An ugly situation

Everyday was a great day for Dhiraj!! Once their bodies connected, he couldn't help but feel their hearts growing closer too. It wasn't anything that Nakul said. In fact he was very much like his old grumpy self when it came to words. Words sharper than knife and a mouth that couldn't help but pass some sarcastic remarks. But what changed were the actions.

The little pecks that Nakul placed on Dhiraj's cheeks every time he left for work and was back at home. Or the soft kisses he planted on the corner of Dhiraj's eyes, just randomly, whenever he saw Dhiraj. Is his love language physical touch? Dhiraj couldn't help but ask the question. It's just the odd scenario when they both would be seated in a room side by side, doing their own work. Not even talking about anything. But Dhiraj would soon feel Nakul's fingers running over him.

Of course Dhiraj wasn't complaining about these new developments. His soul was more than just satisfied. In fact, such gestures only enticed him to test his limits. He let go of any shame and deep dived into indulging into his baby.

Asking Nakul to bring his towel, only to pull him into the shower, Hugging and clinging on to his baby as Nakul cooked. Nibbling on to that delicious neckline as Nakul would continue cooking. Dhiraj did everything his heart was aching to do ever since he first met his baby. And now he was over the moon!!!!!!!!!

Dhiraj had just stepped out of his car as he reached the office when the phone's ring halted his little joy train. He decided to ignore the call. But when his phone kept ringing relentlessly, he gave up and checked it. It was Avanti. Why is she calling now? Although he didn't want to come out of his merryland, he decided to pick up the call.

"Yes?"

"I WANT YOU IN MY OFFICE. NOW!!!!!" Avanti nearly screamed. She cut off the call even before Dhiraj could reply.

The harsh tone of Avanti certainly caught Dhiraj off guard. He didn't understand what the problem was. But one thing was clear. Something BIG had happened for the usually well-tempered Avanti to react this way.

He quickly made his way to the office. Once inside, Dhiraj noticed something in the office felt off. It wasn't anything drastic. But he often caught people peeking at him. And it wasn't the usual, oh-he's-so-cool; oh-he's-so-handsome; oh-he's-so-sexy; kind of looks. Their eyes held a certain kind of...discomfort.

That's when a man in his late 20s approached him with a file. He was RnD head. That young man wanted to show Dhiraj some papers but again.....for some reason he seemed rather awkward. That was quite unlike that guy's usual chirpy self. His regular self would've given Dhiraj a big smile, asked him how his day was, cracked a good witty joke and get his work done. But today, he was awkward. Awkward smile, awkward posture. Dhiraj couldn't help but notice that.

"Ahhh...sir, this is the proposal I wanted you to go through...." The man said meekly, not wearing his usual confident smile.

Dhiraj too got awkward due to that observation, "Ahh...okay. I'll let you know what is to be revised."

"Okay." The man pressed a small smile on his face and left hurriedly.

What the fuck? And ominous inkling dawned on Dhiraj. But he shrugged it off. I'm just thinking too much. Ignoring it, he made his way to Avanti's office.

* * *

Dhiraj reached Avanti's office and opened the door. He found her looking out of the window, pressing on to a stress ball that she most definitely had never ever ever used before. That's not good.

"Yeah what is it?" Dhiraj said apathetically.

Avanti turned around, wearing a dead serious look. She simply walked to her desk, picked up her phone, clicked on the screen a few times and then handed it over to Dhiraj.

'The inspiration for the next generation, Dhiraj Raghuvanshi, caught kissing another man' the headline of the article read.

What the hell is this?

Dhiraj immediately knew what it was. It was another article discussing his sexuality. But what was different this time around was a picture of him sitting in his car, with another man. Although the face of that man was hidden (thankfully), due to the rear view mirror that hid his face. Dhiraj immediately recognized who it was. It was him and Nakul, kissing in the car.

Dhiraj's eyes were left wide open. A spark instantly went through his mind. Oh..... that's why those fuckers were staring at me downstairs. Can't help but poke their noses in someone else's business huh? So much for being "educated".

Dhiraj rolled his eyes at that thought. He was pretty much used to slanders like these. He was so passed beyond those tabloids that he simply didn't care about them anymore. He placed the phone back on her desk and put his hands in the pockets of his pants, standing unfazed.

