Chapter: The Silence That Worried Her

After finishing her rounds, Poornima returned home—tired, yet content. The moment she stepped inside, Inayat ran toward her with a bright smile.

“Auntyyy!” she called out.

Poornima knelt instantly, pulling her into a hug.

They sat together on the carpet. Poornima opened a small picture book and began teaching her alphabets, tracing the letters with her finger.

“A… B… C…”
Inayat repeated after her, clapping proudly each time she got it right.

Poornima laughed softly and fed her dinner, wiping her mouth gently, listening to her chatter about school and colors and food.

Time passed quietly.

She glanced at the clock.

Veeresh should be home by now.

Every evening, without fail, he either came to Mannat Inn or at least called. If he was late, he always messaged.

Today—nothing.

A faint unease settled in her chest.

She stepped out and saw Ravi.

“Ravi,” she asked carefully, “is Veeresh still at the office?”

Ravi nodded.
“Yes. There’s a new project. One of the workers made a mistake, the client got angry. Veeresh is personally handling it. He’ll be late.”

Poornima let out a small breath.
“Thanks for telling me.”

She went back to her room, but rest didn’t come.

She picked up her phone.

One call.
No answer.

Second call.
Still nothing.

Third call.
Silence.

Her fingers hovered for a second before she typed.

Poornima: Is everything okay?

She stared at the screen, waiting for the message to show seen.

It didn’t.

The room felt unusually quiet—too quiet.

And for the first time that evening,
Poornima felt worried—not as a wife by duty, but as a woman who cared deeply.