Life’s Witness

He made his way to the bar. He desperately needed a drink, on today of all days. When did marriage get so difficult? Was it always so difficult? Did you really need to make so many comprises and sacrifices?

It was their anniversary and he had a whole evening planned for her. But then her work and the kids came in the way and threw water over all his plans, effectively sending it down the drain!

Lately it had either was her work and career, or the kids, or household chores. She didn’t have time for him. He couldn’t remember when did they last spend some quiet intimate moments with each other. He seemed have fallen to the bottom of her priorities list.

He ordered his drink, slowly sipping it, letting his worries stew within his head.

He didn’t realise when he came and sat next to him. He seemed all nervous but excited, constantly looking at his watch as if he was waiting for someone.

He tried to ignore him, the last thing he wanted for today is getting into a conversation with a stranger.

Just when he thought he was he was going to get away with avoiding any sort of conversation, when he asked him “Do I look ok?”

He tried hard to avoid answering that question, when he asked another one “Do I look too nervous? Do I look too anxious?”

“You look just fine!” He told him hoping to put an end to the conversation at this point. But to his dismay, he continued with the conversation, “I am planning to propose to my boyfriend today, and I am really nervous about it, about doing it right!”

Knowing there was no escaping this conversation, he finally decided to indulge him, “Pray tell me, why would you want to do such a thing?” he asked him.

“Why not!” came the reply.

“We for starters,” he responded, “same-sex marriages are not recognised by law!”

“Well, it may not be recognised today, but soon it would be recognised,” he replied. 

“Fair enough!” he said, “but what happens to all your parties, orgies and hook ups? Aren’t gay men pretty promiscuous?”

“Oh come on!” he exclaimed, “being gay doesn’t mean parties and orgies and parades! That’s your generalisation and your opinion! And the thing about being promiscuous, all men are promiscuous, whether gay or straight!”

He could sense a tension in his voice as he replied.

“Being gay doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t have what a straight man would have!” he finally said, after he calmed himself down, “Even I would like to have someone to come home to, someone to call my own, my own little family, my own little world.”

“We all need a witness to our lives,” he continued as he slowly tried to calm his down. “There are billions of people on this planet, what does any one life really mean?”

“But in a marriage, you are promising to care about everything!” He said, slowly loosing his nervousness as he put forth his pout. “The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things, all of it, all of the time, every day.”

“You’re saying “Your life will not go unnoticed, because I will notice it. Your life will not go un-witnessed, I will be your witness,””he smiled while saying this.

“You can quote me on this” he finally said, breaking the silence.

He stared at the man sitting next to him, taking in what he just heard, marvelling every word.

Just then he noticed his partner enter. He waved to him.

He turned around and said, “Wish me luck!”

“You don’t need luck, my friend,” he said as he hugged him, taking him by surprise, “You already know what you want. He’s lucky to have you!”

He sat at the bar keenly observing them, but not too keenly that would seem awkward, almost stalkerish.

He smiled when he saw him  get down on one knee and propose to the love of his life, ans joined everyone at the bar in applauding them when his partner said yes and kissed him tight.

Seeing them made him realise what he had to do.

He paid for his tab and made his way, not before stopping to pick up a beautiful single red rose.

When he got home, he found her labouring in the kitchen, taking out the dishes from the dishwasher.

He made his way silently towards her and put his hand around her waist and kissed her on the neck.

He gave her the red rose.

“I am sorry,” she said apologetically, “I know I’ve ruined your plans for the anniversary.”

“That’s ok!” he said, “now don’t say a word! Just dance with me,” he said as he took her in his arm.

“But I don’t know how!” She protested.

“I’ll show you,” he said, taking her hand in his. “To dance you require a partner and you  have been my partner for all these years. I’ll show you how. I’ll lead you!”

“That’s ok,” she said with a teasing smile, as he pulled her closer to him. “To dance we need some music, and I can’t hear any.”

“Well, we don’t need any,” he said as he held her close to him, kissing her forehead. “We just have to close our eyes and listen to the beating of our hearts. That’s the only music we need!”

They slowly began to sway in unison, ending in a passionate. And somewhere, peeping from behind the door, their lil ones became witnesses of their love!