Anakul walked along the shady Forbidden Alley of Lachlan. There were shops selling hallucinogen, meats of exotic animals and birds. One shop even sold Unicorn horns. Towards the end of the alley there were the Pleasure House. Anakul readjusted the scarf covering had of his face.

He dragged his feet to the house Pleasure house Amala had specifically mentioned.

Anakul found the house he was looking for. The small sign board above its door read "Anathema". Hesitantly Anakul knocked at the door. A young woman probably in her late twenties opened it.

She grinned and narrowed her eyes
"And what is the forbidden fruit you want young man," she asked teasingly.

Anakul froze before stepping back from the door and hurriedly walking away towards the exit of the alley. He was ashamed and scared to express his wish. Homosexuality was a taboo. What if his uncle got to know, that his own nephew was committing a forbidden act.

As he walked further away from Anathema, Amala's word came back, "If you donot feel proud of who you are, nobody else will." He stopped on his tracks and slowly turned on the spot, before retracing his way back to Anathema.

His knock was once again answered by the same lady. She rolled her eyes.
"You have finally decided what you want, or are you going to run away." She said irritatedly.

"I want a man," Anakul said with confidence "to please me."

The woman smiled wickedly before ushering him inside before closing the door.

The interior of Anathema was different from its outside. While the outside was grotesquely with semi broken bricks and filth, the inside was alluring and warm.The entrance door lead to a small hall.A chandelier with candles hung from the ceiling, as an intoxicating aroma filled the air. It was slightly hazy due to the smoke being puffed out by some of the occupants from their Chillams.

All the women were without a Choli as their breasts jiggled when they moved. Their dhotis were made of translucent silk, which gave a significant view of their bottoms. Two of the women were trying to tempt another visitor. There were three more women who had their eyes on him.

"Melissa, get Odin." The woman who had welcomed Anakul instructed on of the three who were eyeing Anakul. They sighed in disappointment as one of them climbed up the staircase which rose at the back of the hall.

As Anakul waited he saw the other visitor grab the butt cheek of one of his allurers.

"How much for this one Shekel," he shouted to the woman who had ushered Anakul.

"One hundred Aurs," Shekel informed him.

"You are mine then," the man maliciously grinned at the woman pinching her nipples as the woman giggled before accompanying the visitor along the stairs to the second floor. As they climbed up, Melissa appeared with Odin.

"Two hundred Aurs," Shekel informed  Anakul.

Anakul brought out the pouch tied on a string around his waist to pay.

"Not now my lord," Odin walked up to him and held his wrist, "only after you are pleased." He winked and pulled Anakul towards the staircase.

The narrow staircase was illuminated with torches resting on iron holders affixed to the wall. Anakul followed Odin into one of the seven chambers that alligned the small corridor on the second level of Anathema. A large four poster bed sat in the middle of the room with colorful cushions strewn across it. There was a small lidded earthern pot at one corner of the room. Odin walked to the pot and filled an earthen cup which rest on the lid with the contains of the pot.

"To quench your thirst my lord," he said as he offered the cup to Anakul. Anakul took the cup from him and gulped down its contains. The sweet-bitter aftertaste of the wind lingered in his mouth as Odin sauntered upto him and held Anakul's face with his palm. He bent his head and licked the reminiscent of wine from Anakul's lips, sending a shiver down Anakul's back.

Odin's chiseled torso glistened in the light of the lamps that hung from the walls of the room. Anakul touched his chest gently as Odin's arms went around him in an embrace. Their lips united as Odin moved his fingers along Anakul moaned in response arching back slightly. They moved towards the bed, their lips exploring each other. Odin pushed Anakul on the bed, climbing on top of him. He then trailed kisses along Anakul's lean torso, till he reached the border of his Dhoti. Releasing Anakul's manhood he trailed kissess along it.

Anakul grabbed him and pushed onto the bed as Odin lied face down. Anakul looked at his skin glistening with perspiration before mountinv him. He held Odin's shoulder, as he entered him and began to rock back and forth.

Odin moaned in pleasure as urged him to move faster. Anakul thrusted again and again, before climaxing violently.

Anakul collapsed on Odin's bare back, worn out from the passion. He gently rolled on to his back, allowing Odin to rest on top of him as they kissed once more.

"You are amazing," Anakul whispered, as they made love again.

****************************

"So have you told him yet." Amala asked him. She was walking with Anakul checking out the carpets a Vaishya was selling as her son frolicked with some children near the fountain in the middle of the plaza.

"I can't," Anakul replied earnestly "What if he reveals it to someone else."

"Haron won't do that," Amala assured him.

"I don't know," Anakul replied thoughtfully "I cannot trust anyone other than you with my truth."

"Well, I won't be with you forever," she said sadly "I will be staying back at Olathe."

"But why?" Anakul was surprised by this new piece of news.

Amala smiled at him.

"Olathe is my home. I left with my husband when he went to do business in the Rajdhani." Her husband was a Vaishya, who designed garments. "After his demise I couldn't find any good reason to stay back."

"But Amala who will look after you here."

"The same person who looks after all of us." She replied "the Supreme Operator and the Emperor."

"Amala I am not going to let you stay here all alone." He said anxiously "Zaiden is full of crime, and you are young and pretty," his tone serious "what if you cross path with the wrong kind." He thought of Anathema and shivered at the thought of Amala working there.

"And what will I do at the Rajdhani." She asked with raised eyebrows "what is there for me."

"I am there for you." He blurted out. He felt an ache deep inside he never knew he would feel when he thought of parting with Amala. She had been her pillar of strength. She was the only person who truly understood Anakul. More than his family or Haron or even Odin. If he had not been into men, he surely would have made babies with Amala.

"I will always be there for you." He murmured. Pain shot through Amala. She could feel a lump forming at the back of her throat.

"But you will never be mine." She whispered back eyes glistening as she looked at him.

"Amala," he was taken aback by her emotions "since when?"

"I don't know." She removed her eyes from him to where her son played, "but I realized it first when you told me about that Odin guy." She pursed her lips. "I was so jealous when you narrated your experience." She looked back at Anakul who was slightly gaping at her.

"But don't worry," a smile planted on her lips "I won't ever let that come between our friendship."

She entangled her arm with his.

"Just like you never let your feelings for Haron come between your friendship." She said as she looked him in this eye.

"I thought you were into Haron."

She chuckled lightly "Yes just like Haron thinks you are into me." Her smile fainted "Fate has a way of playing out isn't it." She said as they walked towards Jenkin.

"You love him, knowing he can't love you back ever," she paused "And I love you, knowing that you can't love me back."

"But you are wrong," Anakul said gently "I love you too, may not be in the way you would have wanted." He looked at her glowing eyes, "but you are the only person who would ever matter to me after my family." He kissed her on the forehead. As Jenkin came running to join them.