The vibrant city, with almost sterile private spaces, feels like the difference between Raj in private, when he shows his true self and the mask he wears in public. You really feel him struggle as he tries to do his duty to his family.
While Raj struggles, you can feel the toll this is having on Leo. He’s instantly drawn to Raj when they meet and spend time walking in the bustling street markets. As the are walking in the city, Raj lets his mask slip, you feel him coming alive, almost like a reflection of the vendors in the booths they pass. You can tell he feels completely at home walking through his city. I love that he took Leo out into his city for chai, letting him experience the warmth and excitement of the market, before they got to work. It’s like he felt a pull towards Leo the moment they met and he couldn’t wait to show him the city, this huge part himself.
One of the things I really love about this story is that it isn’t love at first sight, it’s connection. It’s two men who feel that spark of connection and pay attention.
Perfect Lies, the bonus story Ryan sends to his subscribers, really got me in the head of Raj. His struggles to figure out how to live authentically, while feeling the pressures of measuring up to the expectations of his family. Even in a loving family you can feel pressure, maybe more so since you want to make them happy.