Perfect Partner

He sat in the balcony, late at night, beating the cold sipping his coffee. He couldn't help but be drawn to the full moon. There was something about being out in the moonlight, staring into oblivion that he couldn't resist. It brought a smile to him along with memories of a future that was never given a chance. Their budding relationship never got past the school as their families moved cities apart. Sure, they wrote letters to each other. A lot in the beginning. About how the new city was fearsome, devoid of friends, how they had to start from scratch. More than anything, how they had to continue studies without each other. How much they missed each other. How beautiful, comforting and perfect it felt together.

But with time, the letters reduced. There were no phones back then and they loved writing at length. But with the dwindling number of letters, with time the size reduced too. It continues until life took over completely and the letters just stopped. Only at such nights, would he sit and think, wishing to get in touch somehow. Cursing that they never shared more than feelings that would help him get back. He would then smile it off drowning in his nostalgia, leaving it to the fate. If they were destined to be, they would meet, he would tell himself.

But why today, after so long? He questioned himself. Was it because he was starting a new job in a new city? Or was it because of his recent breakup? He knew what they had was special and that always brought in a void in the relationships he tried to be in. He warded the teeming thoughts off and went to bed. There were other important things he had to focus on.

The next day, prim and proper in his formals, he entered the office. He was asked to proceed to the meeting room where few co-workers who were also starting today were already waiting. He scanned the room and quickly took an empty chair. Being an introvert, he wanted to avoid any attention until the boss arrived. But when he stole a glance to the chair beside him, his voice and expressions failed him. It was too good to be a coincidence and he could barely speak.

"Pranay?", was all he could say. Pranay looked at him and hugged him instantly. He was the carefree and an extrovert between the two and surely he hadn't changed much.

"Anshu, you look handsome. I can't believe you are next to me, for real." Pranay went on without wasting another breath. 

"You have no idea how much I have been waiting for this moment to happen. For us to happen again. And no. I am not hearing that you might still be afraid, are still reluctant to come out, or you need more time or if you are single or not."

"I am kissing you right now", he announced it to Anshu, the entire room, and to the boss who had just entered.

Anshu just smiled. With Pranay beside him, he wasn't afraid of anything at all. He knew at that moment he wasn't going to be apologetic about their love to anyone or hide it for that matter. They were their best with each other and that's all that would matter today. Anshu closed his eyes and they kissed. Pranay made sure that all the years what they had missed, how much he loved him, his longing, his protectiveness, his unconditional love reached him. He put all his passion and love into that one kiss. Their first real one in ages where they were bare, without a care of what the society or anyone for that matter would judge them as. While that kiss liberated them from all the shackles confining them back, that also landed them from meeting room to the HR room to be briefed about the strict rules.

But they couldn't care less about anything right then. Hand in hand smiles refusing to recede, they were the lovers the world would be jealous of or would hate. They knew they had a long path to fight for. To bloom their own relationship, to overcome each other's shortcomings, to stand by in the storm, to make each other happy. But everything seemed easier. For now, they had each other and they knew nothing under the sun could drive them apart.

They sat in the balcony together. But, none of them, was talking to the moon today. The moon had already served its purpose to get them through the years. It was the most beautiful moonlit night that they would ever feel. They couldn't take eyes off each other. Holding each other's hand, they knew they would live again, for real this time and not just survive.

Who says love has to be perfect, and by certain norms? It just has to what it is. Beautiful and love.