Candy tilted her head again 🤔✨
"What about your mother and father?"
Laddu laughed softly 😌
"If you hear them talk," he said,
"you'll feel like they're roasting each other." 🔥😄
Maya smiled.
"That sounds aggressive."
"No," Laddu shook his head gently 😊
"That's village love." 🌾❤️
Everyone leaned in 👂
"They tease.
They argue.
They complain loudly," he continued 😤🗣️
"But it's care hidden inside words." 🤍
Father nodded knowingly 👍
Mother smiled faintly 😊
"In villages," Laddu said,
"love is not flowers and poetry." 🌸❌
"It's shouting,
working together,
and still eating from the same plate." 🍛🤝
Candy thought for a second 💭
"…So roasting is romance?"
Laddu nodded.
"Yes." 😎
Candy clapped excitedly 👏
"I understand now!"
Mochi smiled quietly 😊
Different love.
Same warmth. 🔥
Candy raised both hands 🙌
"Okay okay."
Then she said casually,
"I want a boyfriend." 😏
Laddu nodded immediately.
"Okay." 😐
Candy blinked hard 😳
"…That was easy?"
"But," Laddu added calmly,
"you have to share."
Candy narrowed her eyes 👀
"Share what?"
"Chocolate," Laddu said. 🍫
"Toys." 🧸
"Everything."
"Even pocket money." 💸
Candy gasped dramatically 😱
"EVERYTHING?!"
"Yes," Laddu replied calmly 😌
"Relationship tax."
Candy crossed her arms 😤
"Then what do I get in return?"
Laddu thought for half a second 🤔
"You get a tag."
"That you have a boyfriend."
Candy stared at him 😑
"…That's useless," she said.
"I don't want a boyfriend." ❌
She leaned closer 😈
"Then what do you get?"
Laddu smiled peacefully 😇
"I get peace."
Candy frowned 😠
"That's cheating."
Laddu shrugged and looked at Mochi 😊
"Girlfriend," he asked,
"what do I get?"
Mochi smiled sweetly 😇
"You get responsibility."
The table burst into laughter 😂🤣
Candy nodded seriously 😌
"Boyfriends are scams."
Decision made ✔️
Chocolate secured 🍫
Life simplified 😌
Mochi went to the washroom 🚿
The moment the door closed, Candy leaned toward Laddu like a spy 🕵️♀️
"Prank Mochi, please," she whispered 😏
Laddu didn't hesitate.
"Okay." 😈
He stood up immediately 🚶♂️
Mother watched him grab two boiled eggs 🥚🥚
She narrowed her eyes 👁️
"…What is your plan?"
Laddu replied calmly 😐
"Science."
Mother sighed deeply 😮💨
"Dangerous word."
Candy hovered nearby, trying not to laugh 🤭
Maya already sensed crime ⚠️
The cousin adjusted glasses suspiciously 🤓
A few minutes later, Mochi returned 🚪
Laddu waited at the kitchen table 🍽️
Two boiled eggs.
Knife placed neatly 🔪
Face extremely serious 😐
"Mochi," Laddu said,
"important question."
Mochi blinked 😳
"…Okay?"
"Which one is rooster egg," he asked,
"and which one is hen egg?" 🐓🐔
Silence 😶
Mochi stared at the eggs 🥚
Then at Laddu.
"…How do I know?" she asked honestly 😐
Laddu nodded like a professor 👨🏫
"Good question."
He sliced both eggs cleanly ✂️
"See," he said dramatically 🎭
"This one is more yellow."
He pointed again 👉
"This one is less yellow."
"More yellow means rooster egg."
"Less yellow means hen egg."
Mochi leaned closer 👀
Very carefully.
Very seriously.
"…Yes," she said slowly 😌
"That makes sense."
Half a second passed ⏳
Then the house exploded 💥😂
Maya bent over laughing 🤣
Candy clapped like she won a trophy 🏆
Father shook his head, smiling 😄
Mother covered her mouth 🤭
The cousin placed a gentle hand on Mochi's shoulder 🤍
"…Mochi," she said softly,
"there is no such thing as a rooster egg."
Silence 😐
Mochi froze 🧊
Looked at the eggs.
Looked at Laddu.
Realization hit ⚡
"…WHAT?" 😳
Laddu burst out laughing 😆
"Prank successful!"
Mochi stared at him 😑
Then at Candy.
Then sighed 😮💨
"…I trusted you."
Candy giggled 😇
"That was the mistake."
Mother wiped her eyes 😂
"You two are banned from the kitchen."
Laddu nodded proudly 😎
"Worth it."
Mochi shook her head, half laughing 🤦♀️
"This family will be the end of me."
🌙 Night fell. The house went quiet. 🌙
Mochi sat on the sofa 🛋️
Laddu walked over without rushing and sat on her lap,
like it was the most natural thing in the world 🤍
He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly 🤗
Then her arms came around his back 💞
"…You're heavy," she said softly 😐
"I know," Laddu replied comfortably 😌
"That's the point."
She rested her chin near his shoulder 💭
He tucked his face against her, breathing out slowly 😮💨
The house was silent 🌌
Not empty.
Just calm.
"Thank you," Laddu murmured 🫶
Mochi didn't ask why.
She just held him tighter 🤍
Sometimes,
after all the noise,
this was enough.
He shifted slightly, rubbing his face against her chest 😌
Not playful.
Not dramatic.
Just comfort 🤍
Mochi stiffened for a heartbeat 💓
Then relaxed 😌
She rested one hand on the back of his head, grounding him 🌱
"…You're tired," she whispered 😔
"Yeah," he nodded quietly.
She didn't push him away.
Didn't comment.
She just stayed 🤍
"…Can I kiss?" he asked softly 💭
Mochi nodded 😊
"Yes."
He kissed her cheek 😘
Once.
Then again.
And again 😄
Light.
Affectionate.
"Enough," she laughed quietly 😅
"Okay," he grinned 😌
"…Can I kiss you on the lips?"
Mochi looked down, ears red 🌸
"…Yes."
Slow.
Careful.
Warm 💞
A kiss without rush.
Without fear.
Just choice 🤍
When they pulled back, foreheads touching 🫂
The room felt smaller.
Safer.
They didn't speak.
They didn't need to.
They stayed like that a moment longerBreathing each other inAs if memorizing the feeling 💗
Then he pulled back just enough to look at herEyes asking againAlways asking ✨
"…Do you want to go somewhere quieter?" he saidGentleUnassuming 💭
Mochi hesitated only a secondThen nodded 🌸"…Yes."
They stood togetherHands still linkedNeither letting go 🤍
The hallway felt hushed as they walkedFootsteps slowUnhurriedLike the night itself had agreed to wait 🌙
When they reached the roomHe opened the door for herA small gestureBut it made her smile 😊
Inside, the light was lowThe air calmSafe.
They didn't rush to the bedDidn't rush at all.
They just stood thereCloser than beforeThe door closing softly behind them 🚪
line crossedNot loudNot dramatic
Just chosen 💞
Fifteen days passed 📆
Nothing big changed.
And yet… everything did ✨
Laddu laughed more easily 😄
Mochi moved lighter 😊
Mother noticed first 👀
"…They seem happier," she said softly ☕
Father hummed.
Candy tilted her head 😌
"They glow." ✨
They all looked over.
Laddu and Mochi were just eating 🍽️
Normal.
Unbothered.
"Did we miss something?" Maya asked 🤔
"No," Laddu smiled.
"No," Mochi nodded 😊
Nothing to announce.
Nothing to explain.
But the house felt warmer 🔥
And that was enough. 💛