Laddu was still laughing into the ancient Nokia phone, speaking rapid-fire Hindi like he was hosting a late-night comedy show. His happiness was suspiciously loud. Too loud. Criminally loud.
Candy leaned forward between the seats, narrowing her eyes with full dramatic intensity.
"Oppa…"
she whispered.
"WHO are you talking to?
And WHY are you smiling like that?"
Laddu ended the call, slid the Nokia into his pocket like a sacred relic, and grinned.
"Someone very close to my heart."
The car imploded emotionally.
Mochi inhaled too fast and almost choked.
Maya nearly dropped her phone.
Mother gasped like she'd just heard a marriage proposal.
Father tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
Mira snapped, "WHO the hell is close to your heart?!"
Candy screamed, "IS IT MY SISTER?!"
Laddu nodded casually.
"Kinda."
Mochi's soul attempted to escape through the car window.
Before the tension could turn nuclear, Maya jumped in.
"WAIT. Why didn't you give THIS number to Mochi?" she demanded.
"This phone survived dogs, drains, and destiny. It's DOG-PROOF!"
Laddu patted the Nokia lovingly.
"This number…"
he said solemnly,
"I only give to people who are close to my pocket…
and close to my heart."
Silence.
Pure.
Absolute.
Weaponized silence.
Mochi's face turned pinker than her scarf.
Maya whispered, "So she's one of them??"
But before hope could even breathe—
Laddu shook his head.
"I won't give this number to Mochi."
The car froze.
Mother stared.
Mira's jaw dropped.
Candy yelled, "OPPA, YOU MEANIE!!"
Father glared through the rearview mirror.
Mochi lowered her head, the sting arriving quietly.
"W-Why… not…?" she asked, voice small.
Laddu didn't hesitate.
"She is not close to my heart.
So she cannot get this number."
The temperature in the car dropped ten degrees.
Maya whispered, "That's brutal…"
Mira muttered, "Just say you don't trust her."
Even Father stayed silent.
Mochi turned toward the window, blinking fast, hurt settling gently but deeply.
Completely unaware of the damage he'd caused, Laddu added:
"This number is only for brother.
People I've trusted for a long time.
She's… not in that list."
The emotional damage was fatal.
The car sank into heavy silence.
Until Mother asked softly,
"Laddu… where will you stay tonight?"
No answer.
Everyone turned.
Laddu was already asleep.
Head tilted.
Mouth slightly open.
Seatbelt hugging him like a toddler.
Gone. Finished. KO.
Candy gasped.
"He DIED!!"
Mira poked him.
"No. Sleeping like a dead potato."
Father muttered, "He can sleep anywhere."
Mother smiled gently.
"Poor boy. He's exhausted."
Mochi said nothing.
She just watched him.
His slow breathing.
His relaxed face.
And then—
his head leaned.
Lightly.
Naturally.
Resting on her shoulder.
Her entire body locked.
Her face turned red instantly.
Her heart started sprinting.
Candy grinned like a villain.
"Unnie… he fell asleep on youuuu."
Mochi froze, eyes wide, cheeks burning, afraid to move even an inch.
The family exchanged looks like:
These two are hopeless.
Then Candy's eyes lit up with pure devil energy.
She reached into Laddu's pocket.
"CANDY—NO!" Mira hissed.
Too late.
Candy pulled out the sacred Nokia.
Everyone held their breath as the tiny hacker tapped the screen.
Scrolling.
Scrolling.
Scrolling—
Then—
"GUYSSSS!! LOOK!!"
The first contact read:
MY LOVE ❤️
The world stopped.
Mother gasped.
Father almost braked.
Maya covered her mouth.
Mira froze.
Candy squealed like a kettle.
And Mochi—
Mochi's soul left her body.
"M-My… l-love…?"
Maya whispered,
"Mochi…
do you think it's YOU?"
Mochi shook her head violently, face exploding red.
"N-No! It can't be!
He just said I'm not close to his heart—!"
Candy pointed at the screen, eyes wide.
"But unnie…
if it's not you…"
She turned the phone dramatically.
"…then WHO is 'My Love'?"
Silence.
Mochi stared at the sleeping boy on her shoulder.
His peaceful face.
The faint smile.
The warmth against her arm.
Her heart pounded harder than ever.
Because now…
she didn't know if she was hurt—
or scared—
or secretly hoping—
that maybe…
just maybe—
she was
My Love ❤️