Cancellation & Refund Policy

1. Sole Creator Guarantee & No-Return Rationale

Unlike mass-manufactured commercial goods, everything offered through the Citadel is an authentic, individual labor of artistic devotion. Aditya Shinde personally manages every stage:

• 100% Direct Authenticity: Each masterwork is accompanied by a physical, serialized Certificate of Authenticity personally signed and dated by Aditya Shinde.
• Single-Handed Artisan Lifecycle: From raw canvas execution and literary hardbound binding to custom archival crating and courier handover, the process is undertaken single-handedly by the creator.
• Bespoke Handling: Due to the extensive time, material dedication, and vulnerability of delicate fine art in return transit, returns or exchanges are not permitted under any circumstances once an order has been dispatched.

2. Order Cancellation Window

Order cancellations are only permitted within a strict window prior to packaging and handover to our courier logistics partner:

• You may request a cancellation within 6 hours of placing your order by writing immediately to contact@heyshinde.com with your Order ID.
• Once an order has entered custom crate packaging or an airway bill (AWB) tracking number has been generated, the order is locked and cannot be cancelled or recalled.

3. In-Transit Damage Protocol

All physical works are shipped with comprehensive transit insurance. In the rare event that a package arrives with visible physical damage to the outer packaging or contents:

1. You must notify us within 48 hours of courier delivery at contact@heyshinde.com.
2. Provide unboxing photographs and high-resolution video showing the damaged parcel, external courier labels, and condition of the artwork or book.
3. Upon insurance verification with our courier partner (Blue Dart / DHL Express), an insurance claim will be processed to offer either an atelier restoration or an approved insurance reimbursement.

4. Refund Processing Timeline

Where a refund is officially approved (such as a successful pre-dispatch cancellation or verified courier damage claim):