By the time seven o'clock rolled around, the office had mostly emptied out. Akshita and I packed up our things and headed to the elevators together.
"Same time Monday?" she asked as we walked out of the building.
"Yes, definitely."
We said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. I flagged down an auto and gave the driver my address. The ride home felt longer than usual, my mind replaying the events of the day. My first real project. My new friend. The shocking realization that my CEO was the man from the elevator.
When the auto pulled up in front of my house, I paid the driver and walked to the front door. I pulled out my keys and unlocked it, pushing the door open.
The house was silent. Empty.
I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. The dishes I had prepared in the morning were still spread out on the table, untouched and cold. That was strange. Usually, everyone ate and left the dishes for me to clean later. But these looked like no one had even touched them.
"Uncle?" I called out. "Aunty?"
No response.
I walked through the living room, checking the kitchen and then the other rooms. Nobody was home.
Where was everyone?
I pulled out my phone and dialed Uncle's number. It rang several times before going to voicemail. I tried Aunty's number next. Same thing. No answer.
A knot of worry began forming in my stomach. What if something had happened?
I was about to try calling again when I heard the sound of a car engine in the parking area outside. I rushed to the window and looked out. Uncle's car was pulling into the driveway.
Relief flooded through me.
I hurried to the front door and opened it just as Uncle, Aunty, and Avija were walking up the path. But the relief I felt quickly turned to confusion.
Avija's eyes were red and swollen, like she had been crying for hours. When she saw me standing in the doorway, her expression twisted into something I could only describe as pure disgust. She pushed past me without a word and ran up the stairs to her room.
I stared after her, completely bewildered.
"Avija?" I called, but she did not respond.
Aunty gave Uncle a meaningful look, some silent communication passing between them, and then she too walked past me and headed upstairs without saying anything.
I turned to Uncle, worry tightening my chest.
"Uncle, what happened? Is everything alright? Where were you all? I was worried."
Uncle's face was tired. He looked older somehow, the lines around his eyes deeper than I remembered.
"Viya, I need to talk to you about something. Come to the terrace with me."
His tone was serious. Final. It sent a chill down my spine.
"Okay," I said quietly.
He turned and walked toward the stairs. I followed him, my heart beginning to pound. We climbed up to the terrace in complete silence. The evening air was cool, and the sky was beginning to darken with the approaching night.
Uncle walked to the edge of the terrace and stood there for a long moment, his hands clasped behind his back. He did not look at me. He just stared out at the street below.
"Uncle?" I prompted gently. "What is it? You are scaring me."
He took a deep breath. Then he turned to face me.
