“My entire family works,” Vansh tried not to snap. “More hours than is probably healthy. What I’m doing, some people might call it the opposite of selfless. Some people believe that the need to feel better about myself is what drives me.”

Hari looked horrified at the prospect of such an accusation ever being hurled at Vansh. “Who would say such a terrible thing about you?” He pulled the bathroom door shut when he noticed Vansh looking inside.

Well, you’re going to meet her today. “Many people feel that way, and they’re not entirely wrong. But hey, if it changes something even for one person, it’s worth it, right?”

That made Hari sniffle. “I will never believe that you are anything but selfless. You’re a true hero, Vansh sir, and I hope you know that.”

Vansh tried to smile. “First, I’ve told you, please call me Vansh. I’m not knighted. And I loathe colonial monarchies, so even if someone tried to knight me, it would not work out. I’m not your teacher either. I was in fact every teacher’s nightmare.” He slid open the closet. It was empty. “Where’s all your stuff, Hari? How did you even get the bathroom cleaned up this much? You don’t have to clean the hotel room. They have housekeeping for that. What did you do with all your stuff?”

Hari threw a quick look at the bed with its generic floral comforter pulled tightly into corners sharp enough to put a professionally gift-wrapped box to shame. Vansh went to the dresser and opened a drawer. Nothing in there. “This is your hotel room. You can use the closet and the drawers for your stuff until we find you a more permanent place.”

“I can’t afford this. I can’t afford a permanent place.”

“You can’t afford it now, but we’re working on you being able to afford it. Not just you, but others like you will have access to places to live.”

“You really think I can help make that happen?”

“You’re a genius, Hari. If anyone can pull this off, you can. The plan for the app we started working on yesterday is brilliant. I have full faith in it.”

The realization had been coming on slowly, but of course technology was the answer. They lived in the technological center of the universe. In today’s world an app was always the answer. It also meant Vansh could go to Naina today with a solution and not just an apology for the betrayal Mehta had trapped him in.

Hari smiled. His eyes were still fearful, but it was an honest-to-goodness smile.

“Did you not sleep in the bed last night?” Vansh felt terrible pushing Hari about this, but it also felt unfair to let him keep believing whatever was going on inside his head.