LIFE.... AS IT COMES (CHAPTER 21)

Kunal was sitting in the living room reading the morning paper. Generally, in the mornings, Tam accompanied him and both of them used to have a nice time discussing the news. More so, Tam was a journalist and Kunal would give insights into the financial world to her.

Remembering the smiling Tam, Kunal shook his head ruefully as he turned the page of the paper. Strange, he thought. Ryan was still sleeping. He generally would be up, fighting with him over the bathroom. Poor Ryan, Kunal sighed again. He too has been through a lot.

Suddenly, like bolt from blue, Kunal heard an explosion.

“WHAT THE BLOODY HELL!!!!”

Jumping up he turned his head around just in time to see Sheila storming out of her room, in her nightdress. Kunal quickly averted his eyes. Scenes like this always bought in a sense of nervousness in him. Looking up again, his eyes nearly popped out of his sockets. Ryan was following Sheila out in just his boxers. Kunal lost his cool. He flung the paper aside and stood up. But before he could open his mouth, Sheila screamed at Ryan.

“STAY THE BLOODY HELL AWAY FROM ME!”

“Shell cool down.” Ryan tried to pacify her.

“DON’T YOU SHELL ME!”

Kunal was looking from one to the other as if he was watching a tennis match.

“Shell please. Please listen to me. Let me explain please. I did not mean to insult you when I said that. Please hear me out!” Ryan pleaded.

“What else do I need to hear Ryan? You accept me as a friend and as day’s passed you became my special friend. You began making me feel special around you. Then you go ahead and kiss me out of the blue. Before I could reconcile with the fact that the guy I love kissed me you shrug me off. Then when I reconcile with the fact that we are still friends, you begin to increase the proximity between us. And now you sleep with me and say you are happy, as you didn’t have sex and never want to have! What does it mean?”

Kunal couldn’t believe his ears.

“You slept with her?” He said his voice shaking in fury.

“Not the other way. We both shared the same bed, that’s it!” Ryan explained to Kunal.

“Oh really! Just that? What about the other juicy things you were relating to me inside?” Sheila scathed.

“Sheila please is this very necessary?” Asked Ryan looking uneasily at Kunal.

“Yes you bet your ass this is necessary.” Sheila shouted.

“You-----”

“Kunal please stay away from this.” Ryan ordered Kunal as he opened his mouth.

“No why Ryan? Why will Kunal stay away from this? He is our friend and he has a right to know. Today you are stopping him from hating you. How many will you stop tomorrow?” Sheila asked Ryan.

“Guys please--------”

“No. I want to know.” Kunal deliberated cutting across Ryan.

“Oh yes you do want to know! You bet you want to know! Shall I tell her why you want to know?” Ryan lashed out at Kunal.

“Tell me what?” Sheila asked skeptically.

“That he loves you.” Ryan announced.

“What bullshit! I am not in love with her!” Scoffed Kunal.

“Yeah Ryan stop trying to change the spotlight. I know he doesn’t love me that way.” Said Sheila.

“What? What? You believe him and you don’t believe me?” Ryan asked incredulous.

“To believe you I need to hear you. What is it that you have been trying to explain to me?” Sheila mocked Ryan.

“Shell, hasn’t my actions conveyed to you what I want and why am I doing this?” Ryan pleaded.

“Yes. You have been trying to take advantage of her, physically.” Announced Kunal.

“No guys. Please think. Doesn’t any other possibility cross your mind?” Ryan pleaded again.

“You are betrothed to some village girl and you are married to her.” Sheila said.

“No guys. Don’t you get it? Am gay!”