Chapter 32

Nikhil visited home early in the morning to discuss the offer to showcase my work at the upcoming solo exhibition in the city. He got a call from the sponsor of the art gallery. She asks me to meet her in person.

Nikhil confirmed that he had called her and set an appointment for the evening at the restaurant after I asked him to call her. I got ready for the office, and Aarav dropped me off in his car on his way to the office.

After finishing the work in the office, I returned home and went to see my paintings in my studio at home upstairs, where I stored my images safely. Some pictures are on the wall. Some are on the table. The paintings hung up on the wall are precious to me and were painted based on memories of my beloved.

I lost my drawing book when we were moving to a new home from the rented apartment. One day I kept the drawing book on the side table. At night, I was about to place the water mug near it, it slipped from my hand, and water fell on the book, soaked it, and the drawings faded away. I feel like I lost my life, through which I have lived watching them till now.

Later, every night I spare time to finish the paintings by reminiscing the memories from my mind and heart and hanging them on the walls. Whenever I look at them, it tells our love story. Our meeting, our love, and our kisses together. I feel better and warmer looking at those pictures when I miss him.

Sometimes I think of him, whether he remembers me or not. I think he settled down by marrying his fiancé and living happily with her.

I came out of the studio, walked into my room, get dressed for the meeting. I called Nikhil when I was ready and asked him when he was arriving to pick me up. He informed me that he couldn't attend the meeting because he was out for personal work. So he asked a favor to Rohit to accompany me until the session gets finished.

"Well." ended the call.

When Rohit called me to get down, he was waiting at the entrance in his car. I picked up my handbag, took the elevator, and got down to the ground floor. He opened the car door for me. I got in his car.

He appreciated, "you're looking pretty."

I asked him, "Stop staring. Drive looking in front." He smiled, started his car, dropped me at the restaurant entrance, asked me to get in, and parked.

I found the black Mercedes car with the same number plate, which had been stalking me for a week. I was tense to see it again at the restaurant and thought to report the police and give them a call.

I reached the reserved table and saw a lady waiting for me. She greeted me with a handshake, "Nice to meet you, Miss. Suzy."

"It's nice to meet you."

We took seats. She introduces herself, "I'm Sherilyn. we met before." I try to recall when I met her.

She continued, "We met in London when you won the painting competition in third place. I buy your painting, you remember?"

"Yes, I remembered." I heard the footsteps approaching me, thought it was Rohit, and turned back by asking, "Why does it take so long to park the car?" and stunned to see a guy in a black suit, tall and handsome. It was Vihaan. It's a long time since I saw him. I stared at him without blinking my eyes. He settled down on the chair in front of me across the table.

I wondered to notice him without surprise even though we were meeting after a long time, like he already knew I was coming.

Sherilyn asked him, "Why do you take so long on the call, bro?" I got that she was his stepsister.

He replied to her, "It's an important call from a client. How can I hang up before him?"

She was about to introduce me to him, and he asked me, "How do you do, Siya?"

She asked him surprisingly, "Do you guys know each other from before?"

He said, "Yeah, we are...."

Meanwhile, Rohit bragged in, settling next to me, "Sorry for being late," and introduced himself, "Hello! I am Rohit."

Sherilyn asked me, "Your manager's name is Nikhil, right?"

Rohit answered her, "Yeah. I'm not." smiling at me, "She's my girlfriend."

I was tired of his attitude and pinched his arm. He screamed, "Whoa..." I gave him an aggressive look, wondering what Vihaan might be thinking about us. Did he believe that I was his girlfriend?

Sherilyn asked Vihaan, "You didn't answer me, bro. How do you guys know each other?"

He seems upset, seeing Rohit next to me. I am sure, reading his eyes, glaring at Rohit, fuming in jealousy. I said, "We are from the same college."

Rohit said looking at Vihaan, " Wow. You can help me to know more about her and what I missed in her college days as she is still a mystery to me. Even I know her from childhood."

I glared at him, "Stop being childish. We came to discuss work", and viewed at Sherilyn and asked, "Do we talk about business?"

She said, "Absolutely." We continued our talk about the agreement and terms and conditions, and she asked me to allow her to display my work in the upcoming solo exhibition, saying that she would send the detailed contract to manager Nikhil and go through it and inform her after signing it.

"Sure," I excused them.

Vihaan stopped me by saying, "Wait a moment, Siya. We met after a long time. Can't you invite us to your home for dinner?" I try to avoid it by lying that I am busy with work in the office this week.

Rohit spoke before I got finished, "It's fine. I'll make arrangements with the help of Aarav and Nikhil. Don't worry. You both are collegemates and met after a long time. It is a formality to host a dinner." He invited them for dinner on Saturday night.

Sherilyn said, "I heard from Nikhil that you had a special collection in your studio. I am excited to see them. We both visit your house." I nodded with a fake smile on my face.

We walked to the parking, and the policeman was waiting for the owner of that black Mercedes car. I saw it was Vihaan's car and was getting it from the parking lot. I stopped the policeman and apologized for troubling them because it was a misunderstanding.

Later, I got in Rohit's car and left with him. Rohit asked me while driving home, "Why do you call the police?"

I said, "Nothing," and lost my mind full of thoughts, 'Why has he been stalking me for a week? He was engaged. Perhaps, he is married now. Did he miss me? Why do stalks instead come to me and talk to me at least once? What was he up to?' I am so confused about what he is thinking in his mind.

We returned home and lay back on the sofa. Aarav asked me, "How did your meeting go?"

Rohit answered, "Coincidently, she was a sister of Siya's college friend."

Aarav asked, "Who?"

Rohit said, "He is Vihaan." Aarav glared at me surprisingly. Rohit continued, "We invited them for dinner on Saturday."

Aarav asked me, "Did you invite them for dinner?" I shook my head and left for my room. He followed into my room and asked me, "What are you trying to do?" "Did you forgive him and want to reconcile with him?"

I turned to him, "Aarav, I know you're worried about me. I know what I am doing. Causally I invited them without any choice. Don't forget that he's your best friend. I haven't forgotten anything. I am the one who asked for a breakup. Please, let me be alone."

He said, "I know you still love him. I understand how you feel after seeing him for so long. I advise you to move on from him and give him a chance, Rohit. However, Vihaan might be married now." He left the room.

I was happy for a moment after seeing him, but later I realized he was no longer mine, and try to be strong in front of him, not to fall emotional.

I evoke those precious moments I spend with him and want to be on his side like in the old days. I know I am selfish and expect more even after I'm the one who broke his heart, lost thinking about what my future holds for me, and fell asleep with a lot on my mind.