WO/MAN (Arthanaareeshwaram)

Problem

A 16-year-old boy sat by the lake, staring at the setting sun, with tear-filled eyes. He was rolling the small idol in his palms. It has been 10 years since the idol came to his hands. But it still looked as bright as new.

Few guys about his age, arrived, holding beer bottles in their hands. “Oh! Look who is sitting here. The righteous ‘homosexual’.” One of them, mocked in his gruff voice. Arjun’s grip tightened over the idol.

“If you bast**ds don’t get lost from here at this moment, I might have to complain to Acharya sir about your ‘Habits’.” Rukmini’s bold voice echoed from behind.

The boy growled and began inching towards her with clenched fists. “How dare you use such words at us. We will make you realise how to speak to men like us.”

“Men! You are not even worth being called humans!” She spat on his face.

He was about to raise his hand against her, when they heard the siren of a police van. “If not for the curfew, you would have learnt the lesson of your life.” The boy hissed through gritted teeth and ran away with his friends.

Rukmini approached Arjun with a smile and gently took the idol from his hands.

If it would have been anyone else, he would have chopped off their fingers for touching his idol. But Rukmini was different. She was the only one allowed to play with it.

“Don’t take their words seriously bhaiyaa. They are jealous … that’s it.” But she could notice his jaw clench in the twilight.

“Why should I not? When the whole world is calling me names? Is it my mistake that the stupid hormones in my body are not working properly? Is it my mistake that I am developing feelings for him?”

“No bhaiyaa! Even I have developed feelings for him. You are not the only one …” She got a look from him, which made her flinch.

“Your case is different. You are a GIRL. It is natural  for you to like him. But I am born a BOY and I am not supposed to develop SUCH feelings towards him.”

“But there is nothing wrong in having feelings for him. I mean ...” She was interrupted by his angry tone.

“You will never understand my plight Rukmini. All these problems have arisen because of this.” He snatched the idol away from her and threw it into the deep lake. He then walked away swiftly.

Rukmini looked at the lean tall figure of her beloved brother, retreating, with tear-filled eyes. “Why? Why do you trouble everyone like this?” She asked, staring at the sky, only to be hit by the rain drops, which washed away her tears.

The thunders and lightning never let Arjun sleep. He wondered if he did the right thing leaving Rukmini there all alone. She hadn’t returned for dinner. And what worried him the most was, no one bothered.

Unable to bear the burden of guilt, he rushed out, drenching in rain. He finally found his soul sister, the beautiful young girl, sitting in the same position he left her. He immediately pulled her into a hug, only to realise that she was shivering. He carried her to their hostel and rushed to Acharya sir.

The middle-aged person frowned “What were you doing in the rain?”

“Rukmini … shivering … drenched … fever …” Arjun only managed to utter this much through chattering teeth. Acharya sir’s face showed worry as he rushed to Rukmini. “You first go dry yourself and take rest. I don’t want you too to fall ill. I will take care of her.” He commanded. Arjun never dared to go against his orders, so he slowly left the hall, glancing at Rukmini before leaving.

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Uh ... Don't judge me too soon. Actually, don't judge me at all.
But I don't regret writing the story.