His Wife

Chapter 5

Advika's POV

The morning sun poured into Advika's room, casting a warm glow on the soft curtains. The house was silent, save for the gentle hum of the air conditioning. As I woke up, I stretched and yawned, the comfort of my bed a stark contrast to the day that lay ahead. I got up and went through my morning routine, brushing my teeth and dressing for the day. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and toast wafted up from the kitchen, mingling with the jasmine perfume from the garden below.

I made my way downstairs, my thoughts drifting to the fact that Dad hadn't come home last night. The house felt oddly empty without him. Grandpa was already at the breakfast table, his usual calm demeanor masking an undercurrent of tension. I tried to push away the nagging feeling in my stomach as I greeted him.

"Good morning, dada ji," I said cheerfully, taking my seat and pouring myself a cup of coffee.

Grandpa looked up from his newspaper, his eyes betraying a hint of unease. "Good morning, Adu. How did you sleep?"

"I slept okay, thanks," I replied, my eyes darting to the empty chair where Dad should have been. "I was just wondering—where's papa? He didn't come home last night."

Grandpa's face tightened, and he cleared his throat before answering. "Oh, your father had to stay late at the office. There are some urgent matters with the company that he needed to address. It's nothing to worry about."

I nodded, though the knot in my stomach tightened. "I see. I hope everything is okay."

"Yes, everything will be fine," Grandpa said, though his tone lacked conviction. "You should focus on your day. You have college and other things to think about."

I tried to shake off my concern, but it lingered as I finished my breakfast and headed out for college. The unease clung to me throughout the day.

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College was a blur today. My mind was preoccupied with thoughts of papa. It been month he always in tension not even eating and taking his medicine and the strange atmosphere at home. My friends' conversations felt distant, and I struggled to focus on the lectures. The sense of something being off gnawed at me, the idea of Dad's sudden and unexplained absence unsettled me.

At lunch, I sat with Kriti in the bustling cafeteria, but my thoughts were miles away. Kriti noticed my distracted demeanor and raised an eyebrow.

"Hey, Adu, you seem out of it today. What's going on?" Kriti asked, concern in her voice.

I looked up, forcing a smile that didn't reach my eyes. "It's just... my dad. He's been working late a lot recently, and he wasn't home last night. It's not like him to be so absent."

Kriti frowned, her gaze softening. "I'm sure it's nothing serious. Maybe it's just a particularly busy period at work. You know how demanding his job can be."

"I hope you're right," I said, though I wasn't convinced. "It's just that this feels different. I've never seen him so stressed before."

Kriti reached across the table, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. "Look, I know it's hard, but worrying won't change anything. He'll be okay. Maybe he's just caught up in something big."

I appreciated Kriti's attempt to comfort me, but the gnawing worry remained. The day dragged on, and my mind kept circling back to my father's unexplained absence. I tried to focus on my classes, but my thoughts were consumed by a sense of unease.