Not everyone whispered.
Some stayed.
Some listened.
Some cared.
Her little circle formed slowly.
Mei Lin from China.
Elara from Wales.
Sam from Yorkshire.
Lucas from Ireland.
Sofia from Spain.
Different countries.
Different cultures.
Different religions.
Different stories.
Yet somehow they became family.
They never treated her like a mystery.
They treated her like Alankrita.
That mattered more than they realized.
The nickname started accidentally.
Sam looked at her one afternoon and said:
"You look like a little pumpkin in that oversized winter coat."
Alankrita looked horrified.
Everyone else laughed.
The name stayed.
Little Pumpkin.
Then naturally the baby became:
Baby Pumpkin.
The title was unanimously approved.
Even by the baby apparently.