Is forever for R.E.A.L?

Chapter 1- All about Ashish

Chapter 1
 
Ashish Desai
Ashish Desai was the most popular student in out school, St. Thomas. Messed up hair, attractive dimples and a cute smile made him the girls favourite. All through the year he would get proposals by different girls in the school. Also he was very good at academics and sports which made him the favourite of the teacher’s as well. Despite all the attention, he was too modest and kind. He was a bully only to the bullies. He never liked to fight. Not because he could not but because he didn’t like to.
He would have come across as a total perfect and happy person with no problems and flaws. But he instead cried to sleep every night. His wrists bear several slits for when he couldn’t control the pain. He was trying to basket his emotions. He wanted to escape the truth for he was afraid everyone would stay away from him. That he would be avoided by everyone and bullied to another extent. He was gay. No one knew about this and nor he trusted anyone to tell this. A small diary which he purchased from the stationery was his best friend. Something he could trust the most. He never had a (human)best friend. He was friendly  and had a good relationship with everyone but he couldn’t trust anyone to be his best friend. Before realizing his attraction to other boys, he had dated some girls but it was never serious. Some flicks made him realise he liked boys better than girls. This reality hit him hard when he witnessed his classmates bullying a weak boy in the class named Ravi. He often protected him and told others to stay away from him. Being popular, everyone listened to him. He often came across as a jolly and helping person so no one was suspicious about his real reason of helping Ravi. He had a crush on Ravi and all day it was his face he could imagine. With round glasses and a sharp nose, Ravi was quite good looking. However his lean body frame and stuttering voice often made him a victim of bullying and ragging. Ravi's father, an ex-military officer was quite ashamed of him because of his physical weakness and tried to push his limits. However he couldn’t succeed in his making his father happy. All efforts he took to become strong was in vain as books interested him more than dumbbells. 
Once in the canteen, he was pushed behind the line by a bully who by observation looked as if he lived for food. Tired of being pushed around, Ravi argued.
“Hey! That’s my place. You go behind. “
“It was your place. Now it’s mine. Try to take it from me. Sissy boy.” The bully laughed and challenged Ravi.
“I am asking you the last time. Will you go back or should I make you go.”
“I would like to see you try.” He said but suddenly left the place with frightening eyes looking behind me.
“What? Peed in your pants?” Ravi laughed even though confused with the sudden change in the bully's behaviour.
“You okay? Did he hurt you?” Ashish asked coming from behind him.
“No. But he would have if you wouldn’t frighten him.”
“You were so brave there, arguing with someone twice your size.”
“You mean stupid?”
“No, I really mean brave.”
“But I didn’t even hurt him. It was everything you did that had him go away.”
“You stood up to him. I didn’t do much. You are brave and do not let else make you believe you aren’t.
“I am free. Can we hangout together if you don’t mind.”
“I have some work actually. Some other day maybe.”
 
Ashish was totally free that day. However he lied to Ravi afraid that he could not control his feelings for Ravi and make a fool of himself. It would not take long to be the most hated person from the most popular. He was everyone’s favourite and he didn’t want to be everyone’s favourite bullying target. Often he heard some people degrading the LGBTQ community but he didn’t say anything in their defence lest everyone would be suspicious about him.
 
Ashish reached home in an hour . His mother greeted him on the door. He was the only child of Mr. Yash Desai and Mrs. Meena Desai. Despite being the only child he was not pampered by his parents but was raised in a strict environment as his parents were lawyers and had a fondness with values and ethics. His parents were very proud of his achievements in sports and academics and also expected him to work hard in his field of interest. In this generation of parents who thought science as the best choice, Ashish was blessed to have parents who respected his interests. But he was afraid of their reaction on his mere attraction towards boys. He wished it was temporary and he could be normal after sometime. He knew it was not abnormal but raised in such a society he was afraid to remain all his as a gay. As his parents left for their office, Ashish took the laptop and searched information about the LGBTQ community constantly reminding himself to clear  the history  later.