Kavya looked up at Vivaan with bright, shining eyes and wrapped one small hand around his finger. “Bhaiya good,” she announced, as if she were telling the whole fair.

Vivaan gave a shy shrug, but his chest felt warm and bright. Getting the best spot had seemed important before. Now telling the truth felt bigger.

Kiran smiled and kissed Kavya’s head. “That is the real win,” she said. Vivaan stayed close to his family as the drums began again, and for once he did not mind being in the middle of the crowd.