The café looked like a refugee camp sponsored by caffeine.
☕🛏️🪑
Chairs were everywhere.
Blankets had been promoted to tablecloths.
Someone had used a menu as a pillow.
Ben sat proudly near the door, chest out, tail low, eyes sharp.
This café was now sovereign territory. 🐕👑
THE FIRST VICTIM OF MORNING
Candy woke up first.
She sat straight up on a chair, hair pointing in seven directions.
Candy:
"WHY ARE WE SLEEPING IN A SHOP 😤"
Maya, face-down on two chairs pushed together like a tragic art installation:
"Because life hates us 😵"
Father was already awake, scrolling on his phone with the intensity of a man calculating losses, insurance percentages, and emotional damage at the same time. 📱📊
Mochi was making tea.
Calm. Focused.
Like this was a completely normal morning. ☕🙂
Mother sat silently.
Too silently.
Laddu noticed.
That's when you worry. ⚠️
RETURN TO THE HOUSE 🏚️
Mother stood up slowly.
"I want to see it."
No drama.
No crying.
Just decision.
Father nodded.
Mochi grabbed the keys. 🔑
Laddu followed without a word.
WHAT REMAINED
The house smelled like wet ash.
Black walls.
Melted switches.
Broken wiring hanging like veins.
Silence where life used to be.
Mother stood in the doorway.
She didn't step inside.
She just looked.
Her kitchen was gone.
Her cupboard burned.
Her memories half-smoked.
Mother whispered:
"…I was going to repaint this wall."
Maya swallowed hard. 😶
Candy whispered:
"It looks like monster house…"
That was when Mother cried again.
Not loudly.
Quietly.
Like something inside her folded. 💔
Mochi held her tightly.
Laddu looked away.
ENTER: INSURANCE OFFICER 📋🙂
A man arrived.
Neatly dressed.
Clipboard ready.
Smile trained by corporate trauma.
Insurance Officer:
"We'll need to verify if the fire was accidental."
Father nodded politely.
The officer walked around like he was judging abstract art.
Insurance Officer:
"Hmmm… old wiring… but sometimes negligence—"
Laddu looked at him.
Just looked. 👀
Insurance Officer swallowed.
"Sir, compensation depends on investigation. It may take months."
Mother's hands trembled.
Maya clenched her fists. ✊
Candy whispered:
"I don't like this uncle."
LADDU MAKES A CALL 📞
Laddu stepped aside.
Dialed.
Barfi picked up instantly.
Barfi:
"Speak."
Laddu:
"House burned. Insurance drama."
Silence.
Then—
Barfi:
"…Wait fifteen minutes."
Call ended.
FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER ⏱️
Black vehicles arrived.
One.
Two.
Three.
Eight men stepped out.
All calm.
All serious.
All dressed like they don't fill forms. 😐🕶️
The Insurance Officer froze.
One man approached politely.
Man:
"We are here regarding claim verification."
Another opened a file.
Another took photos.
No shouting.
No threats.
Just… presence.
The Insurance Officer swallowed hard.
"…Everything seems in order."
Father blinked. 😳
Maya's jaw dropped.
Candy clapped softly. 👏
Insurance Officer:
"Full claim approved. Fast-track process."
Sign.
Stamp.
Exit.
Quickly. 🏃♂️💨
AFTERMATH
Mother sat down on a broken step.
Relief finally winning.
Father exhaled deeply.
Maya whispered:
"Who were they?"
Laddu shrugged.
"Efficient people."
Barfi texted:
Done.
Ben barked once. 🐕✔️
Candy nodded seriously.
Candy:
"Insurance defeated."
Mochi looked at Laddu.
Didn't ask.
She already knew.
AFTER THE ASH SETTLES ☕
Everyone sat in the café again.
Tea half-drunk.
Faces tired.
Silence loud.
Father cleared his throat.
"The contractor says… it will take one month to rebuild."
One month sounded heavy.
Long.
Real.
Candy counted on her fingers. Failed. Gave up. 😵
LADDU USES A BENCH 🪑
Laddu suddenly stood up.
On a bench.
Literally.
Maya blinked.
"Why are you standing on furniture."
Laddu looked around calmly.
"The best part is…"
Pause.
"…no one got hurt."
Silence.
"So thank God."
Mother's eyes filled again, but this time not with panic.
"Houses can be rebuilt. People can't. Have patience."
Candy nodded like this was a TED Talk. 🎤
Ben wagged his tail.
MOCHI'S HOUSE 🏠
Mochi spoke softly.
"But… Mother built that house with her own hands."
The words landed deep.
Laddu stepped down from the bench.
"That was not your house," he said.
Everyone looked.
"Your house is where your family is."
Mochi froze.
Mother looked up slowly.
Father swallowed.
Maya whispered:
"…He does this on purpose, doesn't he."
FATHER'S DUTY 🎒
Father checked his phone.
"I have to go to another state. A case."
Mother worried immediately.
"So soon?"
"I can't delay."
Laddu placed a firm hand on Father's shoulder.
"Don't worry. I am here."
No drama.
No speech.
Just certainty.
Father nodded once.
Strong men don't hug.
They trust.
He left.
The door closed softly.
WHAT REMAINS
Candy climbed onto a chair.
"So… café house now?"
Maya sighed.
"Yes."
Ben lay down like this was permanent.
The café felt smaller.
But stronger.
NIGHT SHIFT 🌙
Night fell.
Lights dim.
Shutters half-down.
Candy slept on the floor.
Maya and Cousin judged the internet together. 📱
Ben guarded the door like trauma could still sneak in.
Laddu was missing.
RESPONSIBILITY: INVISIBLE MODE 🕶️
Laddu moved quietly.
Checked locks.
Checked gas.
Counted cash.
Texted contractor.
Replied to Father:
"All good. Go focus."
No announcements.
No praise.
Then he sat like nothing happened.
Mochi noticed.
She always did.
NIGHT TALK 🌌
Maya stretched.
"This is too quiet. Someone say something stupid."
Laddu looked up.
"…Once I dated an aunty."
The room snapped.
Mochi:
"…WHAT 😨"
Mother:
"…Excuse me?"
Candy sat up instantly.
"STORY!!!"
THE WORST TWIST 😭
"I dated another girl," Laddu continued calmly.
"She invited me to her house. Said it was her mother's birthday."
Mother froze.
"When I reached… her mother was the aunty."
ABSOLUTE SILENCE.
Then—
Maya:
"NOOOOO 😱"
Cousin:
"ILLEGAL IN SEVEN COUNTRIES!"
Candy gasped:
"YOU DATED A BIRTHDAY 🎂"
TACTICAL RETREAT 🪟
"I locked the toilet," Laddu said,
"and escaped through the window."
Candy clapped.
"TACTICAL RETREAT!"
The room exploded with laughter. 😂
Even Mother laughed.
Mochi covered her face.
"…I trusted you."
Laddu smiled.
"You still should. I ran."
Ben barked heroically. 🐕
WHY NOW?
Maya wiped tears.
"Why tell this now?"
Laddu shrugged.
"Everyone looked sad."
Silence softened.
Mochi leaned closer and whispered:
"Later… explain why you have so many stories."
Laddu smiled.
"I survived youth."
Night settled.
The café stayed warm.
And without anyone noticing—
Laddu carried the weight.
Quietly. 💛