"Make up your mind first... I will have my whole life to prove to you."

Arthit smiled. "Are we taking the car, or am I following your bike , Kongpob?"

"Let's take the car," Kongpob decided.

Arthit's smile broadened. "Great. Hop in. Jeet will follow us on your bike."

"Any music preference?" Arthit asked, taking charge of steering wheel.

"Maybe something slow and soothing."

"Okay." Arthit nodded and chose a slow Bollywood Hindi song called "Raabta" (Connection/Relation).

Inside the car, the silence was comforting, filled with the gentle tune of "Raabta."

Kehte hain khuda ne is jahan me sabhi ke liye
Kisi na kisi ko Hai banaya Har kisi ke liye
Tera milna Hai us rab ka ishara Mano
Mujh ko banaya tere raise hi Kisi ke liye...

(They say that in this world, God has made someone for everyone,
That for every person, there's someone special made.
Your coming into my life is a sign from the Almighty, believe me,
That I was made just for you.)

Arthit started humming along while Kongpob silently listened.

"You have a good voice," Kongpob commented. "Have you tried singing in college?"

Arthit shook his head. "No... I was a drummer. I was part of a band-Six Men."

"Six Men?" Kongpob chuckled. "And let me guess... there were six men in it?"

"Five, actually. The last member was a girl who joined later when one of our vocalists transferred to another school. The band's name vexed her to no end."

"Cool! Drummer, huh? You must have been very popular among omegas."

"I was... kind of. It made my life hard though..."

"How?"

Arthit gripped the steering wheel tight "It became hard to find someone genuine. The people who wanted to really connect with me saw me as an alpha far out of their league. Those around me didn't want permanence. They got bored as son as novelty wore out."

"Fame can be hard, huh?" Kongpob mused. "I never thought of it that way. But if you were in my college, I'd have been intimidated to approach you, too."

"Why?"Arthit turned to Kong, curious " I assure you, I was known as quite approachable person during college."

Kongpob chuckled. "Straight-A student and a drummer-muse of hundreds. What could I compare to that?"

"But relationships aren't transactions. They can't be weighed on a scale for equality or balance."

"You're right. But your fans would have made my life hell... thanks but no thanks."

"That's the thing. How could someone claim to love another and then take away the things and people they want the most? The privacy, their love? Isn't love about giving? Nurturing?" Arthit's frustrations seeped out .

"It should be... " Kong agreed "but it's seldom is in practicality. That's why true love is rare."

"I left music because of that."

"Because of what?"

"Fake love from so-called fans. Of course, there were genuine fans, but the so-called well-wishers overshadowed them. I wanted to connect with people. What's the use if it only made me distant from them? I haven't touched a drum since my sophomore year. I sometimes hum, but that's it."

"You should take up music again," Kongpob suggested. "For yourself. It obviously makes you happy."

"Maybe... I'll play again... " Arthit turned his head to look at Kongpob "for my husband or probably to teach my kid."

Kong nodded. "You should. You have a great voice. I can only imagine your drumming skills. Is there anything you're not good at?"

"Relationships... I haven't been lucky yet. This song gives me hope."

"What does 'Raabta' mean?"

"Connection," Arthit replied. "Are you not familiar with this song?"

Kong shook his head. "I haven't heard it before. I don't listen to Hindi songs much."

Arthit nodded. "Would you like to give it a try?"

Kong agreed. "Yeah... the lyrics seem meaningful."

Although Kongpob knew enough Hindi to converse and had learned it as a third language, he found it hard to fully understand the song. The melody was good, so he listened carefully.

"You didn't like the song?" Arthit asked, noticing the deep furrows between Kongpob's eyebrows.

"It's just a bit fast for my Hindi proficiency level, I'm focusing on lyrics' meaning." Kong admitted. "I did like the song, though. I'll need to listen to it a few more times to fully grasp the lyrics."

Arthit nodded. "Would you like to listen to one more song? Let me warn you, it's in Hindi too. It's one of my favorites." Arthit smiled fondly. "A friend introduced this song to me, and it's been a part of my playlist since then."

"I'll listen, but on one condition."

"What?"

"You'll sing it."

"I?" Arthit shook his head. "I'm a drummer, Kongpob, not a singer."

