A hiss cut through the drums, and the fire-arrow leaped from the bow. Vivaan grabbed his father’s hand and felt his own heart thump, thump.

“There it goes!” Vivaan shouted, bouncing once on his toes. Beside him, Kavya clapped so hard her bangles rang, and Kiran laughed. “This is the big moment.”

Vivek bent close and said, “Watch what it means, not just what it hits.” As the arrow flew, Vivaan stopped thinking about being first and started thinking about being true.