"So you called me for this?" He asked in one of the most dismissive tones. As if that wasn't even that big of a deal.

"For this? So you think this isn't that big of a deal, huh?" Avanti grunted in a total disbelief.

"Avanti, you know better than me that these companies are basically running because of people like me. People gossip. That's what they do. In fact they should be grateful to me that I am the reason why they are earning their pennies...." Dhiraj dismissed Avanti's concerns in an ignorant way. He was so done with people trying to drag him through mud.

Avanti simply couldn't comprehend how Dhiraj could simply wave off that matter as if it was nothing. Does he understand the gravity of the situation? "Those companies are yet to catch on to this. It was an independent blogger who published this article last night. It's a good thing that this was brought to my notice and we immediately paid off that guy. But it's only a matter of time that someone else might pick this up...."

"UGH- I don't care....." said Dhiraj in frustration, trying to get his point across.

"YOU DON'T CARE? You don't care if your father came across this article? You don't care about how he will feel, that his son is being gossiped about, huh? You don't care about him?" Avanti was done putting up with Dhiraj's shitty attitude. She too wouldn't have cared about any of such articles. But she knew the man she loved would. He would be deeply hurt. And that was the one thing she can't bear. Dhiraj's sexuality wasn't an issue to her. It was how he never tried to keep his personal affairs in check.

Dhiraj didn't respond to that. It was more like he didn't know how to. His father had never asked him about any of his past "shenanigans". For the most part, Dhiraj's father had been ignoring all the tabloids regarding his son. That only incentivized Dhiraj to never talk about those articles.

Taking a deep breath she tried to control her rage. "Just because your father turned a blind eye to your past actions, doesn't mean he isn't hurt by them. He just...loves you too much. So he let you be. He doesn't understand your attraction and your preferences. But he kept his mind open. WHY? Because he loves YOU. If he's doing so much for you, why can't you keep yourself in check?"

Avanti felt her concerns were reasonable. People around them weren't really the most accepting. The "image" she kept emphasizing on was all so that things will work out smoothly for Dhiraj.

But Dhiraj didn't know how to answer that concern. It wasn't that he didn't care about his father. He simply never cared what people thought about him, perceived him and treated him. Dhiraj stayed silent, not knowing how he should respond to that.

Avanti, not getting the response she wanted, tried to think of another way to help Dhiraj understand the consequences his actions might have. That's when something clicked her.

"And what about Nakul? Have you thought of him? This blogger has multiple pictures of you. He sent me some others. He purposely chose the one that doesn't show Nakul's face. What if he had published other photos that showed Nakul's face clearly...?" Avanti hit the chord.

A pause.

She let her words sink inside Dhiraj's big brains.

Soon, she continued, " This guy wanted money. I could shut his mouth with it. But the next person might not do that....."

Dhiraj started understanding what Avanti was hinting at.

"We are the rich people. We live in a different world. We can just throw money at people's faces and get them to shut their mouths." She explained. "But Nakul....? He's a regular person. Will he be okay if a picture of him with another man were to leak?"

Dhiraj broke in cold sweat.

"What about his workplace? Will they accept him?" Avanti's words echoed throughout his mind.

The image of that morning flashed in his mind. How his RnD department head was uncomfortable around a man with a stature like him, merely because he had seen some pictures of Dhiraj with another man. Someone who was always wagging his tail around Dhiraj, a man with influence and riches, was trying not to associate himself with Dhiraj. If people treated ME this way, what might Nakul have to go through?

Dhiraj's mind couldn't help but imagine Nakul surrounded with slimy people, looking at him with judging eyes. Every step that he takes, every word he says might be frowned upon. And Nakul would have to deal with all of that. But it was the next question of Avanti that hit the final nail.

"And what about his parents? Will they be okay if pictures of their son with another man got published? Imagine the hell he might be put through...."Avanti asked. She simply had asked that question to make Dhiraj understand the consequences of his actions. But it was Dhiraj's expressions that told her that she had stepped on an uncharted territory.

Dhiraj's eyes were left wide open. As if the devil had given his final verdict. The beads of sweat on his forehead made it evident to Avanti that something about Nakul's parents was....

"His parents do know about you both...right?" She tried to confirm her doubts. Dhiraj didn't give a reply. And that silence gave Avanti her answer.

