Alok Mukherjee I The Mallick mansion stood like a fading relic on one of South Kolkata’s quieter streets, its grandeur worn down by decades of neglect, yet still capable of stirring awe in those who crossed its threshold. Rajat Mallick, the current custodian of this ancestral home, walked through its corridors with a nervous air, his mind fixed on the night ahead. The music room, once the pride of his forefathers, had not seen such a gathering in years. High ceilings lined with fading frescoes, Belgian chandeliers that flickered with uneven light, and carved wooden panels heavy with dust spoke…