Five Days Later ⏳
Five days passed.
Five days of Mochi's moods 🌧️☀️🌪️Five days of Laddu feeding her 🍪hugging her 🫂calming her 😮💨listening to her 🧠giving snacks 🍫bubble tea 🧋wiping tears 🧻dodging anger 💥surviving romance mode 😳being her emotional pillow 🛏️her heater 🔥her stress sponge 🧽her comfort human 🤍
And now…
Laddu sat on the sofa.
Back straight.Neck stiff.Eyes open.No blinking.
🧍♂️
Like a robot whose soul had gone on vacation ✈️👻
Mochi sat at the kitchen table with Mother 🍽️She kept glancing at him.
Mother watched Laddu carefully, worry settling in her eyes.
Mother:"Mochi… look at that poor boy.""He has taken such good care of you.""You should give him a gift."
Mochi frowned slightly.
Mochi:"…Gift?"
Mother nodded.
Mother:"Yes. Something meaningful.""He hasn't slept properly for days."
Mochi looked at Laddu again.
He blinked once…
Very slowly…
Like a dying computer buffering forever 🖥️⌛
Lie Arrives 🚪
The door opened.
Lie stepped in.
Tall.Clean.Composed.Serious expression 🧍♂️✨
His eyes immediately landed on Laddu.
Still sitting.Still staring into the void.Still breathing like a broken fridge 🧊😶🌫️
Lie walked toward him.
Lie:"Laddu."
No response.
Lie tried again.
Lie:"I have been thinking for five days."
Nothing.
Lie swallowed and continued.
Lie:"I want to fight you.""For Mochi."
The room froze 🧊
Maya whispered:
Maya:"He chose violence today."
Cousin nearly choked on tea ☕😨
Lie straightened his back, ready.
Lie:"Stand up."
For a second… nothing.
Then—
Slowly…
Like a soulless puppet 🪆
Laddu stood.
Eyes dead.Body stiff.Voice flat. Empty.
Laddu:"That's not my department.""You can have her."
💥💥💥
Everyone:
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"
Mochi's soul combusted 💔⚡Mother almost dropped her cup ☕Cousin screamed 😱Candy shouted:
Candy:"NOOOOOO!"
Even Lie jumped back.
Laddu didn't wait.
He turned.
And walked out 🚶♂️
Like a robot returning to its charging station 🔌
The Retreat to His Office 🏢
Laddu walked down the street in a straight line.
Expression blank.Mind empty.
People stepped aside 🚶♀️➡️Dogs didn't bark 🐕The wind avoided him 🍃
He reached his office building.
Beep.Card tapped.
Elevator.
12th floor.
Straight into his cabin.
AC to maximum ❄️Shoes off 👞Jacket still on.
And then—
He collapsed face-first onto the small bed 🛏️
No curling up.No blanket.No adjustment.
Just fell.
Like a man who had returned from war 🪖
And within seconds—
Deep sleep.
Heavy. Absolute.
The kind only emotional exhaustion creates.
A sleep that whispered:
"System shutting down. Restart after 12 hours." 💤
Back Home 💔
Mochi stood frozen.
Cheeks hot.Heart clenching.
Mochi (soft, shocked):"…He said… give me away?"
Mother placed a gentle hand on her shoulder 🤍
Mother:"He's exhausted.""Five days of emotional storms… anyone would break."
Mochi bit her lip.
Her eyes lowered.
Mochi:"…I hurt him."
Lie stood quietly, guilt sinking into his chest.
Maya whispered to Cousin:
Maya:"He didn't mean it.""He's just… empty."
Cousin nodded.
Cousin:"Mochi needs to bring him back."
Mother smiled knowingly.
Mother:"You should go to him.""Bring him food…""…and your feelings."
Mochi looked toward the door.
Heart racing 💓Mind clear.Eyes determined.
Mochi (soft):"…I will."
Lie Learns the Truth ⚠️
Lie still stood there, confused.
Mother turned toward him calmly.
Mother:"Lie… listen carefully."
Lie straightened.
Lie:"Yes, aunty?"
Mother leaned closer.
Mother:"Laddu is very dangerous."
Lie blinked.
Lie:"…Dangerous? Him?"
Mother nodded gravely.
Mother:"If he gets angry… he won't fight.""He will end the situation."
Father stepped in.
Father:"She's not joking."
Lie's soul exited 🚪👻
Lie:"WHAT?"
Father:"He casually carries a shotgun and a taser.""Like wallet and keys."
Lie imagined those two people.
His face went pale.
Lie (whisper):"…Okay. I give up."
Mother nodded proudly.
Mother:"Good.""Go home.""And don't challenge him again."
Lie bowed slightly and escaped 🏃♂️💨
Candy:"Bye, almost-brother-in-law!" 👋😂
Dinner Without Laddu 🍽️
Night arrived 🌙
Everyone gathered at the table.
Father. Mother. Maya. Cousin. Candy.
But the seat next to Mochi—
Empty.
Still…
The atmosphere stayed warm.
Father smiled.
Father:"You all handled chaos well today."
Candy raised her hands.
Candy:"I helped by shouting!"
Maya nodded.
Maya:"I handled crying and laughing."
Cousin added:
Cousin:"I stopped Mochi from chasing him."
Mother smiled.
Mother:"And Laddu…""He took such good care of Mochi.""He never complained."
Mochi stared at her plate.
Each word hit her heart 💔
Mother:"He is patient.""Kind.""Gentle.""He stayed because he cares."
Maya said softly:
Maya:"He loves her."
Candy nodded aggressively.
Candy:"They love each other!"
Father looked at Mochi.
Father:"You chose a good boy."
Mochi whispered:
Mochi:"…I know."
She looked at the empty seat again.
Quiet.Lonely.
Mother squeezed her hand.
Mother:"Go to him tomorrow.""Tell him thank you."
Mochi inhaled shakily.
Mochi (soft):"I will."
And somewhere…
On the 12th floor…
A man slept, empty and exhausted.
Waiting to be brought back. 🌙💔