Night had settled over Mehra Manor with the slow, exhausted sigh of a house that had lived through too many people and far too much noise. The sky outside was a dusky bruise, clouds pooling like ink above the roof, and driveway lamps cast gentle orange halos on the stone path as Ananya’s car rolled in, its engine humming a soft, exhausted goodbye.

Her hands rested on the steering wheel for a moment, fingertips pressing lightly, as if coaxing strength out of the leather. Her breath left in a weary puff.