First Ride
They reached home.
Candy didn't even remove her shoes properly. 😆
She dragged the cycle inside proudly, bell ringing like an announcement.
"Look!" she said.
"My cycle!" 🚲
Mother glanced over.
"Helmet?"
Candy nodded immediately.
"Yes." 😤
"I want to ride it," Candy said, already bouncing.
"Now."
Laddu picked up the keys again.
"Come," he said.
"Park." 🔑
Candy grabbed her helmet.
They were gone in minutes.
Park — Evening
The park was calm.
Soft light. 🌤️
Children laughing in the distance.
Laddu held the back of the seat.
"Balance," he said.
"Look forward. Not at the ground."
Candy nodded seriously.
Like this was an exam. 📘
She pushed.
Wobbled.
Almost fell. 😵
Laddu caught her.
"Again."
Second try.
Still shaky. 😬
Third try.
She moved.
Eyes wide.
Smile bigger than the park. 😄
"I'M DOING IT!"
Laddu let go quietly.
Candy didn't notice at first.
Freedom carried her forward. 🌬️
She rode a little farther.
Then realized.
"Papa!" she shouted.
"You let go!" 😱
Laddu smiled.
"Yes."
Candy laughed so loud the park noticed. 😂
At Home — Meanwhile
Mother sat with tea. ☕
Father read the newspaper.
Mochi leaned against the window, watching the road.
"They'll be late," Father said.
Mother smiled.
"First cycle never ends quickly." 😊
Mochi said softly,
"He teaches like father."
Mother nodded.
"That's good."
The house stayed calm. 🏡
Mother watched the road for a moment longer.
Then she said softly,
"He will be a great father." 💭
Mochi heard it.
She didn't answer.
Didn't look away.
She just smiled.
Not shy. 😊
Not embarrassed.
Maya leaned toward Mochi, casual but curious.
"So," she asked,
"how many kids do you want?"
Mochi blinked. 😳
Caught off guard.
She looked down for a second, then smiled softly.
"…I never counted," she said.
Mother hid a smile behind her cup. ☕
Maya grinned.
"That's a dangerous answer." 😏
Mochi added quietly,
"But enough to make the house feel full."
Maya nodded.
"Approved." ✔️
Dining Table — Sudden Topic Change
Candy looked at Laddu mid-bite. 🍽️
"Let's talk about your ex."
The table went quiet. 😶
Maya slowly turned.
Mochi paused, fork hovering.
Mother kept eating, listening without looking.
Laddu didn't flinch.
"Okay," he said.
Candy blinked.
"…That was easy."
Laddu leaned back slightly.
"No drama," he added.
"Just facts."
Maya smiled.
"This is going to be interesting." 😈
Mochi stayed calm, curious but steady.
Mother said calmly,
"Eat while you talk."
Candy leaned forward, curious.
"What if your ex didn't answer questions?"
Laddu nodded, remembering. 🤔
"One day," he said,
"I asked her a simple thing."
He looked at Candy.
"Her favorite color."
Maya raised an eyebrow.
"Safe question."
"She said," Laddu continued,
"'don't stupid question you idiot. Ask something mature.'" 😐
The table went still.
Mochi's fork paused.
Mother glanced up.
Father waited.
"So," Laddu said calmly,
"I asked her something mature."
He took a bite of food. 🍛
"'How much velocity is required to stop a train running at 500 km per hour…"
"…by another train?'"
Silence.
Candy's mouth slowly opened. 😮
"And?" Candy asked.
Laddu swallowed.
"She said… 'Green.'"
One second.
Then chaos. 💥
Maya burst out laughing.
"NOT THE COLOR AGAIN." 😂
Father shook his head.
"That relationship was doomed."
Mother sighed.
"Mismatch detected early." 😔
Candy laughed so hard she almost dropped her spoon.
"So maturity equals green?" 🤣
Mochi finally smiled.
A real one. 🙂
Laddu shrugged.
"I tried."
Candy wiped her eyes.
"Papa, you dodged a bullet." 💣
Laddu nodded.
"Yes."
Dining Table — The Slap Truth
Maya looked at Laddu, genuinely surprised.
