Love Story of a Hindu Indian and Muslim Pakistani

I, Madhav, am a Hindu Indian who had grown up in a small town in India. I moved to study in a college in Texas, US. I’m 25 and live in the College Hostel where each student has his room. I am gay but not open in front of anyone. I always thought to find a boyfriend first and then if it works, will introduce him to my loved ones. I have been single my entire life because all the people I met in India only wanted a quick hookup rather than any connection. After some time, I realised that I can never become just a piece of meat and that the emotional connection with my partner is important to me. I don’t want any casual sex.

My life in the US had been smooth and was able to focus on my studies. I made a couple of friends from my class and hostel. My college campus was full of people with different backgrounds and nationalities. My hostel room was on the top floor and there were five rooms on this floor. The room just in front of mine belonged to a Pakistani boy. Other rooms were occupied by a Turk, a Brit and an Aussie. We all were about the same age. I was hardly able to have a long conversation with any of them due to our different schedules. We used to exchange smiles in the corridors.

One day, on Sunday, we were preparing our dinner in the common kitchen that we shared among five rooms. This was the first time that we were all present in the same room at a time. I started having a conversation with the British guy, John. We quickly discovered a shared love of poetry and literature. We started discussing our favourite writers and sharing our creative writing. Others were simply listening to our conversation. We all had our dinner and decided to go on a long walk around campus, exploring the quiet corners of the university and talking about our hopes and dreams for the future.

The Pakistani boy, Shan, started talking about himself. He told us that he had moved to the US with his family when he was young and had a US passport. His family had strong traditions and beliefs about the religion and culture of Islam. We all were patiently listening to him and then suddenly the Turkish boy, Burak, replied, “My family and I are hardly even Muslims.” We all started laughing after hearing his words. The Australian boy, Chris, was mostly talking about the fun he had back home at the beautiful beaches and sports.

I returned to my room and thought that I could become friends with three boys except for the Pakistani boy because of our religious differences. He seemed too strong in his beliefs. I decided to keep my conversations with him just on the surface level and not discuss politics and religion. I thought that all of the boys were straight and I had to keep pretending to be straight in front of them if I needed to be part of this group.

A couple of weeks passed. We didn’t get much time to plan another get-together like the previous one. One day around 10 AM on a fine Tuesday morning, I heard voices of people talking and knocking on the door. That door wasn’t mine. It was the room in front of me. I opened my door and saw five people standing outside Shan’s room. I told them that he had gone to the College and would return late at night. Their faces fell in deep disappointment. I quickly introduced myself and sought their identification. They told me that they are Shan’s parents and three sibling sisters and they were there to surprise him on his birthday. Fortunately, I had no classes on that day and asked them to wait in my room till Shan returned. I immediately called Shan and informed him about his family’s arrival. He requested me to make them comfortable for a couple of hours till he returned. I accepted his request. All hostel rooms had a single bed, a wardrobe, a table and a chair. There was no space to make all of them sit on my single bed. Thus, I requested his parents to sit on the bed while I took out my comfortable mat and requested his three sisters to sit on the mat comfortably. I offered them water and some snacks. I requested them to let me know if they needed anything more and they can feel free to communicate with me.

His father was very interested in knowing about India, Hindu culture and Indian vegetarian cuisine. We started having those conversations. It was fun. It was mostly a one-sided conversation where he was asking questions and I was answering. I am a chatterbox. So, that was my day. All I need is someone to listen to me all day. I am like that.

A couple of hours later, Shan arrived and took his family to his room after thanking me. The entire day passed. It was late at night and I heard a knock on my door. I opened the door and found Shan standing there.

Shan: “Hello. I’m sorry to bother you this late but I need your help.”

I was half asleep by then and was yawning. I asked, “Please tell me.”

Shan: “Actually, I don’t have enough space to sleep for the night. Can I sleep in your room tonight?”

I, still trying to understand his request: “Yess… Sure.”

Shan: “Thanks. I don’t want to bother you. I will sleep on the floor and you can sleep on your bed.”

I, now fully awake: “Please…. How can I make my guest sleep on the floor while I sleep on the bed? I will sleep on the floor and you take rest on my bed.”

Shan: “No, I won’t let this happen.”

We both started laughing while still standing at the door. I asked him to come inside so that I could close the door. Now, we both were sitting on the bed. We both knew that two people couldn’t sleep on that bed with ample space between them. Only couples who can sleep while cuddling each other can sleep on that bed.

Shan asked, “So… How shall we sleep?”

I replied, “Let me sleep on the floor. You sleep on the bed.”

He hesitantly agreed. I spread my mat on the floor and sat there. I was already in my nightwear and he was in his Shirt and Jeans. I understood his situation and offered him my spare nightwear. I found him quite embarrassed and hesitant to take the clothes from my hand. I asked him if he was okay and if there was anything I could help him with.

Shan: “I’m sorry. I’m so confused. I don’t know how to say this but I need a towel so that I can change my clothes and wear this nightwear.”

I: “That’s alright.”

