Chapter 23

I had finally gotten enough sleep. It was morning. I stretched and saw that Geet was already up, and I was looking for her all over the house. I couldn't stop smiling. It was 5 AM, and Moon had just woken up, barely opening her eyes. I showed my excitement and hugged her. She shouted, "Wait, wait, who is this?" She opened her eyes properly.

Moon said, "Hey, calm down frog, what's wrong?" She shouted angrily, still feeling exhausted.

I said, "Thank you for supporting me so much."

Moon, walking towards the kitchen, said, "It's... okay. (Yawning) You know, the day you kissed Geet, proving yourself, I saw myself in your eyes. I used to be just as passionate, showing the same style. Your moves were exactly like mine, but the difference was my moves were with Adolf, and by being with him, I lost my confidence. Even when I didn't love him (taking a water bottle from the fridge), I still wanted to stay with him."

"Thank god, getting out of that toxic relationship."

Taking the bottle, Moon walked towards her room. "I might come back from paper, but how Adolf will leave from my heart..mind...life I don't know."

"What about Geet?" I followed behind.

"Geet was hope. I wanted to escape Adolf's love by loving on Geet, but when I didn't find love from Geet... (deep breath) Forget it, sometimes things get so difficult that they don't make sense... (Moon finally looked at me, seeing my broad smile) Why are you grinning so much?"

"I'm happy!"

"I've never seen you like this. What happened? Did you meet Jay?"

"No." (Remembering Jay, I felt down)

Moon went to her room, and I saw Earth crying, talking to someone on the phone.

"Earth?" I asked Earth.

Earth hugged me and said, crying "Krish broke up with me."

Hearing this, I felt sad and got angry at that dickhead Krish.

Earth wiped her tears and said, "I shouldn't cry. He was a dick, so why waste my tears on him?"

That was fast. I looked at Earth in shock and then smiled like a winner and said, "Let's have a breakup party today."

"Okay," Earth said excitedly.

Dad came from London, and I hadn't thought about what I would say to him. I was tiptoeing towards my room when Omkara grabbed the neck of my hoodie and said, "Where are you sneaking off to like a thief?"

"Om, don't stop me; Dad will see."

"You are his daughter. Why are you so scared?"

"I'll tell you later. You're going to get a punch from me."

"I stopped you for something. Your brother is in a place where men don't feel pain."

"What is this?"

Omkara laughed and said, "It's about making a man a man, stupid. You know that there is therapy for gays to turn them straight; some people consider it a disease."

"What? Who are these stupid people?"

"There are some who take pride in being straight."

"Pride in being straight? Come on, is this a talent? Did you save a country by being straight? Still, these dicks are trying to turn gays straight."

"It's the same as teaching males who like pink and strawberry fruit to eat rocks."

I started laughing loudly, and Geet saw me laughing with Omkara. Seeing her jealous face, I got scared, and Geet went towards my room. I said to Omkara, "Where is this place?"

"I don't know! We have to find out today. Listen, I suspect it's at your friend Ranjeet's house; why don't you send someone to spy there?"

"You go there as a servant; act well."

"OMG? Me, a servant?" Omkara overacted.

I nodded, but I was laughing while trying to keep a serious face.

"OM bye will talk later."

In a hurry, I went to my room. Geet had a cup of tea in her hand. She handed it to me and said, "Good morning, my wife"

She's in a good mood, not angry because of what Om said.

"You made this tea for me?"

"Yes," she said, giving me the tea.

"How is it?" I smiled, and she asked with bright eyes.

I said, "Let me taste it."

"Yes, do."

She was staring at me, and I took a sip. I had never felt this much pressure before. From now on, I have to be more careful. I also have to do wife duties. how is the tea, how do I look, and remember the answers to all these questions. This is where the real wifehood begins. Taking a stressful deep breath, I said, "It's good." I didn't need to lie; she does make good tea. If it were a husband, he would ask for a towel or wallet; what will she ask? Where is my handbag? Where is my lipstick? I laughed at my own joke and drank the tea.

"Why are you laughing so much? Does Omkara really funny?" she asked.

"No, no, Geet, he was just telling me about Jay."

"You couldn't talk seriously?" Geet asked lightly, annoyed.

"Why serious? He's my friend."

"Friend? So soon? You've already formed a team: Moon, Earth, Omkara." Geet asked lightly, annoyed.