"You talk about your ex so openly," she said.
"I've never seen any boy do that."
Laddu didn't act proud.
Didn't joke.
He just said,
"I received eleven slaps from Mochi when I told her about my past." 😐
The table froze.
Candy's eyes widened.
"ELEVEN?!" 😱
Maya turned to Mochi.
"You slapped him eleven times?!"
Mother stopped eating.
Father lowered the newspaper slowly.
Mochi didn't panic.
Didn't defend.
"He deserved it," she said calmly. 😌
Candy gasped.
"NOOO— you're a bad person!" 😭
Mochi looked at Candy.
"If you hear everything," she said,
"you'll slap him too."
Candy shook her head violently.
"I never do that!" 🙅♀️
Laddu nodded.
"She's lying." 😐
Candy spun toward him.
"HEY—"
Maya interrupted.
"What about your past?
She slapped you and didn't even tell us?"
Laddu replied calmly,
"I told her the truth so there is no future problem."
Silence followed.
Father spoke slowly.
"That takes courage."
Mother nodded.
"Truth hurts once." 🤍
Candy looked between them, smiling suddenly.
So she changed the topic. 😏
Marriage Chaos
"So… sister Mochi and you love each other so much."
Laddu nodded easily.
"Yes."
Candy tilted her head.
"Then after marriage… same?"
Laddu thought.
"…Different."
Everyone stared. 😶
"How?" Candy asked.
"I'll have to ask permission," Laddu said seriously.
"For boys' outings."
"And other stuff."
Mochi turned slowly.
"I will not do that."
Laddu nodded.
"See. Already starting."
He added confidently,
"If a girl says no,
it means yes." 😎
The table froze.
Mochi looked at him.
"I'll say no again." 😐
Silence.
Laddu pointed.
"Look.
She's saying no before marriage."
Maya burst out laughing.
"THIS MAN IS IN DANGER." 😂
Mother sighed.
"Learn quickly or suffer forever."
Father shook his head.
"Marriage training has begun early."
Candy clapped.
"Team Mochi!" 👏
Mochi smiled sweetly.
"Practice makes perfect." 😇
Laddu leaned back.
"…I will learn." 😔
Math Disaster
"Seven months," Laddu said suddenly.
"One day.
Twelve hours.
And twelve seconds." ⏱️
Everyone paused.
"That much time has passed," he continued.
"We even had three months where we didn't talk."
Candy blinked.
"…Okay?"
Laddu froze.
"…Wait." 😳
He did the math again.
Out loud.
"That means—"
He stopped.
"That means Mother was pregnant before we met." 😐
Dead silence.
Then chaos. 💥
Maya choked.
"WHAT KIND OF CALCULATION IS THIS?"
Father rubbed his temples.
"Never let him count again."
Mother stared at Laddu.
"I will pretend," she said calmly,
"you did not say that." 😐
Candy laughed uncontrollably.
"Papa broke time!" 🤣
Mochi covered her face.
"…Why are you like this?"
Laddu leaned back.
"Math cancelled." ❌
Mother pointed.
"Eat."
"Yes," Laddu replied instantly.
Final Disaster
"I thought seeing me and Mochi would revive your old romance," Laddu added.
The room slowed.
"But there's no spark," he continued.
Pause.
"Because the fire is already burning inside." 🔥
Absolute silence.
Father turned red.
Mother kept eating.
Maya whispered.
"…Why would you say that?"
Candy giggled.
"Oho." 😆
Mochi covered her mouth.
Father coughed loudly.
"Eat your food."
Mother said flatly.
"Romance doesn't need commentary."
Laddu nodded.
"Observation complete." ✔️
Father avoided eye contact.
Laddu laughed.
"You guys are so cute."
Maya stood up fast.
"I'm leaving before this gets illegal." 🏃♀️
Candy clapped.
"They're blushing!"
Father coughed again.
"Focus on your food," he said.
Mother didn't look up.
"Eat quietly."
Mochi smiled into her plate.
Laddu leaned back, satisfied.
"See?"
"Cute." 😊
The table stayed loud after that.
No one denied it.