I walked toward the sound and stopped in the doorway.
Uncle Vinay and Aunty Sangeetha were sitting on the sofa across from Dadi, who was settled in her favorite armchair. They were all engaged in conversation, cups of tea on the table between them.
My heart lifted immediately at the sight of Uncle. I had not seen him since the wedding, and despite everything, I had missed him.
"Uncle!" I called out, walking into the room with a smile.
He stood up immediately, his face breaking into a warm smile as I approached. He pulled me into a hug, his hand coming to rest on my head in blessing.
"Beta, how are you? You look well. Are they treating you nicely here?"
"Very nicely, Uncle. How are you? How is your health?"
Something flickered across his face, too quick for me to identify.
"I am fine, beta. We came to check on Dadi ji's health. We heard about her accident and wanted to see for ourselves that she is recovering well."
I turned to look at Dadi, who smiled at me warmly but with something uncertain in her eyes.
"That is very kind of you, Uncle." I looked around the room. "Did Avija not come with you? Is she still in Paris?"
Uncle's expression shifted slightly.
"She is here. She went upstairs to call Armaan. He should be in your room."
The words hit me like cold water.
Avija. In my room. Calling my husband.
Something twisted uncomfortably in my chest, but I pushed it down.
"Oh. I did not know Armaan was home already. Usually he comes back much later."
Aunty Sangeetha spoke up then, her voice carrying that familiar edge of superiority.
"We called Armaan before coming. He very graciously agreed to leave work early to receive us properly. Since you were not home."
The implication was clear. I should have been home. I should have been the one to receive them.
"I apologize. I was at work. If I had known you were coming, I would have made arrangements to leave early."
There was an awkward pause. Dadi's face had fallen, the joy from earlier completely gone. She looked troubled, almost sad.
Uncle cleared his throat.
"It is alright, beta. You were working. We understand."
But Aunty's expression suggested she did not understand at all.
I looked between all three of them, trying to decipher the strange tension in the room.
"I should go check on Armaan," I said finally, needing to escape the uncomfortable atmosphere. "Let him know I am home."
I turned and walked out of the living room, my footsteps quick as I climbed the stairs. That strange, twisted feeling in my chest was growing stronger with each step.
Avija was in my room. With Armaan. Alone.
I told myself I was being ridiculous. They were probably just talking. About Dadi's health. But the feeling would not go away.
