The first rays of morning slipped through the glass windows of the venue, tinting the corridors gold. After a night loaded with rituals, music, and endless relatives, the elders had returned to the mandap for the final morning rites. The kids, exhausted beyond measure, had crashed into their rooms, sprawled everywhere like fallen petals after a storm.

Aditi's family was the first to leave. The incident from the previous night, her fainting, and Amit's sudden urgent work meant they had to rush back earlier than planned. Riva's family followed, heading straight to Delhi to prepare for the reception.