"Why?" she repeated, exasperated. "Do you think this is normal? I mean—have you seen anything like this before?"
Veer's head tilted, and then he nodded without hesitation.
"Of course. It's not something you find in every house, sure, but plenty of village chiefs' homes and older buildings have the same structure."
She stared at him, still not convinced. "So… you're saying this is common?"
"Yes," he replied matter-of-factly. "In elders' houses, temples, and a few other places I've been—it's nothing out of the ordinary."
Veer's gaze roamed restlessly across the room, scanning every corner as if the walls themselves might whisper secrets. Kaya lingered a moment longer at the doorway, taking in the interior. Her eyes traced the polished drawers lining the walls, each topped with a small flower vase—delicate, perfectly arranged.
