The following morning, a heavy silence hung over Meera’s household. The tension from the previous day’s "inspection" hadn't fully faded when a messenger from the Sarpanch’s Haveli arrived. He brought a stern command: Meera was needed at the Haveli to help the Sarpanch’s elderly aunt with the inventory of the grain stores and some administrative paperwork that required a literate hand.

"Pata nahi kya kaam nikal aaya hai," Hariram muttered, scratching his head. "Par Sarpanch Saahab ka hukum hai. Meera, beti, naha-dhokar taiyaar ho ja. Unka ehsaan hai hum par, mana nahi kar sakte."