“Reluctant Contest”
Seven years had passed since Vivaan first came into Vanshika’s life, and the peaceful home beside the pond had witnessed countless little changes.
The child who had once slept in the curve of her arm had grown into a lively seven-year-old boy, curious about nearly everything and increasingly capable of finding trouble in places where none had existed before.
Yet some things had remained exactly the same.
Vivaan still loved sleeping beside Mom.
Vanshika still found excuses to hug him whenever she pleased.
And neither of them had developed the slightest intention of surrendering the title of the more troublesome member of the household.
Unfortunately for Vivaan, that morning began with Mom waking up first.
The room was quiet, washed in the pale light of dawn.
Beyond the open curtains, the pond reflected the soft colors of the morning sky, and the first birds had begun singing among the trees.
A gentle breeze moved the curtains, carrying the fresh scent of flowers into the bedroom.
Vanshika opened her eyes and remained beneath the blanket for a few moments, enjoying the peacefulness of the morning.
Then she turned her head and found Vivaan sleeping beside her.
Her expression softened immediately.
He was lying on his side, facing her, with one hand tucked beneath his cheek and the other resting loosely against the blanket.
His midnight-blue hair had become a complete mess during the night.
Several strands fell across his forehead, while one particularly stubborn lock pointed in a direction that seemed to defy every sensible explanation.
His face was relaxed in sleep, his long eyelashes resting against his cheeks.
Without his usual curious expressions and cheerful questions, he looked wonderfully peaceful.
Vanshika studied him for several seconds before a mischievous smile appeared on her face.
“My goodness,” she whispered, leaning closer.
“Who is this handsome little boy?”
Vivaan didn’t move.
Vanshika glanced toward the bedroom door, then back at the sleeping child.
“Is he a visitor?” she continued in a deliberately thoughtful voice.
“Should I ask someone to take him home?”
Still, Vivaan remained asleep.
Vanshika pressed her lips together to suppress a laugh.
“No response?
How rude.
Mom is trying to have a perfectly reasonable conversation with you.”
When Vivaan offered no reply, Vanshika decided that the conversation required a more practical approach.
She gently poked his cheek with one finger.
His cheek sank slightly beneath her touch.
Vanshika stared at it in fascination before poking it again.
“Oh, that’s soft,” she murmured.
She looked at his other cheek, considering it carefully.
“Perhaps this one is different.”
She gave the other cheek an equally gentle poke.
It wasn’t different.
Vanshika nodded to herself with great seriousness.
“Confirmed.
Both cheeks are equally adorable.”
Vivaan remained blissfully unaware of the investigation taking place.
Encouraged by her success, Vanshika moved her finger to the tip of his nose and tapped it gently.
Tap.
Nothing happened.
She tapped it again, twice in quick succession.
Vivaan wrinkled his nose in his sleep.
Vanshika immediately covered her mouth to keep from laughing aloud.
“Oh!” she whispered, watching his face.
“That got a reaction.”
She waited until his expression relaxed before tapping his nose once more.
This time, Vivaan turned his face toward his pillow, apparently determined to escape whatever mysterious disturbance had interrupted his dreams.
Vanshika followed the movement with her eyes.
“Trying to escape the investigation, are you?” she murmured.
She brushed the hair away from his forehead, only to run her fingers through it in the opposite direction and make it even messier.
After examining her handiwork from one angle, she adjusted a lock of hair over his forehead.
Then she moved it aside, smoothed it down, and deliberately messed it up again.
Vanshika smiled with deep satisfaction.
“Perfect.”
She tilted her head to inspect the result.
“No, perhaps this is better.”
After one final adjustment, she nodded approvingly.
“Actually, I think the first one was perfect.”
Her little project had become far more entertaining than she had expected.
Then she noticed Vivaan’s hand resting near hers.
Vanshika slipped her fingers into his palm and gently squeezed them.
“Such little hands,” she murmured affectionately.
“And yet somehow, these are the same hands that keep stealing the best pieces of fruit from Mom’s plate.”
Vivaan’s fingers curled around hers automatically.
Vanshika’s playful expression softened.
