Lily took a breath 😮💨, clearly deciding to finish the story properly.
"Sir once organized a… competition," she said carefully 🫣.
Everyone leaned in at the same time 👀.
"…Competition?" Mochi asked.
Lily nodded.
"He said the hardest-working employee would get a date with him."
The house collapsed into noise 💥💥💥.
Maya screamed, "THAT IS NOT A BONUS." 😭
Father stood up immediately. "HR WOULD FAINT." 😤
Candy clapped. "Like prize?" 🤩
Mother covered her mouth, half laughing, half horrified. "This child…" 😅
Laddu slapped his forehead 🤦♂️.
"WHY do you remember that one."
Mochi didn't shout.
That was worse.
"…A date," she repeated calmly 😐.
Lily rushed in before Laddu could dig a grave ⚰️.
"It wasn't romantic!" she said quickly 😵💫.
"Sir said it was just coffee ☕. Public place. Daytime."
"And?" Mochi asked.
"And sir canceled it," Lily added.
"The same day."
Laddu nodded fast 👍.
"Yes. Because everyone suddenly started overworking like maniacs. It became unhealthy."
Maya paused. "Wait. He canceled?" 😳
"Yes," Lily said.
"Sir said, 'If you work hard for a reward, you'll break. Work hard for yourself.'"
The room quieted 🌫️.
Father sat back down.
"…That's actually responsible."
Mother nodded. "Good correction." 😊
Mochi looked at Laddu.
"You realized it was wrong," she said.
"Yes," he replied. "Immediately."
"…And no date happened?"
"No," he said. "Zero dates. Only regrets." 😔
Maya groaned. "WHY does he learn lessons mid-chaos."
Mochi exhaled 🌬️, then said calmly,
"Good."
Laddu blinked. "Good?" 😮
"Yes," she said. "You stopped it."
She paused, then added, looking straight at him 👁️,
"And now you don't need competitions anymore."
He smiled, soft and sure 🙂.
"I already won."
She didn't deny it.
Candy whispered loudly, "Mochi aunty is the prize." 🏆
Everyone laughed 😂.
Lily smiled, relieved 😌.
"Sir always said… the right person doesn't need incentives."
And for once,
no one argued.
Lily hesitated, then added gently,
"Even the female cleaning staff liked sir."
The house reacted in slow motion 🐢.
"…Of course they did," Maya muttered.
Candy blinked. "Everyone likes him."
Father rubbed his forehead. "This is no longer surprising."
Mother asked calmly, "Why?"
Lily smiled, small and sincere 💛.
"He talked to them. By name. He thanked them every day."
Laddu nodded once.
"They keep the place alive," he said. "Ignoring them is rude."
"And," Lily continued,
"sir used to bring extra food and say, 'Eat first, then clean. Hunger makes mistakes.'"
The noise softened 🍂.
Maya leaned back. "…Okay, that's unfairly decent."
Father nodded. "Respect shows."
Mother smiled warmly. "That's how people remember you."
Mochi looked at Laddu, expression unreadable.
"You talk to everyone the same," she said.
"Yes," he replied. "Titles are temporary. People aren't."
Lily added quietly,
"They said sir made them feel visible."
That landed 🫶.
Mochi exhaled.
"You collect loyalty without trying."
Laddu shrugged.
"I just don't like quiet disrespect."
Maya sighed dramatically.
"Why is every red flag turning green." 🟢
Candy clapped. "Uncle is nice!" 🥰
Mochi reached out and straightened Laddu's collar without thinking 👔.
"Just remember," she said,
"being liked is not the same as belonging."
He met her eyes and smiled.
"I know where I belong."
Lily nodded.
"Yes, ma'am. We all knew."
Then Lily added, apologetic 😬,
"But… sir ignored the male staff like they didn't exist."
Instant reaction 💥.
Maya burst out laughing. "CONSISTENCY."
Father looked offended. "Why only men?"
Candy blinked. "They invisible?"
Laddu sighed 😩.
"I didn't ignore them. I filtered."
"That's worse," Maya said.
Lily explained quickly.
"Sir only talked to male staff about work. No jokes."
"Yes," Laddu nodded.
"They came to compete, not cooperate."
Father raised an eyebrow. "Generalization."
"Pattern recognition," Laddu replied.
Mochi asked simply,
"Why?"
"Because," Laddu said seriously,
"they listened to respond, not understand."
Silence 🌫️.
Lily nodded.
"Sir said men already have confidence. Women needed safety."
Maya crossed her arms. "Still unfair."
"Yes," Laddu agreed instantly.
"And that's why I stopped."
"You stopped?" Mochi asked.
"Yes. Last year."
Father nodded. "Growth."
Mother smiled. "Good correction."
Mochi said calmly,
"Next time, don't disappear people."
"I'll try," he said.
Maya laughed.
"So basically… he was a walking social experiment."
Candy clapped. "Science uncle!" 🧪
Lily took another breath 😮💨.
"Once… sir went on a date with all female staff."
Frozen 🧊.
"…All?" Mochi asked slowly.
"Yes," Lily added fast. "Including cleaning staff."
Maya jumped. "THAT IS A FIELD TRIP."
Father: "I resign."
Candy: "Picnic?" 🧺
Mother: "…Explain."
"IT WAS NOT A DATE," Laddu yelled.
"Thank-you dinner," Lily said. "One table. One bill."
"And why only women?" Mochi asked.
"Because they stayed late and got blamed," Laddu said.
Silence again.
"Next time," Mochi said,
"call it dinner."
"Yes," Laddu nodded.
"And invite everyone."
She nodded once. Approved ✅.
Finally, Lily said softly,
"All the female staff miss you."
"…They do?" Laddu blinked.
"Yes," Lily nodded. "Every day."
Then added carefully,
"And the male staff are happy you're not there."
💥💥💥
Maya laughed. "BALANCE."
Father nodded. "Peace treaty."
Candy tilted her head. "Why boys happy?"
"Because I made them work," Laddu sighed.
Mochi looked at him.
"You don't belong there anymore."
"I know."
"Then don't go back just to be missed," she said.
He smiled.
"I'm already where I'm needed."
Lily gathered her files 📂.
"I should go now—"
"Shut up," Laddu waved. "You tried to bury me." ⚰️
Maya laughed.
Candy gasped.
Father sighed.
Mother smiled.
"You don't talk too much," Laddu said tiredly.
"You talk… accurately."
Mochi sat beside him.
"And you survived."
He smiled weakly 🙂.
"Worth it."
And for once,
the house agreed 🏡✨