"You have a good voice," Kongpob insisted. "Besides, your drumming is reserved for your husband and child, right? Let me be the one to hear your voice."

"You can be the one I pick up my sticks for..." Arthit suggested, watching Kongpob's reaction. The omega's eyes widened in surprise, and he ducked his head.

They were here for marriage. It slipped Kongpob's mind altogether. After spending a few hours with this stranger, Kong felt like he had known Arthit for centuries. And they were just meeting like any other day. Kong even asked him to sing for himself... He acted so forward. God! What will Arthit think of him ?

Arthit smiled at Kongpob's nervous fidgeting. Sparing him further teasing, Arthit began to sing, taking Kongpob by surprise once again.

"Tu Mujhe Soch Kabhi, Yehi Chaahat Hai Meri
(May you think of me, it is my heart's desire)

Main Tujhe Jaan Kahoon, Yehi Hasrat Hai Meri
(I may get to call you 'my life,' that's my dream)

Main Tere Pyaar Ka Armaan Liye Baitha Hoon
(I'm sitting here, wishing to be your beloved)

Tu Kisi Aur Ko Chaahe, Kabhi Yeh Khuda Na Kare
(May God never let you love someone else)"

"Why are you singing it to me?" Kongpob asked, flustered. " I told you just to sing..not perform as if you are on stage."

"Didn't you ask me to sing it to you rather than play it on the stereo?" Arthit teased, grinning, his dimple evident. "I'm just obeying your command."

"Eyes on the road, please," Kongpob insisted.

That damned dimple! Can this man be any more perfect?

Arthit bowed jovially. "As you wish, my command." Looking straight at the road, he continued singing.

"Pyaar Mein Shart Koi Ho To Bataa De Mujhko
(If there is any condition in love, then tell me)

Gar Khatha Mujhse Huyi Ho To Bataa De Mujhko
(If I have made any mistake, then tell me)

Jaan Hatheli Pe Meri Jaan Liye Baitha Hoon
(I'm sitting here with my life in my hands)

Main Tere Pyar Ka Armaan Liye Baitha Hoon
(I'm sitting here with the desire for your love)

Tu Kisi Aur Ko Chaahe Kabhi Yeh Khuda Na Kare
(May God never let you love someone else)"

Arthit twisted his neck to look at Kongpob again. " Main Tere Pyar Ka Arman liye Baitha hun.. (I desire for you to love )

Kong frowned. "You're very bad at obeying commands. Eyes on the road, please."

Arthit grinned. "Why don't you take on the challenge of training me to be the best obedient husband, Kongpob?"

"I...ugh...why would I? And what's this about training? A husband isn't a pet that one could train."

"You get flustered too easily," Arthit chuckled.

"I do not. It's just that I can't say out loud the things that come to my mind."

"And why is that, Kongpob?"

"Because it's not proper," Kong said. "I told you I have a dry-as-dessert sense of humor."

"I wasn't aware we were here to observe propriety. I've already told you, you should speak your mind without holding back."

"It's not easy, okay?" Kong said, frustrated. "It's not easy to be that vulnerable in front of a stranger."

"I know, Kongpob. Trust me, I know. But I'm trying my best to show you all my sides, so you can make an informed decision about this match."

"I...I just don't want you to see my family in a negative light. My behavior and mannerisms will reflect on my family," Kong explained.

"I understand," Arthit said. "But let's try to see beyond that. How about we forget that our meeting is set up by our families and just try to get to know each other? I would like to make my decision based on reality not pretense. Instead of forming prejudices based on assumptions, how about we actually talk and ask questions?"

Kong nodded.

"So, will you treat tomorrow's meeting as a date, Kongpob? Can we meet each other outside the shadows of our families or expextations of our society ? For one day, can you forget our purpose to meet and just meet me as another human being without any veil of propriety and form opinions about each other rather than projecting our observations onto each other's families?"

Kong gave a small nod. "But I won't tell them it's a date."

Arthit shrugged. "As long as we aren't fornicating in the name of meeting, it's none of their business what we call it."

Kongpob's mouth fell open. This alpha!

"You are impossible ! How can you say such things so easily?"

"Such things? What things?"

