Laddu and Mother walked side by side ๐ถโโ๏ธ๐ถโโ๏ธ๐
The road was quiet ๐ค๐
Too quiet for the storm inside him ๐ช๏ธ๐ซ
Suddenly, Laddu stopped โ
Mother turned instantly ๐
He guided her a little aside ๐ณ
Away from ears ๐โ
Away from walls ๐งฑโ
His voice dropped โฌ๏ธ
Careful. Measured. Broken.
"โฆIt happened to me," he said ๐๐ฉธ
"I was assaulted." ๐ง โ๏ธ
Mother froze for half a breath ๐ฎโ๐จ
Then reacted like she was hearing it for the first time ๐ญ
Shock. Pain. Control. ๐ค
Laddu continued, eyes fixed on the ground ๐๏ธโฌ๏ธ
"I don't want my daughterโฆ" ๐ง
"โฆto be seen through her mother's actions." โ ๏ธ
Mother didn't hesitate ๐ก๏ธ
She took his face gently in her hands ๐คฒ๐ค
"Don't worry," she said softly ๐
"I will never tell anyone." ๐
They walked again ๐ถโโ๏ธ๐ถโโ๏ธ
The house waited ๐ ๐ฏ๏ธ
Inside the House ๐ ๐ญ
The door opened ๐ช
And acting began ๐ญ๐ฌ
Mochi rushed forward, eyes wide ๐
"โฆWho is she?"
Mother tried to speak ๐
Maya tried to help ๐
Cousin nodded too hard ๐คฏ
Father looked suspiciously calm ๐งโโ๏ธ
Everyone was terrible at lying โ๐ญ
Laddu frowned ๐
Confusion layered with exhaustion ๐ซ
He stepped forward, gently handed the child to Mother ๐งโก๏ธ๐ค
Thenโ
He dropped to one knee ๐งโโ๏ธ
The room froze ๐ง
He bowed his head to Mochi ๐โโ๏ธ
"I'm sorry," he said quietly ๐
Shock rippled โก
No one breathed ๐ถโ๐ซ๏ธ
Mochi swallowed, heart loud ๐
"I forgive you," she said ๐ธ
Laddu nodded once ๐
Like forgiveness was paperwork ๐๏ธ
Thenโ
He turned away ๐ถโโ๏ธโก๏ธ
Packing ๐งณโ ๏ธ
Room door opened ๐ช
Bag unzipped ๐งณ
Shirts folded ๐งบ
Careful. Precise. Detached. ๐คโ๏ธ
Silence collapsed ๐ฅ
Maya panicked first ๐จ
"WAITโwhy are you packing?!"
Cousin's smile vanished ๐
"Ladduโฆ don't."
Father straightened ๐งโโ๏ธ
Voice low ๐
"Sit down."
Mother didn't shout โ
She just watched ๐๏ธ๐ก๏ธ
Mochi followed him inside ๐ถโโ๏ธ
"You're not leaving," she said firmly ๐
Laddu folded another shirt ๐
"I always leave when things get complicated." ๐
No one laughed.
No one breathed.
The truth landed ๐ง โก
Mochi stood in the doorway ๐ช
"Where are you going?"
Laddu didn't look up ๐๏ธโฌ๏ธ
"I'm packing before you throw me out."
"I'm not throwing you out."
He paused โธ๏ธ
Then folded anyway ๐ถ
"Your boyfriend has a child."
"You know what that means." โ ๏ธ
Mochi stepped closer ๐ถโโ๏ธ
"I don't care." โค๏ธ
That made him look up ๐
"I understand," he said slowly ๐๐ฅ
"I'm a goat waiting to be cooked."
Maya inhaled sharply ๐ง
"Why are you talking like a sacrifice?"
Cousin's jaw tightened ๐ฌ
He's already blaming himself.
Father spoke, steady ๐ก๏ธ
"No one here is sharpening knives."
Mother crossed her arms ๐ค
Protective. Not angry.
He prepares for punishment before it exists.
Mochi's voice didn't shake ๐ฑ
"You're not meat."
"You're not a mistake."
Laddu laughed weakly ๐
"Easy to say before the fire starts."
Maya stepped in ๐ฅโ๏ธ
"If anyone's cooking, it's dinner."
"Sit down before I hit you with a spoon."
Father nodded once โ๏ธ
"This house doesn't exile its own."
Cousin watched Laddu's hands shake ๐คฒ๐
He's running because he thinks love has conditions.
Mochi took the bag from his hands ๐งณโ
"No conditions," she said simply ๐ค
No applause โ
No cheers โ
They just closed in quietly ๐ซ
Blocking every exit ๐ชโ
The Proof ๐ง๐ก๏ธ
Laddu looked at all of them ๐
Too calm.
Too normal.
He walked to the sofa ๐๏ธ
Gently picked up the girl ๐ง
Held her up slightly โ
Like evidence ๐
"I have a child," he said.
Then slower ๐ข
Clearer ๐ง
"C. H. I. L. D."
Silence ๐ง
Maya blinked ๐
"โฆYes?"
Laddu stared at her ๐
"You're acting like this is common."
Father tilted his head ๐ค
"It's not common."
"It's justโฆ here."
Cousin rubbed his temple ๐ซ
"Spelling won't make her disappear."
Mother adjusted the blanket ๐๐ค
"She's warm."
"That's good."
Laddu looked offended ๐ค
"Why is no one panicking?"
Maya shrugged ๐คทโโ๏ธ
"Panicking won't change the alphabet."
Mochi smiled softly at the girl ๐ธ
"She's heavy?"
"Very," Laddu muttered ๐ฎโ๐จ
"And everyone's insane."
The child yawned ๐ฅฑ
That ended the debate.
Laddu sighed deeply ๐ค
"โฆI hate this family."
Mother smiled ๐๐ก๏ธ
Because he wasn't leaving.
And they were never letting him.
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