Laddu shifted again, clearly uncomfortable ๐.
"I need a pillow," he said, voice dull, already drifting ๐ด.
Mochi stood up, grabbed one from the chair, and placed it under his head neatly ๐ชโก๏ธ๐๏ธ.
Efficient. Perfect alignment. Zero romance. ๐
Laddu opened one eye ๐๏ธ.
Stared at the pillow.
Then at Mochi.
He sighed deeply, like a disappointed poet ๐ญ.
"Mother," he said loudly ๐ข,
"your daughter is not romantic."
Mother froze for half a second ๐.
Then laughed ๐.
Laddu turned his face away from the world ๐โก๏ธ๐๏ธ.
"And because of that," he added, muffled into the cushion,
"I will now sleep."
Silence ๐ซข.
Mochi stood there.
Confused ๐ค.
Slightly offended ๐.
Extremely suspicious ๐.
She turned slowly toward Mother.
"โฆWhat does he mean?"
Mother leaned closer, lowering her voice like she was revealing a sacred family secret ๐คซโจ.
"He wants to put his head on your lap."
Mochi's ears turned red instantly ๐ด๐ฅ.
"โฆThat's not a pillow," she muttered.
Mother smiled knowingly ๐.
"To him, it is."
Mochi looked at Laddu.
Already asleep ๐ด.
Breathing slow.
Completely unbothered.
Like he dropped emotional TNT and walked away ๐ฃโก๏ธ๐ถโโ๏ธ.
She hesitated โณ.
Then quietly sat on the edge of the sofa ๐๏ธ.
Carefully lifted his head ๐คฒ
and placed it on her lap.
Mother pretended not to see ๐.
Maya and Cousin absolutely saw ๐๐.
Candy gasped like she witnessed a crime ๐จ๐ฑ.
Ben wagged his tail ๐๐.
Laddu smiled in his sleep ๐.
Romantic enough ๐.
Mochi's fingers moved slowly through his hair ๐โโ๏ธ.
No thinking.
No planning.
Just comfort. Just care ๐ค.
Laddu's lips curved faintly ๐.
Thenโwithout opening his eyesโhe said, sleepy and perfectly serious:
"Don't show me so much loveโฆ or I'll get pregnant."
๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
The room detonated.
Maya choked on air ๐ต.
"WHAT?!"
Cousin collapsed onto the chair laughing ๐คฃ, clutching her stomach.
"That's not how biology works!"
Candy's eyes went wide ๐ณ.
"Can boys do that??"
Father cleared his throat violently ๐ค.
Twice.
"โฆI'm going to the kitchen."
Mother froze for exactly one second โธ๏ธ.
Then smacked Laddu's leg with a cushion ๐๏ธ๐ฅ.
"Sleep properly, you disaster."
Ben barked once ๐.
Offended on behalf of science.
Mochi's hand froze mid-motion โ.
Her face turned emergency red ๐จ๐ฅ.
"LADDU," she hissed, mortified,
"there is a CHILD here."
He smiled again ๐, still not opening his eyes.
"Too late. Love already received."
Maya groaned ๐.
"I regret coming home."
Mother shook her head, smiling despite herself ๐.
"Even sick, he's impossible."
Mochi didn't move him.
Didn't pull her hand away either.
She just muttered softly,
"Idiotโฆ"
And kept stroking his hair ๐โโ๏ธ.
Laddu fell fully asleep ๐ค.
Mission accomplished โ .
Laddu shifted again, eyes still closed, voice suddenly crystal clear ๐.
"Can I have privacy with my darling?"
Dead silence ๐ซฅ.
Then chaos arrived late, tripping over itself ๐ฅ.
Maya stared like she was choosing between throwing a slipper or calling an exorcist ๐ฉด๐น.
"EXCUSE ME?"
Candy covered the baby's ears with both hands ๐๐ถ.
"Bad words! Bad romance!"
Cousin wheezed ๐.
"He said it like he's in a drama."
Father stopped mid-step ๐ถโโ๏ธโ, sighed deeply ๐ฎโ๐จ, and looked at the ceiling.
"This house survived fireโฆ now it must survive him."
Mother crossed her arms calmly ๐.
"Privacy for what? Sleeping?"
"Yes," Laddu replied instantly.
"Emotionally."
Ben barked twice ๐๐.
Suspicious.
Mochi's face went from pink to emergency-red ๐จ.
"You are sick," she said through her teeth ๐ฌ.
Laddu smiled lazily ๐.
"Head pain. Romance required."
Maya grabbed Cousin's arm ๐ค.
"I'm leaving before I hear something illegal."
Candy protested ๐ค.
"But I want to watch!"
"No," everyone said together โ.
Mother waved her hand.
"Fine. Everyone out. Let him sleep."
Father paused, looked at Mochi ๐.
"โฆIf he says anything more, call me."
They left, still laughing ๐, still muttering.
As the room emptied, Mochi leaned down and whispered sharply ๐คซ๐ณ:
"You have zero shame."
Laddu cracked one eye open ๐๏ธ just enough.
"False," he said softly.
"I only have trust."
Then closed his eyes again ๐ด.
Mochi stayed.
Hand still in his hair ๐ค.
Privacy granted โ .
Suddenlyโmovement.
Before Mochi could react โก, Laddu sat up and settled onto her lap again, gently resting his forehead against her ๐ฎโ๐จ๐.
His arms wrapped around her waist.
Loose. Certain. Like muscle memory.
He pulled the blanket up.
Over her too ๐๐งฃ.
"Mochi," she whispered, startled, instinctively steadying him.
"Your head hurts."
He shook his head lightly.
"No. My head is fine."
She frowned ๐.
"Then what hurts?"
He tightened his arms just a little, cheek pressed against her, voice lower now.
No jokes.
No performance.
"My heart," he said quietly ๐โก๏ธโค๏ธ.
"You know how much I missed my tall flower."
The room went quiet again ๐.
Not awkward.
Soft. Gentle. Safe.
Mochi's breath caught for half a second ๐ฎโ๐จ.
She looked down at himโmessy hair, closed eyes, holding her like this was home.
"โฆI was right here," she said quietly.
"I know," he replied.
"That's why I missed you."
Her hand moved on its own ๐คฒ.
Back to his hair.
Slow. Familiar.
"Sleep," she said softly.
He smiled against her ๐.
"With pleasure."
Under the blanket, wrapped together ๐๐ค, Laddu relaxed fully.
Breathing slowed.
Grip loosenedโbut never left.
Mochi stayed still.
Tall flower ๐ธ.
Holding.