Jatin shakes his head in dismay.“Why are you hell-bent on becoming a hermit?Aditya, we are social animals.We need love in our lives.You can't go on like this.”
“Give me time.Till then, I will keep troubling you in Delhi.If nothing works, I may return.”Or go to another part of the hills, far away from Almora.
Jatin changes the topic.“Do you plan to reveal yourself to the world?”
“Hmm.Yeah.About time I take the onus of my reality and face the world.”The brooding over the challenges in Jimmy's life is a lesson for me.How to be proud, how to never cow down to bullies.
“Have you told anyone else?”Worry furrows Jatin's forehead.
“Yeah.The first ones were Shalini's family.”
Jatin is surprised.“Oh.How did they react?”
“I had no expectations there, but at least they are off my back now.”
“Yeah, those two are another horror story.Man, the depths people can stoop to.Who gave them the foolish idea of breaking into Priya's office?”Jatin rolls his eyes.
“When hate turns to vengeance, people become blind to their actions.”I narrate the events at the police station.“Rahul was such a sweet boy.How did my divorce transform him into a snake?”
“Don’t guilt yourself on Rahul’s account.Your ex-father-in-law and his notions of family honour are potent mixtures to poison any mind.”Jatin rolls his eyes.
“Hmm,” I sigh.“Rahul is only twenty-six.His whole life is ahead of him.If Priya had not agreed to drop the charges, Rahul would carry a criminal record for the rest of his life.”
“Forget about them.I hope lessons were learned, and they stay off your back.What about your NGO and school?Will they create any issue?”
“I informed the management.So far, things are the same.But I am not going to hide anymore.”Coming out is now a daily act.Accepting myself and saying those words to Shalini took ten-odd years.Ever since, the cycles have become frequent.Shalini stayed in shock, in disbelief, but she accepted the inevitable.My cousins sneered, and uncles and aunts gasped, hawed, and hemmed.
Jatin’s intrigue turned into understanding and acceptance.He had questions —so many about what the changes meant for me.Priya, being the consummate professional, accepted me from the start.Jimmy and his friends were the ones who welcomed me and opened their hearts.No hate.No bigotry.Jimmy is right; I see the world standing from the comfort of my high tower of privileges.The gravel of reality scraped my feet when I came down the stairs to mingle with the queer community.
The hate perpetrated by Jimmy's relatives or the absolute disregard for human values at the hospital when I fought to put my name as next of kin, the indignity faced by Sudhanshu and Kiron when they went to donate blood...those moments are eye-openers.
Jatin studies me, eyes shining with love and respect.He pats my back.“One good thing to come out of all this is the book sales.They have soared.Gosh, I am sitting next to a best-selling author.”
“Yeah, but not for the reasons the book should have done well.People are more interested in the novel as a collector's item of my infamy.”
“Still, the money doesn’t hurt.”Jatin nudges me.
“What use are the riches?Jimmy is not budging on his stance.He won't accept a rupee.”
“Hmm, but you are investing in Jimmy's name.I am sure one day he will change his mind about you.”
I shrug, unsure whether Jimmy will ever agree to use those funds.
Jatin must have sensed my helplessness.“How is your second novel coming along?”
I turn to him in surprise.“How do you know about my second book?”
He squirms in his seat.“I peeped into the new manuscript on your writing desk.”When my eyebrows rise, Jatin raises his palms.“Last night, when I did not find you in your bedroom, I went to the study.Your notes and diary were open.”
“I will ask Priya to make you sign a non-disclosure, Mr Snooper.”I ease some of Jatin's tension.
“Will you publish this one under your pen name?”
“No.Going forward, I want to build things on a bedrock of truth.No secrets.No deceptions.”
