A Web of Love and Deceit

First Kiss

Third Person's POV

The journey from Bangalore to London was suffocating in its silence. Shiva sat tense, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of his jacket as he stole anxious glances at Ram, who sat beside him, his face a mask of calm indifference. The quiet between them was unbearable, a heavy weight pressing down on Shiva's chest. Each minute dragged on, the silence louder than any words could be.

Shiva's heart raced, on the verge of breaking. He could feel the storm brewing inside him—fear, guilt, confusion—all churning, threatening to spill over. Ram, however, remained still, his gaze distant, his features unreadable. It was this impassivity that drove Shiva to the brink. He wanted to scream, to shake him, to do anything to break the silence that was slowly suffocating him.

But Ram gave nothing away. And it was killing Shiva.

When they reached the dorm, the tension was unbearable. Without thinking, Shiva grabbed Ram's hand, spinning him around. His voice cracked under the weight of everything he'd been holding back.

"What happened, Ram? Why are you acting like this?" Shiva's eyes searched Ram's face, desperate for a flicker of emotion. "Did I do something unforgivable? Please, tell me! I can't take it anymore, Ram. It's killing me." His voice broke, and he was on the verge of tears.

Ram's gaze was steady, piercing through the turmoil in Shiva's heart. "Did you like me, Shiva?" His voice was calm, almost too calm, as if the question was merely a formality.

Shiva blinked in disbelief, his mind scrambling to process the words. "What... why are you asking me this?" His confusion was palpable, fear knotting in his chest.

"Tell me, Shiva." Ram's grip on his hands tightened, his eyes darkening with intensity. "Did you like me? Answer the question, damn it."

Shiva's breath caught in his throat. His heart pounded as the words tumbled out before he could stop them. "YES, Ram! I LOVE YOU... I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU! It's been 10 years!" His confession was raw, torn from the depths of his soul, tears spilling from his eyes, unstoppable.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. Then, to Shiva's shock, a smile tugged at the corner of Ram's lips. Without a word, Ram pulled him closer, his hands slipping behind Shiva's neck, and kissed him—soft but sure, as if they had been waiting for this moment all along.

The world fell away, leaving only them.

Shiva slowly opened his eyes, his breath shaky as reality blurred with what felt like a dream. He had kissed Ram a thousand times in his dreams, but this—Ram holding him, their lips meeting—was something he never believed would happen in real life. Yet, here Ram was, his arms wrapped around him, his gaze filled with an affection so deep that it left Shiva breathless.

Ram's eyes were soft, tender, overflowing with something Shiva had longed for but never dared to hope for. "I love you too, Shiva," Ram whispered, his voice steady but laced with emotion. "Not for 10 years, but recently... and I promise you, I'll make up for all those missed years of love." He finished with a gentle smile, one that seemed to light up the entire room.

Shiva couldn't speak. His emotions overwhelmed him, tears slipping from his eyes without control. Ram, ever gentle, reached up and wiped them away, pressing a soft kiss to each eyelid. The tenderness of the gesture broke something inside Shiva, and he pulled Ram into a tight embrace, holding on as if the moment might vanish into thin air.

Ram chuckled softly, running his fingers through Shiva's hair. "I'm not going anywhere, my moon," he whispered, his breath warm against Shiva's ear. "I'm here. Always."

Shiva kissed him again and again, unable to stop himself, as if he had become addicted to the feel of Ram's lips, to the warmth that spread through him with each touch. Ram responded with equal eagerness, his hands pulling Shiva closer, deepening the kisses as if they had been waiting their whole lives for this.