Brinda's mother glanced between her daughter and Adhiraj's mother, both sharing a look of compassion for Brinda. They recognized that her loss today was greater than anyone else's presence here could measure.

Two women from the neighborhood arrived, wiping away her vermilion and removing her mangalsutra, yet Brinda remained seated as if frozen. Her mother's eyes brimmed with tears upon witnessing her daughter in such despair.