That night, the room was wrapped in a comfortable silence. The lantern burning in the corner cast a soft golden glow over the mud walls, while outside the haveli the village had slowly drifted into sleep. 

Usually, nights were Shivender's favorite time of the day. It was the only time when the world stopped demanding things from them. No household responsibilities. No family expectations. No interruptions. Just him and Gulab, curled together beneath the same blanket, talking nonsense until one of them drifted asleep.