The Resistance of Love

It's August, for most people it's the first month of the second half of the year. Not for everyone though, as for some it's the month that marks the beginning of the whole new journey.

  Just like that, the journey has started for Dhruv. The journey that decides his future, his fate. However, he isn't alone in this journey. There are many like him, who will be both, his allies and his nemesis.

   Dhruv, is a small town boy, who has just arrived in the big city. He too aspires to add to the chronicle of- how a small town boy did wonders in the big city. What does he have in his arsenal to achieve his goals? Nothing that others do not possess. Still, one thing that he has is his excellent literary and creative skills. Dhruv, was also brilliant in his studies, which was nothing remarkable, as everyone else in his place is the same.

   It's the 5th of August, the session has started, and it's Dhruv's first day of class. He is nervous, after all he is not used to the new lifestyle. He loves the classes, but the master's course makes him cautious that- 'time is precious'. Everything goes well till the break. He has made some new friends, but deep down inside, there's something that makes him uncomfortable. This is his secret that he doesn't want everyone to know. It's the secret that only his family and a few of his closest friends know.

   His break faces an interruption from his seniors, who have come for an intro session with the Juniors. Everything goes as usual, as the Juniors introduce themselves, one after the other. After the intro session, the seniors announce about the fresher's that they were going to organise shortly. At the end, they tell about the 'love letter' competition, which was an important part of the fresher's program. More than being an important part, the competition was a traditional thing, which has been going on since ages.

    At first, the announcement made Dhruv excited, as it was an literary event, and literary competitions were his forte. He was a two time best literary competitor in his college, and this will make anyone confident, about their chances of winning the thing. This excitement was murdered, when the rules of the competition were announced. Boys and girls were asked to write letters, to their favourite seniors, of the opposite genders. This all seems normal, but not so for Dhruv.

    Yes, this is his secret. He belongs to the group of people who are not considered normal, as they love people of the same sex. Dhruv, however is not worried, as he believes literature will at least help him to express freely. Therefore, Dhruv decided to write his letter to the one senior who to a point excited him. Writing the letter to a boy, will mean breaking away from the rules. Dhruv cared less, as the he wanted to freely express himself, and only hoped literature will allow it.

   Dhruv completes his letter. The next day is the submission day, and he submits his letter. The only reason, he did submit the letter without too much hesitancy was because- he thought that unlike people of his small town, the big city people will have a much more Liberal mindset. Things, however did not go as planned. He was called by the seniors, and asked to explain himself. Dhruv tried to do so, but it all went in vain. No one tried to understand him, and he was only insulted and humiliated. In the end, he was asked to rewrite the letter, and this time to a girl, not a boy.

    Dhruv, completes his second letter. This one lacks truth, he has just written something for a girl, just for the sake of the tradition. Now, he was cursing tradition, as it makes people the 'captives of conservative Ideology'. The results are out. Dhruv gets the first prize, his letter was excellent. He is a little happy as his literary skills were recognised. The win however did not bring a smile in his face. The win may have brought in a few claps and applause, but they aren't enough to take away the pains of the earlier humiliation.

   The win made him lose everything. His belief about the liberal mindset of the city people was lost. He lost the only source, that enabled him to express himself freely. He lost the respect of others as he was part of the society claimed 'other'. And what else did he lose? Perhaps, nothing other than these things mattered for him. The only thing left with him, was a question- why can't every individual decide who to love and who to not.

#ReflectionsofPride