Arrivals and Departures

The last few days have been interesting. My friend B is leaving town and I am distraught. B is among the few diplomats that I meet casually - i.e. not at tedious national days. He is charming, good looking, intelligent and good company. However all this is irrelevant. What can possibly bring together 2 bright, drop-dead-gorgeous men and cement a friendship which has lasted over three years. The answer is simple: Hrithik Roshan. B (the swine!) has chased him all over Australia. I have had to content myself with his films and the odd sighting on hideous Indian television channels. It was only fitting that we have our final meeting over several bottles of something with bubbles in it and a premiere of "Lakshyaa" - the latest HR blockbuster. I don't remember much of the plot - if , indeed, there was one. The divine HR doesn't look quite as good having had to suffer an army haircut. (Oh, I forgot - "Lakshyaa" is set on the line-of-no-control.)

What is it about gay men which causes them to gravitate to one another in the most trying of social circumstances? I walked into a room of about a hundred strangers on Saturday night. It was a largely expat do ...I can swear I was the only Pakistani there, barring the waiters. After about an hour, I had the feeling I was being watched ...well not overtly, but there was a sense of someone looking over once in a while. We moved closer and closer together and eventually engaged in conversation. Our mutually shared sexuality became evident in no time. There is no attraction in the equation (he has a bf and I am perpetually in search of one!) but I was amused by the ability of the only two gay men in a room full of a hundred odd people to connect. ( Shades of Forsters "Only connect" ?) In any case we are to have dinner together this week. Who knows ? Maybe he has a Hrithik-fetish too and can fill the immense void that has been left by B's moving away.