Candy tilted her head suddenly. 🍬
"Brother," she asked, innocent and sharp,
"who made you so intelligent?"
Laddu didn't joke this time.
"Of course," he said quietly,
"my great-grandmother."
The room softened immediately.
Mother stopped what she was doing.
Mochi looked up. 👀
"She was the reason," Laddu continued,
"my problem-solving mind exists."
Candy blinked.
"…How?"
Laddu smiled.
Small. Real. 🙂
"She never solved problems for me," he said.
"She gave me puzzles instead."
Maya leaned in.
"When I cried," Laddu said,
"she didn't say, 'Don't cry.'"
He paused.
"She said, 'Okay. Now tell me three ways to fix it.'"
Cousin nodded slowly.
"That's brutal."
"And brilliant," Laddu added.
"She taught me to sit with problems. Not run."
Mochi listened closely.
"She made me think," Laddu said.
"Every day."
"Why this failed."
"What could work next."
He looked at his hands.
"That's the thinking I use now," he said.
"In company."
"In life."
Candy smiled. 😊
"So she was your power?"
Laddu nodded.
"She was my training ground," he said.
"Before money."
"Before friends."
"Before chaos."
Mother's eyes softened.
"She sounds strong," Mochi said.
"She was," Laddu replied.
"And quiet."
Candy clapped softly. 👏
"So behind you," she said,
"was great-grandma."
"Yes," Laddu smiled.
"And because of her…"
He glanced around the café.
"…I can stand here today."
No jokes followed.
No arguments.
Just a simple truth sitting comfortably in the room:
Behind Laddu wasn't noise.
It was wisdom. 🧠🌱
Candy looked at Laddu again, serious now.
"So… you solve problems?"
Laddu nodded once.
"Yes."
Candy smiled.
"Cool."
Then Laddu added calmly,
"I have to."
Candy blinked.
"Why?"
Laddu leaned back, completely honest.
"Because most problems," he said,
"are caused by me."
The café went quiet. 😶
Maya stared.
"…Self-aware villain."
Cousin nodded.
"At least honest."
Mochi looked at him.
"You admit it?"
"Yes," Laddu replied easily.
"If I don't solve them, they multiply."
Candy giggled. 🤭
"So you break things and fix things?"
"Yes," Laddu said.
"Efficient system."
Mother sighed.
"This explains everything."
Laddu smiled faintly.
"In my office," he added,
"when I was a manager… people called me Damager."
💀💀💀
Maya burst out laughing.
"That's not a nickname."
Cousin shook her head.
"They knew you well."
Laddu shrugged.
"I create chaos," he said,
"but I don't run from it."
He added quietly,
"Responsibility is cheaper than regret."
Candy thought for a moment.
"So… you're both the problem and the solution?"
Laddu nodded proudly.
"Correct."
Maya laughed.
"That's not a flex."
"It is," Laddu replied.
"Because I clean my own mess."
Mochi's lips curved slightly. 🙂
"That," she said,
"is actually respectable."
Laddu looked at her.
"Thank you," he said.
"I learned that from great-grandma."
Candy clapped once. 👏
"Brother is dangerous but useful."
Mother shook her head, smiling.
The café returned to noise again.
Because some people don't avoid trouble.
They just make sure they're strong enough
to fix it.
Candy tilted her head again, curiosity fully loaded. 🎯
"Brother," she asked softly,
"why date Mochi sister… why her?"
The café slowed again.
Laddu didn't joke.
He answered honestly.
"My great-grandmother," he said,
"was six point eight feet tall."
Everyone blinked.
"…Tall," Maya said.
"Yes," Laddu nodded.
"Very tall."
He leaned back, eyes unfocused, remembering.
"When I was small," he continued,
"I loved sitting on her lap."
Candy smiled. 🥹
"Aww."
"I slept there," Laddu said.
"Every day."
Mochi's breath caught slightly.
Candy frowned.
"But how is that connected?"
Laddu looked at Candy.
"I wet the bed until I was fifteen," he said plainly.
Dead silence. ⚠️
Mother inhaled sharply.
Maya froze.
Cousin looked shocked.
Candy whispered,
"…Really?"
"Yes," Laddu nodded.
"I slept with her because of that."
He swallowed once.
"She never shouted," he said.
"She never made a face."
"She said nothing," Laddu continued.
"Just changed the sheets."
"Cleaned."
"Sat me back."
Mochi's eyes softened completely.
"She made me feel safe," Laddu said quietly.
"Not ashamed."
Candy's voice was small.
"So… Mochi?"
Laddu smiled gently. 🤍
"Mochi is tall," he said.
"Warm."
"Calm."
He looked at her.
"And she never makes me feel small," he finished.
"Or wrong."
Mochi didn't speak.
She just reached out
and rested her hand on his shoulder. 🤝
Mother wiped her eyes silently.
Candy nodded slowly.
"Oh," she said.
"So that's why."
Laddu nodded.
"Some people choose love," he said.
"I chose safety."
The café didn't laugh this time.
It didn't need to.
Because for once,
everyone understood exactly why her. 🤍