The flat hummed with warmth as the three of them—Kavya, Krishiv, and tiny Bulbul—returned to their snug home after collecting Bulbul from school. There was still laughter from their drive, but as soon as they entered, Krishiv went ahead and dropped his keys on the console and settled in too much.

Exhaling a relief, he fell onto the sofa, kicked his shoes off in place, and dumped his careless feet onto the middle table. He took hold of the remote and turned the TV on, reclining like he was in his own house.