Immediate Denial 🙅♂️
Maya folded her arms, smirking like she'd just cornered a witness.
"So it's confirmed then," she said sweetly,
"you're quitting everything and becoming a housewife."
Laddu looked up sharply.
"No."
The room paused.
Not a dramatic pause.
A confused pause. 😐
Candy blinked twice.
"…No?"
Laddu shook his head firmly.
"I never said that."
Mochi frowned.
"But you said—"
"I said I want to be one," Laddu corrected calmly.
"Not that I can be one."
Maya burst out laughing.
"Explain. Slowly. Preferably with diagrams."
The Confession 🧠💼
Laddu leaned back against the sofa, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I'm addicted to work," he said plainly.
"Office work. Problems. Deadlines. Solving things."
Mama froze mid-chop in the kitchen. 🔪⏸️
Mochi didn't interrupt. She listened.
"I joke about sleeping all day," Laddu continued,
"but when I actually sit still… my head doesn't."
Maya raised an eyebrow.
"That's… disturbingly self-aware."
"I know," Laddu sighed.
"It's annoying."
Respect for the Job 👩🍳🧹
Mochi asked quietly,
"Then why say housewife?"
Laddu looked at her.
"Because people think it's easy," he said.
"It's not."
Candy nodded aggressively.
"Mama never sleeps."
Mama didn't deny it. 😶
"Being a housewife is hard work," Laddu went on.
"No clock. No salary. No applause.
Just responsibility."
Maya leaned back.
"…Wow. You accidentally became respectful."
"I was always respectful," Laddu replied.
"Just lazy-looking."
The Truth 💬
Mochi crossed her arms.
"So you won't stay home?"
Laddu smiled faintly.
"I wouldn't survive," he admitted.
"I'd clean the same shelf five times
and start a business by evening."
Maya laughed.
"That checks out."
Balance Clause ⚖️
Mochi tilted her head.
"Then what do you want?"
Laddu didn't hesitate.
"To work," he said,
"and to come home and rest my head here."
He tapped her lap gently. 🫶
Mochi froze.
Then relaxed.
Mama smiled from the kitchen.
"That's reasonable."
Maya groaned dramatically.
"Great. Another man who wants balance instead of drama."
Laddu shrugged.
"I like peace."
Ben barked once. 🐕✔️
Agreement reached.
The baby yawned. 😴
The house settled again.
Not with fantasies.
With honesty.
The Smell That Changed Everything 🔥⚠️
Laddu sniffed the air.
Once was habit.
The second time was instinct.
He didn't speak immediately.
He stood slowly, eyes moving toward the back of the house.
Father was already there.
He touched the switchboard.
Ran his hand along the wall.
Pulled back sharply.
His face changed.
"EVERYONE OUT. NOW."
No explanation.
No discussion.
Seconds Matter ⏱️
Laddu moved before Father's voice finished echoing.
In one smooth motion, he picked up the baby. 👶
With the other hand, he grabbed Candy's wrist.
"Outside," he said.
Calm. Flat. Commanding.
Candy didn't argue. 😶
Maya followed instantly.
Mochi was already moving.
Mama froze for half a second, looking around the house.
Father raised his voice again.
"NOW."
That broke it.
Everyone rushed out.
Ben ran last, tail low, ears back. 🐕
The Fire Shows Itself 🔥
They barely reached the gate when smoke pushed out from the back window.
Then flames.
Not huge.
But real.
Crackling along the wall, racing through old wiring.
Mama stared.
Her knees weakened.
"My house…" she whispered.
Then she cried.
Not loudly.
Quietly.
Like something inside her folded. 💔
Father called the fire department immediately, voice steady.
Neighbors gathered.
Someone shouted for water.
Someone else shouted to stay back.
Laddu didn't move.
He stood beside Mochi.
Baby tight against his chest.
Candy pressed to his side.
Everyone watched the flames grow.
Shock settled in.
Orders Given 🧭
Laddu turned to Mochi.
"Take them to the café," he said.
"Use the SUV."
Mochi looked at him.
"You?"
"I'll come with Dad," Laddu replied.
"We'll finish here."
Father nodded.
Maya opened the car door.
"Come on," she said gently to Mama.
Mama didn't move.
Mochi held her.
"We're safe," she whispered.
"We'll go first."
Mama nodded weakly.
Candy climbed into the car silently for once.
Ben jumped in after her.
Mochi looked back at Laddu.
He nodded once.
Go.
The SUV pulled away. 🚗
Three Hours Later ⏳
The café lights were still on.
Everyone was awake.
Mama sat stiffly, hands clasped, eyes fixed on the door.
Then—headlights.
The door opened.
Father walked in first.
Laddu followed.
Soot on their clothes.
Smoke in their hair.
Tired eyes.
Mama stood up so fast the chair fell back.
She hugged Father tightly.
"It's gone," she cried.
"Our house…"
Father held her without speaking.
Laddu stood quietly.
Mochi placed the baby into his arms.
Candy hugged his leg.
Ben sat at his feet.
The café felt small.
But everyone was there.
No one hurt.
That was enough for now.
Morning After 🌤️
Morning didn't arrive gently.
It came with stiff backs, dry eyes,
and smoke still clinging to clothes.
Father opened the café shutters halfway.
Dust floated like gold for a moment.
Mama woke first.
"Oh," she murmured.
"Right."
The house.
Candy slept on two chairs pushed together.
Maya nearby, phone dead, hair wild.
Ben lay near the door, alert but calm.
Mochi made tea.
Home tea.
Too strong. Too sweet. ☕
Laddu stood by the window.
Father joined him.
"The fire officer called," Father said.
"Short circuit. Old wiring."
Laddu nodded.
"No fault?"
"No. Just age."
Mama approached slowly.
"…Can we see it?"
Father nodded.
"Yes. Later."
Candy woke up.
"Are we still at the café?"
"Yes," Maya said.
"Surprise vacation."
Candy smiled weakly.
Mochi handed tea to Mama.
"Careful. It's hot."
Mama looked around.
"Good thing this place exists."
"Yes," Mochi said.
Laddu turned to them.
"Today," he said calmly,
"we don't rush. We eat. We rest."
Maya blinked.
"…Who put you in charge?"
"No one," Laddu replied.
"I just hate bad mornings."
Father almost smiled.
Ben barked once. 🐕
Plan approved.
Mama sighed.
"…We're lucky."
"Yes," Laddu said.
"And insured."
A weak laugh moved through the room.
Outside, the city kept going.
Inside the café, the family stayed still a little longer.
Because surviving the night wasn't the end.
It was the beginning of learning how to stand again. 💛