"Yes, now they all feel like family," I said, imagining the three, smiling.

She said angrily, "Next time, have Om make the tea." She left my room in anger.

This is a different level of hurt. Now, I have to appease Geet. She has become very sensitive about me, and being so jealous isn't good. I drank the tea, placed the cup on the table, and Mom came in.

"Come have breakfast, you seem very happy. What's the matter?"

"Mom, I'm always happy."

"Not at all. Ever since you were born, you've had an angry bird face, always angry and irritated, muttering curses in your mind."

"Mommmm, you shouldn't say these things. It feels badddd." I did drama and said in kid tone and made puppy face.

Mom wrinkled my nose, "Stop the drama. Your dad is here; go meet him."

"No, what will I say if he asks?" I said, showing stress in my eyes.

"Oh, just say it! You know, stop spreading lies around, don't do it," Mom said.

"Mom, if I tell the truth, I won't be able to handle what happens." I held my head.

"Then fight, be a fighter. You have Geet with you; why are you afraid?" Mom said in a tone like she was motivating the nation.

"I don't want to lose Geet," I said, imagining Geet's smile.

"love? Did you confess" I blushed.

"Mom, no, I mean yes," I said in a faltering voice.

"What are you saying! Your cheeks are all rosy. Now that you're happy, that's what I wanted."

"Mom, you showed me the way," I said, looking into her eyes with gratitude.

"Yes, but you followed the advice like a good child. Now have breakfast and tell your dad tomorrow. Think about it today," Mom said, patting my head.

"Yes, Mom."

"What happened last night?" Mom asked with a smile.

I didn't say anything; I was just thinking, when she said,

"Wanna have..."

I asked nervously, "What's on your mind?"

She looked me in the eyes and asked proudly. This pride wasn't there before, like I'm her wife. Her pride, her confidence was never this strong before. she said.

"When I was very young, a pillow has always been there in my life to keep me from feeling lonely, to absorb my tears. It hugged me like a companion and stayed with me always. Now, I want to replace the pillow. Will you be my pillow?"

Be her pillow? Will she wipe her nose on me? What is I am thinking? She must mean hugging. I opened my arms. She placed her head near my chest, and I felt her warm breath. Her breathing was soft and steady. She was very calm, very happy. She put one leg over my stomach as if to hold me tightly so I wouldn't run away in the night. As soon as she closed her eyes, I remembered a child who used to live in our neighborhood. A 2-year-old boy who used to sleep like this when his mom went to work, and I would take care of him. The same innocence was there, but only thing missing is Geet wasn't sucking her thumb. Hahah! closed my eyes, stroked her head, and then fell asleep. Peace was running through my veins, like a balm for the soul.

I came back to the present, didn't tell dad anything over breakfast, and went out to find Jay. How can anyone has trapped Ranjeet? He's so powerful, either his dad or his Baba might have something to do with it. My Chipsy is also trapped with him. I told Moon and Earth to go to his house, posing as surveyors.

Earth and Moon are getting ready, wearing clothes like saree. Meanwhile, I'm sitting there with earphones on, watching a video on tips to make up with your wife.

Earth said, "Moon, you don't even know how to wear a saree."

"Of course I don't because I prefer fashionable clothes."

Earth replied, "Oh hello, sarees are fashionable too."

Moon teasingly said, "You've been overly friendly lately; you're not my friend."

(Earth is putting on a saree.) "Who wants to be friends with you? I know, anyway, I'm going to quit this job soon. I'm tired of being around you." Earth said, showing some anger.

"I've never seen you so irritated. What's up?"

Earth said, "What do you want to know? It wouldn't matter to you."

"What are you talking about? Earth, are you out of your mind?"

"I've worked with you for so many years, and you don't have a bit of respect for me. I probably know more about you than anyone else, like how you wear red undergarments every Monday. I know everything, and you never considered me a friend." (Earth is helping Moon with her saree. She is angry because of her breakup and is venting her frustration about everything.)

"Friendship doesn't mix with work," Moon said, looking at Earth in the saree.

I said, "Stop yelling, you both! I can hear everything. Earth is right, Moon; when I first came, she said that whoever Moon is with, they will feel like they've got the real moon."

There was a shock in Moon's eyes, then she showed some regret. After putting on the saree, Earth said, "See, it's good."

Moon looked at herself in the mirror, remembered someone, and said, "Earth, thank you, I'm... sor..."

