Misheard Truths
The family was laughing. 😄
Not loudly.
Not wildly.
Just normal morning noise.
Laddu woke up to it.
Not normal laughter.
Urgent laughter.
Voices overlapping.
Someone almost shouting.
Someone explaining.
Someone panicking.
He rubbed his eyes and sat up on the sofa. 😴
"…What is happening this early?" he muttered.
Then he heard Mochi's voice.
"I was pregnant."
The words hit him
before the meaning did.
Laddu froze.
He looked at Mochi.
Wide eyes.
Searching.
Stunned.
For one second, his mind filled in everything.
Why.
What.
When.
Then—without a word—
his shoulders slowly dropped.
Not in anger.
In weight.
He stood up quietly
and walked toward the door. 🚪
No drama.
No accusation.
Just space.
The door closed.
Silence followed.
Mother turned sharply to Mochi.
"Mochi," she asked, controlled but serious,
"how far did you two go?"
Mochi blinked, finally realizing the damage her words had done.
"…If it was a dream," she said carefully,
"then we only hugged."
She swallowed.
"And he kissed my cheek."
"That's all."
The room went still again.
The cousin whispered,
"…That's it?"
Maya exhaled.
"That's it."
Father nodded once.
"Okay."
Mother closed her eyes briefly.
"…I'll go talk to him."
Mochi looked at the closed door.
Her chest tightened. 💔
She hadn't meant to hurt anyone.
She hadn't meant to confuse him.
But now she understood something important:
Even dreams can wound
when spoken too fast.
Outside — Too Late 🌫️
Mother stepped outside, scanning the road.
"Laddu?" she called once.
No answer.
She walked farther.
Looked both ways.
Nothing.
She came back inside, face tight.
"He's gone," she said quietly.
The room stilled.
Father leaned back slowly, eyes distant.
"…I understand," he said.
"He thinks Mochi cheated on him."
The words landed heavy.
Candy's face fell. 😟
"No… that's not—"
Maya ran a hand through her hair.
"He heard the worst sentence without context."
The cousin nodded grimly.
"From his perspective, the data is catastrophic."
Mochi's breath caught.
"That's not true," she said, voice shaking.
"I never— I would never—"
Mother turned to her immediately.
"I know," she said firmly.
"We all know."
Father stood up, jaw set.
"But Laddu doesn't."
"He heard 'pregnant'."
"He left before truth could reach him."
Candy hugged Mochi tightly. 🤍
"He'll think he was betrayed."
Mochi covered her mouth, eyes filling. 😢
"I didn't mean to say it like that."
"I didn't know he was awake."
Mother took a deep breath.
"No blame," she said.
"This is fear talking, not facts."
She straightened, decision made.
"He won't run forever," Mother continued.
"And when he stops, we'll find him."
Father nodded.
"He needs clarity."
"Not silence."
The house felt heavier now.
Not loud.
Not chaotic.
Just a family sitting with the knowledge
that one misunderstanding—
one half-heard truth—
can send even the strongest person walking away.
And somewhere out there,
Laddu was alone,
carrying a thought
that didn't belong to him.
Living Room — Panic ⚠️
Mother rushed back inside, already dialing. 📱
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
She stopped.
The sound wasn't coming from the call.
It was coming from the sofa.
Mother turned slowly.
There it was.
Laddu's phone.
Face up.
Silent.
"…He left it," she said.
That did it.
Candy's eyes filled.
"He never leaves his phone."
Maya stood up fast.
"That's bad. That's really bad."
Father grabbed the phone, checked it again like it might suddenly work.
Then cursed under his breath.
"He's an idiot," Father said.
"But this… this is panic."
Mochi's hands started shaking.
"I didn't mean— I swear I didn't—"
Mother was already moving.
"Shoes. Now."
"Where would he go?" Candy asked, voice cracking.
The cousin spoke quickly.
"He walks when overwhelmed."
"Quiet places."
"Anywhere he can breathe."
Father paced.
"No phone. No wallet. Morning head full of nonsense."
