85 years have passed since the tempestuous romance between Duke and PIku made them leave their motherland.
India in 2025 is unrecognizable.
Everything is different with sweeping social changes that began with the country's independence. But what h...
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Chapter 7
Ricky Returns
That evening was Patty's turn to visit club Eternity . He messaged Avi asking him to join him and the reply came swiftly .
'Yes ! I don't have surgery tomorrow . See you there . xo . '
Patty replied in seconds , ' I can't get you out of my mind . Shona , I can't wait to hold you , I want you so bad ! I can't wait till tonight . ILU, ILU , my King ! xo ' .
Avi read the message and snorted . Patty's over the top expressions of love both delighted and discomfited him . He was unused to such open adoration .
Avi's plan to have a date with his lover in his favorite spot almost got derailed . He got a message which brought him right back down to earth .
'I'm back . I'll come over to your place tonight . ' it was from Ritwik Sinha aka Ricky .
His long uncelebrated closeted boyfriend . Ricky had gone so far back into the closet that he'd reached Narnia , thought Avi wryly .
Someone whose very existence Avi had forgotten about, from the moment his eyes fell on Patty , loomed large now. He sat back with a sigh . He'd have to meet him .
" No matter how lousy he was to me , he deserves a proper closure . I'll have to meet him and break up with him in person . I can't do it over the phone no matter how tempting that may be . ' Avi told himself .
He was sorely sorely tempted to message back , ' Thanks but no thanks .'
But instead he messaged , ' I can't meet you at the flat . Let's meet for a coffee . I have to work tonight .' hoping that he'll accept . He didn't want to drag this on . He wanted to gently but firmly cut this guy loose . The days when he waited around for him to turn up at his apartment for booty calls were long gone .
They met at a local café near the hospital .
Ricky looked good . A bit tanned and slightly bulkier than when they'd last met at his reception . The memory of Ricky dressed as the groom in a splendid sherwani loomed in Avi's mind .
He felt resentful . He felt quite angry with himself for going along with Ricky , pretending to be his friend , being present at every function of his wedding ceremony , running around playing the faithful best buddy .
Rick's entire extended family came to know him by the end of it . They got used to calling him to run errands for them .
' Avi , go get the sweets , Avi go get the flowers , they haven't arrived yet ..' the memory brought up bile . He forced himself to think of something else to calm down and the image of Patty sitting at his dining table with his hair in a messy topknot , frowning over his laptop came into his mind . He took a deep breath , back on even kilter again .
He nodded at Ricky and ordered coffee for them both .
He'd be brief .
'God ! You look so hot in that black shirt ! Why can't you change your schedule ? Let's go back to your place . ' Ricky said smiling at him , a familiar look in his eyes .
