An Aesthete - A triangle love story

Chapter 20

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Hey Lovelies,

Sorry for the long break. My schedule is bit tight and with my writing pace and available free time, everyday. It takes me a week to complete a chapter. Sorry for keeping you all wait. Here is next chapter of An Aesthete.

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Veda

God, help me pass through the remaining night.

I placed the paintings in the workshop corner for Girish to pack them. I returned back into the main house and saw Girish and Darshana speaking in hushed voices before Darshana jumping in joy and clapping her hands. She looks like an excited child enjoying at an exhibition fair. She notices me approaching the living area and gets back into her grown up woman's skin.

The living room and dining area is illuminated in a way that its one side is mildly lit while the other is very dimly lit, so that Darshana can see me but not exactly me. "Why are you both standing here?" I stay on the dimly lit side.

"We were waiting for you. Aren't we, na?" She eyes at Girish Anna and backs her up. "Yeah, we were waiting for you."

"Okay. Please join us for dinner." I direct my hand towards the dining area. Darshana looks at the place and walks towards the dining area and kitchen as if she is lost in her own thoughts.

"Well, you two have your dinner, I'll pack those paintings." Girish smiles, looking between Darshana and me.

"I requested Darshana to join us for dinner." I point between him and me.

"Machan, I already had." I looked at him confused as he was there with me trying to calm me down and assure me.

"When did you?" He takes a step closer to me and holds my hand interrupting me. "I don't want to be third wheeling for you two. Already I had enough in the basement, so I can't take it anymore." He starts moving towards the door to the basement. I try to stop him but he disappears down the stairs.

"Veda ji, naan dinner ku ungala onnum kadichu saptudu maaten. Neenga thairiyama enkooda sapda varalam." Her teasing tone makes me smile and I turn towards her. (Don't worry, Veda ji. I won't eat you for dinner. You can have dinner with me without any fear.)

"Girish ah ungaluku already theriyum naala neenga konjam comfortable ah feel panuvengale nu sonnen." I walk towards the dining table. (I thought you would feel comfortable if Girish stays back, as you already know him.)

"Comfortable enaka illa ungaluka, Veda ji?" She crosses her arms against her chest and cocks her head. I raise my hands up in defeat and laugh to myself. "Neenga sirikurenga nu theriyuthu ennum light ku vanthu siricha nalla irukum but I can adjust until you are comfortable." She keeps looking my way before giving me an assuring smile. (Who will feel comfortable, you or me, Veda ji?) (I can guess that you are smiling but if you come towards the light, it will be better. But I can adjust until you are comfortable.)

"Papa, vanthu ukaru ma." Selvam anna pulls a chair for her and she takes her seat gracefully after thanking him. (Please take your seat, dear.)

"Athu enna Veda ji?" I try to divert the topic as I walk towards the other end of the dining table to sit opposite her. (Why are you addressing me as Veda ji?)

Being cautious every single second and staying in the dark is more suffocating than being alone but I have to go through this until I entirely come out into the light. If I want both Darshana and Hridhay in my life, I have to keep going like this for a few more days.