𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅 𝐑𝐔𝐈𝐍

After the clothes were distributed to the people, the crowd finally started to thin out. The voices that had filled the temple just minutes ago faded into distant echoes. The air turned heavy, and the place began returning to a strange, uneasy silence. Srilekha wiped her sweaty hands on her sari and looked around, expecting to see Arohi standing nearby.

At first, she didn't panic. She figured Arohi had just found a quiet spot to sit away from the noise. But as the seconds ticked by, a cold knot started to form in her stomach. That silence... it wasn't right. It felt thick, like it was hiding something.