The car rolled forward again.
Quiet.
Ben's breathing was steady. 🐶
Candy sat upright, staring out the window like a tiny security guard. 🫡
Then—
📱 RING.
Laddu glanced at his phone once.
Answered.
Laddu:
"…Okay."
Pause.
Something in his face shifted.
Laddu:
"…Stop."
Mochi slammed the brake gently.
Mochi:
"WHAT now?"
Laddu pointed.
Laddu:
"There."
Mochi followed his finger.
Her café.
The café where she worked.
Lights on.
Door open.
Mochi frowned.
Mochi:
"Why are we—"
Too late.
Laddu was already out.
☕ INSIDE THE CAFÉ
The bell rang softly. 🔔
The owner stood behind the counter with a folder in hand.
He smiled warmly.
Owner:
"Good timing."
Mochi blinked.
Mochi:
"…Sir?"
The owner placed the folder on the counter.
Owner:
"All paperwork is done."
Mochi's heart skipped. 💓
Owner:
"From today—
this café belongs to you."
Silence.
Candy dropped her remote-control car.
Candy:
"…WHAT."
Mochi stared at the papers.
Mochi:
"…To me?"
The owner nodded.
Owner:
"Name transferred.
License updated.
Keys included."
He slid the keys forward. 🔑
Mochi didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Mochi:
"…Why?"
The owner smiled gently.
Owner:
"Ask him."
He nodded toward Laddu.
Mochi turned slowly.
Mochi:
"…Laddu."
Laddu scratched the back of his neck.
Laddu:
"Let's sit."
🚗 BACK IN THE CAR
Doors closed.
The café glowed softly outside the windshield. ✨
Mochi sat frozen, keys still in her hand.
Mochi:
"Explain."
Laddu looked straight ahead.
Laddu:
"It's a birthday gift."
Mochi frowned.
Mochi:
"From who."
Laddu smiled faintly.
Laddu:
"Barfi."
Candy gasped.
Candy:
"BARFI BUY CAFE?!"
Mochi's voice dropped.
Mochi:
"…Why would he do that."
Laddu finally turned to her.
Laddu:
"Because this place is yours."
Mochi swallowed.
Mochi:
"I only worked here."
Laddu shook his head.
Laddu:
"You built it."
She didn't reply.
Laddu continued quietly.
Laddu:
"He said…
if you ever feel small,
this place will remind you
you're not."
Mochi's eyes burned. 🔥
She turned away fast.
Candy whispered:
Candy:
"Big brother friends are scary."
Laddu smiled softly.
Laddu:
"They're loyal."
Mochi clutched the keys tighter.
Mochi:
"…This is too much."
Laddu shrugged.
Laddu:
"It's just a café."
Mochi laughed once.
Short.
Broken.
Mochi:
"It's my dream."
Laddu nodded.
Laddu:
"I know."
Ben wagged his tail. 🐕
Candy hugged Mochi's arm.
Candy:
"Big sister is boss now."
Mochi wiped her eyes quickly.
Mochi:
"…I didn't even know it was your birthday."
Laddu smiled.
Small.
Laddu:
"I didn't either."
They sat there.
No jokes.
No chaos.
Just the café glowing outside.
Waiting.
🏠 BACK HOME — BIRTHDAY CONFUSION
The door closed behind them.
Shoes off. 👟
Lights on. 💡
Mochi suddenly stopped in the middle of the room.
Mochi:
"Today is your birthday."
Laddu blinked.
Then calmly—
Laddu:
"No.
It will be after seven months."
Mochi stared.
Mochi:
"…You're sure?"
Laddu nodded.
Laddu:
"Very sure.
I checked."
Candy frowned.
Candy:
"Why nobody know birthday in this house."
At that moment—
Maya and Cousin were already inside.
Maya:
"Wait, what are we talking about?"
Cousin:
"Why does Mochi look like she owns a building?"
🛋️ THE SOFA CLAIM
Before explanations—
The baby fussed.
Once.
Laddu picked him up automatically. 🍼
Two minutes later—
Laddu was on the sofa.
Baby asleep on his chest.
One hand supporting the tiny back.
Out.
Completely. 😴
Mochi stopped talking.
So did everyone else.
👀 THE AUDIENCE
Maya sat cross-legged, watching.
Maya (whispering):
"He sleeps anywhere."
Cousin nodded.
Cousin:
"Like a retired soldier."
Mochi sat on the floor nearby.
