In April, the Sharma house enters what Mr. Sharma calls the fee quarter. Admission fee, annual charges, books, uniforms, bus fee and something called a development contribution arrive in one envelope, and all of them are due before the mango season ends.
Mrs. Sharma, who maintains a notebook for such occasions, had started a small education fund in January. Each month ₹8,000 went into it, quietly, like a good habit nobody noticed.
When the fee envelope arrived at ₹96,000, Mr. Sharma opened it with the expression of a man defusing a bomb. Mrs. Sharma handed him the notebook and a cheque. The bomb became a receipt.
Their son Aarav, aged ten, asked what the money was for. Mr. Sharma explained that it was for school. Aarav asked why school cost more than his birthday party. Mr. Sharma said it was a very long party with homework.
The next April, Mr. Sharma started the education fund in February without being asked. Mrs. Sharma noted the date in her notebook, with a small star.