The café finally calmed down after The Running Girl Disaster™.Cups stopped shaking.Customers resumed breathing.Maya wiped tears of laughter from her eyes.
But Mochi?
Mochi was NOT calm.
Not even remotely.
She stepped out from behind the counter like a silent thundercloud ⛈️.Tall. Focused. Dangerous.
Maya leaned toward the cousin and whispered:
Maya:"Uh-oh.She's going to kill him."
The cousin's grin widened.
Cousin:"I'm excited."
👂 EAR-GATE INCIDENT
Mochi marched straight to Table Three.
Laddu smiled innocently, folding his hands like a customer-service angel 😇.
Laddu:"Waiter! Your service today was—"
GRAB.
Mochi grabbed his ear. Hard.
Laddu:"OW— OW— WAIT— WAIT—I NEED THAT EAR—!!"
The cousin clapped like she bought front-row tickets 👏👏.Maya threw a napkin in the air like wedding confetti 🎉.
Mochi dragged Laddu out of the café like a mother hauling her misbehaving child.
🌆 OUTSIDE THE CAFÉ — TRUTH TIME
Laddu stumbled outside, holding his ear dramatically.
Laddu:"Waiter! You damaged my listening device!"
Mochi (furious):"You teased me the whole day!"
Laddu:"Because I had nothing else to do."
Mochi:"You let that girl TOUCH your HAIR!"
Laddu blinked.
Laddu:"Oh.Is that illegal now?"
Mochi looked like she might punch a tree 🌳👊.
Her voice cracked just a little.
Mochi:"You never let me touch your hair."
Laddu paused.
The teasing drained from his face.
Laddu (soft):"Mochi…you want to?"
Mochi froze.
Her entire system rebooted 💻💥.
Mochi:"N-No— forget it— that's not the point—!"
🎭 COUSIN REVEAL — PLOT TWIST ACTIVATED
Suddenly, the cousin stepped outside waving cheerfully.
Cousin:"Hey, Mochi!"
Mochi frowned.
Mochi:"Why… do you know my name…?"
The cousin grinned and spread her arms.
Cousin:"It's me!Your cousin!From another state!We met five years ago at the family wedding!"
💥 SYSTEM CRASH 💥
Mochi:"WAIT— WHAT—?!"
Maya popped her head out the café door.
Maya:"I KNEW IT!Family chaos!"
The cousin hugged Mochi tightly.
Cousin:"You didn't recognize me, dummy!"
Mochi turned pink from embarrassment.
Mochi:"I—I thought Laddu brought a random girl just to flirt!"
The cousin laughed loudly.
Cousin:"He DID bring me to tease you.That part is true."
Mochi turned slowly toward Laddu.
🔥🔥🔥
He raised both hands like a criminal caught on camera.
Laddu:"It was a social experiment!"
Mochi:"You are SO—"
Laddu:"Charming?"
Mochi:"ANNOYING!"
💖 LADDU APOLOGIZES — FOR REAL
Laddu stepped closer.
No jokes.No smirk.
Just honest.
Laddu:"Mochi…I'm sorry."
She blinked.
He wasn't kidding.
Laddu:"I teased you because I wanted to see your expressions…because your expressions are…beautiful."
Mochi's heart skipped 💓.
The cousin whispered dramatically:
Cousin:"HE'S SMOOTH— I APPROVE."
Laddu continued softly:
Laddu:"I'll stop teasing if it upsets you."
Mochi looked down, fingers twisting.
Mochi:"…Just don't tease me with girls."
Laddu nodded.
Laddu:"Only you then."
💥 TOMATO MODE ACTIVATED 🍅
Mochi:"T-That's not what I meant!"
Laddu chuckled gently.
He reached out and rested his hand on her shoulder.
Warm. Careful. Real.
Laddu:"Come on.Let me make it up to you."
Mochi looked up shyly.
Mochi:"How…?"
Laddu's grin returned — softer, playful, safe 😌.
Laddu:"Let's go shopping."
🛍️ SHOPPING ARC BEGINS
The cousin squealed.
Cousin:"I AM COMING TOO!"
Maya ran out immediately.
Maya:"Shopping? Count me in!I need drama snacks!"
Mochi sighed…
But she was smiling.
A real one.Soft. Shy. Happy 💗.
Mochi:"…Okay. Let's go."
Laddu offered his hand.
Not teasing.Not dramatic.
Just… gentle.
Mochi hesitated—
Then touched his fingertips.
Just barely ✨.
Laddu didn't react wildly.
He just smiled.
Laddu (normal, calm):"Perfect.Shopping adventure starts now."
And together—
They walked away.Arguing. Laughing. Blushing.
Exactly how they were meant to be. 🌸💞