"Hello Sir, I am Gagan, I am doing my major in human resource management. I would like to ask you, how does it feel to have a perfect life? You were born rich, you had good looks, you were academically brilliant, your businesses, well... you are the creator of the most successful and helpful applications, for the struggling students, among your other projects. You have an equally amazing and successful wife, two beautiful children. What else or what more can a man desire?" The crowd cheered at the question and I just gave a humble smile.

Picking the mic from the side table, I asked the boy, "Are you, by any chance, Lucifer Morningstar?" It took a minute for the crowd to understand the joke and when they did, the entire auditorium was a laughing mess. Gagan smiled and nodded in a no. I gestured for him to sit and listen.

"What I truly desire, is acceptance. No, I am not talking about any proposal, I am happy with my wife. I want people who accept and love me the way they do now, for who I truly am. I have felt like an imposter throughout my life." The students and eminent guests were stupefied by my words.
I took a deep breath and looked at the lady in the front row who gave me a thumbs up.
"I am a homosexual."
Loud gasps, hushed sounds, whispers and widened eyes was an obvious reaction. The MC of the event looked at the organiser who was equally puzzled with what I said. It was time. It was long due.

"I am proud of my professional accomplishments but as a person, I have been a liar. Gagan, I have everything, so as you all think but think about the plight of the man whose entire existence has been pseudo.
My parents are no more now but they have never been for me too. I just had their money and if you think I was lucky on that ground then maybe, I was. They were ashamed of me and threatened me to take away my baby, my budding company or they would commit suicide or harm themselves if I told anyone who I am. All I had to do was marry a girl to prove I was "normal".
Life gives you choices, crossroads, dilemmas. But life also gives you a boat that never sinks and sails through any obstacle. And when your sailor is your best friend even the strongest of storms do not affect you.
My sailor, my saviour was Kriya, my wife, who I love the most in this world. Confused?" I smirked at the crowd's reaction then looked at Kriya who fanned her hand gesturing she was flattered and liking my speech.

My grin transitioned to a full smile. Only, Kriya could do that. I was addressing the college I studied in, what I was saying was being telecast live on all major channels. I was nervous, I was anxious but this girl knew how to get me out of all problems without even putting effort.

"Yes, I feel attracted to people of the same sex as mine but that does not mean I cannot love my wife. Call me an opportunist, call me selfish but I was young and ambitious. I did not want to part with my company and when Kriya proposed to me for marriage knowing very well I am a homosexual, I grabbed the best solution that could bail me out of the situation." I could see the students, teachers and other guests were judging and analysing my decision.

"I regret it. I regret it each day. I know I was a coward and some of you might think I spoilt the life of a girl. Maybe I have or maybe we found solace in each other. Love is not just physical attraction. It is also discovering, evolving and growing with a person who makes you complete. Two halves make a full. Kriya and I were two broken souls who repaired each other and created a beautiful world of trust and love." I confessed looking at Kriya and I could see my forever goofy, crazy best friend's eyes were moist. I know why.

"Sir, why are you sharing this side of yours today?" I don't know who questioned but I was expecting it.

"People in our country think it's a taboo to love, leave aside loving someone from the same-sex. Years before I made a mistake and gave into the demands of my parents and I don't want anyone else to repeat it.
It's tough to accept yourself, making others accept you as you are, is a losing battle but put up a fight at least. I urge parents, teachers and friends to support those who are struggling with identity crises. Accept them. Don't mock them. They are human too. Hate me for all you want but first, understand me for all I am." I kept the mic down and the thunderous applause was my reward. I exhaled in relief. It was a tough call but I felt like a burden lifted from my chest.

The world knew the real story of the business tycoon, Ayush Modi, today. Good or bad is for them to decide but if it gave courage to even a single soul to accept their true self then it was worth sharing.

A mic was given to Kriya because she was the new icon. Many students were curious to know why she chose a gay as her husband. I know why. I have known since the day she declined my proposal of divorce which was just after six months of our marriage. She never said it but I feel it every second. I love her too, more than words could ever express but the missing factor I cannot cater to, fills me with guilt. No matter how hard she tries to explain to me she does not require sex, I know she is missing an important part of human existence.

"Is sex the only thing you want?" Kriya replied. Why does this girl apply no filters? This is a college and she knows the three-letter 's' word is a sin to speak publically. My confession was an overdose as it is.
"How many married women are happy with their partners? They have the pleasure of sex but do they have the pleasure provided by peace? If life gives you a choice between physical satisfaction and mental satisfaction, I don't know about you but I would definitely choose mental gratification." Kriya's answer was debatable but her firmness in her decision was unquestionable.
"I married Ayush because I had no one to call my home and he was my peace. If you call him selfish, then trust me I am an incarnation of Satan." The crowd laughed at her comparison but only I knew she was speaking the truth. One nasty Devil, she was.

"Ma'am, but have you never, for once regretted your decision?" A girl asked her.

"When he refused to donate his sperms to me." Kriya's revelation made most of the people gulp their saliva. I think if our country has rulers like her, we won't be addressed as a regressive nation.
"I was an orphan and wanted kids of my own to whom I can give the love I didn't get. Was it too much to ask? All he had to do was give sperms to me via IVF. I mean, come on, men waste millions of sperms daily. That was the day I regretted marrying him. But as I said, I am the devil of our world, I threatened him and after a few months, thanks to Science I was expecting twins. The announcement of their birth was written with a magical quill and yes they are studying at Hogwarts."

Kriya became the... What do they say nowadays? Badass bitch. I was so proud of her. Our sons were born with a genetic disease. Kriya's parental history was unknown to us which made the treatment difficult but our sons, Ron and Harry belonged to no other place than Hogwarts, a school we built for the differently abled budding magicians. It was Kriya's idea to provide the kids with a place where no Ayush or Kriya will be bullied. Hogwarts is now India's best and only place where kids are taught based on aptitude.

"Ma'am, this is the last question we promise. If not sex but don't you feel romance missing from your life?" The question from a boy made Kriya's shiny eyes dull for a moment.

But she smiled again and her answer made me wipe my tear. "I will answer your question but first I want you all to believe that I am not making excuses. Whatever I am saying is a one hundred per cent truth. I know our marriage is unconventional and some of you may not even approve of it, find flaws but who cares? Definitely not Ayush and Kriya. You are free to have opinions but not impose them on others.
I am not justifying our marriage. What Ayush had to go through, I wish no one does. I don't know if Ayush would have been better off with someone else but there never was and there can never be anyone else other than Ayush, I would choose, over and over and over again.
Now, coming back to your romance question,

Proposing to the man you love, is romance
Sitting next to him around the sacred fire and promising to be together through thick and thin, is romance
Sleeping next to him, cuddled in his arms in the most chaste form, is beyond romance
Getting up to the beautiful and content smile of your partner, is romance
Eating meals of the day with him over a hearty conversation, is romance
Laughing at his stupidity and being the reason for his laughter, is romance
Going on an unconventional date with him, is romance
Teasing him with others and not feeling jealous is an unexplored genre of , romance
Giving birth to his children, is romance
Cheering each other at their success, is romance
Patting their back at their low, is romance
Living with him each day and feeling blessed is a feeling of, romance
Romance is not just kisses and misses it's much more than that.
It's everything that makes you feel alive and happy.
I am happy with Ayush and it's not a compromise we made.
It is a common promise we kept, to build a fort of trust, faith and love."