Right then, Nihal entered the
living room. The way he glanced at Krishna, it was obvious that he had heard
their conversation. Nithyayuvani watched both of them exchanging glances and suddenly
everything fell into place.
‘Anna! What is wrong with
you? Why are you making him do this?’ she admonished him. The two men were
relieved that she had understood what he was trying to convey.
‘Well, we thought it was
necessary to warn you. The consequences will be really ugly if you are not
being safe. I hope you are aware,’ said Nihal anxiously.
‘I can’t believe this! Really,
brother? Are you going to discuss sex education with me?’ she asked crossing
her arms. He winced at her blunt choice of words.
‘Nithya, we are concerned
for you. It is our duty too. I would rather advise that you both don’t get
intimate with each other,’ added Krishna.
‘You both are hypocrites.
You get to spend days and nights with your boyfriend, but I shouldn’t do the
same with mine. Why do you have such double standards?’
Nihal slapped his forehead.
‘Stupid girl! No matter
how many days or nights I spend with him, we are not going to make babies!’
‘Anna! Please stop embarrassing
me! I am not a child and I know how to handle my life,’ she said blushing
uneasily. After a couple of seconds she looked at the two men and smiled.
‘I am glad that you both
mustered courage to discuss this touchy topic with me. I understand your
concerns. Please don’t worry, I can take care of myself,’ she said confidently.
Krishna looked at Nihal and gave him an assuring look.
‘We trust you, Nithya,’
he said caressing her head.
***
The Chhatrapati Shivaji international
Airport was bustling with people. It was a warm evening when Nithyayuvani
stepped out of the departure terminal. She fished her phone to book a cab to
her PG. Immediately her phone began to ring and she smiled seeing Ronav’s name
on the screen.
‘Hello, I just now came
out of the terminal. I will book a cab and call you back,’ she said hurriedly.
‘No need for that,
darling. Just look to your right,’ said his deep voice and the call was
disconnected. Instantly, she turned, half-hoping to find him. It had been four
months since they had last met and she terribly missed him. Instead of Ronav,
there was a lean man in white shirt and a pair of black pants holding a placard
with her name. Disappointed, she walked up to him and told that she was the one
he was waiting for. He promptly gave her a folded piece of paper. Quickly she
opened it and read the note written in Ronav’s handwriting.
‘I am going to kill you,
Ron!’ she cursed under her breath trying to rein in her temper.
To be continued...
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