Vivaan kicked the dust and groaned because the quickest way was blocked. Kiran touched his shoulder and said, “Easy, explorer. A fair is not just one straight race.”

Vivek checked where Kavya had toddled, then smiled at Vivaan. “This fair has many paths,” he said, guiding them on. “Each one tells a piece of Dussehra, if you slow down enough to hear it.”

Vivaan let out a breath and followed, still annoyed but listening now. Somewhere ahead, a drum went dum-dum-dum, as if the fair itself was calling, “Come see the rest.”