As expected, the ladla beta squad jumps in

When Smriti Mandhana announced that her wedding had been called off, a quiet shiver went through the country. Not because breakups are unusual, but because betrayal — especially when inflicted on someone as accomplished and beloved as Smriti — feels like a national insult. She is a World Cup champion, a youth icon, a woman who has earned every ounce of her success. If even she cannot escape heartbreak, what hope do the rest of us have?

But the deeper sickness here is not the cheating alone. Heartbreak is painful but not uncommon. What is far more disturbing is the cultural machinery that activates the moment a man’s reputation is at risk. The ladla beta defence squad — also known as the Indian family — jumps into formation.

Suddenly, timelines shift. Narratives soften. Statements are iss