I am Rohit Malik, a 29-year-old individual. Born in Shimla, raised in Chandigarh, studied in the UK and now living in Delhi, I have grown up as a homosexual man. Being gay, as we all know, isn’t easy especially, in a country such as India. It all started in my school days with an innocent crush, then to curiosity, and later realising that I’m born this way.
When I was studying in the UK, the Western society and culture inspired me to be proud of myself, and when I returned back, I tried to deal with it. Although there was no pressure from my mom to get married, I so wanted to tell my family and prepare them mentally for a possible marriage and future. Coming out wasn’t easy for me, being an only son, but I did it.
It was a scandal. I was once the ideal boy who was perfect in everything. They tried hard to convince me by love or force, but being stubborn, I didn’t back down. Slowly, they too realised that I’m indeed born this way and can’t be altered. Here, I’m now accepted by my mother and I am proud of myself.