Page 156 of Waiting for Ru
“Who’s your friend?”
“Happy. Safe.”
Jasim huffed. “I do not know how she understands you, but I swear she does.”
“Want to open the cage door, Bela? Jasim and I are going away for a week. You can come if you want or stay here.”
Bela opened the catch with her beak and hopped out onto Ru’s arm. She made a noise at the other bird and a moment later, he joined her on Ru’s arm.
“Stay where you are, Jas,” Ru whispered. “I don’t want him to panic.”
“Him?”
“He’s slightly larger, so probably a male.”
Bela rubbed her beak on Ru’s face, then tapped the beak of the other bird.
“Jas?” Jasim whispered.
“Have you always been Jasim?”
“Yes.”
“You should be Jas to me. Just me.”
Jasim nodded and swallowed against the lump in his throat.
“Hello,” Ru said quietly, and both birds cawed back, Bela’s caw a definitehello.“I’ll call you Beau.”
Beau fluttered to the windowsill and sat there watching.
“Are you leaving me, Bela?” Ru asked. “Is that what this is about?”
Bela hopped to Ru’s shoulder pressed her beak to his mouth.
“You’ve found a friend and you’re going on an adventure. Just like me.”
Bela cawed and rubbed herself against Ru’s cheek.
“You don’t need my permission to go, sweetheart. Be happy. Come and visit sometimes, okay? Bring me presents.”
Bela flew to the window and settled next to the other bird. The pair cooed at each other, then made a series of sounds as if they were talking. They touched beaks and Jasim heard Ru release a shaky breath.
“Look after each other,” Ru whispered.
Both birds flew away and when Ru crawled onto the bed, his eyes brimming with tears, Jasim pulled him into his arms.
“I think that was a courtship song,” Ru said. “They sing softly to each other with a language all of their own. Or am I making that up? Bela probably just wanted more nuts or something.”
“She knows you’re safe and happy, that you don’t need her anymore. She’s gone to make a life for herself. That’s what we need to do too.” Jasim sighed. “Now that the media have calmed down.”
“Do you think they have for good?”
“How many more ways can they ask the same questions about me being gay?”
Ru laughed. “More than you’d think.”
“I’m glad it’s done. It’s helped with visibility in the sport. Me, then Seb and then a couple of others coming out too. Mike’s further attempt to cause trouble was ignored and it serves him right. Now he reallyisdone in the polo world. And none of this would have happened without you. Your way of looking at life, the way you could see possibilities, the way you kept hoping… You were the light in my darkness. You still are.”