For a moment, she simply held his hand, remembering the tiny fingers that had once wrapped around hers when he was a baby.
He had grown so much since then.
He could walk, run, read, and ask endless questions.
He could even argue with her using reasoning that occasionally proved inconveniently effective.
But when he slept beside her like this, she could still see the little boy who had once struggled to crawl across the floor just to reach her.
Vanshika leaned down and kissed his forehead.
“Seven years already,” she whispered.
“When did you get so big, sweetheart?”
Vivaan didn’t answer.
She smiled again, her mischievous mood returning.
“Well, since you’re not going to answer, Mom shall continue her important work.”
She gently pressed one of his cheeks between two fingers, barely enough to change its shape.
“Squish.”
After releasing it, she gave the other cheek the same treatment.
“Squish.”
Vanshika examined his face with exaggerated amazement.
“Unbelievable.
They return to normal every time.”
She was enjoying herself far too much.
Unfortunately for her, Vivaan was beginning to wake up.
His eyebrows moved slightly beneath his messy hair.
Vanshika froze, her hand hovering suspiciously close to his cheek.
His eyelids remained closed for another moment before he shifted beneath the blanket and slowly opened his eyes.
At first, Vivaan looked drowsily at the pillow.
Then he turned toward Mom and found her leaning over him, wearing the innocent expression of someone who had absolutely done nothing wrong in her entire life.
Vivaan blinked sleepily.
He looked at her, then at her hand, and finally at the strands of hair falling across his forehead.
He raised one hand and touched them, attempting to understand why his hair seemed to have developed its own independent opinions overnight.
Vanshika greeted him with a bright smile.
“Good morning, sweetheart!”
Vivaan studied her suspiciously for another moment before asking, “Mom, what are you doing?”
Vanshika gasped softly, pretending to be deeply offended by the question.
“What am I doing?”
Vivaan nodded, his gaze fixed on her hand.
Vanshika straightened her back and adopted an expression of great importance.
“I am doing one of the most important things in the entire world.”
The last traces of sleep disappeared from Vivaan’s expression.
“Important?” he repeated, sitting up slightly.
“Extremely important,” Vanshika confirmed.
“A task that requires patience, dedication, careful observation, and a remarkable amount of skill.”
Vivaan stared at her.
“What task, Mom?”
Vanshika folded her hands in her lap as if preparing to deliver an official announcement.
“One that only a very qualified person can perform.”
Vivaan glanced at his hair again before looking directly at her.
“Mom, you’re lying.”
Vanshika immediately placed a hand over her heart.
“How could you say such a thing to your own mother?”
“Because you messed up my hair!” Vivaan protested, pointing accusingly at the unruly strands.
Vanshika glanced at his hair and then back at him.
“Did I?”
“Yes!” Vivaan insisted.
Vanshika raised her eyebrows in exaggerated surprise.
“That’s a very serious accusation.”
“You were touching my face too,” Vivaan added, narrowing his eyes as he remembered the suspicious hand hovering near his cheek.
Vanshika considered his accusation for a moment before breaking into a smile.
“Ah.
You’ve discovered my secret.”
Vivaan sat up fully, pulling the blanket around his waist.
He regarded his mother with the patient expression of a child who had already learned that she could be impossible whenever she wished.
“So, what were you doing?” he asked.
Vanshika leaned closer and answered without the slightest hesitation.
“I was playing with my son.”
Vivaan paused.
Then he stared at her as though she had just confessed to something entirely unreasonable.
“You woke me up to play with me?”
Vanshika shook her head, correcting him with a perfectly straight face.
“No, no.
I did not wake you up.
You woke up by yourself.”
“Because you poked my cheek!” Vivaan pointed out.
Vanshika placed a hand over her chest.
“An unfortunate coincidence.”
“And tapped my nose!” Vivaan continued, raising another accusation.
Vanshika nodded thoughtfully, as though his complaint deserved serious consideration.
“Perhaps your nose was asking for attention.”
“Mom!” Vivaan exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief.
Vanshika burst into laughter.
Vivaan shook his head, then reached forward and caught both her cheeks between his hands.
