Laddu's eyes moved under his lids. 👀
Just a little.
Prime noticed instantly. ⚠️
"Everyone out," he said quietly.
"All except one."
Chairs shifted softly 🪑
Footsteps retreated 👣
Mother stayed. 🤍
Prime stayed. 🧠
Prime reached over and gently removed the headphones 🎧
"Laddu," he said softly.
"My buddy."
Laddu's eyes opened halfway 😴
He squinted at Prime.
Then smiled faintly 🙂
"…Prime uncle?"
"You're alive?"
"I thought your wife killed you after she found out about your affair."
Even half-awake, he joked 😏
Prime snorted.
"I begged her."
"She let me go."
Laddu yawned deeply 🥱
Stretched his arms like nothing had happened.
Joints cracked.
Then his eyes landed on Mother. 👩👦
"…Wait," he murmured, confused.
"I was in a park."
"I saw Mochi."
He frowned slightly 🤔
"But I don't remember."
Mother didn't panic.
She just sat closer 🤍
Prime didn't explain.
He prepared another injection 💉
Quick.
Practiced.
And administered it gently.
"Sleep," Prime said softly.
"That's enough for now."
Laddu nodded once.
Already drifting.
"…Okay," he murmured.
His eyes closed 😴
Breathing slowed 🌊
Prime covered him properly and looked at Mother.
"He's coming back in pieces," he said quietly.
"That's normal."
Mother nodded.
Relief and sadness mixed together 😌💔
Outside the room, the family waited. 🧍♀️🧍♂️
Inside, Laddu slept again 😴
Safe.
Watched.
Everyone gathered again.
Careful but hopeful 🕯️
Prime stood near the sofa, checking Laddu once more.
Then finally smiled 🙂
"From what he said," Prime explained calmly,
"his mind rebooted."
"The memory gap is gone."
"He remembers the year."
The room held its breath 😶🌫️
"And the trauma?" Mother asked quietly.
"No active trigger," Prime replied.
"The shock broke the loop."
"He's stable."
A beat.
Then relief spilled everywhere 🌈
Maya laughed out loud 😂
"THANK GOD."
Candy clapped softly 👏
"So he's… normal?"
Prime nodded.
"Yes."
"And one more thing."
Everyone leaned in 👀
"Act normal," Prime said firmly.
"Like nothing happened."
"And the 'husband arc'?"
"Forget it ever existed."
Mochi swallowed 😔
Nodded.
"…Okay."
Prime stepped aside to make a call 📞
"Yes."
"He's okay."
"Stable."
"No need to come."
He hung up, picked up his bag 🧳
And headed for the door.
"I'll check later," Prime added.
"For now—peace."
He left 🚪
The house exhaled together 😮💨
Father sat back.
"So… tea?" ☕
Mother smiled.
Eyes wet but steady.
"Yes."
Maya nudged Mochi gently 🤍
"Reset."
Cousin nodded.
"Clean slate."
Candy grinned 😄
"Normal chaos returns."
They talked softly.
About ordinary things.
Deliberately ordinary 🍞🫖
Bob slipped out quietly 🚶♂️
Four hours later ⏰
Laddu stirred and sat up.
He looked around.
Then at Mochi.
"…I'm sorry," he said simply.
"I ran away."
Mochi shook her head at once 🫂
"No need."
"I forgive you."
He nodded, relieved 😌
Then frowned.
"…But why am I here?"
"I was at the park."
Father answered smoothly.
"You fell asleep."
"Mochi picked you up."
Laddu stood.
Stretched.
Winced.
"…My body hurts."
Mother touched his arm gently 🤍
"Sleep more."
He looked at everyone suddenly alert.
"…Why do you all look sad?"
No one answered fast enough.
So he grinned 😄
"Okay, joke time."
Everyone froze.
Then relaxed.
"One day," Laddu began, animated,
"I saw a man riding a horse."
"So I wanted to ride one too."
Maya smiled already 🙂
"I searched the whole village," he continued,
"found one."
"It was small, but looked like a horse."
Candy giggled 🤭
"I rode it the whole day in whole village."
"Very proud."
He paused.
"At night," he said, deadpan,
"I found out…"
"…it was a donkey." 🫏
The house exploded with laughter 😂😂😂
Father laughed loud.
Maya nearly fell.
Candy clapped wildly 👏
Cousin shook his head smiling.
Mother laughed.
Eyes wet but happy 😭🙂
Laddu smiled, satisfied.
"Okay," he said, grabbing his bag 🎒
"Office time."
And just like that—
He was gone 🚶♂️
The family sat there quietly after the door closed 🚪
Maya wiped her eyes.
"He's back."
Mother nodded softly.
"Yes."
Normal had returned. 🌿
Later, after Laddu left for the office
And Candy went to school 🎒
The house felt quieter.
They gathered at the dining table.
No jokes.
No teasing.
Maya folded her hands, serious.
"He never said a word."
Cousin looked down.
"Most men don't."
"Especially when the attacker is a woman."
"They think no one will believe them."
"And he even thinks he deserved it." 💔
Mother inhaled slowly.
"That's why we failed to see it."
"He hid it under work."
"Discipline."
"Humor."
Father clenched his jaw.
"And we praised that."
"Called it strength."
Maya shook her head.
"It wasn't strength."
"It was survival."
Cousin added quietly.
"When people talk about sexual assault,"
"they imagine only one kind of victim."
"Laddu didn't fit that picture."
Mother's eyes hardened.
"No one should have to prove pain."
Father nodded.
"And no one should joke it away just to keep standing."
Mochi broke. 💔
Tears came.
"I never knew," she whispered.
"I never knew he faced something like that."
Mother pulled her into an embrace 🫂
"You weren't supposed to know."
Maya softened.
"This isn't your fault."
Cousin nodded.
"Trauma isn't announced."
Mochi shook, crying.
"I teased."
"I pushed."
Mother held her tighter 🤍
"You understand now."
Father spoke quietly.
"Care doesn't mean guilt."
Mochi nodded.
"I'll be careful."
"With my words."
"With him."
Mother smiled.
"That's love." 💞
Mochi asked softly.
"…Is it okay to ask him about the assault?"
Mother answered immediately.
"No."
"It's not okay to ask."
"…Even if I care?"
"Especially if you care."
Cousin added calmly.
"Trauma is not a story you request."
Maya whispered.
"If you ask, he'll hear danger."
Father said quietly.
"For him, being asked means being cornered."
Mochi swallowed.
"So what do I do?"
Mother took her hand 🤍
"You don't ask."
"You make the space so safe
that if he ever wants to speak,
he chooses to."
Mochi nodded slowly.
"…So love is silence sometimes."
"Yes," Mother said.
"And patience."
The doorbell rang 🔔
Prime returned.
He sat down calmly.
"After seeing me again," he said,
"he will want to meet the woman."
The table stiffened 😶
Father frowned.
"So… closure?"
Prime shook his head.
"No."
"The body remembers."
Silence fell.
"This is unfinished business."
Mother whispered.
"What do we do?"
Prime answered firmly.
"We don't push."
"We don't stop."
"We prepare." 🛡️
No one argued.