A story Incomplete

College reunions are a great way of reliving old memories, jokes and reconnecting but not always. All the management grads of the 1997 batch from IMS had successfully organized a reunion. It was a reunion that spread out over a weekend at a premier resort in Goa. Forty-two out of the fifty batchmates had come together after more than two decades of their post-graduation.

Initially, the gathering proceeded as expected, a lot of hugs, loud hellos, claps, and all the friendly noise. It was followed by some team games, some crazy jokes where all the forty-two participated thoroughly. Time escaped fast and by the time everybody was down a few drinks, the batch was now divided into smaller groups. These were the groups that always existed, through college, post-college and even on this day. All of them had some secrets to unveil, some untold stories, some incomplete relationships.

This one is about Aatish, Anushka and Zameer. Zameer had not attended this reunion for reasons best known to him but to some extent, Aatish and Anushka had anticipated. Their conversation spiraled into the unfinished, untold story. Anushka finally came up with a painful question. She asked Aatish if he ever thought of that night when they broke up and parted ways. He was slow to respond but with the strength, he replied 'not a day goes by'. Anushka enquired further if he was happy in his life, in his marriage and Aatish said he had moved on in life although he remembered the relationship.

Anushka could not stop herself that night. She had to ask him. She was unhappy for both Aatish and Zameer. She finally asked him if he regretted not having taken a stand, not being strong enough. Aatish broke down. He didn't like this allegation that he hadn't been strong enough. Silent tears flowed down this man's face. He didn't want to cry out loud and be noticed. He looked at Anushka, eyes red with anger and sorrow. 'Do you really think, it was possible Anushka?' he muffled. 'It is near impossible even today in 2019. Even when homosexuality is legal, it is considered a taboo. Do you think I could have been strong and insisted on a gay relationship?' His voice quivered through. 'Whatever happened that night, was probably not the best thing for our love however the most practical for our lives,' he managed to speak somehow.

'Not a day goes by when I think about what could have been. But some stories are better unfinished, untold.' Aatish said.

They sat there holding hands, missing their friend. Was there a possibility of the Aatish-Zameer story now? Well, only they could say or perhaps couldn't.