Laddu shifted again, still half-asleep, half-aware ๐ด๐ถโ๐ซ๏ธ.
Instead of settling, he rubbed his face lazily against her, like a tired cat searching for the warmest spot ๐โโฌ๐.
No urgency.
No intention.
Just comfort. Shameless, instinctive comfort.
Mochi stiffened immediately โ ๏ธ.
"โฆYou've become more brave," she said, voice low, warning wrapped in calm ๐โก.
Laddu froze โ๏ธ.
Then smiled against her, eyes still closed ๐.
"Not brave," he murmured.
"Just familiar."
She placed two fingers on his forehead โ๏ธ and pushed him back just enough to create space.
Not angry ๐.
Just firm ๐.
"Sleep," she said.
"Before you cross from brave into stupid."
He chuckled softly ๐, obeyed, resting his head properly against her stomach again.
"Yes, madam."
Her hand stayed in his hair ๐ค.
But this time, she didn't let him move again.
Boundaries drawn ๐งฑ.
Affection intact ๐.
Laddu finally gave up the fight with the world ๐ณ๏ธโโง๏ธ.
His breathing evened out ๐ฌ๏ธ.
The weight of him settled โ๏ธ.
Sleep claimed him completely ๐ค.
Mochi adjusted slightly, careful not to wake him, and draped her arm over his back ๐คฒ.
Not tight.
Just there.
A quiet boundary that also felt like shelter ๐ก๏ธ.
She reached for the remote ๐บ and turned on the TV.
Low volume ๐.
Some random show.
She didn't really care what it was.
The light flickered softly โจ, painting slow shadows on the walls.
Laddu didn't move.
He slept like someone who knew he was safe ๐ ๐ค.
Mochi leaned back into the sofa, eyes on the screen ๐๐บ, fingers absentmindedly tracing small circles on his shoulder.
Not romantic ๐ฌโ.
Not dramatic ๐ญโ.
Justโฆ natural ๐ฟ.
Every now and then, Laddu shifted closer in his sleep ๐ดโก๏ธ๐, as if the world outside the blanket didn't exist anymore.
She let him.
Evening passed like that ๐.
TV murmuring ๐บ.
House breathing ๐ก.
Chaos resting ๐.
For once, nothing needed fixing ๐ ๏ธโ.
Half-asleep, Laddu spoke again.
Voice soft ๐ซง.
Unfiltered ๐ซฅ.
Barely awake ๐ช.
"โฆI want to do cuddle."
Mochi blinked at the TV ๐โก๏ธ๐บ.
Slowly looked down at him.
"You are already doing cuddle," she said.
He shook his head slightly.
"This isโฆ partial cuddle."
She sighed ๐ฎโ๐จ.
The long kind.
The kind that meant she knew she was losing.
"What isย fullย cuddle?" she asked.
Laddu shifted closer, carefully this time ๐คฒ, adjusting himself so his head rested more comfortably against her, one arm wrapping around her waist properly.
Not wandering โ.
Not bold โ.
Just secure ๐ค.
"This," he murmured.
"Like mattress with heartbeat."
She stared at the wall for a second ๐งฑ๐.
Then she adjusted the blanket again, pulling it up around both of them ๐๐งฃ.
"Five minutes," she said.
"And no movement."
"Yes," he replied instantly โก.
Too fast.
Suspicious ๐.
Her arm settled more firmly around him.
His grip relaxed, satisfied ๐.
Laddu smiled in his sleep ๐.
The TV kept playing ๐บ.
The house stayed quiet ๐คซ.
And for five minutes thatย definitelyย lasted longer โณ,
cuddle was approved โ .
Night settled in slowly ๐.
The TV light dimmed ๐ .
The sounds outside softened ๐.
Somewhere between episodes and silence, time slipped โ.
Laddu and Mochi stayed exactly the same.
Him curled into her ๐ดโก๏ธ๐ค.
Her arm around him ๐ซถ.
Steady. Protective.
Then came footsteps ๐ฃ.
Plates clinked ๐ฝ๏ธ.
Voices returned ๐.
Dinner time.
Father entered the hall first and stopped mid-step โ.
Mother followedโฆ and also stopped ๐ฏ.
Maya peeked ๐.
Cousin leaned.
Candy tiptoed ๐ถโโ๏ธ.
Ben sat politely ๐โ๐ฆบ.
Everyone stared.
On the sofa ๐๏ธ.
Under one blanket ๐.
One sleeping Laddu ๐ด.
One very awake Mochi ๐ณ.
No one spoke for three full seconds โธ๏ธโธ๏ธโธ๏ธ.
Then Maya whispered loudly,
"Are weโฆ interrupting something?"
