Mother folded her arms gently 🤲.
"So," she said calmly,
"what is the plan for going home?" 🏠
Laddu didn't even blink 😌.
"Very simple," he said.
"I take Mochi with me as my wife." 💍✈️
Mochi snapped her head toward him ⚡.
"I will not go," she said firmly ❌.
Laddu nodded like he expected that 🙂.
"Okay," he replied.
"Then I will find another girl to play wife." 😇
The room inhaled sharply 😳💨.
Mochi stepped closer 🚶♀️.
"You don't dare," she warned 🔥.
Laddu smiled innocently 😊.
"So," he said softly,
"come with me." 🤍
"I am not your wife," Mochi said again.
Laddu tilted his head, thinking 🤔.
"Hmm."
He started counting on his fingers ✋:
"Me and you kiss ✔️"
"I sit on your lap and sleep like it's my personal chair ✔️"
"You know my bank account password ✔️"
"you hate girl near me ✔️"
Maya choked 😵.
Candy screamed 🗣️💥
"STOP LISTING!"
Laddu continued anyway 😌:
"Sometimes I cook 🍳"
"Sometimes you cook 🍲"
"We share house 🏠"
"We fight ⚡"
"We make up 🤝"
He looked at her directly now 👀.
"Now tell me," he said calmly,
"what are we—"
He paused.
"—except husband and wife?" 💍
Silence 🫧.
Mochi's ears turned red 🔴.
Her jaw tightened 😤.
She grabbed Laddu by the collar, pulled him closer until their foreheads almost touched 😠🤏.
"You are impossible," she said quietly.
Laddu smiled.
"But correct?" 😌
Mochi didn't answer.
Instead, she pushed him back onto the sofa 💥🛋️.
Hard.
"You talk too much," she said.
But she didn't walk away 🚫🚶♀️.
Mother sighed, shaking her head 😮💨.
"Just decide before sunrise," she said.
"My blood pressure needs rest." 😤🩺
Maya whispered 🤫,
"They're married without paperwork."
Candy nodded seriously.
"Emotionally illegal marriage." 🚓💘
Laddu leaned back, satisfied 😌.
He didn't need an answer.
Because sometimes,
when the argument gets that specific,
the answer is already living in the house 🏠❤️.
Evening Return 🌆
Evening arrived quietly 🌙.
Not with drama. Not with announcements.
The door opened 🚪.
Mochi stepped in first 👣, followed by Maya and Cousin.
Candy rushed ahead like a small storm 🌪️, Ben trotting behind her 🐕.
Father and Mother came in last, talking softly 🗣️.
And there he was.
Laddu.
Sprawled on the sofa like a fallen king 👑😴.
One arm dangling.
Mouth slightly open.
Peaceful. Shameless.
And on his chest, the baby slept 👶💤, perfectly balanced, rising and falling like it was the safest place in the world 🤍.
Mochi stopped.
"…He's still sleeping?" she said flatly 😑.
Maya squinted.
"If this continues," she declared,
"he's going to become lazy." 😤
Father hummed.
"He already is." 🤷♂️
Mother didn't say anything.
She just smiled 🙂.
Cousin approached carefully 🐾, lifted the baby gently 👶⬆️.
The balance broke.
Laddu shifted immediately 😣.
A small sound escaped him.
Something between a complaint and a sigh 😩.
Mochi tapped his cheek 👋.
"Wake up."
Nothing.
She tapped again. Harder.
His eyes fluttered open halfway 😪.
"…Why is the ceiling angry?" he mumbled.
Maya groaned 🙄.
"Unbelievable."
Mochi crossed her arms.
"Do you want to sleep more?"
"Yes," Laddu replied instantly 😌.
Candy laughed 😂.
Ben barked once 🐕.
Father shook his head.
"This man."
Mother adjusted the blanket 🧺.
"Let him sit for two minutes. He works."
Maya stared.
"When?" 🤨
Laddu lifted one finger ☝️.
"Work-from… dreams." 💭
Mochi sighed 😮💨.
But she didn't pull him up.
Didn't scold him.
Didn't walk away.
"Five minutes," she said calmly ⏱️.
"Then you get up."
Laddu smiled without opening his eyes 😊.
Victory 🏆.
Evidence Time 📱
Laddu cracked one eye open 👁️.
Without dignity. Without urgency.
He slid his phone out 📱.
"Before anyone speaks," he said,
"evidence."
A to-do list ✔️✔️✔️
Everything DONE.
Message from Boss Jin:
Good work. Everything completed. Rest if needed.
Maya leaned in.
"…That's fake."
Laddu scrolled 📜.
Emails 📧
Files 📂
Timestamps ⏰
Father adjusted his glasses 👓.
"Huh."
Mother smiled wider 😊.
Mochi stared.
"You did all this today?"
"Yes," Laddu nodded.
He locked the phone 🔒.
Placed it gently on the table.
Turned his face into the cushion 😴.
And went back to sleep.
Instantly.
Maya threw her hands up 🙌.
"THIS IS UNFAIR!"
Candy clapped 👏.
Cousin laughed 😂.
Ben wagged his tail 🐕🎉.
Mochi stood there.
Laddu stirred again.
"Mochi…" he muttered softly.
She turned back.
"What?"
"From today… my head hurts a lot." 🤕
The room shifted ⚠️.
Maya paused.
Cousin stopped smiling.
Ben sat down.
Mochi knelt beside him immediately 🧎♀️.
"How much?" she asked.
"Since when?"
"Since afternoon," Laddu said.
"Like someone pressing from inside." 🧠
Mother brought water 🥤.
Father stepped closer.
Mochi helped him drink 💧, her hand staying on his arm 🤍.
"Did you eat?" she asked.
"…Snacks."
"That's not food."
He smiled faintly 🙂.
"It tried its best."
She didn't laugh.
"After ten minutes," she said firmly,
"you're lying down properly. Lights off. No phone." 🌙📵
Laddu blinked.
"That sounded like an order."
"It is."
He considered arguing.
Didn't.
"…Okay." 😌
And for the first time that evening—
Laddu wasn't joking.