“I can’t afford to go out to eat.”

“I don’t want you to worry about that. I have a plan for how to fix that.”

Hope flashed in Hari’s eyes. It was then drowned out by the fear that perpetually widened them.

“Do you have a favorite place? A favorite food?”

“I love my mother’s muli parathas.”

Vansh loved those too, but finding the flaky flatbreads stuffed with spicy radish in San Francisco at such short notice might be a challenge even Vansh wasn’t up for today. He’d get J-Auntie to make him some soon. “I’ll tell you what, I’m going to bring you those the next time I come over. What about something local? Do you have a place you like to go to around here?”

“I like the center. They have meals for people like me.”

“Great, we can go there, if you prefer.”

Hari looked excited for the first time that day. “You’d do that?”

“I’ve eaten in messes and community kitchens in at least seven countries. I’ll bet your community center is fancy compared to some of the places I’ve been.”

Hari sat up. “I’ve never met anyone like you. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who’s lived in seven countries.”

“Take a shower and I’ll tell you all about it.”

Half an hour later Vansh and Hari were walking down the three blocks to the community center against the chilly January wind. Vansh shrank deeper into his light jacket. At least Hari looked warm in his huge puffy jacket. It looked almost new.

Vansh rubbed his hands together; maybe they should have taken a car.

“You should get a better coat,” Hari said, then started to unzip his. “Take this one. You don’t feel the cold at all in it. Not even a little bit.”

Something tightened in Vansh’s chest. He stayed Hari’s hand. “I’m fine. We’re not that far. That’s a great coat though. Thank you.”

“Did you know they were called great coats in the olden days? I remember reading a Russian story about it back in school.” Hari zipped back up. “That actor Ashton Kilmer handed these out last year to everyone on the street. He gave away thousands of coats last winter.”

“That’s awfully kind of him. I should call him and let him know you appreciate it.”

“You know him?”

“His sister worked with Yash at the US Attorney’s Office years ago, so we hung out a few times.”

Hari looked impressed, and as they got closer to the community center, he got oddly more comfortable. When they got there, he brightened visibly. “You sure about this?” he asked Vansh.

“Of course. How’s the food here?”