Under the Rain Tent's Last Lantern
The embers of midnight still glowed on the wet canvas as the six lowered their joined hands. No one spoke until the tent's lantern flickered one final time—then died. Meher tucked the sapphire bracelet inside her sleeve. Zoya folded her flame pendant into her palm. Inaya slipped the encrypted drive into her bag. Somewhere beyond the canvas, the first crows of dawn cried out over the Ganges, summoning them toward Varanasi and the truths that waited there.

Jet to Varanasi
The roar of the Seghal private jet tapered off as it landed on the monsoon-slick runway. Through the oval windows, the city's spires rose through mist. Their convoy of black armored SUVs lined up beside the aircraft—Aman waving from the driver's seat, Arjun checking the gear, Rhea filming every moment for the family archive.