Chandigarh, Oct. 20 -- As lights flicker across balconies and homes fill with the scent of sweets and smoke from diyas, there's another side to Diwali - quieter, lonelier, but just as essential. From hospital wards to fire stations and crowded crossings, a section of society stays back to ensure the festival runs smoothly for everyone else.

At Chandigarh's PGIMER, Muskan Sharma, a 26-year-old nursing officer from Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh, prepares for another festive season away from home. It's been seven years since she left her family and three since she last celebrated Diwali with them. Yet, she and her colleagues still keep the spirit alive - ordering sweets, putting up a few decorations or by exchanging little gifts with patient...