Chapter Text
A year had passed since Karthik and Aman had come back from their home in Allahabad after winning the battle against the Tripathi family. Karthik though refused to call it a war 'against' the family. He rather preferred to call it a war with the family, against homophobia! Aman cried in Karthik's chest, when Karthik told him this. This man, after getting beaten up so badly by his father, who was almost on the verge of losing Aman to the society, for the ego of his family, still refused to consider the family as their opponent. Karthik truly had a heart of gold!
The two boys were happy as the days passed! They went to work together. Aman first dropped Karthik at his workplace and then travelled to his. In the evening, or rather at night, he picked up Karthik and then they came back home. Aman almost supported Karthik up the stairs every single day as he was too exhausted after work! His baby couldn't take too much load!
But then Karthik was only Aman's baby, and no one else's. So they'd never put less burden of work on Karthik feeling sad for him!
"Tum yahin baettho! Main kapre badal kar aata hoon. Phir tu bhi fresh ho jaana. Uske baad you sleep, I'll wake you up when dinner is ready!"
Aman told Karthik one night, after they came back from work! Karthik's eyes were half closed when he relaxed his body on the couch and nodded. Aman gently pressed a kiss on his forehead and then he went towards their bedroom to freshen up.
"Karthik jaao! Haath muh dho lo!"
Aman called out to Karthik after he changed to his sweat pants and t-shirts and then walked towards the kitchen from the bedroom.
"Haan, abhi gaya!
Karthik replied as an obedient child.
Aman decided to prepare something light. He too was damn tired that day, but could never afford to bring it out infront of Karthik! If Karthik could sense even a bit that Aman was tired, he would never allow him to cook. Karthik would either order takeout, which isn't good for health, or would cook himself, making a complete mess in the kitchen. Also, Aman couldn't afford to make a tired Karthik cook food, when he was still alive.
He prepared simple noodles with vegetables and sauce. It was the easiest option this night! When he brought two bowls of the cooked noodles to the bedroom, he found Karthik missing. He kept the tray down on the bed and searched the washroom. It was empty too.
"Karthik!"
No response.
"Kar..."
Aman came to the living room and found Karthik deep in slumber on the couch in the same office clothes. He kept staring at him. The slight snores that Karthik made seemed to release his stress slowly. He hadn't even changed his position. He was turned to his left side with legs on the tea table when Aman called him out to freshen up. He was still sleeping in the same posture. Aman smiled at the sleeping beauty infront of him.
He gently sat beside Karthik and lifted his head to place it on his lap. Karthik shifted in his sleep and made himself comfortable. Aman carressed Karthik's cheeks and then ruffled his hair. Karthik was the best thing that had ever happened to him!
"Babu! Uttho! Khaana nahin khana kya?"
Aman cooed slowly into his ears.
"Aman?"
Karthik responded to him as if recognizing the voice in his sleep.
"Haan babu! Main hi hun. Bol?"
Karthik slowly opened his eyes and looked up at him. Aman smiled.
"Oh teri! Main so gaya tha! Tune kaha tha na fresh hone ke liye! Bhul hi gaya tha main! Abhi aaya!.....Miss me till then."
Karthik sounded scared as he realised he didn't listen to Aman. But then quite immediately he switched to his dramatic mode and asked Aman to miss him.
Aman laughed and agreed that he would miss!
He came back in a few minutes time and Aman was already waiting for him with sleep laden eyes.
"Neend aa rahi hain baby?"
"Nahin toh! Aa ja khaa le!"
Karthik sat down on the bed and shortened his eyes as he looked towards him.
"Haan thoda bohot! Abhi so jaunga! Jaldi aa na!"
They both had dinner, talking about office work, movies and stuff.
Karthik almost fell down on the bed as soon as he completed eating. Aman went to keep the bowls in the kitchen. He decided to wash them the next morning as his body refused to cooperate with his mind anymore.
He climbed up on the bed beside Karthik and pulled the blanket over both of them. Karthik immediately snuggled up into the crook of his neck and wrapped his body around Aman's. Aman yawned as he moved his fingers through Karthik's hair. Within no time, the two intertwined tired souls, fell asleep in each other's arms. A tiring day of their life passed away yet again!
