You Belong With Me

15

The confession hung in the air like a heavy fog, thick and unexpected. Rahul's eyes widened in shock, his fingers involuntarily tightening around Sourav's arm. Laxman and Anil exchanged bewildered glances, their silence amplifying the tension that now enveloped the group like a suffocating blanket.

Rahul's mind was a whirlwind of confusion. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that Sourav would declare their relationship in such a public and unexpected manner. He looked into Sourav's eyes, searching for words that seemed to elude him.

The atmosphere was thick with tension as the group tried to digest Sourav's revelation. It felt as though the world had suddenly shifted on its axis, leaving them grasping for stability in this new reality.

Laxman broke the heavy silence, his voice barely above a whisper, "What? How? And since when?"

Sourav took a deep breath, gathering his courage before responding, "For a while now. I just... I couldn't keep pretending anymore."

Rahul's heart hammered in his chest as he waited for his friends' reactions. He felt exposed, vulnerable, as if the ground could open up beneath him at any moment.

"You would have reacted the same way if he commented on your wife, wouldn't you?" Sourav challenged, turning to face Anil.

Anil blinked; his confusion evident. "I don't understand what's going on. Why didn't you guys tell us?"

Sourav's shoulders slumped, the weight of his confession still heavy upon him. "I wanted to. We both did. But we were scared. Scared of how everyone would react. Scared of losing our friends."

"Tell us everything," Laxman demanded, his eyes wide with curiosity.

Sourav, Rahul, and Sachin exchanged glances before diving into the intricacies of Rahul and Sourav's love story. They spared no detail, knowing that's what friends demanded — the unabridged truth. As they recounted their journey, laughter mingled with shared memories, creating an atmosphere of warmth and camaraderie.

After what felt like hours, the conversation wound down. Rahul, however, couldn't help but address an important point, his tone serious. "But still, Sourav, you can't react like that. We can't afford to have this secret revealed, please. You have to control your emotions."

Sourav's expression softened, and he reached for Rahul's hand, placing a tender kiss on it. "Sorry, love. I'll try my best next time."

"Okay, I'm not ready to see that," Anil chimed in, feigning disgust at the public display of affection.

Laughter erupted from the group, echoing through the room. It was a moment of pure, unfiltered friendship, and nothing could spoil it. Their bond was unbreakable, and moments like these only strengthened it.

Flashback Ends

"So, did everyone accept your relationship?" Vanshika's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she leaned forward, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rahul nodded, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Yes, they did. Only a few of the younger ones were left to know about us."

Vanshika's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "And how did they find out?" she asked, her interest piqued.

Rahul chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Well, we decided it was time to tell them. All of the members, together."