Layers of Us

Chapter 74: Tripura is missing!

Morning was nothing short of serene.
The soft chirping of birds filled the air, and the golden rays of the sun streamed gently through the curtains, casting a warm glow inside the room.

Ram let out a lazy sound, stretching his arms above his head before blindly reaching out for her. His fingers skimmed over the mattress, searching for the familiar warmth beside him.

But all he found was emptiness.
His brows furrowed as his eyes fluttered open.
The other side of the bed was cold. Untouched.

Frowning, he rubbed his eyes and sat up, looking around the room. Maybe she's in the washroom.

He took a moment to enjoy the peaceful morning, staring at the sunlit sky through the window. But something felt off.

After a few minutes, curiosity turned into concern.
"Why hasn't she come out yet?"

Getting up, he walked towards the bathroom door and knocked.
"Tripura? Are you there?"

Silence.

His heart skipped a beat.

He knocked again, a little harder this time. "Tripura?"

No response.

Not waiting any longer, he turned the knob and pushed the door open.

Empty.

His frown deepened. His gaze darted around the space, but there was no trace of her.
"Where the hell did she go?"

He strode towards the bed, picking up his phone to call her-only to find her phone sitting right there on the table.

A frustrated groan left his lips. His grip tightened around his phone as unease crawled up his spine.
"She wouldn't leave without saying anything... would she?"

Without wasting another second, he sprinted through the apartment.

The hall? Empty.
The dining area? Empty.
The kitchen? Empty.
The balcony? Empty.

She was nowhere to be found.

Ram's chest tightened as an unsettling feeling settled deep within him.
Where was she?

Without wasting another second, Ram grabbed his car keys and rushed down the stairs, his heart pounding with every step.

Stepping out of the building, he made a beeline for the security post, his voice urgent as he asked, "Did you see Tripura go out this morning?"

The guard, startled by his tone, quickly nodded. "Yes, sir. Tripura ma'am left early in the morning."

Ram's breath hitched. "Did you notice which way she went? Was she alone? Did she take a cab?"

The guard shook his head. "Sorry, sir. I just saw her leaving, but I didn't notice anything else."

A wave of frustration and helplessness crashed over Ram.
"Where could she have gone?"

Muttering a hurried "Thanks" to the guard, he sprinted towards his car, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as he drove out in search of her-without even knowing where to look.

Minutes turned into an hour. An hour stretched into two.

He drove aimlessly through familiar streets, scanning every corner, stopping at every signal, hoping to catch a glimpse of her.