The best arrangement: Between us...

Chapter 39 - Together..

" Siddharth, Abhishek has never dated any girl, to the best of my knowledge. But you have, and still you wish to be with him, a man? Were all your previous girlfriends pathetic? " Khyati asked.

"Ma, the girls were all good, without doubt, but my Abhi is the best, compared to them. And, Abhi never had any girlfriends, because he never felt attracted towards them! And, he did not pretend he liked girls either, even if just to sound normal. And, as for me, I swing both ways. " Siddharth retorted, with a wink.

"YOU....!!"

"Yes, me! I like both sexes!" Siddharth spat. Khyati could take it no longer, and she slapped him. Both of them tried to stare the other  down. Abhishek did not know what to do. Neither did the others present. Just then, 

"Baba!! Don't hit my Baba!" a shriek sounded in the hallway. All the commotion had woken Sam, and he was sobbing silently. Abhishek rushed over, and picked him up. The boy looked truly miserable. Siddharth walked up to them, and smiled, extending his arms. Sam was quick to get into his arms. The little guy patted Siddharth's cheek, and asked "B...Baba, ..... Hurts?" Siddharth smiled wider, and said " It hurts a little bit, but it's alright"

The boy contemplated for a moment, and kissed Siddharth's cheek -which was slapped." Now?" He asked, now sniffling.

" Now it doesn't hurt! My little plum kissed Baba's pain away?" Siddharth asked. Sam nodded, in all earnest. "Why did Aunty hit Baba? Aunty bad?" He asked. Siddharth shook his head, and said "No, Aunty is just confused. Now now, didn't you always want to come with us to Borivali?"

That question got the boy all excited and squirming in his grip. "Mm"

"So, you are coming with us this time!" Siddharth announced, wiping the tears and snot off Sam's face. "Really Baba? Papa?" He asked, eyes shining. Siddharth looked at Abhishek. Abhishek hummed, and said " You are coming with Baba and Papa this time...."

.....................................................................................

The train ride to Borivali felt longer and more grim than usual. Sam was sleeping in Abhishek's arms, and Siddharth was spacing out. Abhishek had been holding his hand for the whole journey. Both were equally hurt. They never expected an easy acceptance, but never did they imagine the confrontation turning ugly, like this. They felt quite insulted, and tired. The only consolation was the apartment in Borivali, where they would be as welcome as before. And, Sam was having his summer holidays, so school was not really a problem.

It was  dawn, when they reached their apartment. It was Prateek -as expected of an early riser - who opened the door. Without a word, they were ushered in.

"So, what happened?" Prateek asked, after passing them cups of tea. 

" Our parents somehow caught wind of our relationship" Abhishek said.

"So we decided to stay away for a while. And I cannot leave my child there, where he'll have to hear my share of taunts too..." Siddharth said, stroking a sleeping Sam's hair. It was known to all of them, how protective Siddharth was about Sam.

"Hmm... Something similar has happened to Arjith and Neha as well. Someone informed Arjith's and Neha's parents. Arjith's pa has finally relented, but Neha's ma is till furious, refusing to trust Arjith. She believes him to be a rich brat, toying with her daughter." Prateek spoke, as a matter of fact.

"Well, isn't he rich, and a brat?" Siddharth snorted.

"Badmouthing me already, Jijaji?" Came a voice. Great. Arjith had woken up as well. ( Jijaji - brother in law, sister's husband to be specific. Please note, this address has not been used in a derogatory sense. Arjith is just being sour, guys!)

Abhishek's face colored, and Siddharth chuckled " Oh, Devarji is awake?" (Technically, Abhishek is a few months older than Arjith, so the addresses are justified.)

"So, you were kicked out?" He asked.

"Not quite. We decided to spare them the so called 'embarrassment' of living with us." Siddharth spat.

"And, Sam will be living with us for some time from now." Abhishek said.

" We'll find a daycare facility for him, for the time being. Later, we'll arrange our shifts in such a way that either me, or Abhi gets to be here , with Sam." Siddharth said. He had planned things out early on, foreseeing this kind of scenario arising.

" And why must you do it alone?" Asked Prateek.

"Yeah, like, even we can adjust our schedules, to babysit Sam. He's much calmer and easier to handle, unlike his unruly father!" Arjith said.

"You'll do that?" Siddharth's voice was mellow, and hopeful. Even Abhishek was stunned, for they had not anticipated this level of support from their friends.

"Yes. Why won't we? Sam is quite well behaved, isn't he?" It was Neha. She and Arjun had woken up as well.

"True.... Likewise, isn't he our beloved first nephew?" Arjun asked, with a teasing glint.

"Well...... Thanks then..... Sam is..... well, quieter than I would've liked. I suppose it's because he lacks a mother, or something like that...." Siddharth sounded solemn (which he rarely did).  There was no mirth in his voice. It was like, he felt himself inadequate, as a parent figure.

"Hey, Siddharth! He may not have a mother, but from what I've seen, you are compensating for it, by how you dote on him. I know, its widely thought that women raise kids better than men. That stems from the stereotyping that women are nurturers by nature, and men are protectors and breadwinners by nature. But a man can nurture a child as well as a woman can, with a bit of support from family and friends. And women surely can function as protectors and caregivers, there is no lack of strong women around us. Just as there are women who do not  give birth or raise kids- by choice, there are men who choose to singlehandedly raise kids- quite successfully. And Sam adores both of you! Is that not enough?" Neha asked.

Siddharth felt quite overwhelmed. Sure, over the years, he had people jabbing at him when he was being openly affectionate to Sam. There were people (sometimes his own mother) who taunted him for 'acting like a woman' - caring for Sam. Apparently, hand feeding Sam, wiping his face, dressing him, helping with his homework, tucking him in at night, all that was ladies' job. And there were servants and a nanny to do it, right? 

But Siddharth begged to differ. He had brought Sam home- not to dump him into the arms of a nanny. He had brought him, to give him a better life, with people who loved him, and whom he loved back. He felt that Sam deserved it. And, knowingly or unknowingly, all those taunts had led to him developing a flirtatious personality, which charmed women. And having had multiple girlfriends before, was something he secretly used to feel proud of. All of this, just to shut babbling mouths, which called him 'weak' and 'ladylike' . Not that women were inferior, but his teen mind was affronted by that comment. Subconsciously, he wished to show that he was as manly as any other boy of his age.

But here, his friends were accepting his vulnerability, his  'almost fatherly' love for Sam. That was more than he could ever bargain for. Even his mother, had not acknowledged this side of his. His father approved, he knew that, but Raghav Kothari never vocalized his approval in that matter. There was only one Abhishek, who supported him through that journey of unexpected parenthood. 

After many hours  of grief and feeling like shit, Siddharth felt happy, and relieved. He knew that he would not be alone.... He and Abhishek and Sam would never be alone. These friends, who had grown closer than family, would support them. That was a good thing, he supposed.

***************************************************************

Hello guys! It's been a while, I had injured my finger. I am rebounding, albeit slowly. Please excuse irregular and late updates, as my uni has decided to hold 3 exams - 2 sets  theory, and one set of practicals, immediately, one after the other. I hope this update is not awkward, and that I've done justice to Siddharth's feelings. Please do vote, comment, and share this story!

Love, 

Sam Gyrfalcon