Soniya stood alone in the vast empty marriage hall long after the last relative had left. The fairy lights still glowed dimly along the edges of the stage, casting long shadows across the polished floor. The air smelled of leftover incense, wilted flowers and the faint sweetness of the sweets that had been served earlier. She had stayed behind to help pack the remaining decoration boxes because her aunt had asked her to, and now the place felt too quiet, too large.

The side door clicked shut. She turned.