Invisible Strings * Ongoing*

13. Trance

Khushi, out of stunned curiosity obviously takes her seat as does Manizeh and she gives Manizeh the look. What's happening babe? Just what keeps hitting me??

Manizeh sighs at that but she looks at Syna and shoots her a polite smile and covers up – " apologies...Syna, Khushi, here..is just stumped...that you would even know...her...but she is listening...so If you don't mind..can we get to the context..of how???did you come about to even knowing her??"

And Syna says now with a small smile recalling the memory – " so you know...there was a time...around three years ago...I was going through some personal mess...quite the significant one...but it was ASR, who kinda guided me through it...he's such a nice guy....super sweet...a rare find..they just don't make the likes of him anymore...so...he, along with Aman later on eventually helped me find so much perspective within...and that really sorted things...out for me....,"and she pauses for a second, the memory of both Arnav and Aman's support to her through one of the most challenging phases off her life – hits her – head.

What was this phase? It was the bit that Syna, had been so confused about how to deal with coming out with the truth about her sexual orientation - to her family. She, had been in love with her partner, Kate, whom she had met at music school in London in her undergrad days – for years by then, and the two had been going strong, super strong, but for obvious reasons, she'd just kept it under the carpet from her family. The mindset here in India, still was quite sceptical about the LGBT community, which to her eye was such a pity. Love was Love, in all its glory.Then Why? Just draw freaking so many, boundaries, boxes, labels, around it??

But then, back then, came a moment in time, her family was coaxing her into meeting men for arranged marriages and she obviously was in a crazy fix on how to deal with it all.

It was on one such occasion, that Syna was working on a recording with ASR – post which – she just had this meltdown in front off Arnav – voicing it all out to him. She had expected – surprise, shock(not in a good way), disturbed awkward look – up his face after for that's the usual look she was prepped for – but when she had received only sheer understanding, support and friendly encouragement from ASR instantly, followed by Aman eventually too - she had been pleasantly surprised. Way too, pleasantly surprised.

And post that it was with ASR +Aman's constant support and counselling on the same that she'd finally been able to come out with her truth to her family. They went into a shock – obviously for a bit – but eventually accepted Kate – for it hit base to them that Syna's happiness – was with Kate – and well, the two of them continue to be in a rock solid steady relationship...

But for obvious reasons,on Kate's insistence, Syna had kept it all under the wraps from the public eye – till now + she was still working on within – to be able to come out with it at large – for she was obviously nervous about protecting Kate from hate online+the impact it could have on her now roaring music career. Kate, worried more on that accord, actually.

In fact, for the last couple of months, ASR and Aman had been supporting her (Syna) on the same – with regular talks, hearing her out etc, for she did feel like she didn't wana like not own it out at large too. She loved Kate – deeply and every bit of her wanted to scream that out to the world at large...

Anyway, now that today – Syna found herself sitting in front of the woman from ASR's life – whom she'd known about through- Aman in some ways – how could she not want to clear the air? Or make conversation??????? Khushi's, first shocked look at her – had conveyed to Syna that she had surely been reading the media rumours/gossip stuff online. Women, are just blessed with an extra sixth sense. Right?