Maya looked at Mochi.
"He thinks the worst."
Mochi covered her mouth, tears slipping now.
"He thinks I betrayed him."
Mother turned to her, firm.
"No," she said.
"He thinks he lost everything in one sentence."
She grabbed her keys. 🔑
"We find him," Mother said.
"Before his thoughts eat him alive."
The house that had laughed an hour ago
was now loud with footsteps,
questions,
fear.
Outside,
somewhere without a phone,
without answers,
Laddu walked fast—
carrying a misunderstanding
that was never his to hold.
Office Café — Empty Chair ☕
They rushed to the office café first.
The bell rang sharply as they entered. 🔔
Too sharp.
Mother scanned the tables.
Father checked the counter.
Candy ran to the window seat.
"…Bob?" Mother called.
Nothing.
Maya checked the back.
"Jin?"
No answer.
The chair Laddu usually sat on was empty.
Cold.
Untouched.
Father exhaled hard.
"He's not here."
Candy's voice shook.
"He always comes here."
The cousin checked the counter.
"No message. No note."
Mochi stood frozen near the door.
"If he's not here… where would he go?"
Mother's jaw tightened.
"He avoids people when he feels betrayed."
Father clenched his fist.
"He'll go somewhere quiet."
"Somewhere that hurts less than talking."
Maya swallowed.
"This is bad."
Mother turned.
"Next place."
The café door closed behind them,
leaving the empty chair behind—
and a silence that felt like it was waiting
for someone who wasn't coming back yet.
Afternoon — The House Fills Again 🌤️
By afternoon, the door opened again.
Bob entered first.
Then Jin.
Rainess followed, quieter than usual.
One look at the room told them everything.
"This isn't a normal visit," Bob said.
Mother didn't waste time.
"Laddu left."
Silence.
Jin frowned.
"…Left how?"
"No phone," Father said.
"He thinks something that isn't true."
Rainess sat down slowly.
"He shut down."
Mochi stood near the window.
"I said something wrong," she said softly.
"He heard it halfway."
Bob rubbed his face.
"Of course he did."
Jin shook his head.
"He never waits for explanations when trust is involved."
Rainess spoke gently.
"He won't answer calls."
"He'll punish himself with thoughts."
Candy asked quietly,
"Will he come back?"
Bob answered without hesitation.
"Yes."
Everyone looked at him.
"He always does," Bob said.
"But not until someone reaches him the right way."
Mother nodded.
"Not pressure."
Jin added,
"One clean sentence."
Rainess looked at Mochi.
"He needs to hear it from you."
Mochi swallowed.
"…I will."
Father stood up.
"Then we wait—but we don't stop looking."
The house wasn't panicking anymore.
It was focused.
Night — Last Option 🌌
Mother stood suddenly.
"We can't wait anymore."
She made two calls.
One to Barfi.
One to Jalabie.
Conference on.
Barfi answered first.
"…Why does this feel serious?"
Jalabie followed, sharp.
"Tell me everything."
Mother told them everything.
No drama.
Only facts.
When she finished, silence sat on the line.
Too long.
"…Now tell me what you think," Mother said quietly.
Night — Relief 🌙
Barfi spoke first.
"Don't worry," he said.
"He won't hurt himself."
Everyone leaned in.
Jalabie followed.
"He shuts down."
"He disappears."
"But he doesn't self-destruct."
Mother closed her eyes.
Relief washing through her. 😮💨
Father exhaled.
"…You're sure?"
"Yes," Barfi said.
"He's angry at life—not himself."
Jalabie added,
"He'll come back."
The room softened.
Candy smiled through tears.
"So he's safe."
Mother nodded.
"Then we wait—and prepare the truth."
Mochi whispered,
"…Please tell him everything."
"We will," Barfi said.
Jalabie finished, firm.
"And then he'll return on his own."
The call ended.
The house finally settled.
Not happy.
Not relaxed.
But steady.
Because now they knew—
Laddu wouldn't drown in silence.
He would speak.
And when he did,
the truth would reach him first.