Laddu shifted again, still half-asleep, half-aware 😴😶🌫️.
Instead of settling, he rubbed his face lazily against her, like a tired cat searching for the warmest spot 🐈⬛💞.
No urgency.
No intention.
Just comfort. Shameless, instinctive comfort.
Mochi stiffened immediately ⚠️.
"…You've become more brave," she said, voice low, warning wrapped in calm 😐⚡.
Laddu froze ❄️.
Then smiled against her, eyes still closed 😊.
"Not brave," he murmured.
"Just familiar."
She placed two fingers on his forehead ✌️ and pushed him back just enough to create space.
Not angry 😌.
Just firm 🛑.
"Sleep," she said.
"Before you cross from brave into stupid."
He chuckled softly 😂, obeyed, resting his head properly against her stomach again.
"Yes, madam."
Her hand stayed in his hair 🤍.
But this time, she didn't let him move again.
Boundaries drawn 🧱.
Affection intact 💗.
Laddu finally gave up the fight with the world 🏳️⚧️.
His breathing evened out 🌬️.
The weight of him settled ⚖️.
Sleep claimed him completely 💤.
Mochi adjusted slightly, careful not to wake him, and draped her arm over his back 🤲.
Not tight.
Just there.
A quiet boundary that also felt like shelter 🛡️.
She reached for the remote 📺 and turned on the TV.
Low volume 🔉.
Some random show.
She didn't really care what it was.
The light flickered softly ✨, painting slow shadows on the walls.
Laddu didn't move.
He slept like someone who knew he was safe 🏠💤.
Mochi leaned back into the sofa, eyes on the screen 👀📺, fingers absentmindedly tracing small circles on his shoulder.
Not romantic 💬❌.
Not dramatic 🎭❌.
Just… natural 🌿.
Every now and then, Laddu shifted closer in his sleep 😴➡️💞, as if the world outside the blanket didn't exist anymore.
She let him.
Evening passed like that 🌆.
TV murmuring 📺.
House breathing 🏡.
Chaos resting 😌.
For once, nothing needed fixing 🛠️❌.
Half-asleep, Laddu spoke again.
Voice soft 🫧.
Unfiltered 🫥.
Barely awake 😪.
"…I want to do cuddle."
Mochi blinked at the TV 😐➡️📺.
Slowly looked down at him.
"You are already doing cuddle," she said.
He shook his head slightly.
"This is… partial cuddle."
She sighed 😮💨.
The long kind.
The kind that meant she knew she was losing.
"What is full cuddle?" she asked.
Laddu shifted closer, carefully this time 🤲, adjusting himself so his head rested more comfortably against her, one arm wrapping around her waist properly.
Not wandering ❌.
Not bold ❌.
Just secure 🤍.
"This," he murmured.
"Like mattress with heartbeat."
She stared at the wall for a second 🧱👀.
Then she adjusted the blanket again, pulling it up around both of them 🛌🧣.
"Five minutes," she said.
"And no movement."
"Yes," he replied instantly ⚡.
Too fast.
Suspicious 😏.
Her arm settled more firmly around him.
His grip relaxed, satisfied 😌.
Laddu smiled in his sleep 😊.
The TV kept playing 📺.
The house stayed quiet 🤫.
And for five minutes that definitely lasted longer ⏳,
cuddle was approved ✅.
Night settled in slowly 🌙.
The TV light dimmed 🔅.
The sounds outside softened 🌃.
Somewhere between episodes and silence, time slipped ⌛.
Laddu and Mochi stayed exactly the same.
Him curled into her 😴➡️🤍.
Her arm around him 🫶.
Steady. Protective.
Then came footsteps 👣.
Plates clinked 🍽️.
Voices returned 🔊.
Dinner time.
Father entered the hall first and stopped mid-step ✋.
Mother followed… and also stopped 😯.
Maya peeked 👀.
Cousin leaned.
Candy tiptoed 🚶♀️.
Ben sat politely 🐕🦺.
Everyone stared.
On the sofa 🛋️.
Under one blanket 🛌.
One sleeping Laddu 😴.
One very awake Mochi 😳.
No one spoke for three full seconds ⏸️⏸️⏸️.
Then Maya whispered loudly,
"Are we… interrupting something?"
Mochi looked up calmly 😐.
