Kriti blinked, struggling to piece together her disjointed memories. She found herself back in her room after the hospital, but she had no idea how she got here. Her head throbbed, and all she could clearly recall was Rishav’s obsession with her body. Plan is heading write way..

Standing by the window, she looked out over the garden below. The Obroi and Kapoor families were gathered, their laughter and chatter floating up to her on the breeze. It was always like this—a scene of happiness that felt foreign to her. The Obrois, with their traditional values, had always seen her as a curse, a “monster” as they often called her. They believed she brought misfortune, blaming her for her mother’s death and treating her as if she were a plague.