The Brave Love.

Saahas Village.

The beauty of villages cannot be ignored by anyone. We, the people living in cities sometimes miss the open areas, the fields and the simple life of villages. Not an easy life for villagers, but still they get themselves adapted to the circumstances. They live more than us. Saahas village was no less. The village always mesmerized the first time visitors. Sparsh was in his village after a gap of 15 years. Everyone needs a break from city life.

The 32 year old bachelor was on a break of 1 month. Enjoying himself.

Ramdin, his uncle was skeptic about him. He always felt a strange vibe around Sparsh.

"The guy, never looks masculine...no hair on his body...wears some funny clothes...wonder what he is." Ramdin took another bite of his rice while saying so.

"Why are you like this, you'll never change na. Sparsh is from city, people are like this only over there. Stop thinking and have your food, he is like our own kid." His wife Sudha poured the water in glass.

Sparsh was without parents. His parents died 5 years back. Father died in an accident and the mother, with grief. All alone, he had become quiet.

Night was up. Sparsh was supine on his bed. He changed his position as he heard the footsteps approaching.

The footsteps became numb. Someone was in his room, approaching his bed. The person was on his bed. Sparsh didn't move an inch. The person came closer to Sparsh's face, moving his hand on the shoulder.

"You always surprise me Madhav."

Sparsh was in the village for 12 days. And it was Madhav and Sparsh's 7th consecutive night. Maybe, the men were in love. They made out with each other. Love was blooming. And the lust between them was not dirty, it was the purity of love they both gained through lust.

Madhav was 34 years old. He lived in the next house to Ramdin's. He, the Sarpanch's son was also unmarried. Sarpanch Jagir, was always in a mess. A landlord also, he tried to marry his son Madhav a lot of times, but Madhav was persistent on his decision of not marrying anyone. "Not for me, father." This was his answer to his father, whenever he tried to show him a woman.

********

The incidents of that black night were also dark. Some another footsteps towards the room approached, Ramdin was on a check. He had saw a shadow of someone sneaking into his house.

Lights were switched on as Sparsh and Madhav were loving each other. Ramdin was in shock and so were the other two. They were finally caught.

Ramdin went outside and locked the door. Madhav and Sparsh were scared. Madhav knew, that this was his last night in this world.

"Sparsh, run away from here. Just...run away." Madhav shivered.

"B-but how? And I won't go without you. Let these people kill us if they want to."

"Try to understand Sparsh. Your uncle has probably gone to my house. In 10 minutes everyone will be here and if they'll see both of us together, they will kill us."

Sparsh gulped on hearing this.

"Forget about your luggage. This is my wallet. It's having enough money for you to reach city. Once you reach there...just shift to some other place."

"Come along Madhav. There's still time, we both can run away."

"I can't leave my family like this. And my father will probably understand me. You...just go now." He hugged Sparsh and pecked him on his lips as he said so. Both men wore their clothes again. "Straight to the highway, Sparsh."

Sparsh jumped out of the window. The darkness of night helped him run away. Tears were in his eyes. He knew, that Madhav had sacrificed himself. He was runming, without looking back.

Madhav knew it was the end. He lighted up a cigarette and was sitting in corner.

Suddenly the room opened. It was Ramdin and Sarpanch Jagir with his men, holding a double barrel. It was now imminent for Madhav, that the bullet was going to pierce him.

"Where is that other bastard?" Shouted Ramdin.

With a smirk and his puff of cigarette Madhav replied with no fear "You know, while guys are wasting time here, he has already ran away. Ramdin sir, you should have shot him right then...but now you've lost."

Jagir ran towards his son and kicked him in the stomach. "How dare you speak so much after doing such a thing? You're no more pious!"

"Your thoughts are not pious father, you never tried to understand, what I wanted." Madhav coughed with pain.

"Really...son?" Jagir backed off.

BANG! The bullet was in Madhav's head. Blood oozed out. The half burnt cigarette rolled down to the pieces of his brain, and extinguished with a black smoke.

"Clear up this body Ramdin. I never wanted a son like this. Remember my words, no one should know about this incident or the next bullet will blow up your head."

"Y-yes sir..."

"If anyone asks, tell them he ran away. He wanted to love in city....or make up any other story!!! But not this. Our pride...has to be safe...and preserved. Cut his body into pieces and bury him at different places....I don't think that the other boy will visit again and if he does my bullet is ready for him also. Mark my words Ramdin...no one else should know!!!"

*******

The next morning Sparsh was in the bus. There was a vibe, that Madhav was no more. The cool winds coming from the window dried up his tears. He loved Madhav to the core.

*******

Was there any point of shooting Madhav? He was Jagir's own son. This was also an honour killing, for the fake pride and prestige. Saahas Village, as the name suggests showed no saahas (bravery). The brave was his own son, who died for his love.

Maybe things will change, for 'such' people, who suffer.