Didn't touch him.
Just stayed close.
📞 THE POLICE CALL
Father's phone rang.
He answered casually.
Then—
His face changed.
Father:
"…Yes."
Pause.
Father:
"…No, my car is at home."
Longer pause.
Father frowned.
Father:
"…No, I didn't park anything."
He hung up.
Looked around.
Father:
"I just got a call from the police station."
Mochi stiffened.
Mochi:
"…Why?"
Father:
"They said someone parked a car registered in Mochi's name
in a no-parking zone."
Candy gasped.
Candy:
"But car is here!"
Father looked outside.
The car sat peacefully.
Father:
"…Exactly."
Everyone turned slowly.
Toward Mochi.
Mochi swallowed. 😶
🗣️ CANDY'S DAILY REPORT
Candy jumped onto a chair dramatically.
Candy:
"I TELL."
Everyone listened.
Candy counted on her fingers.
Candy:
"Today—
Mochi get her own café."
Maya:
"WHAT."
Candy continued proudly.
Candy:
"And a car."
Cousin:
"…WHAT."
Candy finished loudly:
Candy:
"Both on Mochi name."
Silence.
Absolute. 🧊
Father slowly sat down.
Father:
"…That explains the police call."
Mochi covered her face.
Mochi:
"I didn't even drive fast."
Maya leaned forward.
Maya:
"YOU OWN A CAFE AND A CAR NOW?!"
Cousin smiled.
Cousin:
"Congratulations.
You've unlocked adulthood."
The baby shifted slightly.
Laddu didn't wake.
Didn't react.
Still sleeping.
Like this chaos was normal background noise.
Mochi looked at him.
Soft.
Conflicted.
Mochi:
"…He didn't even tell anyone."
Maya sighed.
Maya:
"He never does."
Father looked at Laddu, then at Mochi.
Father:
"So…"
Pause.
Father:
"Who is paying the fine?"
Candy answered instantly.
Candy:
"Big sister."
Mochi groaned.
The house settled again.
Police call explained.
Secrets revealed.
One man asleep.
Mochi gently adjusted the baby's blanket.
Didn't wake Laddu.
Didn't move him.
Because somehow—
Even asleep—
He had already changed everything. 🌙The car rolled forward again.
Quiet.
Ben's breathing was steady. 🐶
Candy sat upright, staring out the window like a tiny security guard. 🫡
Then—
📱 RING.
Laddu glanced at his phone once.
Answered.
Laddu:
"…Okay."
Pause.
Something in his face shifted.
Laddu:
"…Stop."
Mochi slammed the brake gently.
Mochi:
"WHAT now?"
Laddu pointed.
Laddu:
"There."
Mochi followed his finger.
Her café.
The café where she worked.
Lights on.
Door open.
Mochi frowned.
Mochi:
"Why are we—"
Too late.
Laddu was already out.
☕ INSIDE THE CAFÉ
The bell rang softly. 🔔
The owner stood behind the counter with a folder in hand.
He smiled warmly.
Owner:
"Good timing."
Mochi blinked.
Mochi:
"…Sir?"
The owner placed the folder on the counter.
Owner:
"All paperwork is done."
Mochi's heart skipped. 💓
Owner:
"From today—
this café belongs to you."
Silence.
Candy dropped her remote-control car.
Candy:
"…WHAT."
Mochi stared at the papers.
Mochi:
"…To me?"
The owner nodded.
Owner:
"Name transferred.
License updated.
Keys included."
He slid the keys forward. 🔑
Mochi didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Mochi:
"…Why?"
The owner smiled gently.
Owner:
"Ask him."
He nodded toward Laddu.
Mochi turned slowly.
Mochi:
"…Laddu."
Laddu scratched the back of his neck.
Laddu:
"Let's sit."
🚗 BACK IN THE CAR
Doors closed.
The café glowed softly outside the windshield. ✨
Mochi sat frozen, keys still in her hand.
Mochi:
"Explain."
Laddu looked straight ahead.
Laddu:
"It's a birthday gift."
Mochi frowned.
Mochi:
"From who."
Laddu smiled faintly.
Laddu:
"Barfi."
Candy gasped.
Candy:
"BARFI BUY CAFE?!"
Mochi's voice dropped.
Mochi:
"…Why would he do that."
Laddu finally turned to her.
Laddu:
"Because this place is yours."
Mochi swallowed.
Mochi:
"I only worked here."
Laddu shook his head.
