Chapter Text
“I love you so much. ” Kartik whispered into Aman's ears as they kissed in afterglow.
“I love you too. ” Aman whispered back as he threw his arms around Kartik.
It has been a year since Aman and Kartik had exchanged garlands and took those seven ‘pheras’ around the candle lights on their dining table and had promised each other, infinite years of togetherness.
Kartik woke up first. He made himself a cup of coffee and went to the balcony. It had been raining in Delhi since many days. Today however the rain had stopped and Kartik could smell the freshness of the air, filling up his lungs. He closed his eyes to feel the cool breeze blowing over his face. He brought his hands close to his face and ran a finger down his new nose ring. It had been gifted to him by Aman.
As if summoned by Kartik's thoughts, he felt Aman's arms wrap around his waist.
Kartik turned around and returned the hug.
“Kartik have you been thinking about something? ”
“No.. Why would you say that?”
“Aise hi... I've been feeling that something has been bothering you.
“Well actually yes.
I have been thinking ki maine kuch galti toh nahi kiya?
Maine tujhe tere family se alag toh nahi kar diya? ”
(Did I do something wrong? Did I create a bridge between you and your family?)
Kartik's voice cracked as he blurted out those words.
Aman pulled Kartik towards himself.
“Tum yeh sab kya bol rahe ho Kartik? ”
(What are you even saying Kartik?)
“Do you even know how much you mean to me? ”
“Mujhe sab pata hai, Aman! But jaise main tumhare liye important hu, waise hi tumhari family bhi tumhare liye important hai Aman. ”
(I know everything Aman. But your family is as important to you as I am!)
Aman couldn't control his tears anymore. He shifted closer to Kartik and placed an arm round his shoulder.
“I know Kartik. I know. But the thing is that I can never leave you for my family. Tu mujhe poora karta hai Kartik. I know you've faced a lot in your own family. There will be a time when both of us have to come out to my family too. And to be honest, I don't really know how they would react. ”
Kartik wiped Aman's eyes with his hands and wrapped him closer.
“It's okay Aman but kabhi na kabhi toh humein karna padega na face! We can't change the truth, can we? ”
“No we can't Kartik. And also I don't want to face my family ever again, if it means losing you. No one is as important to me as you. I can't lose you, Kartik. ”
Aman buried his face in the crook of Kartik's neck and broke down into tears. Kartik tried rubbing Aman's back with his palm and dropping light kisses on his forehead.
“I'm never leaving you Aman. I'm yours. Forever. ”
Their lips met as drops of tears were still streaming down their cheeks.
The kiss was chaste and a way of promising each other that they would be okay.
They were seated at the terrace after their dinner. As Kartik was smoking the last ciggarette in his packet, Aman got up all of a sudden. Kartik saw him bringing his guitar. Aman placed it in front of Kartik.
Kartik smiled at Aman and picked it up.
He started strumming the tunes of the song he was about to sing.
He plucked a small flower from the nearest plant, and tucked it behind Aman's ears, as he sang.
“Ek aasmaan ke hain hum do sitare
Ke takraate hain toot’te hain bechare
Mujhe tumse par yeh kehna hai-
Chakke jo do sath chalte hain thode to
Ghisne ragadne mein chhilte hain thode
Par yoon hi to kat’te hain kachche kinaare
Yeh dil jo dhala teri aadat mein
Shaamil kiya hai ibaadat mein
Thodi khuda se bhi maafi ho
Mere liye tum kaafi ho. ”