Candy looked amazed.
Eyes wide.
Mind officially blown. 🤯✨
"So… India has mountains?"
Her voice carried disbelief.
Like she had just discovered magic. 🏔️
Laddu laughed softly.
The kind of laugh that says you have no idea. 😌
"Mountains," he said.
"Yes."
Very confidently. ✔️
Then he continued, counting slowly with his fingers.
Like a teacher enjoying the lesson. ✋📖
"Mountains." 🏔️
"Plains." 🌾
"Oceans." 🌊
"Rivers." 🚣
"Ponds." 💧
"Lakes." 🌊
Candy's eyes widened further.
She leaned forward.
Completely hooked. 😲
"Deserts," Laddu added.
"And even white soil deserts." 🏜️
"…White?" Candy asked.
Suspicious.
Concerned. ❓
"Yes," Laddu nodded.
"Like salt."
"Like snow, but hot." 🧂🔥
Maya blinked hard.
"That's unfair geography."
Like nature cheated. 😑
"And forests," Laddu went on. 🌲
"Rain." 🌧️
"Snow." ❄️
"Heat." ☀️
"Everything."
All in one place. 🎒
Father smiled.
"One country, all seasons." 🌦️
Mother said quietly,
"All kinds of nature live there." 🌏
Laddu finished simply.
"You name it."
"India has it." 🇮🇳
Candy leaned back.
Overwhelmed.
Smiling. 😊
"That's not a country," she said.
"That's a world." 🌍
Laddu smiled.
"That's why it takes a lifetime." ⏳
Candy suddenly tilted her head.
New curiosity loading. 🤔
"So… who was your first crush?" 💘
Laddu answered without thinking.
No hesitation.
No filter. 🎯
"The aunty who lived next door," he said.
Silence.
Dead silence.
Global pause. 😶
"…Aunty?" Candy repeated.
Laddu nodded seriously.
"I was two years old." 👶
The room froze.
Then exploded. 💥😂
Maya burst out laughing.
"TWO?!" 🤣
Father lowered his newspaper.
"At least he started early." 📰
Mother sighed deeply.
"So dramatic since childhood." 🙄
Candy stared at him.
"…What did you like about her?" 🤨
Laddu thought carefully.
"She gave biscuits." 🍪
"And smiled." 😊
Candy nodded, impressed.
"Valid reasons." ✔️
Mochi shook her head, smiling.
"This explains everything." 😅
Laddu shrugged.
"Heart knew before brain." ❤️🧠
The house laughed.
History exposed.
Legacy confirmed ridiculous since age two. 🏆
Laddu continued, warming to stories.
"In the Kashmir side," he said,
"there's a festival." 🎊
Candy leaned in.
"A festival?"
Suspicious again. 👀
"Yes," Laddu nodded.
"A girl is chosen." 👧
"Chosen for what?" Candy asked.
"For that time," Laddu explained,
"she is treated like a goddess." 👑✨
The room went quiet.
Respectful.
Heavy. 🙏
"She lives like a ruler," he went on.
"People pray to her."
"They believe she carries divine presence." 🌸
Maya whispered,
"That's intense." 😮
Mother nodded softly.
"Old traditions." 🕯️
Laddu smiled…
Then added casually,
"I also tried." 😌
Everyone turned at once.
"…Tried?" Candy asked.
"Yes," Laddu nodded.
"I wanted to be chosen." 🙋
A beat.
A pause.
Reality loading. ⏸️
"But I got rejected," he said plainly.
"Because," he added,
"I am a boy." 👦
Silence.
Then Maya LOST IT.
"BRO REALLY APPLIED." 🤣🤣
Father shook his head.
"Confidence never left him."
Candy giggled.
"So close." 😆
Mochi smiled.
"At least you tried." 🌱
Laddu shrugged.
"Fair system." ⚖️
The house relaxed again.
A tradition explained.
A rejection accepted.
Laddu unapologetically Laddu. 😌
Laddu suddenly looked at Candy.
"Do you know how to ride a cycle?" 🚲
Candy shook her head.
"…No." 😅
Laddu paused.
"…Huh."
Candy smiled shyly.
"I can try."
Laddu didn't tease.
Didn't laugh.
Just nodded. ✔️
"Let it go," he said simply.
"I'll buy you one." 🎁
Candy blinked.
"…Really?" 😳
"Yes," Laddu replied.
"Everyone should know how to fall and balance." 🌱
Mother smiled softly.
Father nodded approval.
Candy grinned.
"Okay. You teach." 😄
Laddu smiled back.
"Deal." 🤝
Laddu stood up suddenly.
"Driver, start the car." 🚗
Everyone looked at him.
Maya blinked.
"…Where are we going?"
Laddu shrugged.
"To buy a cycle."
Candy's eyes lit up.
"NOW?!" 😍
Mochi stopped near the door.
"…I am not the driver." 😐
Laddu frowned.
"Of course not."
"The one who drives is called driver."
He paused.
"…Not pilot." ✈️
Mochi crossed her arms.
"…Then why did you look at me?"
Laddu blinked.
"Why are you the only one reacting?"
Father nodded.
"That checks out."
Mother sighed.
"This house reacts selectively."
Mochi shook her head.
"…You're impossible." 😅
Outside.
Only Laddu, Candy, and Mochi. 🚘
Engine hummed.
Seatbelts clicked.
Laddu leaned forward seriously.
"Driver, let's go."
Candy giggled. 😄
Mochi muttered.
"…I have a name."
Laddu nodded.
"Yes."
"But function first."
Candy added helpfully.
"She means go fast." 🏎️
Mochi sighed and drove.
Laddu leaned back.
Satisfied.
"Journey has begun." 🛣️✨
Cycle store.
Bright colors everywhere. 🎨🚲
Laddu clapped once.
"Cycle."
"With all safety equipment." 🪖
"For my daughter."
Candy sparkled.
"Yes, papa!" 🥹
Shopkeeper smiled.
"Helmet? Knee pads?"
"All," Laddu replied.
"Full protection." 🛡️
Candy nodded seriously.
"Safety first."
Then Candy pointed casually at Mochi.
"And she is my step-mother."
Silence.
"…But," Candy added quickly,
"she treats me very nice." 😊
Laughter broke out.
Warm.
Unavoidable. 😄
Shopkeeper chuckled.
"Lucky kid."
Mochi turned red.
"…Candy." 🙈
Car ride back.
Quiet for one minute.
Mochi cleared her throat.
"…Why did you say that?"
Candy swung her legs.
"It's normal."
"People laugh."
"Ice breaks."
"No one gets hurt." ❄️➡️😊
Laddu leaned back.
"I was just having fun."
Mochi sighed.
"You two create chaos easily."
Candy smiled.
"But friendly chaos." 😇
Laddu nodded.
"Best kind."
Mochi shook her head…
but smiled anyway. 💛