Lathika stood outside Raahini’s office door, her hands resting briefly on the wooden frame as she gathered herself. The earlier turmoil from the event—the betrayal, the hurt, and the disbelief—was carefully packed away. She had spent long enough in the car’s solitude to regain her composure, and now it was time to step into a room that often felt more like family than business.

She knocked lightly on the door, and upon hearing a familiar voice, pushed it open. The warm scent of sandalwood and jasmine greeted her, as it always did when she visited Raahini’s office. Raahini and Jaimathi sat comfortably by the window, deep in conversation, the late afternoon sunlight casting a soft glow over them.