Love at First Sight

First Sight

"Love is a complicated thing, you don't chose the person you fall in love with, whether a boy or a girl. Embrace your true identity, don't hide behind a mask. Love whoever you want to love freely."

Madhav is packing his clothes in a bag, his face screwed in irritation.

Why we have to go to Naniji's, I hate it. We have to for 5 days and UGH! That place sucks.

Unwillingly or by the fear of his mother's wrath, he packed his bag. With a smile, a fake one, he went downstairs to eat his breakfast. His father and sister were already present there. His sister was unusually happy today. She loves to go and visit Naniji. His sister's willingness to go to Naniji's makes Madhav hate it even more.

"Finally, you are here." Said Mom and she started setting food up on the table for Madhav.

Madhav sat down and started eating the meal. His sister was eating rapidly, she was in a hurry because she thinks eating fast means going as early as possible. Madhav got more irritated.

What actually she loves about that place? Smell of cow dung I think she craves.

He smiled on his own thought. Madhav and his family lived in a city and their Naniji's house was in a small village, there phone signals also don't work properly. They finished the breakfast.

"Madhav and Divya, now go and get dressed." Said mom.

"yeah! Let's go, don't be late brother." Said Divya. Madhav sighed and went to his room.

Madhav is 16-year-old boy, beautiful eyelashes and facial features. A little healthy than usual 16 years old. He is almost perfect but no one in this world is 100% perfect. He got dressed in usual 'going to relative outfit', blue denim jeans, coffee colored shirt with blue dot print and his favorite Nike shoe. Madhav hesitated for a second, he doesn't want his shoes to get dirty but on a second thought he decided he will double check every step he will take.

They all got ready and went to the car, Madhav and Divya sat in the back and mom and dad at front. Madhav had thrown a tantrum for sitting in front with dad and obviously Divya thrown tantrum of her own. But the mom decided it's better if she sits in front. They started their journey. When you are on way to a village from city you can notice the transition. The city buildings and traffic vanish as one approaches near villages, buildings replaced by trees and vehicles by domestic animals. You cannot see people dressed in formal wearing a tie and going for work, you see framers working in fields, grazing livestock wearing sometimes just shorts and women doing household work; fetching water or firewood. The children covered in mud and playing. The happiness on their faces is a proof of how happy they are.

It's not like city life is bad, it is for some like Mohan. In cities, everyone has work to do, children have their tuitions, if not tuitions mobile phones and not enough open space to play. Mohan is envious of the children living in village and it could be the reason he hates it so much. Madhav's life is not perfect, he is under constant pressure of his family. He has to live up to his family's legacy of being a perfect student with top grades.

But this doesn't affect him a lot, the main thing bothering him is his sexuality. He is always worried about it; he knows he likes boys but he has to stay closeted forever because of his father's thinking about this matter. He knows what will happen when comes out as gay.

"what will others think about us?"

"Look at Mr. Sharma's son he is perfect."