Anjali spent the days leading up to the Chennai visit in a strange, quiet acceptance. After the internal group on Monday, her body had settled into a familiar pattern of residual soreness that no longer surprised her. She went to the office, completed the light work assigned to her, and returned to her PG each evening without resistance. The additional cash Rajesh had promised appeared in her account at the end of the week — fifteen thousand rupees transferred without any official record. She stared at the notification for a long time before simply accepting it.

By the time Monday of the following week arrived, Anjali no longer felt the sharp edge of dread. What remained was a heavy, settled knowing.