The air was thick—drenched in perfume, smoke, and sin. The grand mahfil had begun to breathe in rhythm with the music and the murmurs of men.

Silken curtains swayed like veils hiding unspoken secrets. From behind them, the delicate laughter of young girls and the soft clinking of anklets echoed, blending with the low hum of the crowd. The lamps burned low and golden, casting trembling halos on the velvet walls.