The four of them sat in the park.
The sky was soft pink 🌸Quiet.Gentle.
Peaceful.
Which lasted exactly three seconds.
🎁 The Velvet Box Incident
Suddenly—
Laddu:"Mochi."
She turned.
Laddu reached into his pocketand pulled out a small velvet box.
Maya gasped so hard she nearly passed out.
Cousin (grabbing Maya):"OH MY GOD IT'S HAPPENING—"
Maya:"HE'S GIVING HER JEWELRY?!"
Mochi stared at the box.
Her heart skipped.
Mochi:"…W-what is that?"
Laddu smiled softly.
Laddu:"A gift.For you."
He opened the box.
Inside lay a delicate silver necklace ✨Simple.Elegant.With a tiny charm shaped like the letter M.
Mochi's breath caught.
Mochi:"…For… me?"
Laddu:"Yes.I got a discount because it was the sixteenth—"
💀 WORLD FREEZE 💀
Maya froze.Cousin froze.Mochi froze.
Maya (voice deadly):"…Sixteenth WHAT, Laddu?"
Laddu nearly left this dimension.
Laddu:"JOKE!IT WAS A JOKE!HA-HA!ONE DISCOUNT!ONE!NO EXES!PLEASE DON'T KILL ME—!"
Maya glared like she could erase him.
Cousin smacked his shoulder.
Cousin:"HORRIBLE timing, you idiot!"
Laddu bowed repeatedly.
Laddu:"I'm sorry!I am very stupid!"
💗 The Necklace Moment
Mochi didn't laugh.
Her eyes stayed on the necklace.
Shiny.Soft.With her initial.
Her voice trembled.
Mochi:"You… chose this for me?"
Laddu nodded.
Laddu:"Yes.I even—"
He turned the pendant.
It was upside down.
Maya:"YOU HELD IT WRONG."
Mochi let out a tiny laugh.
Soft.Emotional.
Her eyes shimmered.
Mochi (quiet):"It's… beautiful."
Laddu closed the box.
And put it back into his pocket.
Mochi blinked.
Mochi:"…Why are you putting it away?"
Maya stepped forward aggressively.
Maya:"YES LADDU WHY?!GIVE IT TO HER!"
Cousin:"DO IT!ROMANCE NOW!"
But Laddu shook his head.
His voice gentler than ever.
Laddu:"In my family…any real gift between a coupleis given by the mother."
Silence fell.
Laddu:"They say a mother's blessingmakes the relationship strong.Unbreakable."
He looked at Mochi.
Hopeful. Careful.
Laddu:"I'll send it to India.When my mother touches itand sends it back…that's when it'll be yours."
Mochi's cheeks turned pink.
Her lips trembled.
Mochi:"…Laddu…"
Maya (squealing):"HE JUST SOFT-CONFESSED!"
Cousin:"THIS IS A MARRIAGE-LEVEL MOVE!"
Mochi looked down.
Heart warm.Safe.
Mochi:"…Okay."
Laddu smiled.
Soft.Sunlight-warm ☀️
😈 The Kiss Question
They sat quietly again.
Then—
Cousin:"Laddu.Have you ever kissed anyone?"
💥
Mochi froze.Her heart panicked.
Maya leaned in with popcorn 🍿.
Maya:"For research."
Laddu blinked.
Laddu:"My first kiss?"
Mochi clutched her sleeves.
Mochi (tiny):"…Y-yes?"
Laddu looked at her.
Laddu:"Sorry, Mochi.You cannot have it."
💀 UNIVERSE SHATTERED 💀
Maya:"WHAT?!"
Cousin:"SHE LIFTED YOU THREE TIMES!GIVE IT!"
Mochi's voice cracked.
Mochi:"…Why not?"
Laddu breathed in slowly.
Laddu:"My first kiss…I'll give only to my wife."
Time stopped.
Cousin:"So Mochi gets it."
Mochi made a squeaking noise 🫠.
Laddu:"But—"
Everyone leaned in.
Laddu:"What if she becomes a bank robber?"
Cousin:"WHAT KIND OF SCENARIO—?!"
Maya:"She can't even steal ketchup packets!"
Mochi:"I-I'm not robbing a bank…"
Laddu leaned closer.
Laddu:"Then maybe… someday."
Mochi's soul glowed pink 💗.
🍃 The Leaf Incident
Laddu leaned back.
Tap. Tap. Tap.On his cheek.
Mochi stared.
Confused.
Maya gasped.
Maya:"HE'S OFFERING HIS CHEEK!"
Cousin:"UNIVERSAL KISS SIGNAL."
Mochi panicked.
Mochi:"H-He wants me to—?"
Laddu:"Someone's slow today."
Maya:"MOCHI GO!"
Cousin pushed her.
Mochi closed her eyes.
Leaned in.
And kissed—
A leaf 🍃.
She froze.
Maya:"HE LEAF-BLOCKED YOU?!"
Cousin (dying):"HE REPLACED HIS FACE WITH PLANT!"
Laddu smiled sweetly.
Laddu:"Did you forget?"
He lowered the leaf.
Looked into her eyes.
Laddu:"I give my first kissonly to my wife."
Mochi combusted.
Mochi:"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"
Maya:"THIS BOY IS A MENACE!"
Cousin:"SHE KISSED A TREE!"
Laddu shrugged.
Laddu:"You aimed too fast."
Mochi covered her face.
Mochi:"I hate you."
Laddu:"I know."
He tapped her shoulder gently.
Laddu:"But if you wait…maybe somedayyou won't need a leaf."
Maya screamed into the sky.
Maya:"I CANNOT HANDLE THIS ROMANCE!"
Cousin pointed at Laddu.
Cousin:"You better marry her after this trauma!"
Mochi's legs felt weak.
Her face burned.
But her heart?
Beating wildly 💓💓💓