Dev sat on the plush beige couch inside Ashwin's home, the faint scent of sandalwood and coffee lingering in the air. His arms were gently wrapped around Nithyashree, who was perched on his lap, chattering animatedly about something entirely nonsensical. Her fingers played with the button on his shirt, and she occasionally giggled, oblivious to the shadows that danced across the faces of the adults around her.

He wasn't paying attention to her words, not really. His thoughts were tangled elsewhere, back to the moment he first saw this tiny tornado of joy. It was a year ago. His anni—Nithya—had called and asked to meet him at a quaint little café tucked away in the quieter parts of the city. He had gone, half-curious, half-reluctant. And then he saw her.