Living Room — Closure, Quietly
Laddu stood up without a word.
Walked to his room.
No rush. 🚶♂️
He came back holding a pile of clothes.
Bright. Loud. Colorful. 🌈
Carefully folded.
He placed them on the table.
Straightened them once.
Then looked up. 📦
"Girls," he said simply,
"you can have these."
No drama. ✨
Maya blinked.
"…All of them?"
Her voice unsure. 😳
"Yes," Laddu replied.
"I don't need them."
Final. ✔️
Rainse hesitated.
"You're sure?"
Her smile faded a little. 🤔
Laddu nodded once.
"They were for a phase."
"Not for me." 🧠
No bitterness.
No sarcasm.
Just clarity. 🌿
Then he picked up the new phone.
Expensive. Shiny.
Still unfamiliar. 📱
The room went quiet.
Everyone watched.
Waiting. 👀
He removed the SIM card.
Reset the phone completely.
Clean slate. 🔄
No hesitation.
No second glance.
Done. 🧹
He walked over to Candy.
Placed the phone in her hands.
Carefully. 🎁
"Happy birthday," he said.
Simple. Honest.
Soft. 🎂
Candy froze.
"…For me?"
Her voice tiny. 🥺
"Yes," Laddu replied.
"You don't need to perform."
"To deserve something nice." 💛
Candy hugged the phone to her chest.
Like it might vanish.
Eyes shining. ✨
"I'll take care of it,"
she promised seriously.
Like a vow. 🤝
Mother's eyes filled.
Father turned away.
Adjusted his glasses. 👓
Maya whispered,
"That's… very him."
Not teasing. 🫶
Laddu sat back on the sofa.
No phone.
No colors. 🛋️
No noise.
No performance.
Just himself. 🌱
Mochi watched him quietly.
"You're letting go,"
she said softly. 🌙
"Yes," Laddu replied.
"Of things that don't belong to me."
No regret. 🧭
He glanced at Candy.
Smiled gently.
Warm. 😊
"But keeping what does."
His voice steady.
Certain. 🪶
No one clapped.
No one commented.
No one needed to. 🤍
Because everyone felt it.
This wasn't loss.
It was alignment. 🧩
And Laddu—
finally back in his own skin—
looked lighter. 🌤️
Not shining.
Not proving.
Just right. ✔️
Kitchen — Hunger Test 🍞☕
Mother's voice drifted in.
"Food is ready."
Casual. 🍽️
Laddu walked in.
Looked at the plate.
Paused. 👀
Two sandwiches.
One cup of coffee.
Suspiciously small. 🥪☕
He stared at it.
Then looked at Mother.
Dead serious. 😐
"…I am adopted."
Absolute conviction.
Zero doubt. 👶❓
The house exploded.
Laughter everywhere.
Instant chaos. 😂
Maya clutched her stomach.
"HE'S BACK."
Pointing. 🤣
Father shook his head.
"You said the same thing."
Smiling. 😌
Candy giggled.
"You also cried that day."
Very loudly. 🤭
The cousin added,
"And ate four more sandwiches."
Fact check. 📊
Mother crossed her arms.
"You were adopted by hunger."
Final verdict. 👩⚖️
Laddu picked up a sandwich.
Dramatic sigh.
Heroic bite. 🥪
"Every time I think this family loves me—"
He chewed.
Paused. 😑
"—they prove otherwise."
Mouth full.
Offended. 😤
Everyone laughed again.
Even Mochi.
Especially Mochi. 💕
Laddu sipped coffee.
Relaxed.
Finally. ☕
"Good sandwich," he admitted.
"But emotionally abusive portion size."
Accusation filed. ⚖️
Mother smiled.
"Eat first. Complain later."
Law of the house. 🏠
Laddu nodded.
"Tradition restored."
Peace achieved. 🕊️
One Week Later — Normal Returns 🎴🍝
One week passed.
No chaos.
No phases. ⏳
No announcements.
No experiments.
Normal returned quietly. 🌿
Laddu sat on the floor.
Cards fanned out.
Eyes sharp. 🃏
UNO.
Candy sat opposite.
Already suspicious. 😑
"Candy," Laddu said calmly,
placing a card,
"take ten cards." 😈
Candy gasped.
"No no no no."
Immediate denial. 🙅♀️
Laddu leaned back.
"I never lie during UNO."
Straight face. 😐
Candy crossed her arms.
"You always lie during UNO."
Accurate. ✔️
Laddu dropped his last card.
Confident smile.
