Rohan stabbed his dal rice. Kabir scrolled his phone with aggressive thumbs.

Rohan watched the screen. Kabir sat back down, still not speaking. But his plate had moved two inches closer to Rohan’s.

Without a word, Kabir pushed his plate aside, stood up, and walked to the old cupboard. From the bottom shelf, under some bedsheets, he pulled out a dusty DVD — the Dekh Bhai Dekh best episodes collection.

Asha, oblivious, answered the call. “Haan ji, bolo… haan, aajao, khana ready hai.” She clicked the phone shut and placed it back. The echo of the ringtone hung in the air like a time machine.

Then it happened.