“Now it’s my turn!” he announced triumphantly.
Vanshika’s eyes widened.
“Oh, no, you don’t!”
She quickly caught his wrists before he could pull her cheeks any further.
Vivaan began laughing, delighted that he had finally managed to surprise her.
“Got you!” Vivaan declared.
Vanshika held his hands away from her face and gave him a stern look that did little to hide her amusement.
“Absolutely not.
Release Mom’s face immediately.”
Vivaan tried to reach her cheeks again, but Vanshika kept his hands gently restrained.
“Vivaan Shaktiveer,” she said, pretending to sound like a very serious judge, “are you attempting to bully your own mother?”
Vivaan immediately changed his expression.
His shoulders relaxed, his eyes widened innocently, and he looked at her as though he had never caused trouble in his entire life.
“Mom, my hands aren’t in my control,” he explained solemnly.
Vanshika went silent.
Vivaan nodded, reinforcing his explanation.
“They just moved by themselves.”
For two seconds, Vanshika stared at him in disbelief.
Then she slowly released his wrists.
Vivaan lowered his hands and examined them with exaggerated concern.
“See?
I can’t even control them.”
Vanshika covered her mouth, but a laugh escaped before she could stop it.
Another followed, and within seconds she was laughing so hard that she had to lean against the pillows. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Vivaan watched her with a pleased smile, clearly satisfied with the success of his explanation.
Vanshika finally managed to look at him again.
“That is my excuse!” she exclaimed between laughs.
Vivaan blinked innocently.
“What excuse, Mom?”
“The one I just used when you caught me playing with your face!” Vanshika replied, pointing at him accusingly.
Vivaan’s smile grew wider.
Vanshika shook her head in disbelief.
“You listened to everything I said, understood the entire situation, and then stole my excuse within five minutes!”
Vivaan shrugged.
“Maybe my hands aren’t in control.”
Vanshika stared at him for a moment before pulling him into a warm hug.
“Oh, you little troublemaker!”
Vivaan laughed as she squeezed him affectionately and kissed his cheek.
“You are exactly like me,” Vanshika declared, smoothing his messy hair with one hand.
Vivaan leaned back to look at her.
“Then it’s not my fault.”
Vanshika’s expression froze.
Vivaan looked back at her with a perfectly innocent smile.
A second later, she burst into laughter again.
“Unbelievable!
You’re already using my own personality against me!”
Vivaan looked extremely pleased with himself.
Vanshika hugged him once more before kissing his forehead.
“Fine.
You win this round, sweetheart.”
She held him at arm’s length and gave him a playful warning.
“But remember something.
I am your mother, and I have many years of experience being troublesome.”
Vivaan smiled confidently.
“Then I’ll practice.”
Vanshika’s face brightened.
“That’s my boy!”
She pulled him into another hug, and the two remained beneath the blanket, laughing together while the morning sunlight gradually brightened the room.
For a little while, neither of them had anywhere else to be.
There were no urgent responsibilities to interrupt them, no reason to hurry through the morning, and certainly no reason for Vanshika to stop hugging her son whenever she felt like it.
Then Vivaan’s stomach made a small sound.
He went quiet.
Vanshika noticed immediately and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
“Well, that was a very clear announcement.”
Vivaan slowly placed one hand over his stomach.
“Mom…”
Vanshika smiled.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
Vivaan gave her a particular look.
His eyes softened, his expression became innocent, and the corners of his mouth lifted into a hopeful little smile.
He didn’t even need to ask.
Vanshika knew that face.
She had known it since he was little enough to fit in the crook of her arm.
It was the expression he made whenever he was hungry and expected Mom to solve the problem immediately.
She tilted her head, pretending not to understand.
“What is that expression supposed to mean?”
Vivaan said nothing.
He simply continued looking at her.
Vanshika pressed her lips together to hide her smile.
“Oh, I see.
You’re trying to convince me through the power of your adorable face.”
Vivaan nodded.
“You haven’t even asked for breakfast,” Vanshika pointed out.
Vivaan nodded again.
“And yet you expect Mom to understand everything?”
Another nod followed.
Vanshika laughed.
