Ingredients:

An angry woman

A desperate man

A creative and understanding sister

An adorable set of twins

A naughty boy

And a kitchen

Directions:

Step 1: Get the idea to bake a cake

Anjali was working at her office in the NGO when her phone rang. It was her little brother. She attended it smiling.

Anjali - Hi Chote

Arnav - Di, I need your advice.

She knew this tone. It meant trouble for her brother. And she knew what could be the reason. It's his lovely wife's bday today.

Anjali - Don't tell me you forgot Khushiji's birthday again!?

The silence on the other side confirmed her doubt.

Anjali - Chote, how come you never forget mine and twins' bday but hers always?

Arnav - I don't know. Maybe because I start organizing their bday party months before.

Anjali - You're very bad, keep forgetting her bday and your anniversary every year. And don't blame it on work.

He sighed. Of course she'll lecture him first and then help him out.

Arnav - Now Khushi is angry. She even convinced twins to be angry with me. They too aren't talking to me. What do I do?

Anjali giggled. Trust Khushi to drag their kids into the matter.

Anjali - Gift her something with great value.

Arnav - I know no Sari or jewellery will help. She wants something with a personal touch. And I'm running out of ideas slowly.

Anjali - I also meant personal value Chote. Something that'll show her how much you care and that you made great efforts for the gift.

And both got their brain working. She remembered his first bday after their marriage.

Anjali - Remember the time you made Jalebis for her? It was personal.

Arnav - So I shall make Jalebis for her?

Anjali - Oh God. It must be difficult to be a man, a species without brain.

He rolled his eyes at his sister's comment while she laughed at the roast.

Anjali - You are not a three years old. If Arshi and Aarushi gift us the same drawing again and again, we appreciate it because they are kids. But the rules for elders vary. A gift has to be better than the last one.

Arnav - Di, why don't you jump to the point?

Anjali - Bake a cake for her!

And of course it was the woman who came up with an idea.

Arnav - Thanks Di. I'll see you later.

He disconnected the call and first googled for recipes and even watched some videos. That is so easy, he thought. He'll be thinking otherwise soon enough.

Step 2: Get twins on Bord!

They both glared him with narrowed eyes and flaring noses. Aarushi's hands were resting on her hips while Arshi had them crossed over her chest.

Arnav - I know I forgot your Mumma's birthday and you think you should be mad at me because your mother said so. But I have a plan. I'll bake a cake for her.

Aarushi - Wow, cake.

While foodie Aarushi immediately forgot her anger and ran her tongue over lips imagining the taste of a chocolate cake, her ten minutes elder sister got her back to the reality.

Arshi - Sho? You foget Mumma bday. You make cake.

Arnav - Yes. And I know how much my babies love their Mumma. So how about you both help me? This way your Mumma will be so happy that her little babies baked a cake for her. Isn't it Aaru?

He knew she was the softer one from both and easy to convince, plus she was a foodie like her mother. She wouldn't let a chance to

1. lick the batter or

2. spend time with her dear Daddy and

3. last but not least, she never let a chance to impress her mother and make her happy

go by. And he was right. Little Aarushi jumped on the spot and hugged him in no time.

Aarushi - Yeeesh. I hep bake cake.

He kissed her palm and looked at his mirror version in small. She wasn't happy over Aarushi changing the party. So he tried once again.

Arnav - Won't help your Daddy?

He tried to make a puppy face to win his own daughter. He couldn't believe it. But it seemed to work.

Arshi - Fine. I hep. But I shtill angy. (Angry)

He smiled and blinked in agreement. That was the reason he was getting them to join him. They'll eventually forget their anger and he'll spend some good time with his kids which hadn't been the case lately due to overload of work. He was hardly getting to see them. After many days he took a leave for today after realizing it's Khushi's birthday.

And now as they were ready to go to the kitchen, they were stopped by noise of someone clearing his throat. All three looked at Akshay who stood there with twisted mouth.

Akshay - Won't ask me? Maybe I too want to make Massi happy?

Arnav raised his brows at his nephew and asked in a mocking tone.

Arnav - Oh really? Didn't you say cooking and baking is not for boys?

Akshay - You're a boy, and you are doing it!

Akshay shrugged his shoulders. Arnav smiled realizing he just changed his 6 years old nephew's mindset and forwarded his hand for him. Akshay reciprocated the smile and held his Big Daddy's hand.

Step 3: Try to bake the Cake!

Finally they were in the kitchen and Arnav put all the ingredients for a chocolate cake on the countertop. The three kids were wearing their aprons and standing on small stools, ready to assist their Daddy.

Arnav - First preheat the oven. Done. Now we have to make the batter. And for that we need two cups of flour, a cup of butter, two cups of sugar, a teaspoon salt, a cup of milk-

While Arnav read the recipe out of the Ipad, his assistants ran around to collect the cups and spoons. They filled the cups with the mentioned ingredients but obviously collided with each other in haste. The flour, butter, milk and sugar were spilled down creating a dirty mess. Arnav turned to see the three of them down and their clothes spoiled.

