As the car rattled along the road, Avantika’s mind was still reeling from the visit to the doctor’s cabin. Her heart fluttered with a mixture of curiosity and dread, but she kept her face composed. The family had been unusually silent during the ride back, and she sensed an unspoken tension hanging thick in the air.

When they finally reached the house, the sight inside was even more unsettling. The moment Avantika stepped through the door, she saw her father-in-law, Mr. Kumar, standing stiffly in the living room, his face stern and unreadable. Every family member was present—her mother-in-law, her sister-in-law, her brother-in-law, and others—all gathered like a silent jury. Their eyes looked at her with an unreadable expression, some frowning, others with cold indifference. The atmosphere was heavy, oppressive.