“Unfortunately for you, I am very experienced at understanding that face.”
Vivaan’s smile widened.
She brushed his hair away from his eyes, although several strands immediately fell back into place.
“All right, my little troublemaker.
Get ready and wash your hands.
I’ll serve breakfast.”
Vivaan immediately threw off the blanket.
“Really?” he asked, his face brightening.
“Yes, really,” Vanshika answered warmly.
He climbed out of bed, then turned back and hugged her around the waist.
“Thank you, Mom!” Vivaan exclaimed.
Vanshika wrapped her arms around him.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
Vivaan released her and hurried toward the bedroom door, but Vanshika called him back before he could leave.
“Wait!”
Vivaan stopped and looked over his shoulder.
Vanshika pointed at his hair.
“At least try to make yourself look presentable.”
Vivaan ran his fingers through his hair, attempting to smooth it down.
The result was somehow worse.
He stared at his reflection in the nearby mirror before turning toward Mom with an accusing expression.
“Mom, you did this!”
Vanshika nodded, looking completely innocent.
“And I am very proud of my work.”
Vivaan shook his head and marched toward the washroom, muttering something about unfair mothers.
Vanshika watched him go with a fond smile before calling after him.
“And don’t forget to wash your hands properly!”
“I know!” Vivaan called back.
“With soap!” Vanshika added.
“I know, Mom!”
“Both hands!” she called again.
A brief silence followed.
Then Vivaan’s voice came from the washroom.
“Mom, I know how to wash my hands!”
Vanshika laughed.
“Wonderful!
Then you won’t mind proving it!”
By the time Vivaan reached the dining room, breakfast was ready.
The dining area overlooked the pond, where the morning sunlight shimmered across the water.
Fresh food had been arranged neatly on the table, including warm flatbreads, fruit, and several dishes prepared according to Vivaan’s preferences.
Vanshika carried the final dish to the table and placed it in front of his chair.
Vivaan climbed into his seat, and his eyes immediately brightened.
“Mom, that smells amazing!” he exclaimed.
Vanshika smiled as she began serving him.
“I’m glad you approve.”
She placed a generous portion on his plate, added some fruit, and set the bowl down within his reach.
Vivaan picked up his spoon.
His attention was entirely focused on the food, and his hand began moving toward the plate.
A gentle tap landed against the back of his hand.
Vivaan froze.
Vanshika looked at him.
“Excuse me.”
He slowly raised his eyes.
“What?” Vivaan asked, trying to look innocent.
Vanshika folded her hands in front of her.
“Did you wash your hands?”
Vivaan nodded confidently.
“Yes.”
Vanshika continued looking at him.
Vivaan smiled.
She smiled back.
Neither spoke for a moment.
Then Vanshika gently tapped his hand again before he could reach the food.
“Try that answer one more time.”
Vivaan’s smile faltered.
“I did wash them,” he insisted.
Vanshika folded her arms and waited.
Vivaan looked at his plate, then at her, and finally back at his plate.
“Why don’t you trust me?” he asked, sounding deeply offended.
Vanshika leaned forward and brushed a strand of hair away from his face.
“Because I have known you for seven years, sweetheart.”
Vivaan looked indignant.
“That doesn’t prove anything!”
“It proves quite a lot, actually,” Vanshika replied with a knowing smile.
“Mom!” Vivaan protested.
She laughed and gently nudged his hand away from the plate.
“Go and wash your hands properly.
I’ll wait.”
Vivaan stared at the breakfast as though it had personally betrayed him.
“But I’m hungry!”
Vanshika nodded sympathetically.
“Then you should hurry.
Your breakfast isn’t going anywhere.”
Vivaan reluctantly climbed down from his chair.
As he walked toward the washroom, he glanced back at her.
Vanshika smiled sweetly.
“And don’t think I won’t check.”
Vivaan shook his head.
“This house has no freedom,” he complained.
Vanshika heard him clearly and leaned back in her chair, laughing.
“Oh, really?
Who lets you choose your toys, your stories, your garden adventures, and half the things you want for breakfast?”
Vivaan stopped at the doorway.