Mochi looked up calmly ๐.
"Dinner?"
Father cleared his throat ๐ค.
"Yes. Dinner."
Mother tilted her head, eyes soft ๐.
"He's asleep?"
"Yes."
"And comfortable?"
"โฆYes."
Mother nodded. Decision made โ๏ธ.
"Then we'll eat quietly."
Maya protested ๐.
"WHY are we whispering in our own house?"
"Because," Mother said gently,
"he finally slept."
Candy gasped ๐ฒ.
"Like a baby!"
Ben wagged his tail ๐๐.
Mochi adjusted the blanket again, making sure Laddu stayed warm ๐ค.
He shifted slightly but didn't wake.
Father sighed ๐ฎโ๐จ.
"This man is lucky."
Maya collapsed into a chair ๐บ.
"I'm eating trauma for dinner."
Mochi didn't move.
She watched the family set the table ๐ฝ๏ธ, listened to familiar noise, and rested her hand a little more securely on Laddu's back.
Dinner could wait โณ.
He was already home ๐ .
One by one, the house emptied itself ๐.
Lights dimmed ๐กโฌ๏ธ.
Doors closed softly ๐ช.
Candy carried away half-asleep ๐ช.
Ben followed Father ๐.
Maya yawned ๐ฅฑ.
Cousin vanished.
Mother paused, looked once more, smiled ๐, and turned off the hall light.
Quiet ๐ค.
Mochi looked down at Laddu.
Still asleep ๐ด.
Still heavy.
Still completely trusting ๐.
She took a breath, adjusted her grip, and carefully lifted him ๐คฒ.
He stirred.
"Mmmโฆ" he murmured.
"Where are we going?"
"To your room," she whispered.
He frowned ๐ and wrapped his arms around her neck weakly.
"No."
"No?" she repeated.
"I want to sleep here," he said.
"Sofa has memories."
She sighed ๐ฎโ๐จ.
"Your bed is more comfortable."
He shook his head slowly.
"This isโฆ premium spot."
She stopped.
"โฆLaddu."
He opened one eye ๐๏ธ, serious, then rested his forehead against her shoulder.
"Please," he said softly ๐ซถ.
"Just today."
Her resolve cracked ๐โก๏ธ๐ค.
She turned back.
Laid him down again.
Adjusted pillow.
Pulled blanket.
He settled instantly ๐.
She brushed his hair away gently.
"Stubborn," she whispered.
Laddu smiled in his sleep ๐.
The sofa, once again, became home ๐๏ธ๐ .
Later, Laddu murmured again.
"Mochiโฆ"
She turned.
"What?"
"Let's go to bed together."
The words hung.
Not heavy โ.
Not dramatic โ.
Justโฆ honest ๐ค.
She studied him.
"Are you awake," she asked,
"or sleep talking?"
"One eye," he said.
"Half-and-half."
"You're sick," she said.
"Head hurts."
"I know," he replied.
"That's why."
She frowned.
"I just don't want to wake up alone," he said quietly.
Silence ๐.
She nodded slightly.
"We stay here," she said.
"Okay," he replied.
"โฆThank you."
She adjusted the blanket again.
As she dimmed the light ๐กโฌ๏ธ, his voice came softly,
"Still countsโฆ in my heart."
She didn't answer.
But she stayed.
"โฆLet's exchange position," Laddu murmured.
"Exchange?" she blinked.
"You uncomfortable," he said seriously.
"I take edge. You take back."
She stared ๐.
"โฆFine."
They moved slowly. Carefully.
Laddu took the outer edge, instinctively placing himself between her and the room ๐ก๏ธ.
He tucked the blanket around her first ๐ค.
"There," he murmured.
"Balanced."
Silence returned.
Before sleep pulled him fully, he whispered,
"Good nightโฆ tall flower ๐ธ."
She didn't answer.
But she didn't move away either.
Morning arrived ๐ค๏ธ.
Sunlight crept in โ๏ธ.
There they were.
Still.
Laddu on the edge ๐ด.
Mochi behind him ๐.
Domestic. Ridiculous. Peaceful.
Candy gasped ๐ฒ.
"THEY DIDN'T MELT."
Ben wagged ๐.
Father adjusted glasses ๐ค.
"โฆSofa?"
Mother smiled knowingly ๐.
Maya sighed.
"So we're normalizing this?"
"Yes," Mother replied.
"They're sleeping."
Mochi opened her eyes briefly.
Laddu shifted closer.
She closed them again.
Because somehowโฆ
The sofa had become the safest place in the house ๐๏ธ๐ค.
And morning decided not to argue โ๏ธโ๏ธ.