Laddu:
"You built it."
She didn't reply.
Laddu continued quietly.
Laddu:
"He said…
if you ever feel small,
this place will remind you
you're not."
Mochi's eyes burned. 🔥
She turned away fast.
Candy whispered:
Candy:
"Big brother friends are scary."
Laddu smiled softly.
Laddu:
"They're loyal."
Mochi clutched the keys tighter.
Mochi:
"…This is too much."
Laddu shrugged.
Laddu:
"It's just a café."
Mochi laughed once.
Short.
Broken.
Mochi:
"It's my dream."
Laddu nodded.
Laddu:
"I know."
Ben wagged his tail. 🐕
Candy hugged Mochi's arm.
Candy:
"Big sister is boss now."
Mochi wiped her eyes quickly.
Mochi:
"…I didn't even know it was your birthday."
Laddu smiled.
Small.
Laddu:
"I didn't either."
They sat there.
No jokes.
No chaos.
Just the café glowing outside.
Waiting.
🏠 BACK HOME — BIRTHDAY CONFUSION
The door closed behind them.
Shoes off. 👟
Lights on. 💡
Mochi suddenly stopped in the middle of the room.
Mochi:
"Today is your birthday."
Laddu blinked.
Then calmly—
Laddu:
"No.
It will be after seven months."
Mochi stared.
Mochi:
"…You're sure?"
Laddu nodded.
Laddu:
"Very sure.
I checked."
Candy frowned.
Candy:
"Why nobody know birthday in this house."
At that moment—
Maya and Cousin were already inside.
Maya:
"Wait, what are we talking about?"
Cousin:
"Why does Mochi look like she owns a building?"
🛋️ THE SOFA CLAIM
Before explanations—
The baby fussed.
Once.
Laddu picked him up automatically. 🍼
Two minutes later—
Laddu was on the sofa.
Baby asleep on his chest.
One hand supporting the tiny back.
Out.
Completely. 😴
Mochi stopped talking.
So did everyone else.
👀 THE AUDIENCE
Maya sat cross-legged, watching.
Maya (whispering):
"He sleeps anywhere."
Cousin nodded.
Cousin:
"Like a retired soldier."
Mochi sat on the floor nearby.
Didn't touch him.
Just stayed close.
📞 THE POLICE CALL
Father's phone rang.
He answered casually.
Then—
His face changed.
Father:
"…Yes."
Pause.
Father:
"…No, my car is at home."
Longer pause.
Father frowned.
Father:
"…No, I didn't park anything."
He hung up.
Looked around.
Father:
"I just got a call from the police station."
Mochi stiffened.
Mochi:
"…Why?"
Father:
"They said someone parked a car registered in Mochi's name
in a no-parking zone."
Candy gasped.
Candy:
"But car is here!"
Father looked outside.
The car sat peacefully.
Father:
"…Exactly."
Everyone turned slowly.
Toward Mochi.
Mochi swallowed. 😶
🗣️ CANDY'S DAILY REPORT
Candy jumped onto a chair dramatically.
Candy:
"I TELL."
Everyone listened.
Candy counted on her fingers.
Candy:
"Today—
Mochi get her own café."
Maya:
"WHAT."
Candy continued proudly.
Candy:
"And a car."
Cousin:
"…WHAT."
Candy finished loudly:
Candy:
"Both on Mochi name."
Silence.
Absolute. 🧊
Father slowly sat down.
Father:
"…That explains the police call."
Mochi covered her face.
Mochi:
"I didn't even drive fast."
Maya leaned forward.
Maya:
"YOU OWN A CAFE AND A CAR NOW?!"
Cousin smiled.
Cousin:
"Congratulations.
You've unlocked adulthood."
The baby shifted slightly.
Laddu didn't wake.
Didn't react.
Still sleeping.
Like this chaos was normal background noise.
Mochi looked at him.
Soft.
Conflicted.
Mochi:
"…He didn't even tell anyone."
Maya sighed.
Maya:
"He never does."
Father looked at Laddu, then at Mochi.
Father:
"So…"
Pause.
Father:
"Who is paying the fine?"
Candy answered instantly.
Candy:
"Big sister."
Mochi groaned.
The house settled again.
Police call explained.
Secrets revealed.
One man asleep.
Mochi gently adjusted the baby's blanket.
Didn't wake Laddu.
Didn't move him.
Because somehow—
Even asleep—
He had already changed everything. 🌙