“You still don’t let me eat whenever I want!” he argued.
“Because you need to wash your hands first!” Vanshika called back.
Vivaan considered the complaint, apparently unable to find a convincing reply.
Finally, he disappeared into the washroom.
Vanshika smiled and waited.
A few moments later, Vivaan returned, rubbing his hands together.
“Done!” he announced.
Vanshika held out her hands.
“Let me see.”
Vivaan showed her both hands with exaggerated patience.
Vanshika examined them carefully before nodding.
“Excellent.
Now you may eat.”
Vivaan climbed back into his chair with a victorious expression.
“Finally!”
Vanshika placed a hand over her heart.
“Poor child.
Mom has subjected you to an unbearable hardship.”
“Exactly,” Vivaan agreed, picking up his spoon.
Vanshika stared at him. Find the original chapter at g.com.
Then she laughed so hard that she had to sit back.
“You’re impossible!”
Vivaan grinned at her.
“And I’m your son.”
Her expression softened immediately.
She reached across the table and gently patted his cheek.
“Yes, you are.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Vivaan smiled at her, and Vanshika returned the smile before encouraging him to begin his breakfast.
They ate together, talking about the garden, the toys Vivaan wanted to build with later, and whether the fish in the pond had grown any larger.
Vivaan had a question about nearly everything, and Vanshika answered patiently whenever she could.
When he became too distracted by talking to eat, she reminded him to finish his food.
When she reached for a piece of fruit, he tried to take it first.
Vanshika caught his hand just before he reached the fruit.
“Excuse me.
That was mine.”
Vivaan looked at the fruit and then at his mother.
“Can I have it?” he asked.
Vanshika pretended to consider his request.
Vivaan leaned forward hopefully.
“Please?”
Vanshika raised an eyebrow.
Vivaan quickly added, “Please, Mom.”
She smiled and placed the fruit on his plate.
“Much better.”
“Thank you!” Vivaan replied cheerfully.
Vanshika ruffled his hair.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
The morning had barely begun, and already the house was filled with their laughter.
After breakfast, Vivaan moved his chair closer to Vanshika’s while she finished her tea.
He had been unusually quiet for nearly a minute, which was enough to make her suspicious.
She glanced at him over the rim of her cup.
“What are you thinking about?”
Vivaan rested his chin in his hands.
“Mom?”
Vanshika set down her cup.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“What is the Reluctant Contest?” Vivaan asked.
Vanshika paused.
She knew what he meant.
A contest had been announced in the territory, and the subject had evidently caught Vivaan’s attention.
She had heard a little about it herself, including the preparations that had begun among the participants.
Rather than answer immediately, however, she lifted her cup and took a slow sip.
“Hmm?” she responded, pretending she hadn’t heard him.
Vivaan frowned.
“The Reluctant Contest,” he repeated.
Vanshika looked at him with an innocent expression.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.
What contest?”
“The Reluctant Contest!” Vivaan repeated more loudly.
Vanshika tilted her head.
“Reluctant?”
“Yes!” Vivaan answered, beginning to suspect that she was deliberately making things difficult.
“What an interesting word,” Vanshika remarked, allowing a suspicious smile to appear.
Vivaan narrowed his eyes.
“Mom, you know what I’m talking about.”
Vanshika set down her cup and folded her hands on the table.
“Do I?”
“Yes,” Vivaan answered firmly.
“Are you certain?” she asked.
“Completely certain!” Vivaan said.
Vanshika gave him a thoughtful look.
“Well, if you are so certain, perhaps you can explain it to me.”
Vivaan opened his mouth.
Then he stopped.
Vanshika waited patiently, her expression growing more amused by the second.
Vivaan finally realized what she was doing.
“You’re teasing me,” he accused.
Vanshika placed a hand against her chest.
“Me?
Teasing my own son?
What a terrible accusation.”
“Mom,” Vivaan said, giving her a warning look.
“Yes, sweetheart?” Mom answered.
“You know what it is.” vivaan said.
Vanshika nodded slowly.
“That is a possibility.”
Vivaan folded his arms.
Vanshika watched him with barely concealed amusement.
