Ankit looked at his father and said steadily, "Dad, I know it's hard to believe I'm from the future, but you'll see proof soon enough. I'm not making this up."
His father crossed his arms and replied, "We'll see about that."
Ankit nodded. "My feelings for you and Mom are the same as always, maybe stronger now. I know about the tough times ahead, like Dad's health issues, Mom getting weaker, and problems with Sanya."
His parents exchanged glances, then pulled him into a hug. "You're not on your own anymore," they said quietly.
"Thanks, Mom and Dad," Ankit replied, stepping back.
His mother smiled softly. "What do you need from us, Ankit?"
"I want to help make our lives better by earning some money," Ankit said.
His father shook his head. "We're fine financially—I earn enough. You could help with laundry, chores, and looking after your sister instead."
Ankit persisted calmly. "I want to prepare for emergencies. In the future, I've already started college, so school here isn't necessary right now. A mobile phone would let me earn through YouTube videos."
His father raised an eyebrow. "What about school? Tell me your 10th and 12th board percentages first."
"78% in 10th and 82% in 12th," Ankit answered.
His father frowned slightly. "Those scores mean school is still important for you."
Ankit explained, "School teaches basics, but it doesn't always match career paths or job skills. With a phone, I can create and upload gaming videos to build income."
His parents asked together, "You want to be a YouTuber? What kind of videos?"
Ankit borrowed his father's phone and opened a browser to show example earnings from popular channels.
"Gaming videos. I'll start with Free Fire—a battle royale game where 50 players drop onto an island, fight with weapons and vehicles, and try to be the last one standing in 10-minute matches. It launches soon, around early December 2017, and becomes hugely popular after 2019, topping downloads worldwide."
His father leaned closer. "Which game exactly, and when is the launch , also tell me your mother secret?"
"Free Fire, beta tested in late 2017 and public release December 8. We can play together. Oh, and Mom doesn't like your beard," Ankit added with a grin.
His mother paused, then headed to the kitchen to wash dishes without a word. His father chuckled. "That checks out—you must be from the future. Fine, we'll get you a phone."
"Take me with you", Ankit said.
Ankit joined his father at the local market the next day. They browsed shops with rows of shiny Android models, comparing specs like battery life and camera quality. Ankit pointed to a mid-range phone with good RAM for gaming and video editing.
His father bargained the price down before buying it, calling it an "investment" as Ankit suggested.
Over the next month, Ankit skipped school but stayed productive. He scripted video ideas in a notebook—tips for Free Fire strategies, like safe zone positioning and character abilities—while his sister fussed about the change. His parents stayed quiet, trusting his plan. He also convinced his father to upgrade their internet plan for smoother uploads and shared bank details for future earnings setup.
On launch day, December 8, they sat together, downloaded Free Fire from the app store, and watched the vibrant loading screen as the game installed, ready to explore its island maps and quick matches.