Candy suddenly climbed onto the sofa, her tiny face unusually serious.
No jumping.
No giggling.
Just… focus. 🎯
She stared straight at Laddu.
Candy:
"Big brother."
Laddu opened one lazy eye. 😴
Laddu:
"Yes, tiny accountant?"
Candy pointed at him dramatically, like a lawyer in court. 👆⚖️
Candy:
"How much money do you have?"
SILENCE.
Not awkward silence.
Not sleepy silence.
The dangerous kind. 😶
Father froze mid-sip ☕
Mother paused folding clothes 👕
Mochi's fingers slowed in Laddu's hair 💭
Even the baby stopped making noises. 👶
Laddu smiled faintly.
Not proud.
Not flashy.
Just… calm.
Laddu:
"If I sell my field in my village…"
Candy leaned closer. 👂
Laddu:
"…it's enough for my three generations to live a normal life."
COLLECTIVE SHOCK 💥
Candy's mouth dropped open.
Candy:
"THREE?!" 😱
Grandma nearly choked.
Grandma:
"Then why are you working like a donkey?!"
Laddu shrugged casually.
Laddu:
"Because donkey eats well." 🐴🍚
Mochi looked down at him, surprised.
She hadn't known this.
Not even a little.
Her chest felt… strange.
THE FAMILY TAKES IT SERIOUSLY
Father cleared his throat.
Father:
"So financially… you don't need to work."
Laddu nodded.
Laddu:
"I don't need to."
Mother's brows knitted together.
Mother:
"Then why are you still pushing yourself so hard?"
Laddu didn't answer immediately.
Mochi felt his chest rise slowly beneath her palm.
Steady.
Grounded.
Her mind wandered—
Quiet mornings ☀️
Him home 🏡
No rushing…
She shook the thought away.
But it stayed.
Grandma leaned back, satisfied.
Grandma:
"So quitting is possible."
Candy clapped like she won a prize.
Candy:
"YES! Big brother stay home forever!" 🎉
Father frowned deeply.
Father:
"This is not a cartoon."
The room filled with voices:
Mother worrying about responsibility 🧠
Grandma arguing about enjoying life 🌸
Candy planning snack schedules 🍪
Father calculating reality 📊
Mochi stayed silent.
Thinking. 🤍
MOCHI'S QUIET THOUGHT
She looked at Laddu.
At his sling.
At how peaceful he looked sleeping on her.
A thought slipped in quietly:
What if… we actually could?
No pressure.
No proving.
Just life.
Her fingers tightened slightly in his hair.
She said nothing.
But she didn't reject the thought either.
LADDU BREAKS THE MOMENT 😏
Suddenly—
Laddu laughed.
A real laugh. 😂
He sat up carefully, adjusting his sling.
Laddu:
"You idiots."
Everyone froze.
Candy gasped dramatically.
Candy:
"BIG BROTHER INSULT FAMILY!"
Laddu looked at Mochi and gently flicked her forehead. 👈
Laddu:
"Idiot."
Mochi:
"HEY—!" 😤
Laddu smiled wider.
Laddu:
"I can't leave my job."
SILENCE AGAIN.
But this time… attentive.
Laddu's voice turned firm.
Laddu:
"More than two hundred families depend on me."
Father blinked.
Father:
"…Two hundred?"
Laddu nodded calmly.
Laddu:
"If I walk away, their children's school fees stop.
Medical support stops.
Projects stop."
Candy stared in awe.
Candy:
"Big brother is boss?"
Laddu corrected gently.
Laddu:
"The boss."
Mother's eyes softened instantly. 💖
Mother:
"Then why did you say all that?"
Laddu leaned back into Mochi, smiling.
Laddu:
"Because sometimes it's nice to imagine quitting everything…"
He paused.
Laddu:
"…as long as you don't actually quit your responsibility."
Mochi exhaled quietly. 😮💨
Relief.
And something else.
Pride.
Laddu rested his head against her.
Laddu (soft):
"I choose work.
I choose family.
And…"
He looked up at her.
Laddu:
"I choose you." 💞
Mochi's heart skipped. 💓
She didn't reply.
She just pulled him closer.
Candy wiped imaginary tears.
Candy:
"Big brother is hero." 🦸♂️
Father nodded slowly.
Father:
"Now I understand why people follow him."
Mother smiled.
Mother:
"He knows the difference between freedom… and escape."
Laddu closed his eyes again. 😌
Back on Mochi's lap.
Not running.
Not quitting.
Just resting.
For the first time—
He didn't need to prove anything anymore.
🚗 THE LONG DRIVE IDEA
Candy suddenly jumped onto the sofa like a spark.
Candy:
"Let's go on a long drive!" 🚗✨
Silence.
Everyone looked at Laddu.
Laddu blinked.
Laddu:
"…I don't know how to drive a car."
FREEZE. 🧊
Mochi turned slowly.
Mochi:
"What?"
Father frowned.
Father:
"You're joking."
Laddu shook his head.
Laddu:
"No."
Candy gasped.
Candy:
"BIG BROTHER CAN'T DRIVE?!"
Grandma slapped the table.
Grandma:
"What kind of man are you?!"
Laddu shrugged.
Laddu:
"I never felt the need."
Mochi stared harder.
Mochi:
"How did you survive?"
Laddu explained calmly.
Laddu:
"I was the smallest in my family.
Big brother did outside work.
Big sister handled things.
I just… followed."
Mother's voice softened.
Mother:
"He was always protected."
Mochi suddenly remembered something.
Mochi:
"Wait."
She leaned closer.
Mochi:
"You went racing with Big Brother."
Laddu nodded.
Laddu:
"Yes."
Mochi:
"And?"
Laddu smiled sheepishly.
Laddu:
"I didn't drive.
Bob did."
Father rubbed his temples.
Father:
"So you were a passenger in your own chaos."
Candy burst out laughing.
Candy:
"So big brother is rich, strong, scary…
but no driving!" 😂
Laddu protested.
Laddu:
"I can fly planes in games."
Mochi:
"That does not count."
Grandma shook her head.
Grandma:
"Useless talent."
💡 MOTHER'S IDEA
Mother raised her hand.
Mother:
"I have an idea."
Everyone stopped.
She looked at Mochi.
Mother:
"Mochi, you teach him to drive."
DEAD SILENCE.
Mochi blinked.
Mochi:
"…Me?"
Candy jumped.
Candy:
"YES! Big sister teacher!" 🎓
Laddu looked at Mochi carefully.
Laddu:
"…Are you going to yell?"
Mochi crossed her arms.
Mochi:
"Absolutely."
Laddu nodded.
Laddu:
"Fair."
Father smirked.
Father:
"This will be entertaining."
Grandma clapped.
Grandma:
"Teach him properly or break him."
Mochi stood up.
Mochi:
"Get your shoes."
Laddu hesitated.
Laddu:
"What if I crash?"
Mochi looked down at him.
Calm.
Confident.
Mochi:
"Then I'll fix it."
That made him smile. 😊
A real one.
Laddu stood up.
Laddu:
"…Okay. Teacher."
Candy cheered.
Candy:
"ROAD TRIP AFTER LESSON!" 🎉🚗
Mother watched them go, smiling softly.
Mother (quiet):
"He never needed to drive before."
She looked at Mochi.
Mother:
"Now he has a reason."
And just like that—
A new chapter began.
Not with speed.
Not with escape.
But with trust. 🤍