Floodwaters swallowed their home—but something terrifying floated in with it.

The veterinarian smiled as she stitched up the snake, explaining how it had probably swallowed the teddy bear thinking it was an easy meal. Luckily, the operation was a success, and the snake would recover in time, much to everyone’s relief after the chaos.

Aditya, still laughing, turned to his grandfather. “Well, I guess we won’t have to worry about that snake anymore,” he said with a grin. His grandfather smiled back, the tension that had hung over them for days finally easing with the storm’s gradual passing.