“Addy, we will find a solution.Sudhanshu and Brian have a few friends in the Almora police department.They can guide us.”Jimmy gathers me in his arms.
In his warm arms, I forget the frustrations of my past, my lying, the impending implosion of this life I am building with Jimmy, and the pain of today's events, till he squeezes.
“Aah.”I wince.
“Oh, sorry.I hurt you again.Let us go to your apartment.”He holds my hands and looks on with concern in his eyes.
I need a diversion.My place is a risk.We can't walk in together.I never imagined the situation with Shalini's family would become violent.
“Nah, the injuries are minor.We should not miss the parade.”He had been eager to attend.The gang had pestered us to take pictures and videos.
“Addy, are you sure?The parade is not so important.”
“I want to go.The parade will distract me from what happened at lunch.”I plead with my eyes.This is an opportunity for me to be more comfortable with who I am and take the next step in my journey.To find my place in the LGBT community.Today, I can observe and absorb.Someday in the future, I will walk amongst my queer friends with my head held high.Out and proud to the world.Like my Jimmy.
“You will let me know if the pain becomes too much and you want to rest.”
“Sure.”
He grins and entwines our fingers.We walk to the crossing to the starting point of the parade, chatting about the book launch.
“You were fantastic.”I pat his back.
“The best people have trained me.”Jimmy squeezes my arm.“Which reminds me, Priya wants to meet me after the parade, so we have about forty-five minutes to ourselves.”
“What does she want?”I feign ignorance, despite being aware of the agenda.I hate myself, but things at the launch worked out well.
“Not sure, something to do with new offers and assignments.Do you think I may land an acting gig?”Jimmy wonders out loud.
The joy on his face is another reason this charade should continue until his dream comes true.A surprise awaits him at Priya's office.He is on his way to modelling stardom, which can set him up for TV and movie roles.
“Did you see the Instagram posts of the event?Two hundred new people followed me in the last hour.”He stops and scrolls to the posts and his follower count.
I snicker at the follower profiles; most are female.
“At the event, the ladies were swooning over you,” I tease him.
“Hard luck.I am already taken and by the wrong gender.”Jimmy winks.
A loud pop draws our attention.Paper confetti in rainbow colours rains down on us.My eyes bug out at the hundreds of people holding rainbow flags and banners.A group of people is dancing to bhangra beats, cheered on by the crowd.Some are dressed in leather, while a few have make-up.The gathering is an amalgamation of people of all ages.A parent support group is also here.I spot a few drag queens in bold and bright clothing.A rainbow arch made of balloons moves through the crowd at a distance.
Jimmy pulls me, but my legs are nailed to the ground.“Jimmy, I...I am scared.”
“Addy, these are our people.No need to be afraid.We can be the butterflies we want to be.”He holds my hand tight.“I am here with you.”
I gulp down my doubts and walk into the parade with him.Jimmy is in his element, smiling and talking with people.He even pecks a few on their cheeks.
“Oh, look what we found.My cutie pie.”A person dressed in a shimmering pink salwar kameez walks up to us.Their lips are coloured red, and glitter covers their cheeks and upper eyelids.
Jimmy leaves my hand and rushes to gather them in his arms.“Heer?What a surprise.”Both hug and plant kisses on each other.
“Who is this?”Heer's eyes land on me, giving me a once-over.
“Heer, meet my boyfriend, Aditya.”Jimmy introduces us.“Addy, this is Heer.We met when they came to Almora for a vacation two years ago.”
A jealous serpent writhes up my spine.How close are these two?Jimmy has never talked about his past relationships.
“Ooh.Jimmy baba got a sugar daddy.”Heer walks to me and pats my back.Their touch prickles like sandpaper, but the words have a caustic effect.They singe my chest.I know how uneasy Jimmy is with this label.I am also not interested in playing such a role in his life.I respect him for the man he is, despite the rocks thrown at him by life.
