Adultery Life of Avi Singh

[lee.jae.han]

## Update 92: The Empty House and Panic (Avi and Komal)

I came home after the exam, feeling the familiar relief, but the moment I reached the gate, I knew something was wrong. The house was locked, completely secured with a heavy padlock. It meant absolutely no one was home—a highly unusual occurrence. I rattled the gate hard, waiting for a response that never came. I asked the nearest neighbors, but they didn't know anything either. This was the first time that my home had ever been locked like this when I was due back. Normally, if my Chachis had to go somewhere important, they would tell me once, or at least one Chachi would stay at home, knowing my exam ended at 2 p.m. It was fine with my uncle; he would be in the fields at this time, but my Chachis should have stayed at home for me.

My anxiety surged. I immediately went to Pooja Bua's house, hoping to find my Chachis gathered there. Pooja Bua's house was also locked, the gate chained shut. Now my heart started to beat fast, thumping against my ribs. I felt a cold knot forming in my stomach. *Did something happen to my Chachis? Or to Raj or Pooja Bua herself?* I couldn't understand anything, the possibilities racing through my mind. The panic was sharp in my throat.

Then I quickly went to Neha Bua's house. I felt a small flicker of relief upon reaching her gate—her house was not locked. I knocked hard on the gate, desperate for answers. Komal opened the gate, and her face broke into a happy smile seeing me.

"Where is Neha Bua?" I asked immediately, the tension in my voice overriding my greeting.

Komal frowned, looking confused. "I don't know where Maa went," she shrugged, adjusting her dupatta.

I became even more worried hearing this. My mouth felt dry. "You're at home, yet Bua didn't tell you anything before leaving? No message?" I pressed her, my eyes searching hers.

Komal shrugged, her confusion turning to mild annoyance. "When I came home after the exam, the house was already locked. I had my own key. I opened the lock with it and came into the house. And I just started to study for tomorrow," she explained simply, moving aside.

My mind was about to burst with the illogical string of locked houses and unannounced departures. I rubbed my temples, trying to think clearly. "Didn't you go to Pooja Bua's and Neeta Bua's houses to find out what was going on?" I asked, my voice low with frustration.

"Maa always goes somewhere or the other with the others," Komal said dismissively, rolling her eyes. "What's new in this that requires me to go hunting for them?"

The thought of Komal knowing anything about my Chachis or Pooja Bua's complicated movements felt impossible. I said a hurried bye to Komal, turning on my heel, and went straight to Neeta Bua's house, the last hope. Her house was thankfully not locked. I knocked on the gate with a sudden sense of urgency. Kavita (Komal's sister) opened the gate. I walked inside, and Kavita went directly toward Leena's room.

I felt a genuine sense of relief wash over me after coming inside the safety of an open house. There, sitting inside, were Pooja Bua and Neha Bua with Neeta Bua. The familiar voices of Kavita, Leena, and Raj were coming from inside the room, an anchor of normalcy. My Chachis were clearly surprised to see me here, knowing my exams were ongoing. *Why was I here instead of studying?* their expressions seemed to ask, faces crinkling with surprise.

Neeta Bua leaned forward, her expression concerned. "Hey Avi, how come you're here right now? Your exams are going on. You should be studying at home," she said, patting the sofa beside her.

"I had some urgent work with you all," I explained, gesturing vaguely at my empty hands. "I went to Pooja Bua's and Neha Bua's houses, and no one was there, so I came here as a last resort."

Neha Bua looked puzzled. "Why did you go to my house first?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Pooja Bua's house was locked completely," I told her, my voice strained, feeling the fear return. "So I immediately went to your house."

Pooja Bua's brow furrowed. "What work did you have with me that was so urgent?" she demanded, her casual demeanor gone.

I went straight to the point, the words tumbling out. "Do any of you know where my Chachis are? All three of them?"

Pooja Bua laughed lightly, waving her hand dismissively. "They must be at home, Avi. Where else could they be? It's the middle of the day," she insisted, still smiling.

"The house is locked," I repeated, the three words heavy with concern, watching her smile fade.

Pooja Bua's amusement instantly vanished. She snapped upright. "What? The house is locked? This is the first time I'm hearing that your house is locked when Meena is supposed to be home," she exclaimed, shock painting her face.

"Do any of you know anything about where they might have gone suddenly?" I pressed, looking from one face to the next, my gaze desperate.

Neeta Bua shook her head, sincere in her reply. "No, Avi, we genuinely don't know where they went. We've been sitting here talking for the last three hours, since lunch," she confirmed, her lips pressed tight.

I stood there, feeling helpless and worried. My body tensed. "I don't know where my Chachis went without a word," I mumbled, my hands curling into fists at my sides. A knot tightened in my gut. My heart hammered against my ribs, refusing to slow down. The silence from the room seemed to press in on me.

Pooja Bua tried to reassure me, waving a dismissive hand. "Don't worry, Avi. They'll come back. They're not little kids who would go somewhere and get lost like this," she insisted, her voice trying to be calm.

"But," I started, needing a better explanation, my voice rising slightly.

"Oh yeah, maybe they went to the fields with your uncle," Pooja Bua suggested, an idea suddenly striking her. "He must have called them all to help with something urgent."

"But they could have at least told me, knowing I was coming home," I argued, the logic failing. "And how can all three go at once?"

"Don't worry about the logic," Pooja Bua insisted, ushering me toward the inner room. "Your uncle must have called them. They'll be back soon. You go and sit down to study with Komal and Leena for a bit."

Neeta Bua nodded in agreement, pushing me gently. "And don't think too much about this. They'll come back safe," she promised.

Neha Bua gave me a gentle push. "Now go and study with Komal. Your exam is tomorrow," she ordered softly.

I left the room, still sad and highly uneasy, the mystery of the empty house heavy in my thoughts. "Yes, Bua," I mumbled.

I went to find Komal in the inner study room, the strange disappearance of my Chachis lingering in the back of my mind, demanding an answer.

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