It was late.
Too late.
The house was awake… but tired 😮💨
Mother kept checking the clock ⏰
Maya paced without saying anything 🚶♀️
Candy sat curled on the sofa, eyes fixed on the door 🛋️👀
Mochi stood near the window, jaw tight, arms folded 🌃
🚪 The door finally opened.
Laddu walked in carrying many bags.
Shopping bags. Bright ones. Heavy ones 🛍️🛍️🛍️
Mochi stepped forward immediately.
"Where were you?" 😟
Laddu replied casually, like it meant nothing.
"Shopping." 😌
Mochi's voice sharpened.
"You could have just called me. Or texted before you went." 📱
Laddu paused for half a second.
Then shrugged.
"Sorry. I forgot." 🤷♂️
The way he said it hurt more than the words 💔
Mochi inhaled deeply.
"You have some time importance," she said.
"We were worried."
That's when his face changed.
"What right do you have to talk to me like that?" Laddu snapped 😠
"Respect my privacy."
The room froze ❄️
Mochi stiffened.
"I wasn't—"
Laddu turned toward Mother.
"Teach your daughter some manners, aunty."
💥 Silence crashed down.
Maya's eyes widened.
"Excuse me?" 😡
Father straightened immediately.
"That's enough."
But Laddu didn't wait.
He picked up his bags again 🛍️
Walked to his room 🚶♂️
And shut the door.
Hard. 🚪💢
After
Candy whispered, voice shaking,
"That was scary…" 😢
Maya clenched her fists.
"That wasn't him." ✊
Mother sat down slowly.
"She only asked out of concern." 🤍
Father's voice stayed calm but firm.
"No one speaks like that in this house."
Mochi stood still, eyes burning 🔥
"I didn't shout," she said quietly.
"I just asked him to remember me."
Mother reached for her hand.
"You did nothing wrong." 🤍
Maya nodded.
"He crossed a line."
The cousin added,
"This isn't privacy. This is deflection."
Mother looked toward Laddu's closed door 🚪
"He's overwhelmed."
Mochi swallowed hard.
"I know."
"But it still hurts," Maya said.
Mochi nodded once.
"Yes." 😔
The house stayed awake long after 🌙
Laddu was home.
But the distance he'd created
felt heavier than the bags he carried 💼💔
Mother broke the silence, her voice low but steady.
"Even in the worst situations," she said,
"he never raises his voice."
Everyone looked at her.
"If Mochi asked him something like that," Mother continued,
"he would tell the whole story. From the first step to the last. Happily."
Father nodded slowly.
"Even when Mochi didn't ask… he'd tell her anyway."
That landed hard 💭
Maya exhaled.
"Yeah. He overshared with her."
The cousin leaned back.
"He narrated his whole day like a podcast." 🎙️
Candy hugged a cushion.
"He told Mochi everything."
Mother looked at Mochi gently.
"That's how we knew he felt safe."
Mochi looked down.
"He didn't just stop talking," she said softly.
"He stopped sharing."
The room reacted instantly ⚡
Maya moved closer.
"That hurts more than shouting."
Father nodded.
"Silence from someone like him isn't calm. It's distress."
Mother clasped her hands.
"This isn't anger. It's confusion."
Mochi swallowed.
"I keep replaying it," she said.
"Trying to find where I lost him."
Mother shook her head firmly.
"You didn't lose him."
The cousin added,
"He misplaced himself."
Candy whispered,
"Will he come back?" 🥺
Father answered honestly.
"Yes. But not by force."
Mother looked at the closed door again.
"When he finds his voice," she said,
"the first person he'll talk to… is her."
Mochi didn't cry.
She just sat there, quiet and heavy 🤍
Missing the sound of a voice that used to tell her everything
even when she didn't ask.
The house stayed awake.
Waiting.
Morning ☀️
🚪 The door of Laddu's room opened.
Everyone looked up.
Laddu walked out.
New clothes ✨
Bright. Expensive.
New slippers 👟
New jacket 🧥
A new phone in his hand 📱
Candy blinked.
"…Wow."
Laddu lifted the phone, angled it slightly, smiled 😄
📸 Click.
Another 📸 click.
He laughed and started typing.
Candy stepped closer.
"What are you doing?"
"Instagram," Laddu replied cheerfully. 📱✨
💥 Silence hit the house.
Maya slowly turned from the kitchen.
"…Instagram?"
Mother frowned.
"He hates social media."
Maya nodded.
"He says it destroys creativity."
"And attention," Father added.
Maya continued,
"He never buys clothes. Ever."
Mother sighed.
"All his clothes were chosen by me and Mochi."
The cousin leaned on the counter.
"And usually black. Or grey."
Laddu laughed again, scrolling.
"Oh wow, this comment is funny." 😂
Candy peeked at the screen.
"You're replying?"
"Yes," Laddu said happily.
"They're so sweet." 🥰
Mother sat down slowly.
"He used to say comments are fake affection."
Maya crossed her arms.
"He called it 'digital begging.'"
Laddu adjusted his jacket and took another photo 📸
"Lighting matters," he said.
Candy asked softly,
"Do you like these clothes?"
Laddu smiled at the phone.
"Yes. They're fun." ✨
Father removed his glasses.
"This is… a complete shift."
Maya whispered,
"He used to hate being looked at."
Mother turned to Mochi.
Mochi spoke softly.
"He's enjoying being seen."
Laddu laughed again, typing.
"Stop, you're making me blush." 😊
Candy whispered,
"He's blushing…"
Maya exhaled.
"I don't like this."
The cousin nodded.
"This isn't style. It's validation chasing."
Mother didn't argue.
"No."
Laddu finally looked up.
"Why are you all staring?"
Maya forced a smile.
"New look."
Laddu grinned.
"People like it."
Father replied calmly,
"We're just surprised."
Laddu shrugged and went back to his phone 📱
The house stayed quiet.
Not angry.
Not amused.
Just watching someone they loved
move like a stranger wearing a familiar face 🪞
And realizing together:
This wasn't fashion.
This wasn't confidence.
This was something deeper
asking—quietly but desperately—
to be noticed. 💔✨