So here comes another Shot dedicated to @Mitalchauhan8. After long, here's a dedication to my good friend😘

And @ArShi_Angel thanks for the idea sweetie😘

"Mumma, hea, thish look vely gudh. Shee, thish Daddy'sh gift"

Khushi looked at the shirt her fashionista chose to gift her father on his birthday, a pink one with a unicorn design on it. This little fellow literally looked at everything through rose-colored glasses.

Arshi - Aalu, sssshh!

The other one was right there at her job, to hush them.

Arshi - No Shay gift loud. Gift shup-aish.

They were out shopping gifts for their father in order to surprise him. And surprising him included hiding the fact and gifts from him, which Arshi had taken too seriously and wouldn't let anyone even mention the mere word gift as Khushi had asked them not to speak of it, or Arnav might come to know.

Aarushi - I give shup-aish. No shay loud.

She nodded her head in denial, agreeing with her sister. Then immediately pointed at the shirt again.

Arushi - Shooo Mumma, thish?

Khushi - Aaru, jaan it's very lovely. But I'm afraid this is a girl's shirt and your Daddy doesn't girls' clothes.

She caressed her cheek to sell it simply to her. But it wasn't as simple as it ought to be for her little baby had other concerns.

Aarushi - Why?

Khushi - Because he isn't a girl.

Aarushi - Why no gal?

It wasn't as easy to understand for a small child as it is to older ones.

Khushi - Uhm, because, he wasn't...born a girl!?

Aarushi - Why?

Now she was slowly getting annoyed and had no idea how to answer her whys further. So she did what she thought best.

Khushi - That you can ask him later. For now, let's concentrate on shopping for Daddy's gift.

Arshi - Ssssshhh.

Khushi - Haan haan I know, no saying gift. But we are here in a shop and your Dad is at the office, working. So we can talk freely here.

She sighed at her toddler daughter who would take everything literally. They could really get into her sometimes.

Arshi - No. No take lishk (risk). We vely keaful (careful).

Khushi - Hey Devi Maiya, why are you so?

Arshi could only stare at her stressed out mother blankly and shrugged her shoulders.

Arshi - No shay gift.

Khushi - Accha theek hai Laad Governor. Now choose something good for your Daddy. You want to give him something na? On his birthday?

She begged her difficult toddlers by folding her hands to the little ones.

Arshi - Yesh. I give kah (car).

Khushi narrowed her eyes at her.

Khushi - I'd prefer you buy something we can pay in cash. It wouldn't be a surprise anymore if your father can see it in his credit card bills.

The two little Raizadas stared their mother, not understanding the gibberish of their mother. So Aarushi pulled her down and cupped her cheek.

Aarshi - Mumma, sssh, we hea. No go keji (crazy). All ok.

She spoke as slowly and clearly to her parent who she thought had lost it. The other had clear priorities. A car.

Arshi - I no shee wat pobem thish.

Khushi crossed her arms under her chest and gave her the look. She glared back but there was no withstanding the mother's look.

Aarushi's eyes moved swiftly between these two and then she poked her mother for attention. Her pink shirt was being forgotten in the dispute. It matched so well to her own outfits.

Khushi - Aaru...how many times do I tell you, your Daddy doesn't wear this.

The mother inhaled deeply and knelt down to her almost three year olds. She attempted to teach them the concept again.

Khushi - You can take it and give him, but it won't be of any use. A gift is for someone else, and should be something the other person will like. You like this shirt, but that is not what your Daddy likes. Do we ever give you things you don't like?

The younger ASR was quick to response and complain.

Arshi - Yesh! No lie Mumma. I no like veggie, u give veggie to eath.

Khushi facepalmed herself and then flared her nose.

Khushi - You little Laad Governor, that is something different. Vegetables are healthy. You have to eat them.

Aaru caught her words and put two and two together.

Aarushi - Thish shut butiful, Daddy haf to weah..

Khushi - Hey Devi Maiya, what do I do with these stubborn Raizadas.

She felt like pulling her hair out and maybe smack her head somewhere. They were really difficult to handle sometimes.

Arshi - Mumma, no foget mah gift. Kah.

She reminded her mother immediately, who now stood up with her hands on her hips and glared down.

Khushi - No car! You have to think of something else, Arshi. Anything you can buy from here.

This ought to do, she thought. But her toddler's mind worked in other ways.

Arshi pulled her and ran out of the shop, to show her the big new shining black car below on the ground floor, kept there for attracting potential customers.

Arshi - Thea. Kah buy!

Aarushi - Sho, I too shee.

Aarushi ran behind them holding her Barbie doll and the shirt in her hands. And no sooner did the alarm follow.

Khushi looks behind as it rang. A salesperson came and Khushi walked back inside to apologize and clear the misunderstanding.

Khushi - You two are being really bad girls, not listening to me at all. You don't want to get any gift for your father I suppose. Fine then, let's go home. Don't give him any present.

She was being totally serious now. She had had it with them.

Arshi - No Mumma, I give!

Aarushi - No be badh. I give gift. No go home.

They held her hands and pleaded her with their puppy pouts and shining eyes.

Khushi - Then be Mumma's good girls and listen to me. Find something which your Daddy will like, it can be a small thing. He should just like it. Think, what makes him happy.

They narrowed their eyes looking at her, thinking as they blinked uninterrupted. Arshi then jumped as something hit the devil's mind.

Arshi - I know. He shold Aman. Sho I shold Aman and gift.

Khushi raised her brows and then narrowed her eyes at her for she was being quite serious. Aarushi observed her mother before reacting to her sister's suggestion.

Khushii - You Laad Governors are real pain.

Aarushi - Yesh. Mumma lait! U Laad Guvenah leal pain.

