Dinner was warm, noisy, and comfortably chaotic.
Candy talked nonstop about school 📚
Big Brother lectured nobody 🎖️
Father silently blessed the food 🙏
Cousin gossiped like it was her profession 💬
Maya laughed at literally everything 😂
And Mochi?
She kept glancing at Laddu.
Then at the ring on her index finger.
Then back at Laddu.
Then at the ring again.
Finally—
Mother cleared her throat.
That sound.
The dangerous one.
The table went silent.
Even Laddu stopped playing with his spoon.
🍽️ The Question That Changed the Air
Candy suddenly looked up, curious.
Candy:
"Laddu… when you live with your wife one day…
where will you live?"
Mochi nearly swallowed the spoon whole.
She slowly looked across the table at Laddu.
He looked calm.
Soft smile.
Innocent troublemaker energy.
She took a breath.
Mochi:
"You gave five options before…
but where do you want to live?"
Every head turned.
Candy froze mid-bite 🍗
Cousin covered her mouth 😳
Maya whispered, "Oooooh"
Mother smiled like she already knew
Big Brother pretended not to listen but leaned closer
Laddu blinked once.
Then leaned back, thoughtful.
🏘️ Laddu's Past
Laddu:
"In India… I lived in a joint family."
Mochi tilted her head.
Mochi:
"Joint family? With many people?"
Laddu nodded.
Laddu:
"Yes.
Uncles, aunties, cousins, grandparents.
Rooms always full.
Kitchen always noisy.
Food always not enough…"
He paused, then added calmly:
Laddu:
"Because I ate everything."
Candy giggled 🤭
Laddu smiled softly.
A rare, peaceful smile.
Laddu:
"It was fun.
Crowded.
Loud.
Chaotic.
A little crazy."
Cousin whispered:
Cousin:
"So THAT'S why he's like this."
Mochi hid her laugh.
Then Laddu looked straight at her.
Not teasing.
Not joking.
Just warm.
Laddu:
"If we live in a joint family again…
I think it will be fun."
Mochi's cheeks turned pink.
Mochi:
"Fun… how?"
🏡 The Dream
Laddu lifted one finger.
Laddu:
"First.
I buy a big house."
Everyone paused.
Father blinked.
Mother raised her eyebrows.
Big Brother slowly lowered his cup ☕
Laddu:
"A big house where we live together.
Me.
You.
Your mother.
Your father.
Big Brother and his wife."
Big Brother CHOKED.
Big Brother:
"W-WIFE?! I DON'T HAVE ONE!"
Laddu:
"You will.
And she will also live with us."
Big Brother turned into a statue 🗿
Candy clapped happily.
Candy:
"Yes! More people to bully Big Brother!"
Laddu tapped the table again.
Laddu:
"And our new little guest."
Mochi's mother gently touched her chest, smiling softly.
The table melted a little 💞
Then Laddu added casually:
Laddu:
"And your grandma.
And your grandpa.
And if your grandma has a grandma… she can come too."
Mochi laughed.
Mochi:
"That's too many people, Laddu."
He shrugged.
Laddu:
"More people.
More noise.
More food.
More laughter.
More love."
Then his tone changed.
Quiet.
Honest.
Laddu:
"That's my dream."
Mochi's heart squeezed.
Laddu:
"But the final decision…
is yours."
Silence.
Warm.
Heavy.
Meaningful.
Candy whispered loudly:
Candy:
"She's going to say yes."
Big Brother muttered:
Big Brother:
"I'm moving out."
Mochi took a breath.
Mochi (soft):
"…I'll think about it."
Laddu nodded.
Laddu:
"I'll wait."
And he meant it.
🧠 The Five Options Return
Mother smiled politely.
Mother:
"So… where will you two live in the future?"
Mochi choked on her soup.
Mochi:
"M-Mother!! Why now?!"
Laddu didn't even pause chewing.
Laddu:
"In your heart."
Mochi dropped her spoon 💥
Candy burst laughing.
Cousin slapped the table.
Maya shook her head.
Maya:
"This man is uncontainable."
Mother sighed.
Mother:
"Laddu. I am serious."
Laddu straightened up.
Laddu:
"Okay.
I have five options."
The entire table leaned in.
🏠 Option 1
Laddu:
"First option.
My house in India."
Candy:
"What's it like?"
Laddu:
"Water.
Electricity.
Shops.
Roads.
Beautiful sunsets."
He paused.
Laddu:
"Temperature 52°C.
You must milk cow.
Carry water.
Do village things."
Mochi's soul exited the building 👻
Mochi:
"I would die."
Laddu:
"Yes.
But I will protect you."
Everyone shouted:
Everyone:
"THAT IS NOT THE POINT!"
🏠 Option 2
Laddu:
"Second option.
When Candy and Big Brother leave home…
we live here with Mother and Father."
Mother blinked.
Father paused mid-chew.
Mochi:
"L-Live here?!"
Laddu:
"Yes.
Rent free.
Food free.
Electricity free.
Heaven."
Big Brother glared 😐
Candy hugged Laddu proudly.
🏠 Option 3
Laddu:
"Third option.
A small apartment above Mochi's café."
Maya gasped 😮
Cousin gasped harder.
Cousin:
"That is actually cute."
Mochi turned red.
Mochi:
"We would see each other every day…"
Laddu:
"Yes.
Very convenient for romance."
Mochi face-planted into her bowl 🍜
🏠 Option 4
Laddu:
"Fourth option.
An apartment in a tall building."
Father nodded wisely.
Mother approved.
Mochi:
"That… sounds nice."
Laddu:
"Yes.
But expensive.
I'll buy it anyway."
Mochi malfunctioned 💥
🏠 Option 5
Laddu looked proud.
Laddu:
"Fifth option.
We live inside my office."
Silence.
Candy whispered:
Candy:
"Between computers…?"
Mochi:
"WE ARE NOT LIVING IN YOUR OFFICE!!"
Laddu:
"They have free food.
Free coffee.
Free electricity.
And three sofas."
Big Brother:
"You are NOT living in your office."
Laddu:
"Why not?
Even the tank simulator is there."
Mochi almost fainted.
💗 The Final Choice
Mother raised her hand.
Mother:
"I vote option three or four."
Father nodded.
Candy raised her hand.
Candy:
"Apartment above café!"
Maya and Cousin screamed:
Both:
"CUTE COUPLE APARTMENT ARC!!"
Big Brother muttered:
Big Brother:
"Whichever is farthest from my room."
Laddu looked at Mochi.
Soft eyes.
Quiet voice.
Laddu:
"You choose.
Where you go…
I will go."
Mochi's heart trembled.
Mochi:
"…Let me think."
Laddu:
"I'll wait."
Candy whispered:
Candy:
"He has zero patience."
Cousin nodded.
Cousin:
"Absolutely zero."
Laddu looked up.
Laddu:
"I heard that."
The whole table laughed 😄