Chapter 1: Opening Image
The monsoon rains had begun their annual assault on Mumbai, transforming the city into a symphony of dripping roofs and splashing streets. Inside their third-floor apartment, Daman sat in the living room, his tall frame draped over the armchair, a cup of chai cradled in his hands. The steam rose in lazy curls, mingling with the scent of cardamom and ginger wafting through the air. His eyes were fixed on the photograph perched on the windowsill, a snapshot of a younger Daman and Radhika, their smiles wide and faces flushed with joy.