Ok, finally after almost 6 months here comes another shot. Am really sorry for having kept all of you waiting for so long but I hope to be regular again.

And I wanna dedicate this shot to Mitu (@Mitalchauhan8 )on whose bday I couldn't gift her anything. Am sorry and here is your belated birthday gift 😘😘😘

And then my rival @ArShi_Angel just wanna tell you, I hate you and you make my life hell, so rot in hell 😂😂😂

He shut down his laptop and put his files away to finally take a relaxing breathe. He hadn't even closed his eyes for two minutes, the door opened and Khushi entered their bedroom.

She stole a quick glance of him and then moved to the adjoined bathroom with her night clothes. He got off the recliner and closed the blinds before moving to bed waiting for his wife.

She was out and just let her body fall on her side. He covered her with the quilt they shared and moved the little hair strands off her face.

Arnav - So I suppose, nothing today either?

She turned her face to him nodding in denial.

Khushi - I know it's been long but we can't. The twins suddenly got this new fear, so if they wake up in the middle of the night, either they'll start crying or they'll run to us. For the former, the baby monitor is on and for the latter I left our door open.

He pulled her slightly closer to hold her in his arms. She put her head on his chest.

Arnav - They never fear anything. Doesn't sound like my babies.

Khushi - Well, your babies are now 3 years old and can't differentiate between real life and fantasy. I don't know from where they got it but they think there's a monster under their bed.

He stopped rubbing his fingers through her silly hair and looked down at her.

Arnav - Did you make them understand that there's nothing such as monsters? They're my brave dolls. They shouldn't be afraid of anything.

She raised her brows glancing up at him with scepticism. Brave and doll? Doesn't it contradict!?

Khushi - Firstly, they are 3 years old! Try making them understand it yourself tomorrow! Secondly, stop always saying my dolls, my daughter. They are mine too! And third, again, they are 3 years old kids! Of course they will be afraid of monsters and ghosts etc.

Arnav - I'll talk to them tomorrow.

She rested her head back on his stoney chest and cuddled more into his warm body. He stared at his wife and then smiled mischievously.

Arnav - Woman, if you don't wanna put out, don't turn me on!

She gasped and smacked his chest playfully before smiling again.

Khushi - Arnavji, how about we break the wall to adjoin our room with kids.

Arnav - That's a great idea!. And an even greater way to ruin their childhood if in case they ever walk in on us having sex!

She twisted her mouth for his choice of words and pinched him lightly as punishment. She opened her mouth to clear the matter but then grabbed the opportunity to tease him.

Khushi - Well, we don't have to do it. I mean, we have two cutest of all kids. And we decided two are more than enough, so no more kids. Theoretically, we don't need to maintain a physical relationship, for the act is only for reproduction purposes.

Arnav - And technically marriage is a social construct and by nature, people were supposed to wear nothing but their birthday suit and live in caves.

She sighed at his sarcasm and laid back comfortably on him

Khushi - You talk too much nonsense.

He couldn't contain his laughter at her remark which in turn made her smile. He cupped her face with one palm, brushing the tiny strands off her face and leaned in to kiss her. She blushed as he held onto her waist tightly.

Arnav - You're looking...edible.

She smacked him lightly before letting him kiss her again. He rolled her over to have better access to her delicious mouth, but she pushed him off her as soon she heard her children and rushed to the door. She opened it and dropped herself on her knees letting her daughters run in her arms and hug her tightly.

Arshi, Aaru - Mumma, Mumma, Mumma.

They hid their faces in her neck and climbed on her like a Koala. She got up carrying both and moved back to let them down on the bed finally.

And when Khushi left them to go close the door, they clung onto their Daddy dearest who caressed their faces and kissed their heads. He looked at his wife in confusion as she returned back to the bed and sat cross legged to hold one of them.

Khushi - Arshi, Aaru, what happened? Come to Mumma.

Aarushi stayed with her father, hugging him tight. Arshi got into her mother's lap and hugged her waist. Khushi caressed her and snuggled her closer.

Arnav - Hey, what happened to my dolls? Are you scared of anything?

They relaxed but didn't reply anything. Arnav and Khushi exchanged a look. They seemed frightened.

Khushi - Arshi, you're Mumma's brave girl. Tell Mumma, what happened? I put you to sleep. You woke up again?

Arshi - We sheep Mumma n Daddy.

She hugged her mother pouting. Aarushi too was still embracing Arnav. The parents then looked at each other.

