Father spoke quietly, careful not to raise his voice.
"…Can we have details?"
Prime shook his head gently.
"I treated him before."
"I'm able to treat this trauma too."
"It can be reduced. Managed. Eventually eased."
Mother held onto that word like a lifeline 🤍
"So now…?"
Prime met her eyes.
"No need to worry."
"I will handle it."
Cousin frowned slightly.
"But we didn't even know he went through this."
Prime nodded.
"That's normal."
He paused, then added, quieter,
"All four of them have similar stories."
The room went still 🕯️
Mother whispered, barely audible,
"But they all look… happy."
Prime gave a small, tired smile.
"Men don't show their worst."
"They learn to hide it."
"They laugh. They work. They protect."
"And they bleed quietly."
No one spoke after that.
Mother looked at Laddu sleeping 😴
Then at the door where Bob and Candy had gone out.
Father folded his hands.
"…Then we'll be careful."
Prime nodded once.
"That's all he needs."
"Care. Not pity."
The house stayed silent.
Prime adjusted the blanket once more, movements precise, respectful 🧣
"Let him rest," he said softly.
"He will be okay."
Mochi stood there, hands clenched, voice shaking 💔
"…What should I do?"
Prime didn't look at her sharply.
He answered gently.
"You will do nothing," he said.
"I will do it."
Mochi nodded, tears slipping silently.
"…Okay."
Laddu shifted suddenly.
A long, strained sigh left his chest 😮💨
Sweat beaded along his forehead.
His fingers twitched.
Maya stiffened.
"Prime—"
Prime raised a hand immediately ✋
"Don't worry."
"This is normal."
He checked Laddu's pulse, calm, practiced.
"His body is releasing stored stress," Prime explained quietly.
"Sweating. Sighing."
"It means the nervous system is settling."
Mother exhaled, shoulders loosening.
"So… he's not in danger?"
Prime shook his head.
"No."
"He's healing."
Laddu's breathing evened out again 🌊
His face relaxed.
The sweat slowed.
Prime straightened, voice low but certain.
"Let him sleep."
"When he wakes, treat him like always."
"Normal voice."
"Normal care."
Mochi wiped her tears and nodded.
"…I understand."
The house stayed quiet.
Prime and the family gathered at the dining table, movements careful, voices low 🍵
Candy and Bob returned, footsteps soft.
Candy climbed onto a chair without a word.
Bob stayed standing, arms crossed.
Prime spoke first.
"He works too hard," he said.
"So his mind learned a trick."
"When pain comes… it hides it under work."
The table went silent.
Father nodded slowly.
"He never stops."
Mother pressed her fingers together.
"That's how he survived."
Maya swallowed.
"So the trauma didn't disappear."
Prime shook his head.
"No."
"It was buried."
"Productivity became anesthesia."
Cousin looked down.
"…That's why he forgets himself."
Prime met his eyes.
"Yes."
"When the body is exhausted, the mind has no time to feel."
Candy hugged her knees.
"He's always tired."
Bob spoke quietly.
"But he never complains."
Prime nodded.
"Exactly."
He leaned back slightly.
"What he needs now," Prime continued,
"is deep sleep."
"Not naps."
"Not short rest."
"Proper, uninterrupted sleep."
Mother exhaled, relieved to have something solid.
"So we let him sleep."
"Yes," Prime said.
"No questions."
"No heavy talks."
"No emotional pressure."
Father nodded firmly.
"We'll protect that."
Candy looked up.
"…Will he be okay?"
Prime answered without hesitation.
"Yes."
"He's strong."
"But even strong people need darkness to heal."
Mother spoke softly, thinking ahead.
"…What about Jalabie, Barfi, and Rasmali?"
Prime didn't hesitate.
"Don't worry."
"They are fine."
He paused, choosing his words carefully.
"Laddu needs more care," Prime continued.
"Not because he is weak physically."
"But because he is too careless with himself."
The table stayed quiet.
"The others," Prime said,
"they protect themselves."
"They know when to stop."
"They know when to pull back."
He glanced toward the room where Laddu slept.
"Laddu doesn't."
"He keeps going."
"He ignores pain."
"He forgets himself."
Father nodded slowly.
"That's true."
Cousin added quietly.
"He carries more than he should."
Mother's voice softened.
"So he's the weakest?"
Prime shook his head gently.
"No."
"He's the kindest to others."
"And the harshest to himself."
Candy hugged her arms tighter.
"He never says no."
Prime nodded.
"That's why he needs care."
"Because he won't ask for it."
No one went to bed 🌙
Not Mother.
Not Father.
Not Maya.
Not Cousin.
Not Bob.
Even Candy stayed, curled on a chair, fighting sleep 🧸
Prime lay on the floor beside Laddu, cloth folded under his head, one hand close enough to sense movement without touching.
Every five minutes, someone checked.
Mother watched his breathing.
Father checked his color.
Cousin checked the time.
Maya brought water… then brought it again.
Bob stood near the door, silent, alert.
Prime murmured softly whenever Laddu shifted.
"Easy."
"Normal."
"Let him sleep."
Once, Laddu sighed.
Once, his brow furrowed.
Once, sweat returned.
Each time, Prime lifted a hand.
"It's okay."
No panic.
No shouting.
Just people moving quietly,
like guards on rotation 🛡️
Darkness thinned 🌅
Birds stirred somewhere far away.
Morning light crept in, pale and gentle.
Laddu slept through it all.
Deep.
Undisturbed.
Prime finally sat up when the sky turned gray.
"He's stable," he said quietly.
No cheers.
No tears.
Just breathing.
Because they had stayed.
All of them.
All night.
And nothing bad happened.
Morning came quietly.
8:00 a.m. on the clock ⏰
Mother moved through the house, pouring tea like a ritual 🍵
One by one, she handed out cups.
Warm.
Steady.
Candy peeked toward the sofa.
"…He's still sleeping."
Prime nodded.
"Good."
"More sleep is better."
Father sipped carefully.
"He hasn't moved."
Prime replied calmly.
"Deep sleep."
"This is what we wanted."
Maya leaned back, exhausted but relieved.
"So we just… let him?"
"Yes," Prime said.
"No waking."
"No testing."
"No questions."
Cousin nodded.
"Normal morning."
Mother glanced once more at Laddu, blanket rising and falling with his breath.
"…Then we protect this."
Bob stood by the window, tea untouched.
"He'll hate that we hovered."
Prime allowed a faint smile.
"He always does."
"But he heals anyway."
Candy wrapped both hands around her cup.
"He looks peaceful."
The family sat there, quiet now.
Tea steaming.
Night finally behind them.
Laddu slept on 😴
And for the first time since yesterday—
No one was afraid of the silence.