I moved to Delhi, my city of dreams, right after college. I was a pampered, protected boy and I had to convince my parents to let me chase my dreams in an unknown city. It was the first day of my job and I dressed in my crisply ironed shirt and formal trousers, waiting to make an impression. I soon struck a friendship with a colleague who one day asked me over drinks – “You don’t like girls, right?” I was taken aback! No one had ever confronted me before. I’d spent my whole life pretending I was just like any other boy, doing all the things boys do, and I honestly thought my act was fooling everyone. But somehow that evening, I felt comfortable and safe enough to open up to her. She didn’t judge me and encouraged me to be my own true self in front of everyone. She introduced me to gay parties where I met a lot of interesting men, some of whom I had a passing fling with, until the day I met my partner. He is a Delhi boy and insisted after the first few dates that I meet his parents. I was shocked to see the way his parents accepted him and his sexual preference. In front of his parents and our friends, we are officially dating but I don’t have the courage to tell him yet that we don’t have a future. Here's the backstory
After spending two years in Delhi, I decided to visit my parents and come out in open because I was tired of leading the dual life. But the day I reached home, my dada (grandfather) passed away. The whole family was left shocked as he was strong and healthy than most of us less than half his age. After the rituals were done, we all sat down to read his last will. My mama was the executioner. But what was written in the will changed my life and how I had planned it.
Since I am the only beneficiary after my father, he wrote in his will that I will get the ancestral home and all his savings only once I get married to the woman of my parent’s choice. Else everything goes to a trust. Seeing me disturbed and shocked, my parents assured me that they will let me choose the girl of my choice and it will be smooth for all. They had no clue about my internal struggles and the way that evening shattered all my plans.
So while I want to be open about my sexuality, I can’t do it anymore and I will have to lead a dual life forever! My ancestral house has been in the family for the past many generations and I take immense pride in it. The thought of losing it is too hard for me and I think marrying a girl seems to be the only option…