My Mr. Artist

Chapter 16

Kiyah

This was my first time truly experiencing what it meant to have an awkward silence while eating breakfast! Even when I ate alone, it had never felt this suffocating.

It was me, Saira, and my two uninvited guests sitting down to have breakfast at my dining table. Well, more accurately, Saira was having her breakfast, and the three of us were just accompanying her with cups of coffee in our hands.
Yes, it was Arnav's second cup — I think he really liked the coffee I made.

"Why did you go to the old haveli?" Ansh directed the question towards Saira. I saw her stiffen under our gaze.

"Ah... I felt... I heard that you had repurchased it and wanted to take a look at the place where our entire childhood was spent."
As Saira finished her sentence, I saw Ansh's expression visibly soften. Then again, there was that silence.
Oh my god! I really can't bear this anymore.

"Oh, it's quite late — wow, I didn't even notice!" I said, glancing at the clock, trying to make them realize that this wasn't some public place where they could chill for as long as they wanted, but my house — and the owner of this house wasn't friendly enough to want any of them to stay a second longer.

Both Ansh and Arnav looked at me for five seconds with blank expressions, then looked away as if I hadn't just politely told them to get out.

These fuckers! They really are best friends — cut from the same cloth.

"Yes, it's quite late. We should go now," Saira said, probably noticing how my face turned ugly as I sent daggers at both males in the room. She really is a sweetheart. She got up and practically dragged both of them out of the house.
Arnav walked straight out without looking back, whereas Ansh turned to look at me with reluctance in his eyes as he reached the door. I quickly averted my gaze and looked at my slippers. I heard footsteps walking away, and when I looked back, only Saira was at the door.

"Sorry for the trouble, Kiyah. I didn't know that..." Saira started nervously, her eyes filled with concern.

"Actually, it's alright. I really didn't know what I would have done with your drunken self yesterday if they hadn't been there," I said sincerely, knowing it wasn't her fault.

"So... friends?" she asked with wide eyes.

"Of course," I laughed, and she sighed in relief. After telling me to stay in touch and promising to show me beautiful places around the city next time, she left.

I locked the door and turned around to look at my now-empty house. It gave me mixed feelings, so I decided to call home — and my brother — to relieve my boredom.

_

The next few weeks, my life returned to its normal routine: planning drafts, socializing with colleagues, and visiting the site once or twice. I didn't encounter Saira, though we stayed in touch — she kept saying she'd come to find me, but when? That, I didn't know. And honestly, I was so busy I never even asked.

Today, I'm flying back to City A for Ashi's engagement. It's been more than three months since I started working in City R, and because I wanted to take some days off, I'd been too busy to even spare time for lunch. It was hectic but effective — I finally submitted my draft this morning before departure.
Ashi and her partner wanted to hold their engagement in City A since both their families lived there. My parents were also invited, and my mother had taken responsibility for my outfit — one of my biggest dilemmas solved! I could now happily and peacefully spend the next four or five days with my family and friends.

As soon as I reached the airport gate after landing, I spotted my brother waiting for me.

"You're late! Do you know how long I've been waiting for you?" Karan complained the moment he saw me, his face grumpy as always — but he still took all my bags from me.