idk what this is but i was thinking about what might have happened to bheem's mala after ram uses it to bind their wrists in the interval scene and i had this idea. hope it's not too cringy, i'm not sure i got rambheem's characterizations right :')
Bheem enters the hut, humming a tune to himself. He can't stop himself from smiling. He finally gets to be with his Anna. They'd confessed to each other after everything was over but they had to go back to their respective villages and this is the first time they got to see each other in months.
One of his relatives is getting married and Bheem had taken the opportunity to invite Ram. He needs to get him to stay here for at least two weeks.
"Anna let's go, there's so much I need to show you!"
Bheem stops dead in his tracks the moment he steps in. The older man is standing hunched by the bed shirtless, rummaging through his clothes. Normally, Bheem would feel flustered at the sight of a Ram fresh out of bath, but he's too busy staring at the thin cord of rope going from Ram's shoulder to hip to focus on anything else.
Ram looks up at Bheem and smiles. "Give me a few minutes Bheem, I'm almost ready." He pulls out a neatly ironed shirt, adding in a teasing tone, "What are you looking at?"
Bheem doesn't answer. He can't take his eyes of the cord. The same one he'd put around his Anna's neck long ago.
He'd been asked about it many times by his people after coming back home and his only answer had been that he'd given it to someone who meant the world to him. He'd secretly assumed Ram must have thrown it away after their fight. He didn't know its value after all so Bheem wouldn't blame him. But to think he didn't just keep it safe, he even wore it on his body-
Seeing that his question didn't evoke the reaction he wanted, Ram's playful look is replaced by a puzzled one.
Bheem doesn't know how to begin.
"That cord-", he starts. The rest of the words are stuck in his throat.
Ram looks at him in confusion for a moment before realisation dawns on him. He straightens up, whipping his head down to look at his chest.
He hurriedly unfolds the shirt and proceeds to wear it, a panic stricken look in his eyes.
Bheem would have laughed if he wasn't on the verge of tears. Does his Anna think he can actually hide it from Bheem now that he's seen it?
Ram fumbles with the buttons for a second before letting his hands fall to his side. He looks so miserable, the exact opposite of how he looked seconds ago, and Bheem can't help but feel guilty. Ram should never have to feel ashamed about this.
He takes a few steps forward, until he's right in front of Ram.
"Look at me". Bheem says gently, heart brimming with love for the man in front of him.
"Bheem." His voice is hoarse. "I know I don't deserve to touch this sacred thread, let alone have it on my person. You gave it to me to protect me but I am not worthy of being protected. Not after everything I did."
"Please let me finish". Ram takes a harsh breath and continues, a little desperately. "I know you must feel disgusted with me right now. I used this same thread to stop you from rescuing Malli and now I have it on me again. I meant to return it to you before we left Delhi but I didn't know how to bring it up. This is only here to serve as a reminder of what I-"
Ram pauses mid-sentence, finally lifting his head with a dismayed expression. Bheem doesn't need to hear the rest of it to know what Ram wanted to say.
His face crumples, the joy he felt till a moment ago vanishing. "Continue, Anna. You asked me to let you finish speaking." Bheem should have known. Of course, Ram's reason for wearing it was self-hate.
Ram's face is a mix of fear and shame.
"I shouldn't have said that, I'm sorry."
Bheem has no idea how to respond to that. Sometimes Ram has a way of making him speechless in the worst way possible. Here he was, feeling overjoyed to see the cord on Ram's body but Ram's reason for wearing it is so heartbreaking. Bheem doesn't know if he should hug him or hit him.
But he could never again lay a hand on this wonderful man so his only option is to shower him with an infinite amount of love.
Ram grits his teeth. "I'll remove it right now. I'm sorry for putting you through this the very morning I've arrived here."
He goes to take the cord off but Bheem stops him before he can. He slides his hand into Ram's and brings it to his lips, kissing it.
"Anna, remember what we promised each other back in Delhi?"
Ram looks at him with disbelief written all over his face. Bheem's heart clenches. Ram is so used to being hated, so used to talking with fists that he doesn't know what to do in the face of love.
It takes a while for him to answer. "I know we made a promise that we'd never ever blame each other for what happened back then. But you know this is different Bheem. This is personal. There should be a limit to how understanding you can be. You know I should not be wearing this."
"You're right, you shouldn't be wearing it." Bheem says, eyes not leaving Ram's.
"Not if the reason for it is self-loathing. But I won't ask you to take it off. You know Anna, this cord is very important to us Gonds. And you're a very important person to me. So the only thing I felt when I entered the hut and saw you wearing it was happiness. Never once did I regret giving it to you, not even when you used it to restrain me. Because once I've given it away, it's no longer mine. Just like my heart."
"Bheem-" Ram starts, eyes so full of love and pain.
"Please let me finish." Bheem interrupts him with a smile. "If your reason for wearing it is to repent, so be it. But I won't let you suffer alone. We're in this together and I will patiently wait for the day you're ready to move on. Just like I know you're waiting for me to move on."
Bheem places his palm on Ram's chest, moving it under the cord to caress the three puncture wounds that mar his skin.
Ram holds his wrist, a helpless look on his face. "Why are you like this?"
Bheem grins. "Are you in any position to say that Anna?" Smile turning gentle, he adds, "Someone told me back in Delhi that being together is not just about sharing joys but also about sharing each other's pain. I agree."
Ram's eyes soften impossibily at that. He brings a hand up to Bheem's face, stroking his cheek with his thumb. They gaze at each other for a while in silence. Bheem thinks he could stay like this forever.
"What if I said that wasn't the only reason?" Ram says suddenly.
Bheem knows what he's referring to despite the non sequitur.
"You don't have to do this just to make me feel better Anna."
"Bheem. I wouldn't lie about this."
"What if- What if I wore the cord also because I missed you and wearing it made it easier to cope with being so far apart?", Ram says in a barely audible voice, looking anywhere but at Bheem.
"Anna, are you embarrassed?" Bheem chuckles, before continuing, "To answer your question, I'd be over the moon because that's what I was hoping this was about. You don't know how happy I am that you still have it with you."
"How could I not? It belongs to you. Just like my heart."
Bheem gives him an affectionate look at that, before his expression turns to in mock anger, "Your sweet words won't make me forget that you broke our promise."
Ram laughs. "What can I do to appease you?"
"Hmm.." Bheem runs his fingers over the plackets of Ram's shirt, before beginning to button it up with a frown. "Anna, how about you dress up like us Gonds for the wedding tomorrow night?"
Ram looks at him in surprise before his grin widens. "How long have you been planning this?"
Bheem finishes buttoning up the shirt and turns around, trying to hide his smile. "I don't know what you mean." he mumbles, walking towards the door.
Ram follows right behind, pulling him into a hug. "Who am I to say no if you want to get me out of my clothes? Of course, I'd love to wear it."
Bheem twists around in Ram's arms, unable to hide his delight. "You'd do that for me?"
"I'd do anything for you."
i'm kinda writing a sequel for this cuz i want to see ram in the gond getup
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