The week a layoff almost ended our engagement

The call came on a Tuesday: restructuring, position closed. By Wednesday my fiancé had switched off—no eye contact, no plans, just “I’ll figure it out.” I tried problem-solving; he heard criticism. Our parents kept asking for dates and budgets, and our engagement started to feel like an exam he was failing.

A colleague sent me Pt. Dayaram Joshi’s page with a note: “He lowers the temperature.” I wrote to him that night. Pandit Ji didn’t give speeches. He asked for a focused stretch of days where he would hold a quiet process, and we would hold posture: no career talk after 8 p.m.; one morning walk together; and a weekly check-in with both families so the pressure didn’t land only on him.

Midway, the house felt different. He spoke about fear without flinching; I listened without fixing. Daya Sir also spoke to our parents: “Support first, logistics second.” The questions reduced, and respect returned to the room.

On the last day, we mapped a simple plan—interviews, freelance bridge work, shared expenses for three months. The engagement ring stopped feeling heavy. We felt like partners again.