Chapter 12: The actual first date

They didn't stay back after the wedding. Prapit drove Akat back. Chakri and Uncle Maran were going together by another car.

Come to think of it, this was the first time they were driving for a long trip.

Prapit did not seem to be in any hurry. He drove slowly, stopping by all the creeks and springs on the way. He knew Akat loved to wet his feet in any water body.

Akat was having the time of his life. When he was a kid, Prapit had once asked him, "What sort of a holiday do you like?"

Akat thought carefully and replied, "A trip in my own car, stopping by the river, having my lunch by the bank, watching the sunset by road, sleeping under the stars.. That sort of a trip would be nice.. just me and nature."

Prapit was surprised,"I thought you'd say amusement parks or something more popular with kids."

Akat smiled like he always did, a small shy smile,"I'd prefer a quiet holiday with lesser human interaction."

Prapit was quiet, then he said, "I haven't really done that sort of a holiday. Can I be included?"

Akat nodded his head without hesitation. His eyes sparkled. "Of course! Just let me know when."

Prapit fluffed his hair, "Let me see when I get the time. I'll be your driver."

Akat was very much like a puppy. He was loyal to a fault. Prapit noticed that Akat was extremely sensitive. He did sound a bit gruff, sometimes abrupt, but he never hurt anyone or anything, and tried to avoid conflicts.

Prapit had never fought with him, for or over anything, and that scared him. A person like Akat, who was docile by nature, could become scary if angered.

Prapit said, "Do you want me to teach you how to drive? You are sixteen now, you can get a driver's license."

Akat shook his head. "I'll commute by local transport, if you aren't around."

Prapit looked surprised, "Why not?"

Akat replied, "What if I killed someone by mistake? I don't want some one else to lose their family because of my carelessness."

Prapit sighed. Akat was extremely sensitive to other people. He tried to not hurt or involve himself with others. Prapit felt irritated with him at times. He tried to get him to mingle with others, he invited him to all the parties possible, and Akat never refused.

But he never involved himself with others or with Prapit at the party. He normally sat in the corner of the room, at a place where he could observe Prapit's movements, and got up exactly when Prapit signalled him to leave.

When Akat volunteered to go to the bar to celebrate his twentieth birthday, Prapit was actually happy. He was worried as a guardian, but happy nonetheless. Akat was showing some amount of teenage behaviour, even if it was a bit late.

Ofcourse, after that he was banned from entering bars without Prapit's supervision.

Prapit stopped by the river. He took out some packed sandwiches and a huge bedspread.

"Akat, help me with the drinks would you?"

Akat jumped out to help. He was having a lot of first times, this one week. A picnic by the river, two hundred kilometers from their city, that was a first. A surprise picnic that too. What was Prapit thinking?

Akat smiled to the sandwhich. He had fantasized about this. Him and Prapit, in front of a river, letting the river fish tickle their toes, each lost in their own little world, Prapit sharing some of his stories with him...

"Are you happy?" Prapit interrupted Akat's thoughts.

Akat looked at Prapit. "Yes."

Prapit looked at him, trying to read his expression. "I married you without telling you about it, asking you for your concurrence, it was an extremely small event.." he sounded regretful.

Akat laughed. "I loved it. I chose my clothes and my ring. It's a pity I couldn't invite my friends, but I will treat them to a party later on."

Prapit asked, "You never got to choose your husband either, are you okay with it?"

Akat looked surprised. "Why did you marry me?"

Prapit did not answer immediately. But when he did he only told him a part of it, "No one can understand me better than you. And with you, I can be myself. There is no one else who can give me this comfort that you can."

He couldn't bring himself to say he was madly in love with Akat or he didn't want Akat to fall for anyone else.

Akat nodded, like he understood. Prapit was irritated. Why did Akat not ask him if he loved him when he was awake? Why did he not be a bit more demanding?

Prapit pulled Akat on to his lap and held him tight. "We need to talk about some things."

Akat blushed at being in such close proximity. He didn't show it though, Prapit probably still saw him as a fifteen year old kid.

Akat looked into Prapit's eyes and asked, "About what?"

Prapit gritted his teeth but said in a soft voice,"Us."

Akat continued to gaze into his eyes, as if trying to read his mind.

Prapit continued, "I am your husband now, not some uncle figure. Do you know what that means?"

Akat shook his head, not knowing how to respond.

Prapit continued, "You have all the rights to be demanding, clingy, possessive. So speak your mind, voice your thoughts. If you hate me doing something, tell me, I'll try not to do it. If you have any doubts, question me, don't keep it to yourself. If you are mad at me, shout at me, don't run away."

Akat widened his eyes. "Will you be okay if I did that?"

"Between couples, isn't that normal? Aren't we equals now?" Prapit asked him back.

Akat thought for a second. "Can I behave with you as I please? Really?"

Prapit sighed. "Ofcourse. You can throw a tandrum, spend as much as you like, buy whatever you please, get pampered etc etc."

He gently stroked Akats hair. Did this kid understand what he was trying to say? He doubted it.

Akat nodded. "Okay." He smiled his shy smile. Prapit looked at him for a second and kissed him on his nose. He was holding himself. He wanted Akat to be comfortable with the idea of being his husband before thrusting himself on to him.

Akat blushed hard this time, as he averted his gaze back to the river. His heart was beating like crazy. Did Prapit mean what he thought he meant? It meant Akat had a fighting chance to get Prapit to fall for him right? Prapit married because he felt comfortable, he was already a step ahead of anyone else.

He turned back to Prapit, "Can I ask you something?"

Prapit nodded. Akat continued," Did you marry me to get away from someone?"

Please tell me you don't like Vin anymore, he thought to himself.

Prapit looked at him straight in the eye. He didn't think even for a second before answering, "Don't be stupid. Nobody stood a chance to be with me but you, from day one. I married you because I wanted too, and I'd marry no one but you, every single time, given a million chances."

Akat nodded and placed his head on Prapit's chest.

"You didn't do it to spite Vin right?" Akat asked softly, waiting for the answer. His heartbeat was painfully loud.

Prapit gritted his teeth. He hadn't explained himself to Akat clearly.

"Let me put it this way. You are not some tool to me. I have never used you for my benefit and I never will. I am vengeful, but, Akat, I will not spite a person at the expense of someone I cherish more than my life."

He wanted to say he loved Akat, but he felt too embarrassed. He needed just a bit more time.