A Business Deal [MxM]

Chapter 5: Vansh

To say the least, I am flabbergasted. I do not know who this man is who just came up and kissed Dhruv. I take a step back, giving them their space. Yes, they need theirs, but I need mine too. Whatever is transpiring in front of me is not what I expected. I admit I never thought of Dhruv as the most normal person around. I have seldom thought of people as normal, and with no definition of normal, I do not even know what I try to imply at times. I think it happens to everyone.

He looks at me apologetically, as he is led to his own room by this man. As the door shuts behind them, my imagination is about to run wild. I am transfixed in my place and most probably appear horrified. I am not appalled by him. What he does, who he chooses to kiss, who he chooses to sleep with- these things aren't my concern. I have no interest in knowing-assuming that is the ideal stance to bear-but I feel it is something I must know if I am to stay here for a month. If this is going to happen daily, or even frequently, I must prepare myself to not be taken aback in the future. A gentle breeze hits my face and I feel some sand with it. Determined to ask him tomorrow, I finally turn. Mayank is looking at me. He takes a few steps towards me. He gauges my expression.

Fifteen minutes later, both of us are in the living room with a glass of whiskey each. He has barely taken a few sips while narrating Dhruv and Shashi's-I find that's what he is called-story, while I have almost emptied my glass. I drink whatever remains and go for a refill. Once he is done narrating everything, he pauses for a while. We sit in silence. The long case clock strikes ten. I look at the swinging pendulum and it reminds me of Dhruv. He is somewhere, but he is nowhere. Potentially discarded by his family as the next heir, he might get thrown out for peanuts. This ancestral house then would be the only thing that would remain his. I was a fool to mention that. He did not overreact. Probably, what I am thinking of right now is already his reality.

Before I realize, I have started tearing up. I feel my cheeks hot. I sniff to hold back my tears. Upon seeing Mayank's concerned face, I wave it off. "It's just alcohol." I contemplate whether to inquire further or leave it at that. I do the obvious. "How have you kept it under wraps? How did the media not get anything on it?"

"That has been particularly difficult. He can never be spotted with any of his boyfriends. Whatever happens, has to happen here. Hotels aren't safe either. There were two instances when media houses found out about this. The company's PR team had to undergo a lot of trouble to shut their mouths. It cost us a lot, but we managed it." Mayank sighs and takes a sip. "It is difficult to be gay when you are from a conglomerate." He might be saying it in a lighter tone. He might understand what Dhruv is going through.

However, what is he actually going through? Does anyone know that? Has anyone asked him? I decide not to broach the topic tomorrow. I reckon it would make him uncomfortable. As it is, we aren't the best people to get along to begin with. If I stir the topic and it makes matters worse, we might not be able to finish the project. The project is important to me. It is my biggest bet to secure my shares and consequently my spot on the board of directors. If I get involved in his mess, I stand to lose a lot. He is on the losing side anyways; he won't be harmed with some more losses. But that's not the case for me. I have to win. With Yashika, there would be immense expansions in our respective companies' sectors and portfolios. To fill my brimming plate with his problems is not on my agenda. Yes, I will do only what I came here for and leave. Nothing more, nothing less.

I head back towards my room. As I am standing in the courtyard, I am enveloped by silence. Dhruv's room is locked this time around. The one time it was ajar...Shashi must not have left, since I never heard a car leave. Honestly, I didn't hear one arriving either. I don't know. I repeatedly tell myself to keep my nose out of it. I reach my door and just as I turn the knob, I hear another door opening. Before they see me, I enter my room and shut the door behind me. Why am I acting this way? I didn't even do anything. Next to the door, is a window looking into the courtyard. I draw the curtain from one side and give myself enough space to peek out.