But now, as slowly a month passed, the environment at the Karman household quite changed. Karthik started noticing certain changes in Aman. For example, quite often he would reach Karthik's office an hour or two ago and wait for him there. When asked, Aman used to say "Aj jaldi chutti ho gayi! Isi liye aa gaya! Kyun, tu khush nahin hain?"
No doubt Karthik was happy. His cute little boyfriend would come early to his office for him; what else on earth could make him more happier?
But there was something in Aman that made Karthik feel he is not okay. He is not that bubbly as before, he was lost at times and Karthik had to snap his fingers infront of his eyes to bring him back to reality. He didnt like seeing his smiling little love to be in such a state where bringing him back to present times was a task. Karthik also noticed, Aman had almost stopped eating and sleeping. Everyday after they came back from office, Aman would prepare food only for Karthik and say that he himself was not hungry. Same with sleep. When Karthik asked him if anything was wrong, Aman said he wasn't sleepy either.
One night, Karthik felt in his sleep that the warm body that is supposed to be with him on bed was probably missing. He quickly opened his eyes and indeed couldn't find Aman. He stood up in alarm and searched for him in the house. He almost panicked when he saw a shadow in the balcony. It was a full moon night and so the shadow was bright and prominent. Karthik silently crept into the balcony and saw Aman standing there.
Not just standing.
Aman was silently crying there holding the railings tightly. Tears swiftly and consistently flowed down his cheeks as Aman looked down.
"Aman?"
"Karthik!.....Tu soya nahin?"
Aman said quickly wiping his tears.
"Ruk, ek second!"
Karthik dragged in two chairs to the balcony and made Aman sit on one of them, much against his will. He himself then sat on the other.
"Abhi bataao. Kya baat hain? Kya hua hain tumhe?"
"Kya kuch bhi toh nahin. Mujhe kya hoga? Main theek hun...."
"Theek hain, isi liye raat ke dhai baje balcony mein khare khare akele ro raha hain! Kisko ullu bana raha hain Aman?"
"Woh, bass aise hi. Woh neend nahin aa rahi thi na, toh socha thoda...."
"Socha thoda ro lun, toh neend aa jayegi?"
Aman had no words to say.
"Dekh Aman, tu kab tak mujhse chhupayega? Main bohot achhe se samajh sakta hun, ki tu theek nahin hain, kuch toh gadbad hain. Kuch toh hain jo tu mujhe nahin keh raha hain."
Aman once again looked down.
Karthik took Aman's hands in his and kissed his knuckles.
"Bol na baby? Kya hain jo tujhe itne dinon se itna tang kar raha hain?"
Aman broke down. He cried badly and Karthik's hands got wet in a second's time. Karthik stood up from his chair and hugged Aman. Aman wrapped his arms around Karthik's waist and pressed his head in his stomach. Karthik held Aman's head in his belly and ruffled his fingers through his hair.
"Koi na baby,....shaant....shaant.....main hun na idhar. Mujhe bata, kya hua hain?"
Aman slowly started to say.
"Pichhle....takriban ek mahine se....main dekh raha tha.....office mein mujhe koi kaam nahin de raha.....main bass jaata tha....pura din khali baetth ke waapis aa jaata tha.....koi kaam karne bhi jaaun....toh mujhse woh kisi aur ko transfer kar diya jaata tha.....bass yahin nahin.....sab mujhe avoid bhi kar rahe the office mein.....koi baat tak nahin kar raha tha....mujhe kuch samajh nahin aaya ki aisa kyun? Main apne boss se puchhne gaya....ki mujhse koi galti huyi hain ki nahin....jaise hi main unke cabin mein gaya....woh apna phone utthaye aur kisi se baat karte karte bahar chale gaye....."
Karthik was astonished! So many things have been going on for about a month now and he had no idea! How could someone avoid such an adorable human being?
Aman continued as he sobbed.