I handed over him a towel and smilingly asked, “Why are you embarrassed about asking for a towel? Hahaha.” 

He replied, “Because… Because I don’t wear any underwear. Most Pakistanis don’t…”

I started laughing so hard. I was rolling on the floor. His face turned red and got so embarrassed. After a couple of minutes, I told him, “I’m sorry. This is a little funny. Hahaha. Please change and sleep. We both have classes tomorrow.” He bowed in agreement and started changing his clothes near my wardrobe. He was so embarrassed that he kept his face towards the wall and his back was facing me. He removed his shirt and I saw that he was wearing nothing beneath that. He was so muscular. I had known that he went to the gym but never saw him like that. I was enjoying the view. I was drooling over his topless body but kept my mind in control so that I didn’t do anything stupid. He quickly wore the top I gave him. Now, it was high time for the lowers. I was biting my lips. My heart was pounding. He unzipped his Jeans, wrapped the towel around his waist and started pulling down his Jeans. I could sense his embarrassment. I was feeling a little sorry for him but my mind was racing. I tried to stop looking in his direction but my mind was not listening to me. I felt helpless. I thought that I had become a pervert. While I was fighting a battle between my heart and mind, he removed his Jeans and started wearing the nightwear shorts. Suddenly, his towel dropped when he lifted his leg to wear the shorts and now, he was standing butt-naked in front of me. I was in heaven and spaced out. He had a perfect bubble butt. He looked like a perfect muscular model to me.

I came to my senses once I heard his scream, “Opps… SHIT.”

I responded, “Please calm down. It’s alright.” 

He remained silent and quickly wore the shots. He came and sat on the bed. There was total silence in the room. I could hear the ticking of the clock. He was avoiding any eye contact with me. I could sense the tension in the room. I was getting desperate to break this tension and calm things down. I was unable to think of anything and then, suddenly, I hugged him and words automatically came out of my mouth, “Please calm down.” He held me tightly. We both were in each other’s arms. I was in bliss and my mind was calm. There was no noise. I was living that very moment without thinking about any consequences. I felt that he was living his moment too. A couple of minutes flew on the wings. We let go of each other and we both had a plain face without any expression.

Shan broke the silence and said, “Let’s sleep. It’s late.” 

I nodded in agreement and quickly, switched off the lights and went to sleep on the floor and he, on the bed. About an hour might have passed. I heard him making some noises. He seemed uncomfortable. He was continuously changing his sleeping positions. I chose to ignore this. Another 15 minutes passed but the voices didn’t stop. I too was unable to sleep because of that. 

I asked him, “Are you okay?”. 

He quickly responded, “I’m good but just unable to sleep. Actually…”

I: “Actually,... What? Please tell me.”

Shan: “I can’t sleep without cuddling. If not with someone, then I need an extra pillow to hold on to.”

I smiled and said, “Sure. No problem. I have an extra pillow. You can have it. I too have a habit of cuddling. Hahaha.”

I heard him laughing.

Shan: “I’m sorry for making an awkward situation earlier.”

I: “I’ve zero complaints. You look good…”. I almost had a heart attack before completing my sentence. I thought that now, he would know that I was looking at him as a homosexual. I heard him laughing again. I couldn’t see him because the lights were switched off. 

He answered, “You look good as well. Hahaha. I like your beautiful smile and greenish-brown eyes.” I went blank with no response. He continued, “I am so impressed by you that you have such a deep knowledge about literature as well as do so well at your technical studies.” 

I thanked him for his compliments. My mind started overthinking. 

“How does he know the colour of my eyes? Of course, he can see my eyes. Does that mean he sees my eyes and smiles? What? How can this be possible? I’m an ordinary-looking Indian dude who doesn’t go to the gym. He looks like a model and you don’t. No one can like you. So, please stop this nonsense. For God's Sake, Madhav. STOP THIS.”

I heard his voice calling my name, “Are you there? Hahaha.” 

I abruptly answered, “Yes, I’m here. I just spaced out…. SHIT”

Shan: “Spaced out??? SHIT?? Hahaha.”

I felt so embarrassed. I muted myself. A couple of minutes passed. There was pin-drop silence in the room. I covered myself with my comforter and wanted to sleep. Then, I observed that he came down from the bed on the floor, lifted my comforter and cuddled me from behind. He was holding me very tightly. I turned my head to talk to him and he panted a kiss on my lips. I lost control and we started kissing passionately. It lasted for several minutes and then, we released each other. I could now see his smiling face. I said, “WOW.” He laughed and hugged me tightly once again. He started kissing me once again with his hands all over my body. I too did the same. We were making out continuously without even parting our lips once for more than an hour. 

I stopped our kiss and said, “I don’t know what is happening between us and what do you want from me?” 

He laughed and answered, “I want to know you better and I don’t want to ruin this.” 

I responded, “Me too. It’s too late for both of us. Shall we sleep together in each other’s arms for tonight?” 

He loudly replied, “Yes. I would love that for tonight.”

We slept peacefully the entire night in each other’s arms and woke up after hearing the knock on my door.