As Asha stitched these lives together, the Index became less a set of statistics and more a map of the city’s invisible threads. She began to notice patterns: meetings that happened during the monsoon often had higher "Top" scores—people who shared shelter from the rain stayed close. Contacts made over food or in late-night queues had warmth in their long-term notes. Children who read the same book at Meera's shop later became friends.

Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more