He was beginning to resemble her far too much whenever he became determined to get his way.
His narrowed eyes, stubborn expression, and the way he held himself as though preparing to negotiate an important agreement were all painfully familiar.
She leaned toward him.
“Would you like to ask me again?”
Vivaan shook his head.
“No.”
Vanshika raised her eyebrows.
“Oh?”
Vivaan nodded firmly.
“Fine.
If you don’t tell me, I’ll use my Cosmic Spell.”
Vanshika stopped moving.
For a moment, she simply stared at him.
Then one eyebrow rose slowly.
“Your Cosmic Spell?”
Vivaan nodded confidently.
“Yes.”
Vanshika leaned back in her chair and examined him with exaggerated seriousness.
“Interesting.”
Vivaan smiled, pleased that his threat appeared to have made an impression.
“Very interesting,” he agreed.
Vanshika folded her hands on the table.
“Then I have a question for you, young man.”
Vivaan looked at her expectantly.
She leaned forward slightly, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Do you actually know what a Cosmic Spell is?”
Vivaan’s confident smile disappeared.
He opened his mouth, then closed it again.
His gaze wandered toward the window as he searched his mind for an answer that might rescue him from the situation.
Vanshika waited, looking increasingly delighted.
“Well?” she prompted.
Vivaan looked back at her.
“Of course I do,” he answered, trying to recover his confidence.
“Wonderful,” Vanshika replied.
“Explain it to Mom.”
Vivaan sat a little straighter.
“A Cosmic Spell is…”
He stopped.
Vanshika nodded encouragingly.
“Yes?”
Vivaan glanced at her face, then at the table, and finally back at her.
“It’s a spell…”
Vanshika nodded.
“A promising beginning.”
Vivaan took a breath and finished his explanation.
“…that is cosmic.”
Vanshika pressed her lips together, desperately trying to keep a straight face.
Vivaan looked pleased with himself, apparently convinced that he had delivered an excellent explanation.
For exactly one second.
Then Vanshika burst into laughter.
She leaned back in her chair, covering her mouth as her shoulders shook with amusement.
Vivaan’s expression changed immediately.
“Mom!” he exclaimed, sounding betrayed.
Vanshika tried to stop laughing, but she couldn’t quite manage it.
“Oh, sweetheart!
That was magnificent!”
Vivaan crossed his arms.
“It’s true!” he insisted.
“Of course it is!” Vanshika replied, still smiling.
“Mom!”
She finally managed to look directly at him.
“All right, all right.
I apologize.”
Vivaan waited, clearly expecting more than an apology.
Vanshika reached across the table and patted his cheek affectionately.
“But before you threaten to use any more mysterious spells, perhaps you should learn what they are.”
Vivaan regarded her suspiciously.
“Will you tell me about the contest now?”
Vanshika pretended to consider his question.
“Hmm.
Let me think.”
“Mom!” Vivaan protested.
Vanshika laughed and pulled him into a quick hug from her chair, pressing a kiss against his forehead.
“All right, my clever little troublemaker.
I’ll tell you about the contest.”
Vivaan immediately brightened.
“But,” Vanshika continued, holding up one finger, “you must promise not to threaten me with spells you can’t explain.”
Vivaan thought about that condition.
“Can I threaten you with a different spell?” he asked.
Vanshika stared at him in disbelief.
Vivaan smiled.
For a moment, she looked as though she might deliver a very serious lecture.
Instead, she pulled him into another hug and laughed helplessly.
“You really are my son.”
Vivaan hugged her back, looking entirely satisfied with the outcome.
As the morning sunlight spread across the dining room, Vanshika began explaining the contest while Vivaan listened with renewed interest.
He occasionally interrupted to ask another question, and she answered him patiently, sometimes teasing him when his curiosity outran his understanding.
She knew the questions would never end.
Honestly, she wouldn’t have wanted them to.
Because no matter how much he grew, how clever he became, or how many mysterious spells he threatened to use against her, he would always be the little boy who could make her laugh with a single word.
Her beloved Vivaan.
Her mischievous little troublemaker.
And, most importantly, her son.
To Be Continued…