"F-forni-" Kong struggled to say the word, his courage failing him. "That word!"

"Fornicating?" Arthit asked, seeing Kongpob's scandalized expression. He couldn't hide his chuckle. "That's what intercourse without marital validation is called, Kongpob."

"I mean to say...why would you talk about it?"

"I don't understand," Arthit frowned. "What's the problem? You're an adult, I'm an adult...we can talk about these things if we want to."

"I don't want to talk about such things," Kong glared, though a part of his brain reminded him he writes about two naked men finding pleasure in various creative ways if the story requires it. His research involves watching and reading quite a lot of erotic content.

"Kong, if everything goes well, we'll be married. While sex isn't everything, it's an important part of marriage. I'd want to discuss my desires with my partner without him getting freaked out."

"It will be different then. " Kong insisted " And I know, It's a necessity for a good relationship. I won't freak out then, I will do my best to keep an open mind.  But, it's not right to talk about it right now."

"Why, Kongpob?"

"It just isn't proper. We're from respectable families-"

"Kong...our own respectable families will be urging us to offer each other saffron milk and fruits on our first night."

"It's a tradition. Milk symbolizes purity, abundance, and fertility, and banana is for replenishment. It us also to symbolise they will be sharing their resources now."

"Yeah," Arthit defended his point passionately. "My point-fertility. And saffron is an aphrodisiac, so virility and productivity."

"It is not. And we don't put saffron in the milk for paalum puzhavum."

Arthit pulled up a Google search result. "Saffron is an aphrodisiac, Kong. Let it be that saffron isnt mixed in milk for newlyweds, how about the constant teasing and all kind of invasive questions ? Will they not ask you all kind of questions after first night? Do we not have songs teasing the newly weds? We've never been a culture to exaggerate or avoid discussing it. But we've never buried our heads in the sand either."

"It isn't acceptable behavior, Arthit," Kong tried to explain. "Trust me."

"I do, Kongpob. My question is: why? Why is it not acceptable? We come from a culture where the Kama Sutra was written. One of the four major goals of life to be fulfilled involves 'Kama' (desire), along with Dharma (spirituality), Artha (material well-being), and Moksha. Look at the sculptures at Ellora or Khajuraho. We've never been a nation that shies away from this subject. Why are we doing it now when we call ourselves modern?"

"First of all, the Kama Sutra isn't just a book of positions. It offers guidance on living a good life, with sex being just one part of it. Second, those sculptures outside temples are meant to depict that we need to leave desires behind to attain Moksha. Third, I understand your point, and to an extent, I agree with it. But you'll have to forgive me; I'm not comfortable talking about it."

Arthit nodded. "I understand. No need to apologize."

"I..." Kong gathered his thoughts. "Am I overreacting? I've been raised in an environment where this subject is treated like a taboo, discussed only in whispers behind closed doors. Please understand that I need more time to break out of that conditioning."

Arthit nodded. "Sorry if I came off too forward."

Kong shook his head. "You've given me food for thought. And please trust me when I say that if someone from my village heard us talking like this, it would be a scandal. Even me coming alone like this for our first meeting is a big deal. I don't want to break so many customs that people couldn't pretend to ignore it."

"Then why did you agree to meet me tomorrow? Like a date, at that? You said we're going to spend the whole day together."

Kong squirmed. "You seemed like someone who would be restless if you didn't get a chance to create the perfect meeting you envisioned. Also, it's been a long time since I've been out on my own like this. Even when I was living away from my family, in a whole different state, I did not take any step that I souldnt infront of them. I did not have relationships or dates or outings with an alpha. In a way, it would have been my first date. Maybe I just wanted to rebel and have something for me... an experience that I didn't get to have in my college life."

"So, it will not be acceptable to your family?"

"I never said I was going to hide it from them, just from the villagers. No one knows I'm here to meet a prospect. They think I'm here to visit my brother, who lives in the city. Me coming here alone, without an alpha guardian-this is itself a luxury. And it's only permissible because I'm financially independent."

"Oh, I see." Arthit paused, choosing his words carefully. "Do you agree with all this scrutiny over omegas only?"

Kongpob didn't agree, but he understood that talking and expressing his opinions wouldn't change anything. He would need to approach it differently.

