The dining table at the Pandey house was always less of a table and more of a battleground of words, laughter, and complaints. Today was no different. Steam rose from the bowls of dal, aloo-gobhi, roasted paneer , fresh pahadi rai saag, and a stack of rotis that glistened with ghee.

Adrija sat with one leg folded under her, still slightly wincing whenever her bruised ankle brushed against the chair. But her mother noticed something else first. She placed an extra roti on Adrija's plate and said in her signature sarcastic tone, "Beta... zara batana toh, kitne dinon baad sahi se khana khane ka mauka mila hai tumhe?"
( tell me, after how many days have you finally found time to sit and eat properly?)