Afternoon
Laddu stirred slowly… 😴
Eyes fluttering open… 👀
The first thing he felt was warmth 🔥
Not blankets.
Not sunlight.
Mochi. 🤍
Her arms were still around him — steady, familiar, safe 🫂
For a long moment, he didn't move.
Like if he did… everything might break again 💔
Then, quietly—
"…Thank you," he whispered 🗣️
Mochi didn't tighten her hold.
Didn't pull away either.
She stayed exactly the same 🌱
"For staying," Laddu added.
"And… I'm sorry."
She looked down at him gently 👀🤍
"For what?" she asked.
"For talking badly to you," he said.
"I remember that part." 😞
Mochi shook her head softly.
"Don't worry about it."
He swallowed hard 😣
"I shouldn't have said those things."
"I know," she replied calmly.
"And I also know you weren't okay."
She loosened her arms just enough so he could sit up 🪑
"The family is waiting," she said softly 🏠
Laddu stared at the floor for a second.
"I talked badly to them too," he murmured.
"I feel ashamed." 😔
Mochi met his eyes 👁️👁️
"Don't worry. They're worried — not angry."
He nodded slowly.
"…Will they look at me differently?"
Mochi answered honestly 🤍
"They'll look at you like someone they love."
Laddu inhaled deeply 😮💨
"Okay."
"Let's go."
Mochi stood first, then offered her hand ✋
He took it 🤝
Not pulled.
Not led.
Just walking together 🚶♂️🚶♀️
Living Room 🛋️
Quiet.
Waiting.
Everyone looked up at once 👀
Laddu stopped in front of them and lowered his head slightly.
"Thank you," he said.
No jokes ❌
No drama ❌
Just truth ✅
Mother stood up immediately.
"Sit first."
Father nodded.
"You don't need to thank us."
Laddu sat down slowly.
Father tried to sound casual 😅
"Don't worry. I made sure they were taught a lesson."
Laddu suddenly laughed 😂
A real laugh. Not forced.
"I can bet my life," he said,
"they're in the hospital already." 🏥
The room froze ❄️
Maya stared.
"…What?"
"After getting beaten by Jalabie and Barfi," Laddu said calmly.
Mother's eyes widened 😳
"You know?"
Laddu nodded.
"It's not new."
Candy blinked rapidly 😮
"They… do that?"
Laddu shrugged 🤷♂️
"They don't talk much. They just show up."
Father sighed 😔
"I thought you didn't know."
"I didn't know today," Laddu replied.
"But I know how they are."
Maya shook her head.
"That's terrifying."
Mother looked at him carefully.
"And you're okay with it?"
Laddu thought.
"No," he said honestly.
"But they don't do it for fun."
The cousin added quietly,
"They do it for family."
"Yes," Laddu nodded.
"And they never tell me. Ever."
Mother sat back.
"That doesn't make it right."
"I know," Laddu said.
"But it makes it familiar."
Father looked at him firmly.
"You shouldn't need protection like that."
Laddu met his eyes.
"I shouldn't need to be hurt either."
Silence 🕯️
Candy suddenly hugged his arm 🤗
"We're glad you're home."
Laddu smiled and patted her head 😊
"Me too."
Mother glanced at Mochi.
She nodded once 🤍
Not fixed.
But whole.
Laddu leaned back and spoke casually 😐
"If I was my old self," he said,
"I'd have opened their skulls with my shotgun and gone to jail."
Dead silence 🚨
Father immediately:
"No."
Mother sharply:
"Don't say that."
Maya frowned 😠
"That's not funny."
The cousin crossed his arms.
"That was never you."
Laddu blinked.
"What? I'm just saying—"
"You're saying what you didn't do," Father said calmly.
"And that matters."
Mother stepped closer 🤍
"You didn't hurt anyone."
"And you didn't go to jail," she added.
Laddu's smile faded 😶
"That means you changed," Mother said.
"Not that you became weak."
Maya added,
"Strength isn't who hits harder. It's who doesn't."
Laddu looked down 😞
"…I felt small."
Father nodded.
"That feeling is real."
"But violence isn't the answer."
Candy whispered,
"You came home instead."
💥 That hit.
Laddu exhaled 😮💨
"…Yeah."
"No more tough talk," he said quietly.
Mother touched his shoulder 🤍
"We want you safe. Not scary."
Laddu smiled tiredly 🙂
"Me too."
After a pause—
"Mother," Laddu said casually,
"Can I invite my friend tomorrow?"
EVERY HEAD TURNED 😐😐😐
Maya slowly put her spoon down.
"…Friend."
The cousin raised an eyebrow 🤨
"Which friend?"
Candy leaned forward 😏
"The emoji one?"
Mother looked at Laddu carefully.
"Who is this friend?" she asked.
"Someone I'm talking to," Laddu shrugged.
Maya groaned 😩
"That's not an answer."
Father asked gently,
"Do you know her well?"
Laddu hesitated 😬
"…We're getting there."
The hesitation spoke louder than words.
The cousin leaned back.
"So. Internet friend."
Mother nodded once.
"Then no."
Laddu sat up 😤
"What? Why?"
"This is our house," Mother said calmly.
"Not a café. Not a test lab."
Maya added,
"And not a first-meet spot."
Candy frowned 🥺
"But friends come home."
"After trust," Father explained.
Mochi finally spoke.
"If you want to meet her," she said calmly,
"do it outside. Public place. Daytime."
Laddu looked at her.
"You're okay with that?"
"Yes," Mochi nodded.
"But not inside this house. Not yet."
Silence.
Laddu exhaled 😮💨
"…Fine."
Mother nodded.
"When we know her, we'll talk again."
Maya smirked 😏
"Application pending."
Candy clapped 👏
"Interview round!"
Laddu rolled his eyes 🙄
But didn't argue.
"Okay," he said.
"I asked."
He lay back on the sofa 🛋️
The family exchanged looks 👀
Not angry.
Not relieved.
Just aware.
Because for the first time in days—
Laddu wasn't running 🛑
Wasn't performing 🎭
Wasn't disappearing 🌫️
He was checking the ground before stepping forward 🌱
And that…
That mattered more than anything else 💚✨