Arnav - This has been going on since a week now. We need to do something.

Khushi - They're scared of something. But I don't know what. They won't tell anything.

They both laid down with their three years old toddlers kept between them. Arnav pulled the blanket on all of them and caressed their heads one by one.

Khushi - My poor babies. If only I knew what's troubling them.

She squeezed their hands assuring them she's there, so they sleep without any worries.

Arnav - We have to find out. Tomorrow in the morning!

She nodded and pecked their lips before patting them to sleep. She sang a short lullaby as usually. And only after their daughters were peacefully asleep could the parents too finally close their eyes and sleep.

Next morning...

Breakfast had been done and Arnav was ready for office, just as the twins were ready to mess around and follow their daily business of causing chaos in the mansion.

Arnav - Now tell us, what is it that you're afraid of?

Both the parents picked them up off the ground and kept them on the bed with the intention of finally talking it out of them, the reason behind their fear.

Khushi - Tell me shona, what is bothering you? Mumma will deal with it. Just tell me once and that thing will never ever scare you again. I will find it and I will throw it away.

While Arnav sat there looking at them, as if ready to lead a conference at his office, Khushi lovingly took both in her lap and caressed their heads, protecting her children with the warmth of her motherhood.

Aarushi - Monshta Mumma. Biiiig Monshta. And no gudh.

Arnav - Monster? What kind of Monster? I mean, when did you see that monster?

The elder duo shared a look at the more or less newly found information. It was known it is something with them believing in monsters, but why do they think so? They aren't allowed to watch anything except of channels exclusively for kids. The TV in their room was parental lock protected.

Arshi - We shee Bhai. Sho many monstha. And sho shkaly. Come in bedh, and deem, and evelywhea.

She shrieked pulling more onto her mother's neck, who though almost choked, still pulled her more into her arms and rubbed her back.

Khushi - So that's why he's been sleeping with Jiji since past few days.

Arnav - Why am I not surprised it was Akshay to show them that movie or whatever it was!? But how could they see it despite the lock?

Khushi - That doesn't matter for now.

She hushed him. They were all kids and too innocent to comprehend anything and lest they started enquiring about the parental lock, she signalled him to handle them and make them understand.

He obeyed and cupped both their faces gently with his palms and smiled for them, speaking as softly as possible.

Arnav - Ok, listen, my dolls, there are no monsters. Whatever you saw, that was not a monster. It was someone acting like a bad person. It was just a costume.

Aarushi - No no Daddy, I shee, they fai and hut. They come at naiit an take shmall kidsh. I no go wid bad Monstha. I shtay Mumma an Daddy.

She hugged his hand to have both her parents close, for her own security.

Arshi - I no shkea, but I shtay Mumma an Daddy. Elsh who shay Mumma an Daddy?

Meanwhile Arshi, in broad daylight, not wanting to give away her fear acted courageous as ever, trying to outsmart her sister.

Khushi - But Aaru, jaan, there are no monsters. Do you think we would lie to you? Devi Maiya is always protecting us.

Arshi - But Daddy shay no Devi Maiya.

She frowned between the two, confused at the contradicting statements while her father attempted avoiding an eyelock with her mother, who flared her nose at him.

Khushi - Daddy also says he loves Mumma and respects her beliefs, doesn't seem so.

Arshi - Sho Daddy lie?

They opened their mouth wide, shocked to know such a thing about their beloved, dearest Daddy. The person they always relied on.

Aarushi - Badh, badh Daddy. Lie Mumma, sho no gudh boy. No geth chocate.

She shook her head in denial, pointing at finger at him, already announcing the punishment. He looked at Khushi, not pleased with her stamping him a liar in front of his daughters. She realized the damage she did and then tried to revert it.

Khushi - No Aaru, Daddy is not a liar.

But can you challenge a toddler's mind? Always expect them to catch you with your literal words and fight back.

Arshi - Then no Devi Maiya? Sho u lie!

Khushi - No, there is a Devi Maiya!

Nothing outraged her more than someone not believing in Devi Maiya, so how could she have her children do so!? But the opposite statements had resulted into a game of catching the liar.

Arshi - Sho Daddy lie!

Khushi - No, nobody lied. Arnavji!

Knowing she can't win against them, she finally pleaded with him to help her out in the irrelevant argumentation that had just emerged.

He signed them to get into his arms, which they did effortlessly and stood surrounding their arms around his neck.

