Somewhere Only We Go (Editing)

Chapter 29

Kabir

I had seriously underestimated the amount of stuff I had in my apartment. As I taped the last box and flopped on the couch which is so stiff, I was embarrassed of having Avi sit on it. Even I have gotten used too of the expensive shit he has at home. Everyone who says they don't like luxury items is lying or perhaps they need a taste of money.

"That was the last box." I thought I would feel a little nostalgic leaving this place behind. But I felt nothing of that sort. But then that makes more sense because I never really got attached to anything in life since I moved out of Noida. Every time I met with my friends, it was usually at some bar or for some other outdoor activity. Whatever hook-ups I had, most of them happened at the other person's place because I never picked up any place nearby as a date venue. If I was going to a gay bar it was on the other side of the city. I met someone on a dating app, dinner at least 7 metro stations away from mine. It wasn't like I was ashamed of my sexuality but I was scared that I would be asked to vacate the apartment. It wouldn't matter that I was always on time with my rent, and created zero problems for anyone in the society; nothing would matter beyond the fact that I liked kissing men behind my closed doors rather than women.

"Good, want to grab dinner?"

Before I could answer his question, my stomach did it for me making a loud sound. Avi chuckled.

"I'll take that as a yes. Do you have someplace in mind?"

I was going to say no when I remembered something.

"Actually yes, I do."

I heard about this cozy restaurant from a few boys from my building complex a few months ago. I was on the terrace enjoying one of the few nice windy nights in Delhi when I overheard these college students talk about this restaurant. One of them had asked some girl for dinner and she had said yes. And they were all discussing options like world peace was in their hand. That's how college life is supposed to be I guess. I wished it was as easy for queer people as well.

As we placed our order for butter chicken, chicken lababdar, and garlic naan I took in the ambiance and it was nice. It wasn't some 5-star levels but it was cozy and warm. Avi's phone vibrated on the table and he picked it up.

"They will be here by 7:30 am."

When we discussed options of how to get my stuff settled in and everything we went in rounds not being able to agree on one thing. For hours we butted heads and it started to feel like we were going to have our first silly argument over nothing right in the middle of his office yesterday. He wanted to get movers but there wasn't enough stuff that I needed one. Also, I knew he wasn't considering money but there was no way I was going to let him pay for it. And I don't have money to waste on movers. Later he messaged both his cousins which I was confused about, like what were they going to do.

Turns out helping your cousin's boyfriend move in with him is enough reason for rich people to book flight tickets and show up in Delhi on a Sunday morning. I am kind of excited to see them again considering how we left in a hurry. Also, I needed to find some time in between to corner Rishabh when Avi isn't looking to ask if everything is okay.

Now that I was doing better after an entire week I was thinking about everything I had overlooked. And even if it wasn't much, I know I am not important to a lot of people, it was still something major that I had ignored.

Avi's family especially his parents thrive on pulling the happy family drama. He has told him how whatever semblance of peace they have in their life is because of what all three of them collectively do, stand together for the outside world, no matter how rotten they are from the inside. They had their roles fixed, his parents played their part of grieving parents who gave all their love to their only son, and Avi the son who took on him to never let his parents feel the loss. Even his fake persona was built around carrying a burden. After all of this Avi never attended the party. We spent the entire week in Goa with his family but he never made it to the main event, the one that was also covered by the press. And I am not a fool to not see how his absence would have been noticed. His parents must have been angry. I am surprised that they have not come down knocking on our door demanding answers. If his father hated me before now he would just want to kill me.