Saturday night, 10:42 p.m.

The office Diwali party was in full swing on the 30th floor terrace garden—string lights twinkling like fallen stars, marigold garlands swaying in the breeze, dhoom-dhaam music thumping from hidden speakers, trays of samosas, gulab jamun and champagne circulating among laughing employees. Fireworks were scheduled for 11:30. Everyone was dressed in their festive best: men in bandhgalas or kurtas, women in glittering lehengas, sarees, anarkalis.