Morning light slid across the crowded dining table, touching the glowing laptop, wrinkled savings notes, and Vivek’s serious papers. Beside him stood Vivaan, small and hopeful, tapping his toy cricket bat on his leg.

“Papa, now?” he asked.

Vivek pushed up his glasses and kept reading. “Just a little later, champ. Let me finish this first.” Vivaan hugged the bat to his chest. He nodded, but his big dark eyes went very still.