"Arthit, we are from two completely different worlds " Kong bit his lip. "I think you should see someone who is on par with you in terms of intelligence and thought process."

"I'm looking at him right now," Arthit replied, "and I'm glad to learn so much from him. I'm looking forward to learning more."

"I..." Kong fell silent, bowing his head to hide most of his face, especially his eyes which couldn't hide his true emotions.

"I see compliments aren't your thing," Arthit observed. "I wonder if it's only with me or if you dislike compliments altogether?"

"No one ever gave them," Kong shrugged.

"I'm pretty sure many of your fellow classmates would have wanted to express their admiration. I'm sure there must have been some proposals..."

"No one would dare. Had they, I would have punched them-"

"Whoa!" Arthit almost hit the brakes at Kongpob's violent reaction. "If someone proposed to you, you could either accept or reject. What's with the punching?"

"I..." Kong realized the impact of his conditioning. "I...right." His shoulders slumped. He had gotten enraged over someone liking him? But why? Shouldn't he be happy that someone saw good in him, enough to want him in their life? Why had he been taught to despise it? He was a romance writer who gushes over proposals. What if the protagonist reacted like he did? Would that even be a likable story?

"Kongpob..." Arthit called his attention. "Did I cross the line again?"

"No, no," Kong shook his head urgently. "I just realized I need to re-analyze my actions. I'm surprised at myself. I know liking someone isn't a bad thing. I believe in it and advise others the same. Yet, my thoughts didn't translate into my actions because I've been led to believe otherwise and never bothered to examine them."

Kong looked at Arthit , startled, pained "I've been proud of my conduct throughout my academic journey, you know. I was considered ideal omega, keeping myself helpful yet intimidating enough that no one could approach me. My villagers did not stop gushing about me, how my ideal behaviour caused no concern to my parents about eloping or marrying without their permission. I wonder if it was right thing to do, now. Was it even something to be proud of?"

"I'm sure some courageous person would have broken that streak. If I had been your classmate, I would have pursued you until you believed it was impossible not to fall for you."

Bewildered, Kong stared into Arthit's genuine gaze. "There was one," he blurted. "He proposed to me."

"And how many slaps did he get?"

"None... He was a good friend at one point. One day it so happpened that. I ended up sending him some pictures meant for my sister-in-law. I was in a nightshirt and had bed hair. I convinced him for hours to delete those pictures. We started talking from that point. I was away from home, and he was the tether that bound me. When he revealed his intentions, I opposed him and tried my best to convince him otherwise. I listed all my flaws, but nothing worked."

"Why didn't you outright reject him?"

"I tried. He stopped responding to my messages. I couldn't take it for long; I felt lonely. I missed him, so I concluded that I might have feelings for him."

"What happened, if I may ask?"

"We talked over calls for three years. One day, he stopped replying to my texts. I found out he got engaged."

"Because who would want a flawed omega, of course?" Kong didn't say that out loud, but it was clear from his tone.

"I'm sorry, Kongpob. Trust me, I know I shouldn't do this, but I genuinely-"

"I know. It's okay. No one would. I'll tell my dad. Can you please not mention the reason to your family? Just say that you don't see us as a good match..."

"And why would I lie?" Arthit asked, confused.

Kongpob's shoulders deflated as he sagged in his seat. "Oh...okay. Can you give me a day to break it to my parents before you tell them?"

"Why do you need to tell your parents about a relationship that didn't work out and was broken years ago?"

"Because you're going to mention it as your reason for rejecting this proposal..." Kong glared. "I know it was a mistake, but I didn't know he would do that to me. He said he would either marry me or remain a bachelor his whole life. I believed him. I know I shouldn't trust alphas, but he was a good friend for over four years. Cut me some slack here." Kong was on the verge of sobbing, his throat pained from choked tears.

Arthit calmly parked the car to the side of the road before placing a hand on Kongpob's shoulder. "Kongpob Suthiluck...no one is rejecting you. Definitely not me."

"But you said...you were."

"And when was that?"

"One minute ago?"

"Are you sure I even implied the word rejection?" Arthit asked, boring into Kongpob's eyes. " Let alone utter it."