Akshay - That's why you don't let children cook!

Arnav shook his face in disbelief at his comment and helped them up before calling OP to clean it up.

So after wiping their faces and clothes, he started another attempt, but this time with clear instructions.

Arnav - Don't do anything I don't ask you three to do.

They nodded innocently and stood silently while he prepared the ingredients with the measurements and let the kids hand it over to him so they feel they're helping him.

Aarushi - Daddy, I do thish. I shee.

She denied to give him the flour and pointed to the attached bowl of the mixer. He nodded and held her up so she could pour the flour into the bowl. But as she had seen him turn on the gadget to mix the butter and sugar, she too wanted to operate the machine. But what the three couldn't see due to their height was the lid he keeps onto the bowl. And so it happened that she right after pouring the cup of flour in it, fastly turned the mixer on and all the flour landed on both her and Arnav who was carrying her.

Aarushi - Ooopsh.

She looked at father enthusiastically as the faces of both were covered with flour now. Arshi and Akshay laughed looking at them. And Arnav took a deep sigh. This isn't as easy he imagined it to be.

In the meanwhile Khushi was on a strike and resting in Payal's room. But it had been a while since her three years old twins peeped in to make sure she's there. That's a habit of them. Even if they don't need her currently or don't even want anything from her, they make sure to check on her every ten minutes and assure themselves their Mumma is there only.

Khushi - Jiji, are you noticing the silence?

Payal - Yes...usually it's much louder at home.

So she was now getting paranoid as to why they didn't come to see her in all that time and why couldn't they hear any of the kids anymore. Usually their laughter and yells can be heard whenever they're playing in the hall. Could it be that they ran out to play? What if the security guards don't see them and they somehow make it outside the premises of Shantivan? She stood up horrified at even the imagination of them somehow making it outside the property.

Khushi - Let's check on them.

Payal - Yes. I'm getting worried.

But just as they got up to leave, HP knocked at the door and entered after getting their permission. He walked in with the laundry and passed it to Payal.

Khushi - Hari Prakashji, where are kids?

He stilled and gulped standing there like a statue. He wasn't supposed to reveal the surprise cake. So he needed to lie, but he couldn't think of anything.

Payal - Hari Prakashji!? Where are kids?

HP - They....Kidnapped.

Khushi, Payal - WHAT???

And before he could even ponder what he just blurted out in nervousness, both the women fled out of the room and ran downstairs. Only once they heard their voices from the kitchen could they finally breathe.

And behind them, HP tiptoed away to not have both the women leash out on him for giving them nearly a heart attack.

Payal - Akshay

Khushi - Arshi, Aarushi, what are you doing?

They both were to enter the kitchen but were stopped by Akshay who blocked the entrance.

Akshay - No Mummas allowed inside.

Payal - What are you doing inside? Move.

Arnav - It's ok Payal, am here with them.

They looked at each other in question. Khushi shrugged her shoulders but she did have an idea what they could be doing inside.

Khushi - Maybe making Jalebis to woo me for forgetting my birthday.

Payal chuckled but then at the same time their motherly instincts took over as they both then yelled.

Khushi, Payal - Be careful with the oil. Don't let the children near it.

Arnav - Got it.

Looking at each other with a smile, they turned and went to the hall.

Arnav looked at Akshay who signalled him they're gone. He nodded and continued to wipe the hands and clothes of both the twins. They were completely smeared with the batter.

Step 4: Save it from the adorable foodie

And finally after looooong, the cake was ready. Arnav wore the oven mitts and took the cake out of the oven.

Arnav - Finally it's ready.

Aarushi - Yesh. Now I eat.

Arnav - No Aaru, it's too hot yet.

Akshay - Yes Aaru, we have to let it cool down first. Then we'll eat.

Arnav, Arshi - No.

Akshay and Aarushi looked at the two, blinking sternly. Arshi frowned at her father.

Arshi - It'sh Mumma's cake. Mumma eat fisht.

Arnav - Yes. Aaru, it's your Mumma's birthday. She has to cut it first.

Aarushi - And when she cut?

Arnav - Right after it cools down.

She nodded and got up onto the stool to stare the chocolate cake while it cools down. Eventually Arnav wanted to go up and wash them and change but that wasn't Aarushi's plan.

Arnav - Aaru, come. Let's go up. I'll change you both.

Aarushi - No. I shee cake. Sho it no lun (run) away.

He nodded in denial at his foodie daughter. And he wasn't going to leave her alone with a hot cake. The risk for her to take a bite and burn her mouth was too much.

Arnav - Ok...then we're going to wait here until the cake cools down.

