Living Room — Another God-Tale
Candy leaned forward again.
Eyes wide.
Voice small but demanding. 👀✨
"…Another one."
Laddu nodded.
Slow. Certain.
Story-mode unlocked. 🔓📖
"There was a great king," he said,
"named Vikram."
The name landed heavy. 👑
Father straightened a little.
Recognition sparked.
"Ah." 👀
Laddu continued.
"He was a master of knowledge,
a master of weapons,
and a real Indian ruler." ⚔️📚
Maya whispered, impressed,
"Serious guy."
No jokes this time. 😮
"In those times," Laddu said,
"kings followed one rule only."
His finger rose. ☝️
"Promise complete," he said,
"or death."
No negotiations. ⚖️☠️
Candy swallowed hard.
That wasn't a fairy rule.
That was iron. 😶
"One day," Laddu went on,
"a black magician tricked King Vikram."
Darkness entered. 🌑
"He asked Vikram to bring him a ghost
from the jungle," Laddu said.
"A dangerous one." 👻🌲
Candy's eyes widened.
"…A ghost?"
Fear mixed with curiosity. 😳
"Yes," Laddu nodded.
"Vikram went alone."
No army. No backup. 🚶♂️
The room was silent now.
Even the walls listened.
Stories were sacred here. 🏠✨
"He found the ghost," Laddu said,
"and put it on his back."
The burden was literal. 🎒👻
"But the ghost had a condition,"
he continued.
Suspense tightened. ⏳
"Vikram must not say
a single word."
Absolute silence demanded. 🤐
Candy nodded slowly.
That sounded easy.
It wasn't. 😐
"But," Laddu said,
"the ghost was clever."
A faint smile appeared. 😏
"While sitting on Vikram's back,
the ghost told him a story."
Then another. 📖👂
"At the end of each story,"
Laddu said,
"the ghost asked a question." ❓
Maya leaned in.
"Oh no."
She already knew. 😬
"The ghost said," Laddu continued,
"if you know the answer
and do not speak—"
"I will cut your head
into one thousand pieces."
Cruel math. 🗡️🩸
Candy gasped.
That wasn't a riddle.
That was a threat. 😨
"But," Laddu said calmly,
"if you don't know the answer,
you may stay quiet."
Father nodded slowly.
"Cruel logic."
A trap disguised as choice. 🪤
Laddu looked at Candy.
Eyes steady.
"King Vikram knew the answer." 🧠
Candy whispered,
"…So?"
Heart pounding. 💓
"So he spoke," Laddu said simply.
No drama.
Just truth. 🗣️
"And the moment he answered,"
the ghost laughed,
jumped down,
and ran back into the jungle." 🌲👻
Candy sighed.
"He failed?"
Hope cracked. 😞
Laddu shook his head.
"He didn't fail," he said.
"He kept his promise." ✔️
Mother smiled softly.
"Truth over convenience."
Values restored. 🌿
The cousin added quietly,
"Integrity cost him time,
not honor." 📜
Candy thought for a moment.
Then spoke slowly.
"…So the story isn't about ghosts." 🤔
Laddu smiled.
"It never is."
Lesson delivered. ✨
The room settled again.
Wisdom hung in the air.
Quiet. Heavy. Respected. 🕯️
Candy blinked.
"…Then what?"
She wasn't done. 😌
Laddu continued, voice steady.
"After that," he said,
"the same thing happened again."
"And again."
And again.
And again. 🔁
Candy's eyes widened.
"…Many times?"
Endurance test. 😳
Laddu nodded.
"Twenty-four stories."
No shortcuts. 🕰️
Maya whispered,
"That's commitment."
That's torture. 😅
"Each time," Laddu said,
"the ghost told a story,
asked a question—"
"And each time," he added,
"Vikram answered."
Truth demanded a voice. 🗣️
"Each time," Laddu finished,
"the ghost escaped."
Cycle unbroken. ⭕
Candy frowned.
"So… what was the point?"
Confusion peaked. 🤨
Laddu smiled gently.
"After the twenty-fourth story," he said,
"the ghost finally told the truth." 💡
The room leaned in.
No breathing.
No blinking. 😶
"He told King Vikram," Laddu continued,
"the black magician was using him."
