Anonimo
Missing
That a becam at 9 o'clock on Wednesday. I was going through the emails when our manager Poonam announced to gather in the meeting room. This was strange because our daily connect what supposed to be at 9:30. None of us could understand why another meeting was arranged.
We entered the meeting room. Poonam was with her supervisor Rakesh. That is when I suspected a client escalation. Others also looked confused and worried. The silence in the room appeared deafening.
Poonam looked at Rakesh and asked, "would you like to go ahead?" Rakesh nodded and began, "team we have gathered here to discuss a serious matter". Then he took a dramatic pause of 5 seconds.
When he said 'serious matter' I was almost sure that it was a client escalation and we were going to receive a basing from Rakesh.
He continued, "it is not about the work but one of your colleagues".
I quickly looked around to see who could possibly he be talking about. Out of the entire team Aakash and Keerti were absent. Maybe Rakesh wanted to tell us about better leave management.
Rakesh looked worried. He took a deep breath before delivering the devastating news, "Akash is missing. He was supposed to be on leave till yesterday. His parents called Poonam yesterday because they had not heard from Akash for almost a week. His phone is switched off. We visited his home yesterday but we were told that he had vacated his room in the last week. We are unable to find his traces. If anybody knows anything this will be the right time to tell us".
When I heard that I had a lump in my throat. My mouth went dry. For a few seconds I felt that I was going to faint. While I was trying to gather myself, our colleague Sahil mentioned, " last Friday Akash told me that he was going to visit his parents. That is why he had taken leave on Monday and Tuesday. He was also asking me about how to transfer money from his account to his family's joint account. In the retrospect, retrospect it definitely sounds fishy".
Everybody appreciated that Sahil had been observant and came ahead with the detail that could be crucial to the case.
Another colleague Krishna mentioned another clue, " last week Akash gave me the Superman figurine that I use to love. He said he wanted me to have it".
I was almost on the verge of tears thinking that Akash had been planning this all along.
Poonam added, "a missing report has been filed. The case is being investigated. The police are suspecting that it is a potential case of suicide. We want all of you to think hard and share any suspicion with us. You may think it is a minor detail but it could be the one that can solve the case. Please cooperate with us and the police". I noticed tears in Poonam's eyes too.
We left the meeting room. I sat at the desk and started crying. I could not believe that our beloved colleague was not just missing but potentially dead. Maybe there were warning signs but I had ignored them too. I felt guilty for not being able to help him.
It has been 3 years since this incident. There is still no conclusion to this case. Along with his parents we all are waiting for a closure.
When a colleague goes missing, and you later hear they gave away a treasured item, you
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You have captured that office tension so well. That sudden meeting announcement when daily connect is at 9:30, the confusion, the deafening silence in the room, and that dramatic 5 second pause after saying serious matter. I could literally feel the anxiety building up. I was also sure it was going to be a client escalation and bashing from Rakesh. You write corporate moments in such a relatable way, waiting to read what happened next.
This is genuinely heartbreaking. 💔 The most painful part is not just the uncertainty surrounding Akash’s disappearance, but the three years of unanswered questions his family and colleagues have had to live with. Sometimes, we get so caught up in our daily routines that we fail to notice what someone around us might be going through. This story is a powerful reminder to check on the people we care about, listen without judgment, and never underestimate the importance of a simple conversation. At the same time, we must remember that we cannot always recognise someone else’s struggles or know what they are going through. I sincerely hope Akash’s family finds the answers and closure they deserve. No family should have to live with such uncertainty. 🙏❤️