The parrot immediately repeated her mother, pointing at Arshi and annoying her further who glared her sister and mother after the comment.

Arshi - Dama keen

Aarushi - Mummaaaaa😫

She complained to her mother, not liking Arshi's response.

Khushi - Aaru, that's not really good girls' behavior. Don't start fighting here. C'mon, choose something for your Daddy fast or we're going home. Then Daddy will be disappointed that you didn't have any gift for him.

Arshi - But Daddy no know gift. We shupaish.

Annoyed, she kept a hand on her head, shaking it in denial and then turned to the little one.

Khushi - Ha Dadi Amma, I know. Let's stop talking and get something for Arnavji.

She smacked herself internally for the idea of going shopping with them to buy gifts for her husband. She should have let them give him their own crafts only. She had thought it would be nice to surprise him with something additional too, but now she had certainly changed her mind. Other toddlers run around and give their parents a hard time, her toddlers argued with her and gave her headaches. Raizada traits, she thought.

She walked around with them, through different departments and stores, hoping something would catch their eye. And it for sure did.

"DADDDYY-"

As soon she spotted her Daddy walking a little bit afar away, with his eyes kept ahead and a phone at his ears, she yelled for his attention and jumped to run to him.

But it was her sister who pushed her aside, behind a stand of clothes just before Arnav turned to the direction she had called out to him. He frowned seeing none there and continued with a shrug of his shoulders.

Arshi - Ssssh. Wat u do!

Her hand rested on her younger twin's mouth who struggled and successfully set herself free. She was not happy for she wouldn't let her go to her dear Daddy. He would for sure allow her to take that pink shirt.

Aarushi - Mah Daddy!

Arshi - Aalu, foget shupaish? Daddy shee ush, no moa shupaish.

She shook her head in denial, enraged over how forgetful her twin sister could be. She almost ruined their plans.

Aarushi - Ohhhh, yesh. U lait (right).

She gasped in realization while the other one rested her hands on her hips and suspiciously looked at their mother.

Arshi - Mumma, u shay Daddy ofish. U lie?

Khushi - No shona, Mumma didn't lie. You know lying is bad. I don't know what he is doing here. I didn't know he'd be here.

Khushi was herself confused as to what Arnavji was doing here at a mall. Maybe some work, or was he here to buy something? Nah. For that he has Aman, to run his errands.

Arshi - He cum, he cum. Lun!

Arshi spotted him walking towards the shop they were in. She grabbed both her companions by the arms and pulled them along to run far away to the other side of the shop.

Khushi - Arshu-

But her three and a half years old wouldn't even stop to listen to her mother and just pulled them with all her force.

She ran to the far end of the shop and pushed her mother and her twin behind a mirrored display wall before hiding herself.

Arshi - Now we shafe (safe).

Aarushi smiled in relief and Khushi chuckled at the junior. She knelt down and pulled her in her arms kissing her dearly.

Khushi - You are my clever baby, you know that? So smart and sharp as- me.

Arshi narrowed her eyes at first but then giggled hugging her back. Aarushi, not taken into the hug and love, stomped her feet in disbelief and resentment.

Aarushi - Heeey, I no shmath?

Khushi - You do jaan, you both.

Her mother took her in the embrace and Aarushi's anger and disappointment flew away in no time.

"May I know what you're doing there?"

The three looked up at the pair of eyes which had been frowning upon them. Khushi and her daughters exchanged a grin and Aarushi spoke up before any of the two even opened their mouth.

Aarushi - Daddy thea. We shupaish, sho we hide.

Khushi held the parrot to stop her from uttering further. The salesgirl could neither understand them nor did she need to know about it.

Khushi - Uhm, nothing. We're just playing.

She got up holding their hands and Aaru's eyes popped out again.

Aarushi - Mumma lie?????

Khushi - No beta, I- accha, actually, we are shopping for my husband's birthday. But he's also here, so we're hiding, else his surprise will be ruined.

Arshi and Aarushi nodded with huge smiles and adorable toothy grins at the woman who softened seeing that and beamed back at them.

Salesgirl - No problem mam. Hope you're having a pleasant time shopping at our store.

Khushi nodded just thanking her and she took her leave while the trio

*

His birthday was a small and private affair with only family members attending the cake cutting in the hall. He didn't like much so there wouldn't be anything else. That was all he had agreed to with Khushi. Twins helped him cut the cake and Aaru called for half of the cake, leaving the rest to be shared by everyone else.

Arshi - Enough eath, now gift taaaahm. Shupaish!

She put her own wrapped box on the table and then pointed her father to open it. Her twin, who was busy eating cake, put her plate on the table and pulled her own gift from below the table.

Aarushi - Shupaaaish! Mah gift besht. U shee.

Khushi - Offo, let Daddy open it first.

Arnav just smiled and opened their gifts while the two watched him, moving anxiously and restlessly. He took out the first one, a set of walkie talkies.

Arshi - Daddy, now u shold Aman with thish hea, no need to call with phone. Thish vely easy.

Everyone couldn't resist but laugh at that. He kissed her head holding her in his arms.

Arnav - Thanks baby. It's...really, thoughtful of you.

Aarushi - Hea, shee mah gift. It'sh besht.

He opened hers as asked by her and took out a blue tracksuit with glitter on its edges.

Aarushi - Now u tho (throw) away uah old shuit and weah thish nuh one. Sho butiful, and no pink. Mumma shay u no weah pink.

Everyone giggled silently. Khushi shook her head but smiled as he accepted it and thanked her with a kiss.

Arshi - Sho Daddy shupaished?

Arnav - Truly, surprised is the word!

They clapped jumping in excitement and kissed him before running away to boast off proudly to Akshay who just had a hand crafted card for him, which they did too but he didn't have an extraordinary gift like them to surprise their Daddy.

Love,

Pari