Nidhi Desai 1 The heat had been building all day, pressing down on Delhi like a smothering hand. By nightfall, the air felt thick enough to drink, and the streets carried the scent of dust, sweat, and faintly rotting garbage. Then, without warning, the city’s power grid collapsed. First the lights flickered, dimmed, and then everything snapped to black. A sudden hush fell over the neighborhood as the hum of air conditioners, refrigerators, and ceiling fans ceased all at once, leaving only the faint sounds of traffic in the distance. Ananya Mehra sat on the edge of her bed in…