Is forever for R.E.A.L?

Chapter 17- Yes, I am gay

“What is this? And why is he here? Tell him to get out.” Ashish’s mother screamed at him.
“No, I won’t.” Ashish screamed back. Even though we weren’t glad to participate in the mother son war, we decided to stay back to support Ashish.
“This is my house. I won’t allow any terrorists inside my house.” Ashish’s mother said and we witnessed Rehan’s face dropping.
“He is not a terrorist. Your brother took a risk and he failed. The Pakistani’s killed him not Rehan. Please grow up, you can’t blame a religion for an individual’s misdeeds.” Ashish explained his mother. I suppressed my laugh at the irony of a son telling her mother to grow up.
“Leave that. What’s this all in the diary? Whose is it? Whom did you borrow it from?” Ashish’s mother launched a series of questions on him.
“This is my diary and I wrote these in it.” Ashish confessed.
“What? All those things you wrote? Are you that thing?”
“Yes. And that thing is called gay. I am gay.”
“Don’t joke around. Whose is this?” Ashish’s mother wore a look of shock and disbelief.
“I already told you it’s mine. You have to accept  the fact.”
“No, don’t think like that. I will write a good doctor, don’t worry. It will be okay.”
“I am not ill. I am gay.” Ashish said getting a little restless by each words.
“Don’t say that word.”
“You stop freaking out. It’s true! Your son is a gay. And you can’t do anything about it. I have kept my feelings hidden afraid of this reaction for years but now I won’t keep this inside me anymore.”
“What? Since when?”
“Since I was 13. I didn’t want to believe it too and I tried to dodge the thoughts but it was not possible. I have made peace with it and you should too.” Ashish said sternly.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” his mom said close to tears.
“Because I was embarrassed of myself and I didn’t want this reaction which I got now. I am glad though, that I didn’t tell you or you would have changed me and my personality.” Ashish said.
“I am sorry Ashish.” His mom said.
Ashish didn’t say anything but left the house. Rehan and I followed him out while Esha helped his mother when she sat down dejected.
“Ashish, wait.” Rehan yelled running after him. Though Ashish ran fast, Rehan caught him and we sat down at a cafe across Ashish’s building.
“Stay away.” Ashish screamed.
Even though we didn’t say anything, we made him calm down by making him take deep breaths.
“Are you okay?” I asked Ashish in a concerned tone and he nodded.
“You have to give her a chance. She grew up in a time when being gay was not openly discussed.” Rehan said in a cool tone trying to make Ashish calm down.
“What if she and dad don’t give me a chance?” Ashish expressed in a low tone.
“They will. Sooner or later they will.” I said though still afraid of Ashish’s parents reactions.
“Let’s go back now.” Rehan told him.
“Sorry for whatever my mo-" Ashish started saying while crossing the road when suddenly a car hit him and he was thrown at a side.
We stood froze for a second and then Rehan started giving him CPR while I called the ambulance.
The doctor’s assured Ashish will survive but he would need to stay admitted for some time. His news of survival though made me really happy
After visiting Ashish, we came back to Ashish’s house for her mother requested for giving her company for some days until Ashish was back. We were discussing about Ashish being gay while he was sleeping.
“Are you okay with him being gay?”
“It would take time but I will certainly get used to it.”
“Does his father knows about all thus?” I asked.
“What do I don’t know? Ashish’s father asked as he entered the room. In
However sweet his father would seem, he was a force to be reckoned with.