Step 5: Surprise the angry wife

Khushi - Where are you taking me?

Khushi acted to not know anything though she was very sure that they had made Jalebis for her. And now Arshi and Akshay asked her to tie the blindfold and were taking her to the poolside so Arnav could surprise her.

And she was right. They did take her to the poolside. She opened her blindfold and looked around at the poolside decorated with fairy lights. And then looked at Arnav and Aarushi standing there at a table with a cake kept on it.

She frowned. Where are the Jalebis?

Arnav - I know I forgot your bday, again. But I'm really sorry.

Khushi - Haan haan I know. You're very sorry. And to express how sorry you are you made Jalebis. I know.

She wasn't impressed at all. He had already used the Jalebis card once. He couldn't ask for apologies with Jalebis again.

Arnav - I didn't make any Jalebis.

She raised her brows. He didn't? Well, then that's even worse. He made no efforts at all to woo her? What was he doing in the kitchen for so long then?

Khushi - Then you aren't forgiven-

Arshi - Mumma, shtop! Fisht lishen.

She looked at her little girl and followed her as Arshi walked her over near the table.

Arnav - This is your surprise. The cake.

Akshay - We made it! All together. Big Daddy didn't do all of the work.

Aarushi - I too do Mumma. Shooo much.

Khushi looked at the cake and now chuckled listening to the kids. She knelt and pulled of the three closer and hugged them.

Khushi - My babies baked a cake for me. Mumma is very proud. I love you so much.

Akshay - Me more.

Aarushi - No no. Me!

Arshi rolled her eyes as both of them tried to push the other out of the hug. Khushi kissed the three but frowned.

She looked up at Arnav.

Khushi - Why are they tasting like caramel?

Arnav - I didn't get time to bath them.

He thinned his lips. She smiled shaking her head.

Arnav - So, won't cut the cake?

He handed her the knife and as they were too small, he kept the twins on chairs so they could see her Mumma cutting the cake. They sang 'Happy birthday to you' and clapped as she blew the candles and cut the cake.

Arnav took a piece and fed her. She took a bite but made a face at it's taste which she had to correct again for she didn't want to break their hearts. After all they made so many efforts.

Khushi - Happy birthday Khushi.

She smiled at him even though she felt like puking for the bad taste of the cake.

The kids too offered little pieces to feed her. She just took a bite from each which she gulped down without chewing.

Aarushi - Mumma, now me me me. Cake cake cake.

Aarushi opened her mouth for her mother to feed her. Khushi looked at the cake and Aarushi. No. She isn't going to have her daughter eat it. Aarushi will throw up for sure. But she can't tell the truth either. It'll break their little hearts.

Akshay - Massi, cake!

Taking a deep breathe she had to do what needed to be done. So she picked the cake and took big bites to eat it up all alone.

Khushi - It's too tasty. It's my cake. I can't share.

While Arnav had never seen this image of Khushi before and stood there completely confused over her behaviour, the kids had their jaws dropped in shock.

Aarushi - Mumma, I too eat cake.

She leaned forward to grab some of it but Khushi ran back eating it up and tripped. If fell down and she stood there trying really to keep it all down.

Step 6: Get rewarded

Arnav came back into his room after asking his Di to bath and change twins into their night clothes. They were very sad for Khushi didn't give them any cake, so he asked Akash to bring one on the way home.

Arnav - Ok, what the hell was that-

He was ready to explode but found the room empty. And then soon enough he heard sound of someone throwing up from inside the bathroom. The door was open, so he just got in and saw her standing at the basin and wiping her wet mouth with a towel.

Arnav - Don't tell me you're pregnant.

She looked at him in disbelief and walked past him into the bedroom. He followed her and finally asked the real question.

Arnav - Was it that bad?

She looked at him, feeling bad. Unfortunately she couldn't lie anymore. He knew the truth.

Khushi - It tasted like...foot or something.

Arnav - Bad or horrible would have been enough.

She moved to him and snaked her arms around his nape.

Khushi - Don't be disheartened. I appreciate your efforts. And my babies' too.

Arnav - I'm sorry. I wanted to make you happy but, again failed miserably.

Khushi - Who said I'm not happy?

He looked at her now seriously. She cupped his face and kissed him on the lips. He closed his eyes participating. They withdrew after a while.

Khushi - You know I reward your efforts, not the result. You'll be receiving the full reward later at night.

He smiled and pulled her into a hug. He didn't say it often but she knew, each of his embrace was a silent confession of love.

Khushi - The kids must be so sad. Please get a cake for them from a shop.

Arnav - Already done. Akash will be coming with a cake any time.

She nodded smiling and held his hand. They made their way to the kids room where the whole Raizada family then gathered and celebrated her birthday with a better cake.

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So this was the second shot based on a prompt given by @suryakavi0912 

It was the longest Shot of this series. Hope you enjoyed it.