If Rubab thought Amma had become strict before, she was mistaken. After the wedding date was fixed, it was as if Amma had transformed completely. From the very next day, Rubab was confined to mayoon, her movements restricted to her room or a few select corners of the kothi. The courtyard, the rooftop, even standing by the window to feel the breeze—all were off-limits now.

At first, Rubab didn’t mind. She caught up on sleep, watched her favorite Amitabh Bachchan films on cassettes, and even indulged in daydreams about her new life. But by the third day, the novelty wore off. Amma’s instructions seemed endless: Wake up on time. Sit properly. Talk like this at your in-laws’. Don’t do this, don’t do that. It felt as though even the sound of her breathing might earn her a sharp remark for being “too loud.”