The following day arrived quickly, warm and bright. Mridha opened her eyes slowly, somehow grasping the sudden warmth around her. This hostel was something new, something warm for her. It was a place where there was no morning hustle of work, no curses, no fear of being hungry if your work was not completed. And to her grace, she didn’t even have that dreadful nightmare last night.

“Wake up, sleepy head. Or else you will be late for classes,” a sweet, calm voice echoed across the room.