In the quiet lanes of Shahpura, a modest town in Madhya Pradesh’s Dindori district, stood a home that had quietly witnessed twenty-two years of shared joys, quiet struggles, and dreams. This humble dwelling, built painstakingly over six years, represented a lifetime of memories for Shama Begum, Halim Khan and their son, Asif Khan, who was born the same year they moved into the house. Then, on the morning of 3 April 2022, as the second day of Ramadan dawned softly over the town, the fabric of their lives began unraveling. The family had risen for sehri, partaking in a simple meal before the day’s fast commenced. Shortly after the fajr (dawn) prayer, as the first light of day crept over Shahpura, Asif received an unexpected phone call from Sakshi Sahu, a Hindu woman with whom he was in a relationship. Sakshi, separated from Asif by her family because she was…

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