Sanjana had been married for just ten days when everything changed.

The new apartment still smelled faintly of fresh paint and jasmine from the wedding garlands. Aravind left for work every morning at seven-thirty, kissing her forehead with the same polite sweetness he’d shown since their arranged marriage. She liked him; he was gentle, respectful, handsome in a quiet way. But gentle had never been enough for the fire that burned low in her belly.