My Mr. Artist

Chapter 3

Kiyah

"Welcome home, you are late," Reva said while taking a bite of the pizza which I had ordered before leaving the office. I closed the door behind me, took off my shoes, threw my bag at the corner table, and settled onto the couch.

"It was your turn to cook today. I am dieting, what should I do? Just watch you two eat like pigs?" Ashi said, eyeing all the food in front of her.

"It's okay, Ash. You can compromise for today, as I have one good news and one bad news for you both," I said after getting into a comfortable position facing them.

"What?" both blurted out at the same time. All attention focused on me now. Reva even muted the TV volume.

"I got a promotion." I grabbed a beer can and took a sip.

"Wait, that's great news, but looking at you, I thought you were going to tell the bad news first," Ashi said, looking skeptical.

"Yes, I was ready to give my condolences," Reva teased me. If I wasn't tired, I would have really beaten her to death and then given my condolences as well.

"Reva, shut up. Ki, what's the problem then?" Ashi asked, turning serious. I really didn't want to go there, leaving my friends and family. This was a big project; it could take almost two to three years if everything went as planned.

"I got a promotion, but I have to be transferred to City R for almost three years, as I am one of the head members of our new project," I said, waiting for the explosion—1... 2... 3...

"WHAT THE FUCK?"

"ARE YOU FOR REAL?" both said at the same time. It was louder than I expected.

"It's just that this project contract is under our branch office in City R, and it's one of the important projects. So I was one of the few selected because our boss thinks I'd be perfect based on my previous work and my unique way of interior décor and whatnot," I said, rolling my eyes, still not getting how in the world I got this lucky—note the sarcasm.

"Wow, your boss really has a lot of faith in you," Reva passed an unnecessary comment.

"So are you going to accept it? I mean, are you going to City R?" Ashi asked, ignoring Reva and focusing on me, a frown taking over her face.

"I mean, I don't really have a choice," I replied, scratching the back of my head.

"Then what about the plan you told me this morning?" she asked next.

"I think I'll wrap up my work and necessary things at the office in the next two days. Then I'll go visit my family and directly take a flight from City A to City R. What do you say?" I had planned this the whole way from the office to home. I had this week to complete my almost-done tasks and ask someone to take over my assignments. I'd take four days off and visit my family in City A. It sounded like a good plan.

"Then you won't be there for Ashi's engagement? And what about our home cleaning days and our weekend clubbing and—and..." Reva panicked, coming to me and holding both my hands in hers, sadness and worry written all over her face.

Since college, we had been in the same hostel and then rented our first apartment together. We were more family than friends, having all left our real families to achieve what we had today. It would have been much harder to survive in this city if I hadn't had them.

"You're saying it like this is the last time you'll ever see me," I teased, trying to lighten the mood. "Don't worry, it's just a few months. And we're not in the 18th century, if I'm gone, it doesn't mean you'll never see me again. Now cheer up, I have so much work to do."