Mochi was coming home with a grocery bag.
The evening was calm and ordinary.
Nothing felt wrong yet 🛒🌆
Then she saw Laddu sitting on the bench in the park.
Same bench.
Same place as before 🌳🪑
He was hunched forward, elbows on knees.
Eyes unfocused.
Face exhausted and sad 😞
Mochi stopped walking.
Her breath caught.
The grocery bag slipped from her hand 🧺⬇️
Laddu noticed the sound.
He looked up slowly.
Their eyes met 👀⚡
He stood up instantly.
Head lowered.
Eyes dropped to the ground 😔
Mochi didn't think.
She ran toward him.
Her heart pounding fast 🏃♀️💓
Laddu opened his arms.
He expected a hug.
He was ready to collapse into her 🤍
The slap landed.
Hard.
So hard he bounced back three steps 💥✋
He fell to the ground.
Rolled once.
Then stayed still 🧱
Mochi rushed to him.
Grabbed his collar.
Shook him violently 😡
"Do you know how scared I was?"
"You ran away without talking!"
Her words poured out like fire 🔥🗣️
She shouted everything.
Fear.
Anger.
Pain 💔
Five minutes passed.
Her voice broke.
Her hands trembled 😖
Then she noticed something wrong.
Laddu wasn't responding.
He wasn't moving 🧊
Her anger vanished instantly.
Fear took its place.
Her face went pale 😨
"Laddu?"
No response.
Her voice cracked 🫢
She lifted him with effort.
Grabbed the grocery bag again.
And ran toward home 🏃♀️🏠
The door flew open.
Everyone turned.
Shock spread instantly 😳
Mochi laid Laddu on the sofa.
Hands shaking.
Chest rising and falling fast 💨
"What happened?"
Voices overlapped.
Panic filled the room 😰
Mochi told everything.
The bench.
The slap.
The fall 🪑💥
The room went quiet.
Too quiet.
Everyone watched Laddu 🧍♂️
Living Room — The Wrong Version of Him
Laddu groaned softly.
His eyes fluttered open.
Barely conscious 😵
Mochi gasped in relief.
She hugged him instantly.
Her arms wrapped tight 🤍
He stiffened.
Pushed her away.
Hard enough to surprise her ✋
"Woman," he said sharply.
"What are you doing?"
His voice was cold ❄️
The room froze.
Mother stepped forward.
Her face went pale 😨
"…Woman?"
Mother whispered.
Her heart dropped 🫀
Mochi's voice broke.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly.
"I'm sorry I hit you" 😭
Laddu stared at her.
Blank.
Empty eyes 🕳️
"…Who are you?" he asked.
No emotion.
No recognition ❓
Mother felt the floor drop.
She steadied herself.
Fear locked in 😨
"Laddu," she said carefully.
"Who are you?"
Her voice shook 🫢
He answered immediately.
"I'm Laddu."
No hesitation 🧠
"Twenty-two years old."
"From India."
Spoken like a fact 📍
Then his eyes rolled back.
His body slackened.
And he collapsed unconscious again 😵💫
The Call — Rollback
The phone rang instantly.
Mother put it on speaker.
Everyone leaned in 📱
Rasmali's voice came through.
"He's home, right?"
Urgent and tense 🎙️
"He woke up," Mother said fast.
"He said he's twenty-two."
"Then passed out again" ⚠️
Silence on the line.
Too long.
Too heavy ⏳
"…That's bad," Rasmali said.
"That's a rollback."
His tone was serious 🔙
Candy blurted out,
"Don't worry!"
"We'll remind him Mochi is his girlfriend!" 😤
"No."
Rasmali cut in instantly.
Sharp and final 🚫
The room stilled.
Everyone looked up.
Fear spread again 😶
"When he was twenty-one," Rasmali continued,
"he was wild."
"No attachments."
"No stopping him 🐆
"If he wakes up like that,"
"He won't stay."
"He'll walk out" 🚪
Father swallowed hard.
"Then what do we do?"
His voice was low 😓
Rasmali didn't hesitate.
"Tell him Mochi is his wife."
Calm. Firm. Heavy 💍
Silence crashed down.
Candy hugged herself.
"…Lie?" 😟
"Not romance," Rasmali said.
"Stability."
"He won't run from a wife" 🧱
"But he will run from a girlfriend."
The truth landed hard.
Everyone felt it 💥
Father stared at Laddu.
Unconscious.
Vulnerable 🛋️
"…This is dangerous," Father said.
"So is letting him leave,"
Rasmali replied instantly ⚖️
Mother closed her eyes.
Decision pressing down.
Her chest felt tight 🫀
"If he wakes up unstable,"
Rasmali said firmly,
"He will leave and not return" 🚫
The room broke.
Fear everywhere.
No easy choice 😔
Mochi finally spoke.
Voice trembling.
But steady 🗣️
"…If it keeps him safe," she said,
"I'll do it."
"I don't care what it's called" 🤍
Everyone turned to her.
She didn't look away.
She didn't hesitate 🧍♀️
"Girlfriend or wife,"
"If one word keeps him here,"
"I'll carry it" 🫂
Mother stared at her.
Long.
Then nodded slowly ✅
"…Okay," Mother said.
"But only until he's stable."
"No longer than that" ⏳
Father nodded.
"We protect him first."
Nothing else matters 🛡️
The call ended.
Laddu slept on the sofa.
Breathing evenly 😴
They hadn't chosen what felt right.
They had chosen
what would keep him home 🏠