"Dinner?"
Father cleared his throat 😤.
"Yes. Dinner."
Mother tilted her head, eyes soft 😊.
"He's asleep?"
"Yes."
"And comfortable?"
"…Yes."
Mother nodded. Decision made ✔️.
"Then we'll eat quietly."
Maya protested 🙄.
"WHY are we whispering in our own house?"
"Because," Mother said gently,
"he finally slept."
Candy gasped 😲.
"Like a baby!"
Ben wagged his tail 🐕💃.
Mochi adjusted the blanket again, making sure Laddu stayed warm 🤍.
He shifted slightly but didn't wake.
Father sighed 😮💨.
"This man is lucky."
Maya collapsed into a chair 💺.
"I'm eating trauma for dinner."
Mochi didn't move.
She watched the family set the table 🍽️, listened to familiar noise, and rested her hand a little more securely on Laddu's back.
Dinner could wait ⏳.
He was already home 🏠.
One by one, the house emptied itself 🌒.
Lights dimmed 💡⬇️.
Doors closed softly 🚪.
Candy carried away half-asleep 😪.
Ben followed Father 🐕.
Maya yawned 🥱.
Cousin vanished.
Mother paused, looked once more, smiled 😊, and turned off the hall light.
Quiet 🤍.
Mochi looked down at Laddu.
Still asleep 😴.
Still heavy.
Still completely trusting 💗.
She took a breath, adjusted her grip, and carefully lifted him 🤲.
He stirred.
"Mmm…" he murmured.
"Where are we going?"
"To your room," she whispered.
He frowned 😠 and wrapped his arms around her neck weakly.
"No."
"No?" she repeated.
"I want to sleep here," he said.
"Sofa has memories."
She sighed 😮💨.
"Your bed is more comfortable."
He shook his head slowly.
"This is… premium spot."
She stopped.
"…Laddu."
He opened one eye 👁️, serious, then rested his forehead against her shoulder.
"Please," he said softly 🫶.
"Just today."
Her resolve cracked 💔➡️🤍.
She turned back.
Laid him down again.
Adjusted pillow.
Pulled blanket.
He settled instantly 😌.
She brushed his hair away gently.
"Stubborn," she whispered.
Laddu smiled in his sleep 😊.
The sofa, once again, became home 🛋️🏠.
Later, Laddu murmured again.
"Mochi…"
She turned.
"What?"
"Let's go to bed together."
The words hung.
Not heavy ❌.
Not dramatic ❌.
Just… honest 🤍.
She studied him.
"Are you awake," she asked,
"or sleep talking?"
"One eye," he said.
"Half-and-half."
"You're sick," she said.
"Head hurts."
"I know," he replied.
"That's why."
She frowned.
"I just don't want to wake up alone," he said quietly.
Silence 🌙.
She nodded slightly.
"We stay here," she said.
"Okay," he replied.
"…Thank you."
She adjusted the blanket again.
As she dimmed the light 💡⬇️, his voice came softly,
"Still counts… in my heart."
She didn't answer.
But she stayed.
"…Let's exchange position," Laddu murmured.
"Exchange?" she blinked.
"You uncomfortable," he said seriously.
"I take edge. You take back."
She stared 😐.
"…Fine."
They moved slowly. Carefully.
Laddu took the outer edge, instinctively placing himself between her and the room 🛡️.
He tucked the blanket around her first 🤍.
"There," he murmured.
"Balanced."
Silence returned.
Before sleep pulled him fully, he whispered,
"Good night… tall flower 🌸."
She didn't answer.
But she didn't move away either.
Morning arrived 🌤️.
Sunlight crept in ☀️.
There they were.
Still.
Laddu on the edge 😴.
Mochi behind him 😌.
Domestic. Ridiculous. Peaceful.
Candy gasped 😲.
"THEY DIDN'T MELT."
Ben wagged 🐕.
Father adjusted glasses 🤓.
"…Sofa?"
Mother smiled knowingly 😊.
Maya sighed.
"So we're normalizing this?"
"Yes," Mother replied.
"They're sleeping."
Mochi opened her eyes briefly.
Laddu shifted closer.
She closed them again.
Because somehow…
The sofa had become the safest place in the house 🛋️🤍.
And morning decided not to argue ☀️✔️.