The final instalment of the first story of Sangharsha.
* * *
“Hey babe. How are you holding up?” Varun asked.
“Quite fine and all thanks to you,” Karan replied. It had been 3 months since Karan had started seeing a psychologist, a personal friend of Rahul’s.
The therapy sessions had helped Karan immensely. He was no longer afraid of the dark as long as he was with someone. Alone, he still had problems, but he was working on it. His nightmares had lessened and so had the seizures. His health improved considerably and his face showed it, becoming more vibrant. But above all, he now had a companion to share everything with.
“Ready?” Varun asked his boyfriend.
“As I can ever be,” Karan replied with conviction.
Together, hand in hand, they walked onto the road where it had all started in the shadowed corners of the night – M.G. Road.
**********
Author’s notes:
I wrote this story a long time ago. So long ago, that it feels like ages. At that point of time, my stories were more like excerpts of a larger storyline (as is evident from Sangharsha I). Over the years, my storytelling ability has evolved and, I’d say, I’ve become a better writer with experience.
This story is based on someone I interviewed for a project of mine. He was grateful enough to consent to let me write a story based on him. Of course, majority of the details are changed….but the essence of the harassment he faced because of his sexuality remains the same in this story. Even though Sangharsha has a happy ending, at the time of writing, the man on whom it is based was still living a tough life.
This story was written somewhere around 2007.
I hope you enjoyed reading the story. Sangharsha II will be out soon.