My Mr. Artist

Chapter 22

"I thought through every possible idea anyone could think of," Saransh began, his voice low and strained. "Worked twice as hard, tried every route I could find... but on one side, my brother's health was deteriorating, and on the other, our rivals were taking advantage of our situation. The whole house was drowning in despair, and I had to take a decision, that to fast."

He shut his eyes tightly, as if doing so could erase the pain. Sitting back on the same couch as before, his only safe haven, he couldn't bring himself to look at her. He didn't know if Kiyah was staring at him or not, but he hoped she wasn't.

"But still, I went to meet Daksha," he continued, swallowing hard. "I told her to refuse the arrangement, but she was cornered too. So... we decided to marry for four or five years, then file for divorce. The company would stabilize by then, and she could finish her studies. After that, I was going to come to you—"

"Stop it, Ansh."

Her voice cut through the air, sharp and trembling. He looked up.

Kiyah sat near the balcony door, bathed in silver moonlight, her expression clouded hurt, angry, exhausted.

"What did you think?" she said, her voice rising. "That you'd disappear from my life, shatter my heart, marry someone else, then come back after a few years and I'd just smile and take you back?"

She slammed her hand on the table, anger spilling over. She understood his reasons, but understanding didn't mean forgiveness.

"Stop being so selfish, Ansh. Stop thinking only about yourself! Do you even know what marriage means? It's not some contract you can sign today and tear apart tomorrow. You said that girl—your wife—doesn't have a family, right? That her grandfather died last year? That this marriage was arranged to protect her? Then how can you talk so casually about leaving her alone again?"

Her voice broke, trembling between fury and heartbreak.

"And what about your family? Would they even accept me after that? What about mine? You think my parents would smile knowing their daughter helped destroy someone's marriage? Would they accept a divorcee for their only child?"

She stepped closer to him, but not too close, maybe afraid she'd hit him if she did. He instinctively took a step back, reading her rage before she spoke it.

"Ansh," she said finally, quieter but firmer. "I asked you to tell me everything, not because I wanted to be with you again... but because I wanted to end this. Break every last thread between us. When a glass breaks, you can glue it back, but the cracks never disappear. That's what we are now. Broken. Cracked."

Her eyes glistened, but her voice didn't waver.

"I think you should continue the path you chose three years ago. You should give your marriage a chance. Maybe... maybe you'll find happiness again."

Saransh's breath hitched. The pain he felt was eerily similar to that night when he had asked her to break up.

She looked so different now, so unfamiliar. How could this be the same girl who once got jealous when anyone even looked at him? How could she now be the one asking him to be happy with another woman?

He stood frozen, lost. All this time, he'd believed this was just a passing storm. That once he explained himself, she'd forgive him, and things would return to the way they were.

But facing her now, he realized, he'd been living in an illusion.

For three years, every morning had begun with one thought: "Just a few more months, and I'll be with her again."