Laddu was in the office 🏢📑, eyes locked on the screen, fingers moving out of habit, not thought.
Then his phone buzzed 📳.
Prime.
Just one line.
Come. Now.
Laddu didn't reply.
He stood up immediately 🪑⬆️, grabbed his jacket, keys already in hand.
Bob looked up once 👀.
"No questions?" Bob asked.
Laddu shook his head ❌.
"Prime doesn't call without reason."
They were in the car within minutes 🚗💨.
Four Hours Later 🌒🛣️
They reached A.
Prime was already waiting 🧍♂️🕰️, hands in his coat pockets, face unreadable.
Laddu stepped out.
"Why did you call me here?" he asked calmly.
Prime didn't circle it.
"Do you want to meet the woman?" ⚠️
Laddu frowned.
"Which woman?"
Prime looked straight at him.
"The one who assaulted you." 🩸🧠
Something snapped.
Laddu's feet clenched against the ground 🦶
His jaw tightened 😬
Anger, confusion, disgust, fear, grief all crossed his face in seconds 🌪️
His breathing sharpened.
Bob was there instantly 🫂
A firm hand on Laddu's shoulder.
"Relax," Bob said quietly.
"I'm here."
Laddu inhaled.
Then exhaled.
His body obeyed before his mind did 😮💨.
Prime turned.
"Follow me."
The Preservative Room ❄️⚰️
Cold hit first 🧊.
Then silence.
Prime opened a metal drawer 🗄️.
Inside lay a woman's body.
Still.
Colorless.
Final.
"She died two years ago," Prime said evenly.
"You weren't in a state to know."
Laddu stared.
One minute.
Five minutes.
Fifteen minutes ⏳.
He didn't speak.
Didn't blink.
Prime and Bob didn't rush him.
Didn't comfort him.
Didn't explain.
They just stayed 🛡️.
Finally, Laddu spoke, voice hollow.
"…Did anyone claim the body?"
Prime shook his head ❌.
"No."
The Funeral 🌊🔥
No crowd.
No prayers shouted.
No spectacle.
Just respect 🤍.
Prime and Bob handled everything.
The rites were done.
Ashes were placed into the river 🌊.
The water carried them away silently.
Prime then handed Laddu a sealed letter ✉️.
"She asked me to give you this."
Laddu opened it.
An apology.
Clumsy.
Broken.
Late.
His eyes grew wet 💧.
He folded the letter, placed it in his pocket.
Then stopped.
Pulled it out again.
Read one line.
His eyes widened 😳.
He looked up sharply at Prime.
Prime didn't explain.
"Come with me."
The Orphanage 🧸🏚️
A small building.
Quiet.
Clean.
A little girl sat on a bench 👧
Tiny legs swinging.
Hair dark.
Skin familiar.
Laddu froze.
"…Prime," he whispered,
"She's one year old… but looks two."
Prime didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
The resemblance was undeniable 🧬
Hair color.
Skin tone.
And then her eyes.
Violet. 💜
Laddu's knees gave way.
He lowered himself in front of her 🧎♂️
Careful.
Slow.
The girl looked at him curiously 👀.
Laddu smiled 😊.
She smiled back 😄.
Laddu laughed softly.
She laughed louder 😂.
Something ancient unlocked in his chest 🫀💥.
Bob stood back, phone discreetly recording 📱
For the family.
For later.
For truth.
Laddu reached out.
The girl didn't resist.
She climbed into his arms willingly 🤍🫂.
Like she knew.
Prime's Clinic 🏥
The girl sat comfortably in Laddu's arms.
Small fingers gripping his shirt 👕
Tests were done.
Vaccinations checked 💉.
Records reviewed.
"She's healthy," Prime said.
"Perfectly fine."
Laddu nodded.
His arms tightened just a little.
Prime watched him carefully.
"You need to tell Mochi," Prime said.
"The truth."
Laddu nodded slowly.
"I will not ," he said.
"The assault."
"This."
He looked down at the child.
"I do not want my daughter to be judged by her mother's doing ."
Bob blinked.
"…Your daughter?" he asked.
Laddu didn't hesitate.
"Of course," he said firmly.
"My daughter." 🛡️❤️
The girl squirmed.
Laddu adjusted her automatically.
Natural.
Instinctive.
The Call 📞
Without thinking, Laddu dialed.
"Mother," he said quietly.
"…Can you come? I need you."
She came.
She walked in.
And froze.
A two-year-old girl slept peacefully in Laddu's arms 😴.
Mother didn't shout.
Didn't panic.
"…Who is she?" she asked gently.
Laddu answered simply.
"I was young," he said.
"And this happened."
Mother understood everything without being told 🧠🤍.
"…Her mother?" she asked.
"She died," Laddu replied.
Mother nodded once.
"Okay," she said calmly.
"Let's go home."
She didn't ask questions.
Didn't reveal what she already knew.
Didn't burden him.
She just stood beside her son 🛡️.
Outside, the world kept moving 🌍.
Inside, something impossible had settled:
A past that hurt.
A truth that lived.
A child that changed everything.
And Laddu?
He didn't look broken.
He looked anchored ⚓.
For the first time in years,
his future had a heartbeat. 💜