A whole day had passed since Rajni had left with Srikant, and Ratnesh found himself restless and adrift. He wandered aimlessly through the haveli, his footsteps echoing in the vast, empty hallways. Occasionally, he entered the office, pretending to check on work, but he left without accomplishing anything. Other times, he ventured out to inspect the fields, only to stand idly, distracted and clueless about the tasks at hand.

The day dragged on, every moment stretching longer than the last. The silence of the haveli felt oppressive, and his thoughts were consumed by her. It was a dull, monotonous torture, made worse by the memory of their parting-a moment that replayed in his mind like a broken record.