“Appa, I need a separate room for me,” Nithyashree declared with an adorably stern expression, her tiny arms crossed firmly over her chest as she stood in front of her father, blocking the path like a little commander.

Ashwin looked up from the couch, amused. He could already sense this conversation wasn’t going to be a simple one. Just then, from the other end of the house, Kavya moved between the kitchen and the fridge, her mind juggling the morning's menu. She didn't miss her daughter's voice cutting through the usual domestic rhythm.