"So he hasn't even told about you to anyone. And here you are, willing to risk everything for him?" A salty Avanti replied. She found it quite irritating that Dhiraj was risking hurting his own father but Nakul didn't even have the slightest worries. But she decided to let that go.

"You know what, you are adults, you know more about your relationship. I don't care what you guys do....." She refocused her attention on what needed to be done. " Look Dhiraj, I've been warning you about this exact same thing, but you didn't listen. Now I don't really trust you to handle this issue....."

She clicked a button on her office telephone, to connect it with her reception lobby. "Send in Rajat right now."

Both Dhiraj and Avanti waited in silence. But they both had varying thoughts in their minds. Avanti was thinking about how to clear that mess, so that there won't be any problems in the future. Meanwhile only one question ran through Dhiraj's mind like a broken record, which was : His parents know about you both right?

His mind couldn't move on from that question. It was as if, answer to that question would validate the relationship he had with Nakul. But at the same time, a part of his mind was afraid to know the answer to that question. Because what if it's the answer that Dhiraj doesn't want to hear?

Rajat entering the office distracted Dhiraj.

"Yes ma'am?"

Avanti didn't waste any time and dived straight into the matter. "I'm sure, you know about the....the article....."

Rajat nodded.

"For now, I've taken care of the situation. But I'm afraid that some other media companies might try to....pick up on it. I want to avoid any further discussion, speculation or even mentions about this incident.....Now I don't trust him anymore..." Avanti pointed towards Dhiraj, her frustration evident in her voice. "So you are going to handle it. Tell me what should be done about this. How to rectify this situation? If there's anything that he needs to do, he will do it." Avanti passed the final verdict.

Contrary to her expectation, Dhiraj didn't revolt back. He simply remained seated listening to what Avanti had to say.

Rajat had already come up with some "solutions" for the situation. "Well, I talked with our PR personnel, and they suggested it's best to stir public attention to....something else about sir."

"Like what?" Avanti keenly listened.

"Like....being....spotted and potentially dating a popular actress or celebrity...?!" Rajat wasn't sure if that idea would sit well with both Avanti and Dhiraj.

"But people might see this as an attempt to not talk about 'that' article....?!" Avanti countered.

"Well, If we continue to show again and again that Sir is in fact dating someone else, people will move on. People believe things to be true if we keep repeating the 'truth' over and over again. Of course we will need to run a massive PR campaign for this. That too immediately, but....all of this will happen, only if sir agrees to it." Rajat laid forward his solution.

Dhiraj didn't reply back. But he didn't rebel either. For the 2nd time in his life, he felt helpless, the 1st time being when Nakul told him to fuck off [nicely of course].

Avanti was the first one to break silence, "Well, do we really should consider his opinion on this?" She sarcastically asked. She waited for Dhiraj to reply. But his silence only aggravated her more. "SAY SOMETHING, GOD DAMMIT!!"

Finally, Dhiraj broke his silence. His head had started to throb. And with a meek voice he replied, "Can you...can you give me some time to think?"

* * *

Dhiraj was in his car, going back home. He had retired for the day as his brain simply couldn't stop thinking. It ached even more. Avanti's question, although she didn't intend it, was struck in Dhiraj's mind.

"Does his parents know?"

Dhiraj had no answer to that. It was going to be a year since he and Nakul met. And months since they moved in. During this time he knew they had grown closer. He was also aware of how Nakul struggled with accepting that he was attracted to a man. He was trying his best to be patient, but wasn't he just a human being? Who needed at least some sort of affirmation that yes, Nakul did in fact was considering their relationship as something...more than just a "fling" or a relationship that explores his sexuality?

He simply needed some surety that Nakul did have some interest in Dhiraj on an emotional level. He wasn't with Dhiraj just because he was attracted to Dhiraj, but because Dhiraj's presence meant something to him. Sure, Nakul's actions made him feel that they were something. But Dhiraj suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to confirm about them.

For some reason Dhiraj felt that, if Nakul had mentioned about him to his family, it would obviously mean that he WAS in fact serious about their relationship. He knew that Nakul loved his family and even though he might not have talked about him to his parents, he must've definitely told his sister about them. Yes!! He's very close with this sister. He definitely must've told her about me.

Now all he had to do was confirm whether Nakul's sister knew about him or not.

* * *