Laddu clapped his hands suddenly. 👏
"Family photo," he announced.
"With the new house."
Everyone turned toward him at once. 👀
Candy blinked.
"Now?"
"Yes," Laddu said firmly.
"Now-now. This is history." 🕰️
Father looked around.
"Who all?"
Laddu started counting on his fingers. ✋
"Father."
"Mother."
"Maya."
"Cousin."
"Me."
"Candy."
"Baby."
"And Ben."
Ben barked once, perfectly on cue. 🐶✔️
Mother frowned slightly.
"…Right now?"
"Yes," Laddu nodded.
Mother looked down at her clothes, then smoothed her blouse and adjusted her hair. 💇♀️ She shook her head gently.
"No," she said.
"Give me fifteen minutes."
Laddu tilted his head.
"For what?"
"To get ready," Mother replied calmly, already turning away.
"This is the first photo of the new house. I will not look rushed." 📷✨
Maya laughed. 😂
"Fifteen minutes means half an hour."
Cousin nodded.
"Minimum." ⏳
Candy sighed dramatically. 😩
"I will grow old."
Laddu smiled. 😊
"Take your time. The house isn't running." 🏠
Fifteen (Actually Twenty-Eight) Minutes Later ⏰
Mother came back.
Hair neatly set 💁♀️
Clothes clean and simple 👗
Nothing flashy ❌
Just her. 💛
Father smiled the moment he saw her. 🙂
"Ready," she said.
Laddu nodded once.
"Perfect." ✔️
They gathered in front of the house. 🏠
Father and Mother stood in the center.
Maya and Cousin on one side.
Candy held the baby proudly 👶✨
Laddu stood beside Mother.
Ben sat in front, tail wagging like he was part of the plan. 🐕💕
"Smile," Maya said. 😁
Ben barked again. 🐶
"Click." 📸
The moment froze. ❄️
A little later, Laddu quietly slipped away. 👣
No one noticed.
He came back holding a simple photo frame.
Wooden 🪵
Plain
Strong
He walked straight to Mother and handed it to her.
"For the photo," he said softly.
Mother looked at the frame, then at him.
"…You went out just for this?"
Laddu nodded.
"You keep memories safe," he said.
"This helps." 🖼️💛
Mother's eyes filled. 😢
She reached for his arm.
"No crying," Laddu said immediately. 🚫😭
She laughed, wiping her eyes. 😂
"Okay. No crying."
She held the frame close. 🤍
Father placed a hand on her shoulder. 🤲
Candy peeked at the photo.
"That's us," she said proudly. 😎
Laddu looked at the house.
Then at the family.
Then at the photo.
"Good," he said quietly. 😌
Because some moments don't need decoration.
They just need to be kept. 💫
Laughter Moves In 😂🏠
Laughter filled the new house.
Not polite laughter ❌
Real laughter ✅
The kind that bounces off fresh walls and decides to stay. 🏠✨
Everyone moved from room to room 🚶♀️🚶♂️
Touching things ✋
Commenting 💬
Teasing 😜
Mother stood near the window, watching them all. 🌤️
Then she spoke, softly but clearly.
"Because of Laddu," she said,
"I never felt the absence of a big brother." 💛
The room quieted just enough to hear it. 🤍
Laddu looked at her.
For once, no joke came first.
He smiled, walked over, and lightly touched her hand.
"Thank you," he said gently.
"My sweet mother." 🫶
Mother smiled back, eyes warm. 😊
Before the emotion could settle—
Candy jumped. 🤸♀️
"JOKE TIME!" 🎤
Maya groaned immediately.
"I knew staying near Laddu would do this." 😩
Candy didn't care.
She stood proudly in the middle. 😤
"Why did the lemon go to the hospital?" 🍋🏥
Father raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
Candy grinned. 😁
"Because his face was yellow!"
One second… ⏸️
Then—
Everyone laughed. 😂😂😂
Maya shook her head.
"That was terrible."
Laddu nodded seriously.
"High-quality terrible." ✔️
Candy wasn't done.
"One more!" she announced. ✋
Father sighed.
"Okay." 😮💨
"A boy didn't go to school for four days," Candy began.
"Teacher asked, 'Why you didn't come?'"
She copied a serious voice. 🎭
"Boy said, 'My cow gave birth to a baby cow.'" 🐄👶
Mother smiled already, sensing danger. 😄
"Teacher said, 'What is so special?'"
Candy paused dramatically. ⏳
"Boy said, 'If not special then you give birth?'"
💥💥💥
The house exploded with laughter. 😂😂😂
Maya bent over laughing.
Cousin clapped. 👏
Father laughed openly. 😆
Mother covered her mouth. 🤭
Laddu laughed hardest. 🤣
"Excellent logic," he said proudly.
"Future philosopher." 🧠
Candy bowed. 🎭
"Thank you."
Mother looked around again.
New house 🏠
Old noise 🎶
Same warmth 🔥
She smiled.
"This house is alive already," she said. 💛
Laddu nodded.
"Yes," he replied.
"Because people inside are laughing." 😊
And just like that,
The house stopped being new.
It became home. 🏠❤️