Author's POV:

Vannika and Shruthi had been walking side by side, their steps quiet but their hearts full of anticipation. For Shruthi, the heaviness she had been carrying for months seemed a little lighter that morning. Though her struggles had not ended, the thought of reuniting with the people who once meant the world to her gave her a rare flicker of peace. Vannika, determined and steady as always, noticed the slight curve of relief on Shruthi's lips but said nothing. She simply tightened her dupatta and rang the doorbell with a spark in her eyes.