"Vikram was meant to be sacrificed." 🩸
Mother's face hardened.
"Of course."
Power hides behind tricks. 👁️
Father nodded.
"Manipulation always does."
Nothing new. 📉
"The ghost," Laddu said,
"was never evil."
"He was cursed." 🔗
Candy whispered,
"…So what happened?"
Hope returned. 🌱
Laddu finished calmly.
"King Vikram and the ghost
went together." 🤝
"They found the black magician,"
"and they killed him."
Justice without mercy. ⚔️
Silence followed.
Not fear.
Respect. 🕊️
Candy let out a breath.
"So the ghost was freed?"
Ending earned. 😌
Laddu nodded.
"Yes."
Freedom restored. 🔓
Maya smiled.
"That's justice."
Earned, not gifted. ⚖️
The cousin added,
"Knowledge beats manipulation."
Every time. 🧠
Mother said quietly,
"Stories teach
before they comfort." 🌙
Candy looked at Laddu, eyes bright.
"If I were King Vikram," she said,
"I would win easily." 😤
Everyone laughed.
The tension broke.
Childhood returned. 😂
"Indian god-tales are intense," Candy said.
Heart racing.
Mind open. 💥
Laddu smiled softly.
"They teach one thing," he replied.
"Truth survives."
"Even when it walks
through darkness."
Especially then. 🌑✨
Living Room — Festivals 🎉
Candy tilted her head again.
Curiosity eternal.
"…What about god festivals?" 🎊
Laddu smiled, proud.
"In India," he said,
"they've happened for thousands of years."
"Casually."
No posters.
No tickets. 😌
Candy blinked.
"Casually?"
Mind bending. 🤯
"Yes," Laddu nodded.
"People just join."
"Everyone." 👣
"They chant," he continued.
"No invitation."
"No permission." 🔊
Maya raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds… huge."
Understatement. 😅
"You can't compare it," Laddu said.
"Sometimes the crowd becomes—"
He paused.
"…bigger than the population
of many countries combined."
Scale shattered. 🌍
Candy's mouth opened.
"…What?"
Reality glitch. 😮
Father nodded slowly.
"That's true."
No exaggeration. ✔️
Mother added quietly,
"It's faith moving."
"Not people." 🕊️
The cousin murmured,
"Statistically absurd."
"Yet it happens." 📊
Maya smiled softly.
"So it's like the world
walking together." 🚶♀️🚶♂️
Laddu nodded.
"For some days," he said,
"it feels like that." 🌄
Candy smiled in awe.
"That's not a festival."
It was bigger. ✨
Laddu replied gently,
"That's belonging."
Nothing else. 🏠
The room stayed calm.
No pride.
Just wonder. 🌌
Candy said suddenly,
"…I want to go to India."
Decision made. ✈️
Laddu smiled.
Not surprised.
Just ready. 😊
"In India," he said,
"every 100 kilometers—"
"everything changes." 🔄
Candy blinked.
"Everything?"
Impossible scale. 😳
"Yes," Laddu nodded.
"Clothes change."
"Language changes." 👗🗣️
"The way people talk changes,"
he continued.
Identity reshapes. 🌈
Maya leaned in.
"That fast?"
Mind racing. 🧠
"You meet all religions," Laddu said.
"Living together."
"Not separate." 🤝
"There are thousands of languages,"
he smiled,
"and every color imaginable." 🎨
Candy whispered,
"…That's many worlds."
Eyes shining. 🌍
"And even chai," Laddu added,
"tastes different everywhere."
Important fact. ☕
Candy laughed.
"Tea too?"
Culture confirmed. 😂
"Yes," Laddu said seriously.
"Even tea has personality."
Absolutely true. ✔️
Father smiled.
Mother nodded knowingly.
They knew. 😌
"And," Laddu finished,
"cricket is everywhere."
Mandatory. 🏏
Father grinned.
"Of course."
Non-negotiable. 😄
Laddu leaned back.
"It's noisy."
"Confusing."
"Beautiful."
"Exhausting." 🌪️
He looked at Candy.
"But if you walk long enough—"
"it feels like home." 🏡
The room stayed warm.
India wasn't explained.
It was felt. ❤️
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