Happily Ever After

-I Dare-

That night was so unusual. Mum and dad were acting as if everything was normal. Did they forget? I was very upset and so I went to sleep earlier than usual.

At around midnight, I heard a sudden sound outside my room. I wondered who it was. Could it be a burglar or something? I got up to check it. I stepped out of my room but to my amusement, the lights were off and there was nobody. I walked down the stairs to the kitchen and suddenly all lights are turned on and screams flooded my ears. "Happy Birthday Arjun!" Oh My! I was so happy and so emotional at the same time. All my 'mains' were there. Mum and Dad, Rajat, Pratyush, Shubhit, Aarvi, Jay and Ana. They remembered. And I AM EIGHTEEN!

I am so happy. I have been waiting for this day since eternity.

Right now all the seven of us are hogging over the yummy Pizzas mom made for us while sipping Cola. The old and the new friends, are getting comfortable with each other a bit slowly. I know that my old friends will feel attacked as if I was being taken away from them but I wasn't. I was there with them.

Everyone goes off to their place at around 6 in the morning. Yes, we talked and ate the whole night and now we are going to get our most desired sleep, for we have to go party at 6 in the evening. Of course, I was throwing a party.

I doze off after I send them off and wake up to 226 messages on WhatsApp, 22 Instagram DMs and 16 missed calls. I glanced at the clock, it's 2 pm. I go down to eat something. I finish off replying to everyone with a smile plastered on my face as I shove off the last bite of Dosa in my mouth. It is still 3 hours to the party so I decide to bath and do something productive. After an hour of a soothing cold shower, I get out to choose my clothes. I am very choosy about fashion and clothing. They are a priority to me. I pick out a royal blue shirt, my favourite, and black trousers and a pair of black slip-ons. Perfect. I apply some cologne and I was set. I glance at the watch, one hour is still left. I go downstairs to watch TV. I am eating cookies while watching Shinchan.

Half an hour is left, so I get up straightening my clothes. I grab the keys and after one last look in the mirror, I step out the house. I wear a helmet, safety first and speed off.

Many students apart from my group have also been invited. Vaibhav, the Captain of Football Team; Suyash, the Head of the Literary Club; Vaishnavi, the President of the Music Society; Star Dancer Navya; Darshika, the President of the Debating Society and Khushi, the Secretary of the Dramatics Club are a few of them.

We are a bunch of mad teenagers. It's going to be fun. People start filling in and wishing me, hugging me. We are all dancing and having a lot of fun. After a crazy time on the dance floor, we now head to the buffet to pick out our quick bites so that later we can play the games we decided. Once done, we all sit down on the chairs in a circle. It's time for The Dares.

After an hour of wild dares, all of us are sitting and chatting about the day. The dares went very well. Rajat belly danced. Shubhit and Pratyush gave lap dance to Vaibhav and Jay, Aarvi danced on Rinkiya Ke Papa, Ana had to mimic her 'favourite' teacher and I was targeted to call up a classmate and propose to her. It was fun and we had the best time. I get up and go to the washroom.

My insides are in a turmoil. I am confused whether to stay quiet or just say it. Nine years, I kept it inside me. I've been mocked, teased to such an extent that I tried to commit suicide and that is why I think, it's time. I splash some water on my face and clean it off. I take deep breaths and muster up some courage before walking out.

I sit down on my chair and cough to grab attention. "Guys, hear me out." I say averting everyone's attention towards me. "I need to confess something and I request you all to stay shut and not over-react. This is not a confession, it's more of an information but you know, I think it's time everyone should know this. I think this is correct."

All of them look at me with confused expressions and I blurt out, "I'm bisexual."

__________________________________

Wohoo! Did you see that coming?
India is still developing and people are still reluctant to accept the fact that LGBTQ+ is also a concept. Everyone needs to understand that it's not a phase, it's someone's whole life and you never know what hardships one might have faced, so always be nice to them. And if you can't do that, at least don't make their lives miserable.
Swipe right and enjoy.

Next Chapter on April 15.

What are your views about LGBTQ+ and Chapter Seven, let me know in the comments section below. Thank you. :) ❤

© Anshul Maheshwari