Dr. Kavya Malhotra, First‑Person POV

The ceasefire was announced at dawn—an unexpected gift that tasted of hope, sweetness, and fear. Six days had passed since the workshop began, and I had come to expect routine: morning sessions, late‑night debriefs, cups of bitter chai stolen beneath flickering lamps. But today promised something different: a half‑day ceasefire. No drills. No simulations. No soldier or civilian violence for twelve precious hours.