11 min read Shamli Oct 27, 2026 11:35 AM IST First published on: Oct 27, 2026 at 08:33 AM IST

Multi-storeyed houses are packed closely on either side of Qureshi Mohalla, their upper floors casting a shadow on the road. Overhead, a web of black electric wires criss-cross between the rooftops. Open drains on either end carry a thin stream of dark sludge and bits of litter — a plastic cover, a chips packet, a half-torn gutka sachet.

Further down, the concrete lane winds past a small neighbourhood store where colourful plastic household goods, including stools, dustpans, utensil scrubbers and toilet brushes, dangle from a low green awning.

A few steps away, a three-storey house looms over the others. Its entrance features dark granite pillars, tiled steps, and a grey electric meter bolted to the wall. A large, reddish-brown iron gate is locked under a silver padlock.

Ayush Malik. (Special Arrangement)

It is the home of Chandni Qureshi and her family.…