Earth, still angry, said, "I won't tolerate any more taunts. I'm here because of Payal; otherwise, I wouldn't be working for your salary."

"Why are you talking like this?" Moon gave Earth the mic and said, "Put this behind your ear and listen... listen..." (calling me, I removed my earphones) "You also put on this device; you'll be able to hear our conversation."

"Alright," I said, putting on the device.

Earth looked at her phone and said, "Om is washing dishes there. There's a camera on his shirt; look."

We were all laughing, but he got the job there so quickly. Om is really something powerful.

I said, "Listen, don't fight. You might not be friends, but consider me a bit of a friend, won't you? Please don't fight for my sake."

Earth said, "I won't. Can't say about Moon."

"Okay," I said.

Moon and Earth went there, and Ranjeet's mom opened the door. Moon had a camera hidden in her saree. I stayed a little distance away, watching this through my phone. Moon asked, "How many people live in your house?"

Ranjeet's dad, smoking a cigarette, came and said, "These people came here last month. Why do you keep coming back?"

Hearing this, Baba said, "Who are they? Check their ID."

Moon showed a fake ID. "Isn't this ID a bit too new?"

Just then, Om came in.

"Maalik, I polished the shoes. Oh, these people! They came to my house too. Their data got eaten by mice, so they're doing it again."

Ranjeet said, "This girl doesn't seem to be from here. You look wealthy," looking at Moon.

My heartbeat was rising from tension. I was worried they might get caught. They asked questions carefully and came back safely, but I felt terrible that we didn't find anything. Then, night came. Om was sleeping on a buffalo's Tabela (wood house), poor guy, and Moon got a call from some bloodsucker, that powerful woman, a mafia woman. She told us how we could get there.

Moon said, while I was standing right there, "Whose call was it? Why are you so happy?"

"It's Ranjeet's Baba's doing. He doesn't like soft and gentle guys, so he puts them through a tough time," Moon said. Earth was coughing and smoking a cigarette nearby.

"That's different! I never thought this seeing them; how despicable is this person?" I said.

Earth said, "Now the fun begins! Tell Om to act like a real man in front of them. Wear a bit of pink, laugh loudly, and eat some strawberries."

Moon and I were shocked and hugged Earth. I was about to thank her but Moon kissed Earth on the cheek in excitement and said, "You are the best!" Earth rolled her eyes and said, "Whatever," and walked away.

I said to myself, "Great job."

Moon looked sad, as if she was the one who had hurt Earth. I felt like I should tell her the truth, but I also thought this was a moment to build her friendship, so I decided not to reveal why Earth was upset.

It's nighttime, and we're all partying because we're sure we'll win tomorrow. Geet is with us but isn't talking to me. Everyone's drinking Red Bull. We're so happy that we're playing a game of spinning the bottle. Geet doesn't know that Om isn't here, but she didn't ask why, as she spends most of her time in company meetings. The bottle stopped between Moon and Earth, and Earth, as if seeking revenge, gave Moon the task of kissing someone wearing blue. The truth is, Geet was wearing blue. I was terrified and was about to tell Moon and Earth the truth when Moon smirked and paused for a couple of seconds.

Moon only does this when something dangerous is about to happen. Moon's smile and confidence indicated that something was about to go wrong. I closed my eyes. Geet grabbed my hand and said, "Open your eyes."

What the heck? What happened? Weren't these two supposed to hate each other? I rubbed my eyes. Moon kissed Earth, and Earth was kissing her back. It seemed they were both drunk on beer and had no idea what they were doing. I started laughing out loud, and Geet smiled and asked, "What happened?"

"It's right! Moon kissed to earth; earth is wearing blue bra. It was only visible to me when they were dressing up earlier." (song changed, Pal pal dil ke pass)

I saw Geet smiling and I put both my arms around Geet's neck. Just as I was about to close my eyes, Earth and Moon shouted,

"Wait, what the heck? Are you guys together now?"

Geet and I looked at each other, both unsure of what to say.

It's as if there's a pain in my heart, there's so much truth to tell, but I can't bring myself to say it. Why is it so difficult to tell myself that I'm gay? It was so easy for me to identify as straight. I need courage, but who knows what will happen now? I'm really scared. Geet is laughing a little, as if I will tell everyone the truth now, but I need more time. Do I really need more time?