Drishti woke up feeling calm and refreshed, the remnants of a peaceful dream still lingering in her mind. But as she glanced at the clock and saw that it was already eight o'clock, a wave of terror washed over her. Dadi’s strict rule about punctuality loomed large in her thoughts.

She jumped out of bed and quickly prepared herself, determined to avoid a reprimand. Wrapping herself in a red saree paired with a golden blouse, she carefully applied a black bindi on her forehead and adorned her hair partition with vermilion, completing her look.