The evening had settled gently over the courtyard. A soft golden hue lingered in the sky while the faint sounds of cattle returning home echoed from the village lanes. Inside the house, preparations for the Delhi journey had already begun.

Gulab sat on the floor of their room beside an open trunk, carefully folding Shivender's neatly ironed uniforms. Every crease was adjusted twice before she placed them inside. Beside her lay another small bundle containing her own sarees, though compared to Shivender's belongings, her luggage looked almost empty.