One sunny morning on Mount Kailash, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were sipping warm milk when their two sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya, came running up.

“Amma, Appa,” said Kartikeya, “who do you think is the smartest and fastest between us?”

Before Parvati could answer, Shiva chuckled and said, “Let’s settle this with a challenge.”

“Whoever can go around the whole world three times and return first,” he declared, “will be the winner!”

Kartikeya grinned and hopped on his peacock, ready to zoom off.

Ganesha blinked. He looked at his round belly, his little legs, and his chubby mouse, Mooshak. “Hmm… this may take some thinking,” he said with a smile.

With a whoosh, Kartikeya flew into the sky on his peacock. He soared over forests, mountains, and oceans, waving at birds and racing the wind.

Back on Mount Kailash, Ganesha sat down calmly. “Mooshak, we’re not built for speed. But maybe… just maybe… there’s another way.”

He closed his eyes, thought deeply, and suddenly smiled wide. Then he stood up, walked around Shiva and Parvati three times, bowed, and sat down.

Parvati raised an eyebrow. “Done already?”

Ganesha nodded. “To me, you are my world. Walking around you is like walking around the whole universe.”

Shiva and Parvati’s eyes sparkled. They were touched.

Hours later, Kartikeya returned — feathers ruffled, tired, but proud.

“I flew around the world three times!” he said.

But then he saw Ganesha sitting calmly, nibbling on a modak. “Wait… how are you already back?!”

Shiva placed a hand on Kartikeya’s shoulder. “Your journey showed speed and strength. But Ganesha showed wisdom and love.”

Ganesha smiled. “Sometimes, the biggest journeys are the ones taken with your heart.”

Kartikeya sighed, then grinned. “Alright, big-belly brain. You win this time!”

And just like that, the brothers laughed, hugged, and shared the rest of the modaks under the starry sky.