Vipula, are you alright?

After talking to Karunesh for some time, Jignesh nodded in reluctant approval and headed back to his room. The weight of the night’s revelations bore heavily on him, but he took solace in knowing that Karunesh would remain by Vipula’s side.

Karunesh stayed outside Vipula’s door, his back against the wall, his heart heavy with concern. He could hear the muffled sound of her sobs through the night, each cry a dagger to his own heart. Sleep eluded him as he kept vigil, his mind racing with thoughts of how to support her through this unimaginable pain.

As the hours dragged on, exhaustion began to take its toll. He eventually slid down to sit on the floor, his head resting against the doorframe. Despite his best efforts to stay awake, the long day and emotional strain caught up with him, and he drifted into a restless sleep.

Inside the room, Vipula wept until she could cry no more. The darkness outside mirrored the turmoil within her, but as