Vihaansh finished his work and drove to pick up Vihu from school. The usual rush of end-of-day activity surrounded him as he pulled into the school parking lot. As soon as he saw her running toward him, his heart lightened despite the heaviness of the day. Her innocent smile and the exuberant shout of "Papa!" made a rare smile break across his face. Her laughter was a melody that briefly pushed away the darkness that had become his constant companion. They spent the ride home talking animatedly about her day, with Vihu’s enthusiasm serving as a brief respite from the relentless weight of his grief.

 Once they were home, Vihu eagerly shared stories of her school day while Vihaansh listened attentively, trying to focus on the present. Yet, his mind kept drifting back to the significance of yesterday—the anniversary of Ishika's acceptance of his proposal. The house, usually filled with the comforting noise of everyday life, now seemed too quiet, almost echoing the silence that had become his constant companion.