Evening came.
Dinner was on the table 🍽️
Plates filled.
Food hot.
Voices low.
Father.
Mother.
Maya.
Candy.
The cousin.
One chair stayed empty.
Laddu wasn't there.
Mother glanced at Mochi.
"You should calm him," she said quietly.
Maya paused mid-bite.
"Calm him how?" 🤨
Mother replied evenly,
"Talk to him. He listens to you."
The cousin spoke carefully,
"Only if he wants to listen."
Candy looked at the empty chair.
"Will Laddu come back?" 🥺
"Yes," Father said calmly.
"He always does."
Mochi put her spoon down.
"I won't chase him," she said.
"I'll talk when he comes back ready."
Mother studied her.
"You're not angry?"
"I am," Mochi replied.
"But calming someone doesn't mean bending." 🧱
Maya nodded.
"She's right."
The cousin added,
"If she goes now, it teaches him door-slamming works."
Mother thought for a moment… then nodded.
"Okay."
Dinner continued.
No one filled his chair.
The silence stayed.
Morning 🌅
Breakfast was ready.
Tea cups steamed ☕
Plates waited.
One chair was still empty.
Mother noticed first, like always.
"He didn't come back last night."
Father folded the newspaper slowly.
"He's done that before."
"Yes," Mother said.
"But not like this."
Candy stared at the door.
"Did he sleep outside?" 😟
Maya shook her head.
"He always texts if he does."
The cousin checked his phone.
"No missed calls. No messages."
Silence spread.
Mochi held her cup, both hands steady… too steady.
Father spoke calmly,
"Let's not panic."
Maya replied, tight,
"We're not panicking. We're noticing."
Mother turned to Mochi.
"You didn't hear from him?"
Mochi shook her head.
"No."
Candy whispered,
"Is he angry with us?"
"No," Father said quickly.
"He's angry with himself."
The cousin nodded.
"He disappears when he feels ashamed."
Maya frowned.
"That's fine for an hour. Not all night."
Mother exhaled.
"He doesn't like being seen when he breaks."
Mochi spoke softly,
"He said he was stupid."
Maya stiffened.
"That's his worst spiral word."
The cousin added,
"When he says that… he vanishes."
Father rubbed his temple.
"He feels loud, then hates himself for it."
Candy asked,
"Did he take money?"
Mother checked her bag.
"No."
Father checked his wallet.
"Nothing missing."
Maya crossed her arms.
"So he didn't run. He walked."
Mother looked at Mochi again.
"You could call him."
"I could," Mochi said honestly.
"But if he doesn't answer, it makes it worse."
Father nodded.
"She's right."
Maya sighed.
"I hate waiting."
The cousin said quietly,
"He's uncomfortable. Not unsafe."
Mother's jaw tightened.
"Discomfort can still hurt."
Mochi met her eyes.
"I didn't push him out."
"No," Mother said.
"You didn't."
"But I won't chase him just to calm him," Mochi continued.
"He has to come back because he wants to talk."
Candy looked up.
"So we wait?"
Father answered,
"We live normally. Door open. No begging."
Maya nodded.
"He hates being begged."
Mother poured tea again, hands steady.
"He's family. Even when he breaks."
"Yes," Mochi said.
"And I care. Even when I'm quiet."
The cousin checked the time.
"He'll be tired. He'll come back hungry."
Maya snorted softly.
"Food always wins."
Candy smiled weakly.
"Should we keep his plate?"
Mother hesitated… then nodded.
"Yes. Keep it."
Breakfast ended.
Waiting didn't.
Evening 🌆
Lights were on.
Still no Laddu.
Mother checked the clock again.
"It's evening now."
Father put his phone down.
"No answer?"
"No," Mother said.
"Still nothing."
Maya stood by the window.
"This isn't normal anymore."
The cousin came in.
"I checked the café area. Nothing."
Candy clutched her notebook.
"Is he lost?" 😢
"No," Father said quickly.
"He knows the city."
"But he's not answering," Maya replied.
"That's the problem."
Mother's voice tightened.
"He always answers."
Mochi's fingers trembled slightly.
"I'll call," she said.
Ring… 📞
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Maya ran a hand through her hair.
"Okay. Now I'm worried."
Father stood.
"I'll call the station."
Mother grabbed her dupatta.
"I should have stopped him."
"No," Father said firmly.
"This is not your fault."
Candy whispered,
"Did we make him leave?"
"No," Mochi said quickly.
"No."
The cousin frowned.
"He walks when overwhelmed. But never this long."
Maya turned to Mochi.
"What did he say before leaving?"
Mochi swallowed.
"He said he was stupid."
Mother closed her eyes.
"That word again."
Father returned.
"No report. Nothing yet."
Maya snapped,
"Why 'yet'?"
Father stayed calm.
"I asked them to inform us."
Mother paced.
"No money. No clothes."
Candy's eyes filled.
"What if something happened?"
"No," Mochi said firmly.
"No."
Maya looked at her.
"You're scared too."
Mochi nodded.
"Yes."
The cousin spoke low.
"He hates being wrong. He hates feeling controlled."
"Full day?" Mother asked sharply.
"Without food?"
Father rubbed his forehead.
"This has gone too far."
Maya called friends.
"No."
"No."
"No."
She dropped the phone.
"Nothing."
Mother turned to Mochi.
"You should go find him."
Mochi stood.
"I will."
"But not to apologize," she added.
"To bring him home."
Silence.
Father nodded.
"That's fair."
Candy asked softly,
"Will he come back?"
"He will," Mochi said.
"He just doesn't know how yet."
The house felt smaller.
Waiting became fear.
Next Morning 🌤️
Breakfast again.
Same plates.
Same tea.
Same empty chair.
Mother stared at the clock.
"He still hasn't come."
Maya whispered,
"So he really didn't."
Father placed his phone down.
"No call. No message."
Candy hugged her bag.
"He didn't sleep here?"
"No," Mother said.
"The sofa is untouched."
The cousin checked the door.
"Shoes aren't here either."
Maya's panic surfaced.
"This is bad."
Father tried to stay calm.
"He's an adult."
Mother shook her head.
"He always comes back."
Mochi spoke quietly,
"He didn't take his charger."
Everyone froze.
Father frowned.
"He never leaves without it."
Mother's face changed.
"That means he didn't plan this."
The cousin rubbed his neck.
"Then where is he?"
Maya paced.
"He hates hotels. Crowds. Asking for help."
Candy whispered,
"What if he's sitting alone somewhere?"
Mother's voice broke.
"He doesn't eat when he's hurt."
Father stood.
"I'm calling again."
Maya grabbed her phone.
"I'll call everyone."
The cousin nodded.
"I'll check the park."
Mother turned to Mochi.
"You should call him."
"I already did," Mochi said.
"He didn't answer."
"But he listens to you," Mother insisted.
"He listens when he's ready," Mochi replied.
"Not when he's running."
Candy asked softly,
"Did we make him go?"
"No," Father said firmly.
"He left because he didn't know how to stay."
Maya whispered,
"That scares me."
Mother nodded.
"That's why I'm scared."
Mochi stood.
"I'll go look for him."
Mother grabbed her hand.
"Don't go alone."
"I won't," Mochi said.
"But I won't sit either."
Father nodded.
"That's right."
The cousin grabbed keys.
"We split."
Maya inhaled deeply.
"Message if anyone hears anything."
Candy looked at the empty chair.
"Please come back."
No one corrected her.
Breakfast stayed untouched.
Morning moved on.
Fear didn't.
⏳🖤