The usually airy hush of the evening breeze stood unnaturally still, as if it, too, was bearing the weight of the moment. The air felt dense—heavy with unspoken emotions, pressing down on everything it touched.

Meanwhile, in the heart of the crowded lobby, Veeransh stood frozen in place, unmoving. His eyes shimmered with unshed tears, yet none dared fall. People passed by him relentlessly, brushing past as though he were invisible—as though his existence had dissolved into the noise around him. His lips twitched faintly, betraying a reaction he refused to allow himself, but otherwise, he remained numb, hollow.