On April 24, 2024, at the crowded Muscat International Airport, 39-year-old Selvakumar (whose name has been changed to protect his identity) stood alone. It was his longest stay on land since he left India in a fishing vessel called Rosy in December 2023. His disheveled clothing and beaten duffel bag stood in stark contrast to the airport’s carefully curated waiting area, where life-size artificial date palms tried to conjure order and luxury.