Laddu lay back on the sofa 😌, baby resting comfortably on his chest 👶💤.
One hand gently tapping the baby's back 🤍,
the other waving lazily in the air ✋😴.
Out of nowhere, he spoke.
"I remember one incident from my school," he said 😏.
Everyone glanced at him.
That tone always meant danger ⚠️.
"It was school assembly," Laddu continued.
"I was standing on stage."
Maya leaned forward.
"Why?" 🤨
"Because of my long hair," Laddu replied calmly 💇♂️.
Candy giggled.
"Of course." 😂
Laddu smiled.
"Our principal," he said,
"very strict man. Face like punishment itself." 😠
Father nodded.
"I know that type." 😮💨
"He came close," Laddu continued,
"and said he was going to beat me."
Mochi raised an eyebrow.
"And?" 👀
"He asked," Laddu said, copying the voice perfectly,
'Is there no barber in your village?'"
Smiles started spreading 😄.
"I said," Laddu went on,
'There are four.' ✋✋✋✋
Mother frowned.
"Then why didn't you cut your hair?" 🤔
Laddu grinned.
"Principal asked same thing."
Laddu straightened slightly, reenacting 🎭.
"'Then why your hair is like this?'"
"And I said," Laddu paused dramatically 😌,
'They are busy.'"
Candy laughed out loud 🤣.
"The principal got angry," Laddu said.
"He asked, 'First barber?'"
"I said," Laddu continued calmly,
'His wife ran away with another man.' 😐"
The room burst into laughter 💥😂.
"But principal didn't stop," Laddu said.
"He asked, 'Second barber?'"
"I said," Laddu replied,
'With him… she ran away.' 😇"
Maya slapped the sofa laughing 🤣🛋️.
"And principal shouted," Laddu said,
'THIRD BARBER?' 😡
Laddu smiled innocently 😇.
"I said," he finished,
'He helped them run away.' 🏃♂️🏃♀️
"And principal shouted," Laddu continued,
'FOURTH BARBER?!' 😤
Laddu smiled even more innocently.
"I said," he finished,
'He helping first barber to catch his wife.' 🤝😌
💣 The entire house exploded.
Candy rolled on the floor laughing 🤣🤣.
Maya wiped tears 😭😂.
Cousin couldn't breathe 😵.
Father laughed openly 😆.
Mother covered her mouth, shaking 😹.
"And you know what?" Laddu added softly.
"What?" Candy asked between laughs 😂.
"Even my strict principal laughed," Laddu said.
"And let me go." 😌
He looked down at the baby 👶.
"Comedy saves life," he said seriously 😐.
Mochi shook her head, smiling 💕.
"You were dangerous even as a child," she said.
Laddu smiled back.
"Yes," he replied.
"Still am." 😎
Everyone was laughing and smiling 😊😂💖.
Village Rumour Time 🌙🪣😬
Laddu shifted slightly on the sofa, still holding the baby like a professional nap pillow 👶🛌.
"You know," he said casually,
"once there was a rumour in my village."
Everyone instinctively looked at him 👀.
"Danger," Maya whispered ⚠️.
Laddu continued anyway.
"They said," he explained,
"if you ask anything at night from the temple well… you will get it." 🌙🪣✨
Candy's eyes lit up.
"Magic well?" 😮
"Yes," Laddu nodded.
"Village-level Amazon." 📦😂
Father smiled.
"Rumours like this never die." 😌
"There was one greedy wife," Laddu went on,
"very greedy." 😤
Mother sighed.
"Of course." 🙄
"She forced her husband to go with her," Laddu said.
"He didn't believe the rumour."
Mochi leaned closer.
"And?" 👂
"They reached the temple well at night," Laddu said.
"Husband went first." 🌑
He changed his voice, dramatic 🎭.
"He asked for something," Laddu said.
"Nothing happened."
Candy frowned.
"Fake?" 🤨
"Husband said same thing," Laddu nodded.
"He laughed." 😆
"But then," Laddu paused 😏,
"wife said, 'My turn.'"
Everyone waited 😮💨.
"She leaned over the well," Laddu continued…
"And?" 😰
"She fell in." 💥🪣
The room froze ❄️.
Then—
Maya burst out laughing 🤣.
Cousin choked 😵😂.
Candy gasped, then laughed too 😆.
Father shook his head.
"That escalated fast." 😐
Laddu nodded seriously.
"From that day," he said,
"husband fully believed the rumour." 😌
Mochi blinked.
"…he ask freedom from his wife?" 😳
"Yes," Laddu replied calmly 😇.
Candy giggled.
"And got it." 😂
Mother laughed softly.
"Lesson?" 🤍
Laddu looked down at the baby 👶.
"Never test rumours at night," he said.
"And never force someone who already said no." ☝️
Maya clapped 👏.
"Moral story with casualty." 😭😂
Laddu smiled.
"Village stories," he said.
"They teach you without homework." 📚❌
The baby slept peacefully 😴.
The house laughed warmly 🏠💖.
And somewhere,
a temple well kept its reputation intact. 🪣😌