Arnav - Arshi, Aaru, sometimes, people believe in things which others don't, like, you believe your Mumma is best Mumma ever. But Akshay believes his Mumma is the best Mumma. Nobody is lying, it is just about what you believe.

They blinked blankly, looking at him and Arshi's eyes went down indicating she was getting into a process of thoughts. And before she comes up with something even the great ASR can't handle, better to move on and divert her.

Arnav - Ok, forget it. There are no monsters and to prove it to you, I will sleep in your room tonight and tomorrow morning, I will still be there and no monster will have taken me.

Khushi approved that suggestion with an excited smile and nod of her head. But the twins were clearly not pleased with that idea.

Aarushi - No, Daddy, no. Sheep hea, Monshta take you, whea we get new Daddy.

She was all ready to cry if it stopped her Daddy from going to that monster's cave, all alone.

Arnav - Nothing will happen to me, because there are no monsters.

He smiled at her and rubbed his nose with the tip of hers' in order to calm her down, his sensitive and vulnerable baby.

Arshi - But wen shee Monstha, lun fasht an come hea. Ok?

He chuckled at the other one who was as scared for him and meant what she said. He nodded and had to seal the pinky promise.

Arnav - Ok done. But I won't come, because there are no monsters.

Arshi - That we shee.

They pouted, displeased with the risk their father was putting himself in. Khushi admired their care for him. There were a lot of moments where they'd show their love and care for her but very less with him.

Aarushi - Oh mah no-shent (innocent) pua (poor) Daddy, I luv u shoooo much.

Arnav - I know princess and I love you both so much too.

They embraced him with saddened faces. He rubbed their backs, kissing their heads to silently ensure his lifelong protection. His babies meant the world to him and though it's completely normal for little children to be scared of monsters that could be hiding under their beds or in their closets, they had managed to not yet have those seeds plant themselves into their little minds. And he'd like to keep them from fearing something which isn't there at all.

Later at night...

Arnav was ready to go to sleep and the two had come to drop him till the door of the monster's cave. Even Akshay came to see him.

Akshay - I hear you sleep alone, in scary room.

Arnav - Ya, wanna sleep there with me?

He offered it intentionally to see the expression on his face, as he jerked and immediately made an effort to come up with an excuse.

Akshay - Mumma is waiting for me. I came to say goodbye Big Daddy. I miss you.

Arnav chuckled in amusement. How serious the matter was to the three junior Raizadas. As if he was going to die.

Arnav - I will come back, alive.

He moved his finger, asking his Big Daddy to near him, to which the latter obeyed and was rewarded with a kiss on his cheek.

Akshay - I'll pray. I love you.

He smiled genuinely at the gesture of his nephew and ran his hand through his hair.

Aarushi - Daddy, no go.

Arshi - Daddy, no no. Shtay. We need Daddy. Daddy peash.

But his princesses were clearly not ready to let him go and clung onto his legs, pleading through their eyes. He sighed and knelt down hugging all three.

Arnav - Ok, you three, nothing will happen to me. I'll show you there are no monsters. Now go to sleep. I'll also go. Good night.

Khushi took them with her to the other room, letting him go to sleep in the kids room finally.

Midnight...

He had been sleeping quite comfortably in the pink fluffy bed of Aarushi before some noises coming from outside of the room disturbed his sleep. Getting up and out of the room, he traced the noise back to his room and opened the door to hear screams of the three.

Arnav - What's happening here?

Khushi - Arnavji! It's you. The light went off.

And it was now the moment he noticed there was no light in the whole mansion. It was completely dark. And the three fear darkness more than supernatural creatures.

Aarushi - Daddy, shave usssh.

Arnav approached the bed where they had been sitting, rolled inside a comforter, mingled with each other.

Arshi - We shkea.

She got out her hand and forwarded it for him, trusting the figure in the darkness to be her father with whom they feel more safe than anyhow else.

Khushi - Arnavji, don't leave us. Please, please.

All three of them grabbed his hand as he forwarded it to ensure them and now couldn't get back anymore.

Arnav - It's probably just the fuse- I'll go check-

He tried to straighten himself but there was no reasoning with them anymore. They weren't ready to let go.

Khushi, Arshi, Aarushi - NO!

And so he had to lay there and safeguard his twins and their mother who herself is quite brave until the light goes off.

This was somewhere a prompt given on twins being scared and parents dealing with it, I don't remember who asked for it but, if that person is reading, here you got it 😁