Saiesha danced around the kitchen, humming to her favorite song. With an apron snugly tied around her waist, she chopped vegetables with practiced ease, a wide smile lighting up her face. The scent of cumin and garlic filled the air, and she grinned at the thought of Anushka’s face lighting up at the first bite.
"Anu’s going to love this," she murmured to herself. "She’s been so stressed lately. This should cheer her up."
She glanced at the clock and frowned. “Hmm, it’s not like her to be this late,” she muttered, brushing the thought aside. “She’s probably already home, holed up in her room as usual.”
The timer on the stove beeped, pulling her attention back to the bubbling pot. “Alright, dumbass,” she said with a laugh, imagining Anushka’s sheepish expression. “If I find you hiding in your room, you’re washing dishes for a week!”
Saiesha wiped her hands on a towel and headed toward Anushka’s room, her footsteps light, her mind still filled with the rhythm of the song.
“Anu? Babe? You home?” she called, knocking on the door. When no response came, she opened it, expecting to find her friend curled up with her laptop. Instead, the room was neat and empty, the bed untouched.
She frowned, knocking on the bathroom door. "You in there? Taking a dump?"
The silence stretched a bit longer than usual. "Interesting," she muttered, closing the door behind her. "Maybe Ravi asked her out already. Ah, you cheeky bastard. She didn’t even tell me–"
Her phone rang from the kitchen, cutting off her thoughts. "It’s probably Anu," she said, smiling as she walked toward the sound. "Let’s hear your excuse."
As she reached for the phone, a pot boiled over, breaking her concentration. She turned quickly, her smile fading as she rushed to turn off the heat. "That never happened before," she muttered, puzzled.
She glanced back at the phone’s screen. In bold. it read – Reshma (Office Admin).
The electronic calendar on the wall read 17th March 2023, 6:03 PM.