I ended the call and set my phone down on the desk with more force than necessary.
What kind of unprofessional behavior was this? She had worked on this presentation all night. She had been so excited about solving the problem. And now she simply did not show up?
I reached for my phone again, intending to call her and demand an explanation.
Then I stopped.
I did not have her number.
The realization hit me like a physical blow. I was her husband. We had been married for three days. We lived in the same house. We slept in the same bed.
And I did not even have her phone number.
What kind of husband was I?
The question sat heavy in my chest, uncomfortable and accusatory.
I called Meera again.
"Sir?"
"I need you to get me Viya Mehra's phone number from HR. Immediately."
If Meera found the request strange, she was professional enough not to comment on it.
"Of course, sir. I will have it for you in just a few minutes."
Those few minutes felt like hours. I paced my office, unable to sit still. I was angry at her unprofessional behavior, yes. But underneath the anger was something else. Something that felt uncomfortably like worry.
What if something had happened? What if she was sick? What if she was hurt?
When my phone finally buzzed with a text from Meera containing Viya's number, I dialed it immediately.
It rang once. Twice.
Then she picked up.
"Hello?"
Her voice sounded small. Uncertain.
"This is Armaan," I said, my tone sharper than I intended. "I have been informed that you have not reached the office yet. You were supposed to present your optimization proposal today at eleven. It is now eleven forty five. What kind of careless behavior is this?"
Silence.
Complete, absolute silence on the other end of the line.
The silence stretched on for so long that I thought the call had dropped.
"Viya? Are you there?"
Then I heard it. A soft, broken sound. A whimper.
All the anger drained out of me in an instant, replaced by sharp, immediate fear.
"What happened?" I demanded, my voice suddenly urgent. "Viya, what is wrong?"
"I am at the hospital." Her voice was thick with tears, barely above a whisper. "With Dadi."
