LIFE.... AS IT COMES (CHAPTER 23)

“What? What what what? What?”

It seemed as is Ryan was stuck on one word and couldn’t get enough of it.

Sheila dropped to the floor.

“Shell? Shell! Are you okay?”

Kunral rushed up to her.

“Yeah. Barely.”

Sheila croaked as got onto her feet with some help from Ryan and Kunal.

“You are gay too?” she croaked out again.

“Oh no! No no! Am not gay!” Kunal gesticulated with his hand.

“Huh?” said Sheila.

“What?” said Ryan.

“Guys! It so happens that you can call me a bisexual, you see----”

“Oh god! I am feeling nauseous now!” wailed Sheila on the top of her voice!

“God Shell let him complete!” thundered Ryan.

“Yeah. Right. See it so happens that my first sexual experience happened with a guy. I was 16 then. And I always knew that I liked guys. The tag was put on to me on that day. Anyway, yeah so till I was 22 I believed I was gay! And to tell you frankly I was very ashamed of it. Hardly told anyone except the guy I was sleeping with then. But after I got my first job, I met Suzie. You remember Suzie? And I knew at that moment that the way I feel about her, I never felt like that about any guy before. I was a different person when I was with her. We used to go out every single day and had loads of fun. I knew I was falling in love with her. And to that, I had no objection!

Suzie knew about my problem from the very beginning. She had qualms regarding it. We strictly maintained a platonic friendship for 3 years, when I realized I should give our relationship a name and take it to the next level. You see, I understood, through Suzie, that due to my non-exposure, the gay part of me had become predominant. But due to Suzie, the straight part of me was coming out to the front. I took her out one day and she fell in love with that pup, that stray dog! She was cuddling it and before I got a chance to say about how I feel for her, she announced that she was getting married. She met this great guy, and they had hit off. She gave me peck on my cheek and danced away from my life forever.

She changed my life inside out. I began looking at the world, as I had never seen it before. I was, for the first time comfortable with what I am. She had invited me to her wedding, and had called me many times. But I stayed out of her life, wishing her happiness. It was my way of telling her that I loved her.

Then you guys came into my life. Yes. I had a crush on Ryan. Somehow, he reminded me of the first guy I was with. I began helping him thinking one day he would notice me differently. But then you and Ryan became close and I was reminded of Suzie and me. I didn’t want any of you guys to go through that thing again. So I moved on. I found a new love. And I am-----”

The door opened with a resounding bang, as Tam walked into the apartment.

“Hey guys!” she called while putting the keys inside her purse.

The three jumped up and looked around. Seeing their faces Tam stopped in her tracks.

“Uh oh!” She turned to Kunal. “You told them?”

“No. I was about to.” Kunal replied.

“Oh! Then who died? Why do you guys have such long faces?” Tam questioned as she sat on the sofa.

“Ryan is gay.” Sheila said in a broken whisper.

“Oh! I know! What else?” Tam said in a nonchalant manner.

Ryan nearly fell off his chair. Sheila’s mouth dropped open.

“You knew?” she accused.

“Yeah. The signs were blowing up in my eyes.” She sniggered.

“What? But why didn’t you tell me?” Wailed Sheila.

“Honey, you were so in love with him. Totally blinded. And to top it he had kissed you. I was about to tell you but then I thought you wouldn’t believe me. I thought, It’s between Ryan and Sheila. So it had better come from Ryan. And I thought, ‘Oh god! She is in love with him. And she doesn’t even know that he is gay.’ You see, it was better knowing from him than me.” Tam shrugged her shoulders.

Sheila and Ryan stared at her in complete silence. Both were at a loss of words.

“And while you are it let me give you one more shocker. Tam and I are getting married next month!” declared Kunal as Tam looked on happily.