"I..." Kong stuttered. "I thought..." His eyes filled with tears. He thought he had healed, but the betrayal from years ago was still raw. " No one wants an omega who had had previous relationship. "

Previous relationship? Without a single date? Arthit wanted to laugh out loud. Just what kind of relationship was that ? While Arthit does not underestimate emotional attachment , it was a fact that , it too was broken by that insipid Kong fancied himself in love with.

While Arthit wanted to gather Kongpob in his arms and soothe him and tell him it didn't matter who was in his life before, he thinks it will only lead to more argument . So he settled for the best trick that works — teasing and engaging Kongpob.

"If you're so fond of overthinking, Kongpob, why don't you think of me as your groom? My ring on your finger... Or jasmine flowers of my name in your hair for a start?" Arthit asked with a smile. " My name on your palm. You in my home  ? "

Kong raised his watery gaze, a tear slipping from his left eye. "I hate you..."

"It's been just a few hours since you met me. Isn't this too soon to have such strong feelings for me, Kongpob?" Arthit teased.

"Why are you like this?" Kong sobbed a little, torn between raging, laughing, and crying. Arthit stirred a tornado of emotions in him-overwhelming him.

"Awesome like this? I'm born terrific, aziz-e-dil (dear to my heart)."

"More like terrible," Kong retorted, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. The endearment was lost on him.

"You know what I was going to say?" Arthit asked.

"What?"

"I'll tell you if you smile for me."

Kong stretched his lips into a smile.

"That's a fake one," Arthit commented, almost disappointed.

"Of course it is," Kong said matter-of-factly. "You can't make someone smile for real by asking them to."

"I'd tell you a joke about construction to make you laugh, but I'm still working on it."

That made Kong chuckle.

"See, I can make you smile," Arthit said proudly. "So, I was saying that I know I should feel bad, but I don't, Kongpob. I'm sorry you have to go through the pain of heartbreak, but I'm not sorry you didn't end up with him. If even after being a friend, he ghosted you, he was never a friend to begin with."

Kong shrugged. "I don't know. He treated me well until the day he stopped calling. He never gave me a reason to be suspicious. He knew me more than I knew myself, he was really good friend and a good human being... I found out about his engagement from a friend."

"So we can't curse him together? Such a shame," Arthit gave a dramatic sigh. "I was gathering my creative juices."

Kong shook his head fondly at Arthit's madness. "Has anyone ever told you that you have a few loose screws in your head?"

"Yeah. It was necessary. God needed to make space for my genius brain," Arthit replied with a pat.

Kong rolled his eyes. "Arivu Kozhundu" (calling someone a genius but sarcastically).

"Thank you, but why do I feel like you didn't mean that?"

Kong giggled. "You caught on very quickly."

"You play ice cream challenge with a novice and tease a non-Tamil speaker in Tamil. Do you ever play fair, Kongpob ?"

"But your mother tongue is Tamil!" Kong said, confused.

Arthit scratched his head, smiling an endearing, embarrassed smile. "I can understand it, if spoken slowly. I can talk even less."

"But it's your mother tongue! How can you not be curious about it?"

"I've been learning since I came back," Arthit explained. "But Delhi isn't very conducive to honing my Tamil skills."

Kong nodded in understanding. "The more you use Tamil, the more polished it will get. You can start listening to Tamil songs."

"Any recommendations?"

"Oru pathi Kadhavu — It's an old song from the 2012 movie 'Thandavam'. It's one of my favorites. I've watched it many times," Kong explained, searching for the song online and playing it.

"Shall we get back on the road, Kongpob?" Arthit asked gently. Kong nodded, and they continued their journey. The gentle tune of Kongpob's favorite song filled the space between them, weaving invisible threads of connection.

Arthit kept glancing over at Kongpob, concerned about whether his mood was still affected by the reopening of old wounds.

Kongpob noticed Arthit's worried glances but chose not to comment. He was slowly realizing that Arthit was right-' sometimes, with the right person, even silence could be comfortable' .

..........

As they entered the gate of Varun's lavish villa , Kongpob gulped, seeing his brother standing at the door of the house.

" You are late, brother " Varun said as soon as Kongpob got out of car.

..........

A/N : Do you have an Inkitt account ? I have heard they too have started in line comments !