Tales Untold

Serendipity

Pride Month Special (June)

Had Derek always been attractive or was I only noticing it now? He wasn't who you'd exactly call 'hot' or 'sexy' but he had a certain charm that only few people could see. Or was it only me? Wait - why was I thinking about my friend like that? Oh god, what was wrong with me? Why was I having these strange thoughts about a boy?

"Amit? Hello? Are you okay?"

I realised that Lyla was waving her hand before my face and I returned back to reality, my cheeks burning with guilt and shame. "I'm alright", I muttered nervously, "Just thinking about something."

"Something or . . . someone?" Lyla giggled and blew a dandelion at my face. I rolled my eyes and lay down on my back, gazing at the white clouds in the blue sky. My friend Lyla and I were in a field of wild flowers amidst the lofty hills of the Himalayas where our small village was located. It was not a poor, rural area since we didn't lack electricity, transport and communication nor educational facilities like most villages but it was still conservative in its traditional values and beliefs. Most of the youngsters were sent to schools and colleges in the nearby towns which were well-developed and had access to the modern ways of life.

But short, revealing clothes? Inter-caste marriages? Homosexuals? These were subjects of taboo in our community. And that greatly disturbed me.

"Lyla!" A familiar voice called out from afar and I was suddenly alert and thrilled, adrenaline rushing in my veins for some unknown reason. I sat up to look at the boy that had lately been haunting my thoughts.

"What is it, Derek?" Lyla shouted.

"Your mother's calling you! She needs your help in something!" Derek replied as he walked towards us. He was wearing a white T-shirt and grey shorts that exposed his enticing, muscular brown legs that I couldn't help but notice. Chewing a blade of dry grass, he sat beside me as Lyla walked off reluctantly towards the village.

"Something going on between you two?" He asked when Lyla was out of earshot. I gasped and began to protest, "What? No! We're just friends! Who the hell gave you such an idea?"

"I was just asking", he shrugged and after spitting out the blade of grass, he plucked a dandelion and blew it. "So you're single?"

"Yes."

"Do you like anybody?"

"No."

"Do you - "

"Why the sudden interest in my relationship status, Derek?" I asked.

"Nothing, just curious", he replied nonchalantly. "We're friends. Friends ask each other questions and they ought to know things about each other."

"Oh yeah?" I said, "Then tell me, do you like anyone?"

"Actually, I do", he replied.

"Who is she?"

Suddenly, Derek stood up and began walking away. Turning around to smirk at me, he said, "I'll tell you some other time, Amit." Then he winked at me and resumed walking. I stared at his retreating figure with a strange feeling of longing and something else that I couldn't explain. But after he was out of my sight, I felt a shadow of gloom wash over me for I knew that whatever emotions I was feeling for Derek, it needed to stop immediately.

Because it was wrong.

*

"I'll miss you, Amit."

"I'll miss you too, Mom."

"Study well. And if you need any help, ask Derek. Both of you look out for each other, ok?"

"Ok, Dad. Bye."