C74 The Village Court

Morning in the mountains always arrived with quiet sounds.

Birds in the trees.

Wind brushing through the pine branches.

And today—

A group of village women talking loudly in the courtyard.

Arjun stepped outside the house carrying a tray with Aisha’s medicines and breakfast.

Inside, Aisha was still half asleep under the blanket.

He had spent the last ten minutes convincing her to eat