Laddu leaned back, hands behind his head, eyes drifting somewhere far and dusty 🌫️.
"Story time," he announced.
Everyone instinctively settled 🛋️.
"My primary school," he began, "was near a crematorium."
Silence. ⚰️
Maya blinked. "Of course it was."
"Yes," Laddu nodded. "Very educational environment. Life, death, and surprise holidays."
Candy's eyes went wide 😳. "Holiday?"
"Oh yes," Laddu said proudly. "Whenever someone died… our school got a holiday."
Father sighed 😮💨. "That explains many things."
"One day," Laddu continued, smiling at the memory 🙂, "I was walking near the gate and saw two old men standing there, smoking."
He acted it out 🚬, hunched shoulders, imaginary beedis.
"They were talking very seriously."
Laddu lowered his voice, mimicking them.
'One died yesterday.'
'Hmm.'
'Another one is very sick.'
Little Laddu, passing by with his bag 🎒, stopped.
"I heard that," he said, pointing to his ears 👂, "and my brain immediately did mathematics."
Candy leaned forward 🤔. "Math?"
"Yes," Laddu nodded solemnly.
"Two old men. One already dead. One almost dead."
He smiled wide 😁.
"I went home very happy."
Mochi frowned. "Why happy?"
"Because," Laddu said, raising two fingers ✌️,
"that meant two holidays."
💥💥💥
Maya laughed so hard she almost fell off the sofa 🤣.
"That is the most morally confusing logic I've ever heard."
Mother covered her mouth, laughing despite herself 😂.
"Child was innocent… and dangerous."
Father shook his head 🤦♂️. "This explains your relationship with death."
Candy clapped excitedly 👏. "he smart!"
Laddu shrugged.
"I didn't wish death," he said. "I just respected the calendar."
Mochi looked at him, half amused, half horrified 😐.
"You're unbelievable."
He smiled softly.
"That's where I learned one thing early."
"…What?" she asked.
"Life is serious," Laddu said, "but humans survive by laughing at the timing."
The room quieted a little 🌙.
Then Maya groaned.
"WHY does every dumb story turn wise at the end."
Candy hugged Ben 🐶. "brpther story good."
Laddu leaned back, satisfied 😌.
"And that," he concluded,
"is why I don't smoke."
Everyone paused.
"…Because of holidays?" Maya asked.
"No," he said calmly.
"Because old men near crematorium scared me."
Mochi smiled faintly 🙂.
Some lessons come from books 📚.
Some from schools near fire 🔥.
Candy tilted her head again, curiosity undefeated 🤨.
"brother," she asked, "why you don't smoke?"
The silence didn't break on its own.
It was Laddu who broke it.
Still sitting straight on the sofa.
Still staring at the wall.
Voice low. Honest. Heavy.
"I do smoke," he said.
The room stiffened instantly ⚠️.
Candy's head snapped up 😳.
Maya froze mid-breath.
Father's fingers tightened around the cup ☕.
Mother didn't move at all.
Mochi felt it before she understood it.
Laddu continued, calmly. Too calmly.
"I smoke when I hate myself," he said.
"Because part of me thinks… maybe it will kill me."
No laughter.
No jokes.
No chaos.
Just impact.
Candy's face crumpled immediately 😟.
"…Brother?"
Maya's voice came out sharp, unplanned.
"That's not funny."
Father stood up slowly 🧍♂️.
"What do you mean… hate yourself?"
Laddu finally looked away from the wall.
At the floor.
At nothing.
"When I feel like I failed someone," he said.
"When I feel useless."
"When I think I hurt people "
He tapped his chest lightly 🤏.
"That voice comes."
Mother inhaled sharply.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just pain.
"And that voice says," Laddu continued,
"maybe if you damage yourself a little… it's fair."
Candy ran to him without thinking 🏃♀️.
She wrapped her arms around his leg tightly.
"No. Don't say that."
Maya swallowed hard.
"You idiot," she whispered. "You think disappearing fixes anything?"
Laddu shook his head.
"I don't think it fixes things."
"I think I deserve it."
That sentence landed like broken glass 🧊.
Father's voice cracked.
"…Who taught you that?"
"No one," Laddu replied.
"I learned it myself."
Mother walked over slowly.
Every step deliberate.
She knelt in front of him.
Took his face in both hands 🤲.
"You listen to me," she said, voice trembling but firm.
"No mistake makes you disposable."
Laddu's jaw tightened.
"I know," he said.
"But knowing and feeling are different."
cousin wiped her eyes angrily 😤.
"So when things hurt… you choose pain you can control?"
Laddu nodded once.
"Yes."
Candy looked up at him, eyes wet 😢.
"Then you don't hate smoking."
"You hate yourself."
That one hurt more than anything else.
Laddu didn't reply.
Because she was right.
Father sat back down heavily.
"This is not weakness," he said quietly.
"This is loneliness."
Mochi hadn't spoken yet.
She stepped forward now.
Slow.
Controlled.
No panic.
She sat beside Laddu.
Close enough that her shoulder touched his arm.
"You think smoking might kill you," she said calmly,
"so you don't have to decide anything."
He didn't deny it.
She nodded once.
Then placed her hand over his.
"Next time you hate yourself," she continued,
"you tell me first."
Laddu turned toward her.
"…What if it's ugly?"
"Then it's honest," she replied.
"And honesty doesn't deserve punishment."
Mother covered her mouth, tears finally spilling 💧.
"You carry too much alone," she whispered.
Candy hugged his arm now 🤍.
"You are not allowed to die."
"I still need stories."
Maya leaned forward.
"And chaos."
Father spoke last.
Voice steady.
Strong.
"If you ever feel like that again," he said,
"come sit in front of me."
"Don't burn yourself in silence."