"Phir aj mujhe sach pata chala....mera dost hain na... Shruti?....ussne kaha....kisi ne ek meeting ke beech mein mere boss ko call karke yeh kaha hain ki main gay hun.....wahi se problem shuru.....shruti ko chhodke sabko meri sexuality se problem hain....shruti bhi nahin janti thi....aj cafeteria mein woh do ladko ko yeh kehte huye suni....usne aake mujhe sab bataya....boss ne ekdin mujhe dekh bhi liya tha kahi pe....tere saath....woh log mera replacement dhoondh rahe hain....jaise hi mil jayega.....mujhe nikaal denge....main jobless ho jaunga Karthik!"
Aman facepalmed himself and cried severely leaving Karthik into a shock. How can people be so rude to someone just because of his sexual orientation? He knew Aman loved his work. He loved to keep himself busy. But there was still a question in Karthik's mind.
"Ek baat bata Aman, tune kaha ki kisi ne call karke bataya tha. Yeh insaan kaun hain?"
"Pata nahin yaar. Shruti keh rahi thi koi anjaan insaan hain. Boss nahin jante usko."
"Nahin jaante phir bhi ek dum se vishwas kar liye? Waah! Teri boss ki bhi akal nahin hain. Boss banaya kisne unko? Aur tu gay hain, isse tere kaam ka kya lena dena? In sabki soch itni giri huyi kyun hain? Maine kabhi tujhe mere liye apne kaam ko ignore karte huye nahin dekha. Toh why does a problem arise at all???"
Aman again turned towards Karthik and cried against his belly hugging him tighter this time. Meanwhile, Karthik was burning in rage.
"Aman, tu kal hi resignation de!"
Aman looked up in shock.
"Karthik, kya baat kar raha hain tu?"
"Haan, aur nahin toh kya? Jis jagah pe teri izzat nahin hain, wahan tu kaam nahin karega. Kal kyun? Aj hi...ruk!!!"
"Karthik....baby.... ruk!!!!"
Aman wanted to stop Karthik as he suddenly left the balcony in rage. Aman went behind him and found that Karthik sat down on his work table with his laptop.
"Karthik kya kar raha hain? Sab theek hoga! Mat kar aisa!"
"Aman tu kuch nahin bolega!!!!! SAMJHA???"
Karthik shouted at Aman, perhaps for the first time.
"Main jobless ho jaunga Karthik!"
Aman said as a cornered kitten.
"Toh nayi job bhi mil jayegi! Aisi jagah pe kaam karne se achha hain kaam na karna!"
Karthik said as he typed out Aman's resignation letter.
"Dekh, sahi hain? Ab tere Mogambo boss ka email address bata!"
Aman was scared af after Karthik shouted at him. He gently nodded and shared the email address with him.
"Done! Kamine! Kya socha tha? Woh tujhe nikalenge? Teri qualification kaafi achhi hain Aman, tu chinta mat kar! Main dekhta hun!"
Aman was blank. He was jobless now! He didn't know what to do!
"Soch raha hain kya karna chahiye?"
"Kal se office nahin jaana Karthik! Main kya karunga?"
Aman said as tears again flowed down his cheeks.
"Senti na ho! Tu ek kaam karna! You come to my office. Mere yahan join kar le!"
"Nahin yeh theek nahin hoga."
"Kyun? Achha hi toh hoga na, hum saath mein kaam karenge."
"Zara soch, agar tere office mein kisi ko pata chala ki hum dono relationship mein hain, toh same cheez wahan bhi ho sakti hain. Aur result hoga yahi ki dono hi job kho baetthenge!"
"Arrey tu uski fikar mat kar. Devika hain na! Woh dikhti jitni masoom hain, utni masoom hain nahin. Devi puri Lady Don hain! Kisi ne mujhe tang kya kiya, woh uspe chadh jaati hain. Toh tu aayega toh problem....."
"Problem nahin Karthik, par yeh sahi nahin hoga!"
Karthik realised that Aman was firm. And when he was so adamant on his point, Karthik knew there was a cause that Aman could sense. He therefore didn't coax him anymore.
"Ab chale? Kal se teri doosri naukri dhundhni hain na? Neend aa rahi hain yaar, ab chal! Sona hain mujhe!"
Aman was very sad. He knew he wouldn't go to work from tomorrow. He would be alone. Karthik would go to his work. He'd sit alone in the house untill he got his next job. Aman knew that wouldn't be as easy as Karthik thought.