Ecstasy... Agony...

Created On: 5 Sept 2015 5:09 AM IST

LA-based photographer, Arjun Kamath, has depicted the agony that same-sex lovers endure each day of their lives in this powerful photo series

LA-based photographer, Arjun Kamath, has depicted the agony that same-sex lovers endure each day of their lives in this powerful photo series

Maitreyi opened the door for the first time...The unending fog hung in the air like a suffocating sheath, blanketing the land with its ghostly glow.

A cold wind blew bitterly, chilling Alpana to the marrow, as she opened the creaky closet door. The overhead dark clouds blotted out the orange sun from time to time, throwing the little patch of forest into an inky blackness. Flashes of lighting in the distance made the already nervous Alpana not want to step out...

The twigs crunched under Alpana's feet as she stumbled out of the closet; Maitreyi's calm presence gave her the hope that the forest was a safe place. As the two girls trudged ahead, the winds of the forest howled and roared, blowing a bitter chill past the endless line of dying trees...

The wildlife held it's breath as Alpana embraced Maitreyi; the girls had been in love for the longest time ever. And as the skeleton trees loomed large over their petite figures, they stood there undeterred. They had finally come out of the closet and there was no looking back...

As Maitreyi and Alpana grew comfortable in each others arms, the glowing sun started to reveal itself through the perilous clouds.

The cute little shrubs in the forest cast their reflection on the water forming buttery silhouettes; it was still early morning and the music of the birds floated in the air. Tiny fishes broke the surface of the water causing the water ripples to glimmer in the Sun's reflection. The girls smiled in their newfound comfort and decided to play a game of hide and seek...

Alpana said,

The greys began to fade, as liquid gold crept up from leaf to limb. Maitreyi and Alpana had never been happier..

Parivala, very much like Maitreyi and Alpana had found freedom in the very same forest a few days ago. So when she saw the girls embrace each other, her heart was overcome with joy. She observed them from a distance and was glad that they had come out...

Parivala blessed the girls and walked away.

It was a new day and the glimmer of hope only strengthened with every passing minute.

The Rakshasas of the forest had heard Maitreyi and Alpana's laughter... The only love that was allowed was between man and woman...

Maitreyi and Alpana would pay for their sins..

Maitreyi and Alpana were dragged through the forest mercilessly... Their biggest sin was that they had loved each other, and not a man.

Maitreyi and Alpana were shoved back into the closet..

Silence hung in the air like a bereaved soul as Maitreyi and Alpana embraced each other one last time.

Plumes of black smoke filled the closet and the searing heat slowly made it difficult to breathe; Maitreyi and Alpana's held onto each other helplessly, their nails almost digging into each others flesh. All the wonderful moments that they spent together flashed before their eyes as the closet erupted into flames...