Heart, Body & Soul (MxM)

Chapter One

The way Riyaan knows it, Holi is the celebration and party in itself. But now that he is meeting new people, and hanging around with newly bonded friends, he is realising there's more to it. There's after-Holi party. Right now, he has ended up at someone's house, whom he doesn't know. Not personally. He knows that it's Kris' boyfriend's house, but he never met him. And all the people he knows in the house are Kris, and his friends Nancy, Vidya, and Cyan. Rest are the people who look like they have something serious to do in life - like they actually do something important in their lives. Unlike him.

At 23, Riyaan hasn't achieved much in life - except getting a place for himself in a decent neighbourhood, and a full-time job that he believes pays comparatively well but it comes with a micromanaging manager. When he first got to his new place, he was proud of himself. Especially, because he grew up in an orphanage, and packed his bag before he turned 18, only so that it would make it easier to leave after.

He was one of the best in his class and among all the kids in the orphanage. He often felt like that quote fit him accurately: If you're the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room.

But his education served him well enough to meet his needs. His wants? Not so much. So when today he is surrounded by people that look so important, and doing so well in life, he questions his life choices, which didn't have much.

'Suits at the Holi party. These guys are loaded,' Nancy says from next to him.

'I know, right.'

They stand on the verandah of the beautiful house with two storeys. It's not enormous but it's bigger than the usual houses he has seen. But the minimalist design makes it look big, and somehow still gives the vibe of intimacy. Like, a family would be really happy and cosy there - it must be because of the equally beautiful green trees that surround the house from both sides. Riyaan likes to entertain thoughts sometimes - like how it would be to live somewhere remotely like this and spend time with a loving family.

'I will find Vidya real quick,' Nancy moves away, her face filled with a different mix of Holi powders, which he finds to be really funny. Especially without expression.

'Sure.'

He looks from one point of the house to the other. Some are talking in groups, while some are busy around a BBQ setup. Some are swimming in the pool - not some, a lot of them are swimming. Everyone seems to be doing something, eating, drinking, talking, taking their clothes off and clicking selfies. Except him. He is...bored. He didn't expect the whole thing to drag for this long.

Riyaan didn't mean to hold his gaze on any man on the premises today, but when a man in a pristine and tailored jacket enters, he cannot not. He has a physique and height that would generally get the attention of most people. Riyaan doesn't try to be any different than most people, but he is also embarrassed to keep staring at him.

But it's his face; glued to a phone in his hand, which is beautiful enough to make him hold his gaze. Not the kind of beauty which makes you click a picture, but Riyaan doesn't mind a picture. Not the kind where you want them for yourself forever; Riyaan does want that. In fact, he is thinking of it right now, a beautiful house surrounded by trees and a beautiful man to wake up to every day. But he's a different kind of beauty; a beauty that makes his heart feel a pang.

The man wears a bored expression on his face, and his eyes don't flicker to the guys jumping in the pool.

'You staying for that stream, right?' Kris asks, covering his sight from the man.

Riyaan huffs.

Truth be told, he was growing impatient to leave. But then Kris makes him remember that he promised to do game streams with him on his channel. He doesn't mind gaming with Kris usually. In fact, this is one of the reasons why they started hanging around with each other after their 12th standard, when before they weren't friends.