Warning: This chapter consists of tr@uma and a$$ault. So weak hearts skip to the next chapter
(Flashback)
Di's past, (Di 13 years old)
Di returns home from school with his friend. They shared a mutual bright smile and a friendly hug.
Di (happily enters): I'm back home.
Di's mother : You home? Nice, (makes Di and herself seated on the sofa nearby calmly asks) Son, who was that boy just now?
Di: Mom actually that's Ralph, my best friend from school,I told you about.
Di's mother : Oh, is he your best friend or boyfriend huh?
Di (shyly) : Actually mom.... I kinda like him, you know he's good, kind and cute....
Di's mother's expression changes
Di's mother (fiercely) : You filthy faggot! For this had I given birth to you that you go out and make me ashamed in the world. You come here...
She mercilessly drags him holding his arms, pushes him inside an old empty cupboard in the store room and locks him. Di scream wept cried for help but no one was there to help him
Di (crying) : Mom please let me out.... (sobs) It's really dark in here...(sobs) I am scared Mom please.....(sobs)
Di's mother (furiously) : You're not coming outta here until and unless you accept that you like girls and not boys. Understood (she kicked the cupboard with her feet and left)
Di sobbing, crying for help was soon out of breath and even on the verge of fainting inside that old stinky cupboard. At 10:30 pm at night, Di's father got home. Di's father looked for Di but couldn't find him anywhere so asked Di's mother who was on her phone.
Di's mother (despised) : Don't talk about that faggot to me. He likes guys, EWWW. He has been a headache to me screaming for no reason huh (on her phone again)
Di's father thinks something and then says
Di's father : So... where is he?
Di's mother (not at all bothered) : In the old storeroom cupboard....
Di's father: And, since when...?
Di's mother (unaffected) : Ever since he came back from school
Di's father (thinks) : Is she even for real? like that's literally more than 9 hours straight and she isn't even bothered. Is she even his real mother or not?
Di's father walks to the store room all flooded with a trench like smell. Opens the cupboard to find Di unconscious, plump eyes and almost out of breath. Di's father held and moved him out of the cupboard and carried him to his bed. He took care of the poor boy all night till he woke conscious in the morning. Di found his father beside him who fell asleep while taking care of him. Di felt warm by that gesture. They began spending time together not much as father and son but as best friends. He would often support him in his hobbies and protect him from his mom. But who knew this was all just pretend. One Day, while Di was doing his homework, he came from back of him placing his face on Di's shoulder, he said,
Di's father : Son, what are you doing?
Di : Homework (smiles)
Di's father's true intentions then showed up. He then started to touch Di inappropriately. And when Di denied with gestures he won't stop then also. At last, when Di was at his limits he told his mother about all the deeds of his stepfather, then also his mother blamed him for everything. Upon hearing this, his father's torture increased. He would not only touch him inappropriately but also molest him sometimes.
(Back to present)
Di (sighs) : And it continues till today (sighs). Now I feel a bit less burdened. I never thought I would be able to tell this to anybody other than Riva. (Turns towards Kine to see his reaction)
Kine who was dumbfounded by Di's traumatizing story is speechless, yet asks
Kine : How have you been keeping up all this time? And why don't you leave those psychopaths?
Di understands Kine's state of mind and explains to him
Di : Leaving is not an option for me, nor I can. My mom threatens me every time even if I think to do so, I'm her only son, won't it be wrong to leave her at this stage of her life even if she does that to me, also Riva needs me more than anyone in this world. So, don't worry everything gets back to normal when mom and Riva are home. He wouldn't dare to lay a finger on me, but sometimes he does. Just chill Karma will hit him back.
Kine (holds Di's hands) : If ever in the world you need my help or a shoulder I'm always there for you.
Di and Kine smile at each other. The school ends and both of them return home. The next day, like always Kine met Di in the corridor
Kine (out of the blue) : Morning ~ (wraps his arm around Di's shoulders)
Di didn't shove his hand this time and happily replied
Di : Morning. So happy this morning, did something good happen?
Kine (mumbles) : Saw you, of course that too early in the morning....
Di : Huh, did you say something?
Kine : No no, just the weather is nice today.
The bond between Di and Kine grew stronger day by day, they even shared secret gestures to talk and escape situations. Soon it was August10,
During Recess,
All teachers in the staff room except for Di and Kine. Ms. Fervor checking out the teachers' report list with all of their details. Ms. Fervor was looking for somebody whose birthday was next. It was Di's, now she wanted to organise a party for Di as it was his first birthday with them. With a lot of discussion with Mr. Aether, Mr. Bimu, Mr. Luan, Ms. Sushimi and Mr. Marduk ; it was decided that a surprise party will be thrown for Di a day before his actual birthday, which was 14th August, a Saturday.
Kine taking a walk with Di giggling and chatting in the school playground.
Ms. Fervor (shouts from a distance) : Mr. Kinematics! please come here for a moment.
Kine, who couldn't deny his senior's order but also couldn't leave Di there, hesitates a bit but then upon receiving a gesture from Di goes to Ms. Fervor.
Ms. Fervor : Mr. Kinematics if you're over with your plays could you please tell me what's on 15th August.
Kine (thinks and counts) : Yes mam it's a Sunday...
Fervor (puts her hand on her head in disappointment) : Dumbo Kine it's your best friend's birthday, don't you know or what?!
Kine scratches his head in dumbness.
Fervor : Ok so the plan is.....
(She explains the plan and gives him all the details and some responsibility.)
Fer (sighs) : Huhh... Can I really rely on you for all of this? We can't have any Plan B for this, you know it very well.
Upon seeing Kine and Ms. Fervor having a dead serious convo Di slowly approaches them and by the time he reaches them the bell rings and the break was over. Everyone went back to work. The following days were really confusing for Di
Di (to himself upset and confused) : Why wouldn't anyone talk to me? Even Kine is staying away from me. What have I done?
Days passed like this and soon it was 14th August, still nobody paid attention to Di. After the school was over, Kine runs up to Di
Kine : Hey listen, we need to buy a few things for the physics lab
Di : Isn't the lab in-charge required to do that? Why us?
Kine (scratches his head) : 'Cause he is busy setting up the lab for next practical and we lack a few things... (acts frustrated) You question too much. Let's go.
Kine pulls Di and brings him out to his bike. Passes on the helmet to Di, prepares
Kine (Looks at dumbfounded Di) : Hop on, what are you waiting for?
Di sits behind Kine on his bike. This was the first time they did so. Di is flustered, Kine is nervous. After shopping for an hour, they return to school to keep all the stuff.
In the physics lab,
Di : Why aren't the lights on, isn't it already five o'clock?
Kine : I don't know.
Di turns to hold Kine's hands but he isn't there.
Di : What, where is he? (His claustrophobia starts to act upon him)
The lights were gone, but why? And where is he? Di thinks to himself.
From the background, (In chorus)
Everyone: Happy Birthday to you ~~
Kine brings a cake lit with candles and as the cake is brought near his face, all he could see was relief, an ease that his heart urged.