Somewhere Only We Go (Editing)

Chapter 28 (Part 2)

Kabir

Suddenly I had more clarity than I thought I'd ever have regarding my parents. All the years of confusion and hoping and praying wouldn't mean anything because it was all one-sided. My mother might not have been the one to ask me to leave but she didn't want me here either. She was most probably relieved. I started moving towards the door as if I was on autopilot, all fight leaving my body when someone grabbed my wrist bringing me to a stop. For a second I thought it was my mother but it was Avi.

I turned around and where there was concern for me a few minutes ago now there was just fury, plain fury, anger not at me but for me, on my behalf. His gaze moved to my mother and I wanted to stop him still caring about my mother but I also knew I couldn't. Partially because of the look in his eyes but mostly because I wasn't sure my arguments would sound convincing.

"You had no right to keep this from him. You made your decision to cut him out of your life and he respected it. He left without asking you for anything with just the hope that one day you guys would see him as your son again, which by the way he very much is. His sexuality is a part of him, his sexuality doesn't define him. But for some reason, parents can't see anything besides that their son is gay, their daughter is a lesbian. Suddenly my child can do no wrong means nothing, and your children became the biggest evil, all because they want to be their true self. You should be proud of your son that he dared to stand up for himself in a world where being gay in itself could be a threat to life. But no, the idea of being queer is so unacceptable to you guys that you would rather have your kids live a life pretending to be someone that suffocates them, drive them to the edge sometimes pushes them over it than be happy."

Avi is practically shouting, my mother is listening to every word, she hasn't moved even an inch from where she is standing.

"I understand grief Mrs Mehra, better than anyone else but I am learning now that grief is not a justification to be cruel to someone. Not telling Kabir about his father, snatching away his chance to say goodbye, taking away his right to give fire to his father's pyre was cruel."His words brought tears to my eyes. It was cruel. My tears turned into full sobs and Avi pulled me closer his hand holding my waist.

"His tears might mean nothing to you but I would not let anyone who so much as brings a frown on his beautiful face anyone near him. So you need to make a choice now but I want you to remember one thing, whatever you choose, Kabir will be fine, I'll always make sure he is fine."My mouth parted as he shocked me with what he said. He gave my mother a choice but at the same time took away the power I didn't realize she had over me.

"He made his choice, we made ours." My mother's voice pierced right through my heart. I closed my eyes to keep the tears away. I refused to cry in front of her. Avi sighed, like he expected it but was still hoping for a miracle for me. Then he looked at me. The question was in his eyes, what do you want to do?

So I tugged his hand and started to walk out. Right before stepping out and paused. "I didn't have a choice Mom, but you guys did and now you are the one who has to live with it," I said and walked out of my childhood home for the last time. And even though I felt like shit, I knew I was going to be fine. With the mad beside me taking a stand for me when I couldn't I was going to be fine one day.

As soon as we reached Avi's place I had something else in my mind that I wanted to ask him. This was going to be a big step if he agreed but I was ready for it and I hoped he was too.Avi ordered food while I washed my face, my eyes were still swollen but something in me had settled after we left Noida. When I went out he was sitting on the couch scrolling through his messages but when he saw me he immediately put his phone giving his full attention to me. That helped me voice my thoughts more confidently.

I sat next to him but he pulled me towards him until I was on his lap and I rested my head on his chest.

"How are you feeling now?" he whispers. I love how this man who can be rude and cold to others is always so soft-spoken to me at all times.

"I had better days. But you were right, I'll be okay."

"Hmm."

"Did the painkiller work?" I asked. His doctor told us his hand was fine, he just needed to give it a little more rest. His stitches were going to be out in the next two or three days so the day wasn't all bad.

"Yeah it's much better now, don't worry about it." He pressed his lips on my forehead and I felt like I'd melt.

"So um I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Yeah?"

"My lease is going to end in a few days." I pause hoping he will get the hint. When he didn't say anything for what feels like ages but it's only a few seconds I started panicking. So I tilted my head upwards to look at him and the second my eyes found his doubts left my mind.

He was looking at me like what I said was something he wanted to hear but was sure I would never say. It's crazy how you can know someone this well in a few weeks but that's how we are now. I can read Avi and he knows every single thought in my mind just by the look on my face."Are you saying what I think you are saying?"

"If you are thinking about waking up next to each other every day, then yes. You are the closest thing to a family I have now. But I am not asking you just because of today, we have spent the past 10-12 days together and I don't think I can go back to an apartment without you. I have been meaning to ask you this but I wasn't sure how to because I don't want to force you, so just so you know, you can say no if you are not ready, I promise it won't change anything." And it won't. This is the biggest reason why I gathered the courage to ask him about living together. We are comfortable with each other to navigate through different opinions. I knew if Avi said no right now, it would have been because he wasn't ready and I can work with that.

"So when are we going to get your stuff?" He smiles that beautiful smile of his and I melt in his arms.

"This weekend, I have a shoot tomorrow, and Friday I have to be at your office. Saturday sounds good?" He nodded and then kissed me.

Later after we had food and he climbed into bed after taking a shower, I asked him to make me forget everything and he did. The things I remember, before I fell asleep, were our combined moans, his body on mine, the way I fell apart beneath him, and the moans and screams that came out of me when he took his time eating my ass.