Mochi sat beside Mama on the sofa.
Her hands were cold.
Her heart was racing.
Her thoughts were tangled like wires sparking inside her chest. ⚡💭
Mama held Mochi's hand.
Not softly.
Firmly.
The kind of grip that said listen carefully.
Mama turned toward her, eyes calm but sharp.
Mama:
"Mochi… listen to me."
Mochi slowly looked up.
Mama's voice lowered, steady and heavy.
Mama:
"Love is not a game of pride.
If two stubborn people wait for the other to move…
both drown." 🌊
Mochi swallowed.
Mama squeezed her hand again.
Mama:
"You and Laddu are both hurting.
You think your pain is separate from his…
but you are actually one broken circle." ⭕💔
Mochi stayed silent.
Her throat burned.
Her eyes stung.
Mama stood up suddenly.
Mama:
"Go to your room.
Now."
Mochi blinked.
Mochi:
"Mama…?"
Mama turned away, folding baby clothes with surgical calm.
Mama:
"Go.
And don't come out until I say."
A chill slid down Mochi's spine.
Something was happening.
Something serious.
She obeyed.
She walked to her room.
Closed the door.
She didn't know Mama was already setting the battlefield. ⚔️
LADDU — OFFICE, BROKEN BUT MOVING 🏢🩹
Barfi had wrapped Laddu's nose earlier.
Now it was taped awkwardly, giving him the look of a bruised gangster panda. 🐼
Still, he worked.
No jokes.
No smiles.
No flirting.
Just keys clicking.
Eyes focused.
Jaw tight.
Bob leaned against the doorframe.
Bob:
"Your nose looks like a watermelon."
Laddu:
"Thank you.
Very supportive."
Jin walked in right behind him.
Jin:
"We're leaving early.
Your Mama called."
Laddu's head snapped up instantly.
Laddu:
"Mama?!
Is she okay?!"
Jin raised both palms.
Jin:
"She's fine.
She just wants you home."
That was enough.
Laddu stood up immediately, grabbed his coat, and walked out without another word. 🚶♂️
HOME — THE TRAP CLOSES 🏠🪤
When Laddu stepped inside the house, Mama was already waiting.
She hugged him tightly.
For one second, he relaxed.
Just one.
Mama:
"Son… don't worry.
She's not here."
Laddu exhaled.
Mama handed him a basket filled with neatly folded baby clothes.
Mama:
"Put these in the guest-room cupboard."
Laddu nodded obediently.
Laddu:
"Yes, Mama."
He walked in.
Didn't notice the three bottles of alcohol lined up neatly on the desk. 🍾🍾🍾
Didn't notice Mama following silently behind him.
MOCHI — SENT STRAIGHT INTO THE FIRE 🔥
Mama knocked on Mochi's door.
Mama:
"Mochi, go to the guest room and bring diapers."
Mochi:
"Now?"
Mama:
"Yes. Now."
Mochi walked down the hallway.
Opened the guest-room door—
And froze.
Laddu stood inside.
Injured.
Bandaged nose.
Bruised jaw.
Baby clothes in his hands.
Behind him—
Three bottles of alcohol.
Their eyes met.
Silence crashed down like thunder. ⚡
Before either could speak—
SLAM!
CLICK!
The door locked.
Mama's voice from outside, calm and merciless:
Mama:
"You stay inside.
I'll open the door when you deserve it."
Mochi:
"MAMA?!"
Laddu:
"Mama, this is illegal—!"
Mama:
"So is breaking my door."
Footsteps faded.
They were alone.
Locked.
No escape.
Just them…
and the truth waiting like poison in the air. ☠️
OUTSIDE — FAMILY REACTS 😳
Father stared.
Father:
"What did you just do?"
Mama folded her arms proudly.
Mama:
"I locked them together."
Bob stood up.
Bob:
"You actually did it?!"
Grandma clapped.
Grandma:
"FINALLY!"
Jin smiled.
Jin:
"Strategist Mama."
Maya raised both thumbs.
Maya:
"Legend."
Candy jumped.
Candy:
"Mama trapped big brother and big sister!!"
Father sighed… then smiled.
Father:
"They'll thank you."
Mama smirked.
Mama:
"I know."
INSIDE THE LOCKED ROOM — THE STORM 🌪️
Mochi stood with arms crossed.
Laddu stood opposite, placing the baby clothes down gently.
Laddu (quiet):
"I didn't know you'd come.
Mama tricked me."
Mochi:
"You'd never walk into a room with me willingly."
That hit.
Laddu lowered his eyes.
Mochi raised her hand sharply.
Mochi:
"No.
I talk first."
He froze.
She stepped forward.
Mochi:
"You left the hospital."
Laddu:
"Yes."
Mochi:
"Before I arrived."
Laddu:
"Yes."
Mochi:
"You ignored calls."
Laddu:
"My phone was dead."
Mochi:
"You ran to another state."
Laddu:
"It was urgent."
Her voice hardened.
Mochi:
"Barfi told me everything.
The fight.
The blood.
You destroying yourself."
Laddu:
"It was just a fight."
Mochi:
"No. It wasn't."
She pointed at his bandage.
Mochi:
"Why not tell the whole truth?"
Laddu's voice cracked.
Laddu:
"You deserve better—"
Mochi:
"You don't get to decide that."
Silence thickened.
Laddu opened one bottle with a soft clink.
Sat on the floor.
Laddu (tired):
"This will be long.
We should drink."
Mochi took the bottle from his hand and set it aside.
She knelt in front of him.
Eyes steady.
Voice low.
Mochi:
"We talk.
Everything.
Now."
Laddu finally met her gaze.
The storm inside both of them rose—
Ready to break. 🌧️💥