It's past sunset and seven-year-old Jaivardhan Raj is already groggy. He speaks in a slow drawl, ponders on each question, and provides answers that are on point. That he is exceptionally smart is something we realise within minutes of the conversation, which is peppered with terms such as "strategising", "inaccuracy" and "forfeit".

"He even utters chess moves in his sleep," laughs mother Anubha. Initially, it scared the daylights out of her, admits the Juhu resident. "Frankly, we have never pressured him into playing the game or winning. On the contrary, we tell him, 'Arre, ab bas kar. Take a break, and let's go on a vacation,' but he refuses to do so because he doesn't want to miss out on his chess coaching. It's pure passion," she says.