10. consumed by the flames

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 03:24:15 +0000

The pantry was a narrow, windowless room smelling of dried spices. The moment the door clicked shut, the muffled sounds of the parents’ laughter and the crackling fire outside seemed to belong to another world. Kabir didn’t let go of her mouth; he pressed her back against the wooden shelves, the jars of flour and pulses rattling behind her head.