"I win." 🏆
Candy shouted.
"That's cheating!"
Betrayed. 😡
"In this house," Laddu replied,
"that's called skill."
Very smug. 😏
From the kitchen—
Pan sounds.
Comforting. 🍳
Mochi stood at the stove.
White sauce pasta.
Steam rising. 🍝
"Food will be ready,"
she said calmly.
"Eat first." 🫶
Laddu nodded instantly.
"Yes, chef."
Obedient. 👨🍳
He reached out.
Gently touched Candy's head.
Just once. 🤏
Candy froze.
Then smiled slowly.
She understood. 😏
Mochi served the plates.
Carefully.
Neatly. 🍽️
"How does it taste?"
she asked genuinely.
Watching closely. 👀
Laddu took a bite.
Candy copied.
Immediately. 😋
One second.
Two seconds.
Then chaos. 🌪️
"COUGH—"
"TOO MUCH—"
"MY SOUL—" 🔥
Candy grabbed water.
"TOO MUCH!"
"TOO MUCH!" 💦
Laddu fanned his mouth.
"My ancestors—"
"I see them—" 👻
Mochi blinked.
"…Too much what?"
Confused. 🤨
Candy coughed.
"Too much! Everything!"
Still dying. 😵
Mochi tilted her head.
"Salt?"
Concerned. 🧂
Laddu straightened.
"No," he said seriously.
"Too much good." 😌
Candy nodded aggressively.
"Yes. Extremely good."
Still coughing. 😂
Mochi stared.
Suspicious.
Unamused. 😑
Mother appeared like judgment.
"Stop you two."
Flat tone. ⚡
"And eat properly."
Authority activated.
End scene. 👑
Laddu sat straight.
"Yes."
Instant compliance. 😇
Candy copied.
"Yes."
Perfect mimic. 🐒
Five seconds passed.
Silence.
Peace. 🌸
Laddu whispered,
"Worth it."
Satisfied. 😌
Candy giggled.
Mochi hid a smile.
Balance restored. 💫
Truths & Paper Planes ✈️
Laddu paused mid-bite.
"…Wait."
Everyone froze. 🛑
He looked at Mochi.
She was smiling.
Small. Visible. 🙂
"…Mochi is smiling,"
Laddu said slowly.
Observing. 👀
Mother hummed.
"She shows emotion more now."
Noted. 📝
The room went quiet.
Not tense.
Listening. 👂
"If it's natural," Laddu said,
"then it's okay."
Gentle. 🌱
"But if it's forced—"
he shook his head,
"not needed." 🚫
Mochi nodded.
"I'm not acting."
Honest. 🤍
"I'm just… not hiding anymore."
Simple truth.
Big shift. 🌙
Laddu studied her.
Then nodded.
"Good." ✔️
"Don't change for me."
Firm.
Kind. 🫶
Mother smiled.
A real one.
Rare. 😊
Candy whispered,
"…Can I smile?"
Asking permission. 😅
"You're already chaotic,"
Laddu replied instantly.
Approved. 🎉
Baby Names & Aerodynamics 👶✈️
"Mother," Laddu said casually,
"what about baby names?"
Dangerous sentence. 😳
Silence.
Absolute.
Total. 🫢
Mother replied calmly.
"Yes. Decided."
Confident. 👩⚖️
Father nodded.
"Already."
Prepared. 📋
Maya raised a finger.
"I have three."
Competitive. 😏
The cousin added,
"Spreadsheet ready."
Of course. 📊
Candy smiled proudly.
"I named one yesterday."
Very serious. 🧸
Mochi froze.
"…We?"
Confused. 😶
Laddu looked around.
"…All of you?"
Betrayed. 😂
"We have names,"
everyone replied together.
United front. 🤝
Laddu leaned back.
"…I missed meetings."
Clearly. 😑
"You think families wait?"
Mother crossed her arms.
No mercy. 👀
Maya grinned.
"Too late."
Done deal. ✔️
"I have an idea,"
Laddu said suddenly.
Danger again. ⚠️
Paper planes.
Names written.
Whose flies longest wins. ✈️
Chaos followed.
Glitter. Flames.
Physics debates. 🎨🔥
Planes launched.
Shouting.
Laughing. 🗣️
One plane flew best.
Straight. Calm.
Perfect. 🎯
"…Mine won,"
Laddu said calmly.
Unsurprised. 😌
Mother sighed.
"…You people."
But smiled. 😊
And only in this house
could destiny be decided
by paper, physics, and shouting. 🏠💫