‘Won’t he come back?’: Newlywed bride waits for engineer husband missing in Meppadi landslide

Mepadi: "I don't want to know or hear anything else. I just want him to return..." standing at the doorstep with her hands on her waist, 20-year-old Kalpana says this, her eyes still brimming with the hope that her beloved will return. She does not yet know the scale of the massive soil heap that swallowed her husband Rahul Sharma (27).

She remained certain that he would return at any moment with his usual bright smile. The vermilion is still fresh on her parting. On her wrists are the red bangles traditionally worn by North Indian brides. The rented house on Chembra Road still holds all the beautiful dreams of a newlywed couple.

"We haven't told Bhabhi (sister-in-law) everything yet," Rahul's brother Rohit said, rushing closer. Rahul, an engineer, hails from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. He had left home for his workplace on Tuesday morning around 8.00 am.

Rohit, who works as a chef in Dubai, rushed to Wayanad after hearing about the accident. They were informed of the tragedy by officials from Dilip Buildcon Limited, the contracting company for the tunnel road where Rahul worked. Rahul's father Roop Dev Sharma and uncle Ramveer Sharma, who travelled from Himachal, accompanied him. It was only when the trio reached the rented house on Chembra Road that Kalpana learnt about the accident.
"What will we tell our daughter?" Rahul’s father sobs. Rahul and Kalpana were married just recently, on February 21 . After visiting the disaster site, Rohit is completely devastated.

"Even though we reached Wayanad, there is no clarity on whom to contact or where to file a complaint. So far, we have only seen and spoken to officials from the company where Rahul worked. No one from Kerala (the government/authorities) has called us. What am I supposed to do? I know nothing," Rohit said, completely helpless.

To comfort him, Minister T Siddique was immediately contacted over the phone. Siddique assured them that a system would be set up to provide real-time updates and promised to arrange a meeting with Chief Minister V D Satheesan at the Collectorate.
Even then, Kalpana was busy in one of the rooms. "Father says we can stay in our home village itself. I am packing the bags," Kalpana said.

Rohit mentioned that Bhabhi and his father would head back to their home village on Thursday. Kalpana’s family must also be informed. Rahul's mother, Manju Kumari, is also completely unaware of the reality. Meanwhile, Roop Dev kept looking at his son’s wedding photos on his mobile phone.

"Look, isn't my son handsome? Look at my daughter-in-law..." he said, showing each photograph.
As we prepared to leave, telling them to call for any assistance, Kalpana walked up to us. Her eyes welled up, and the courage she had displayed until then shattered completely. "Won't he come back? Will he leave me all alone?..." her cries echoed. In the echoing tears of his beloved, one can only hope for Rahul's safe return.