Divya did not come in on night ten. Absent without call, which was unusual — Divya was reliable, her attendance record was excellent, this was the first unexplained absence in eight months. Meera noted it and told herself it was a personal matter and not connected to anything, because that was the rational default.
On night eleven, she called Divya's mobile. It rang and went to voicemail. She called twice more at different hours over the following two days. Voicemail, voicemail. She texted. No response.
She went to Vikram. "Divya hasn't been in. Is she okay?"
Vikram's face arranged itself into the HR expression — the careful, managed expression that said we care about our employees and also this is a confidential matter simultaneously. "Divya has taken personal leave. We hope she'll be back soon."
"Has someone contacted her?"
"HR has been in touch. She's fine — just taking some time." The smile, professional and complete. "Anything else I can help you with?"
Meera went back to her desk. She looked at the empty cubicle to her left. The monitor dark, the headset in its holder, the small things Divya had on her desk — a photo of her family, a small Ganesha figure, a half-used tube of hand cream — all still there, exactly as she had left them.
