"Papa! Papa!" yelled a four year old Aaliyah, as she ran over to Arnav. "We need to go to the store right now!"
He caught a hold of her, and lifted her up and planted a big, loud kiss on her cheek, making her giggle, before asking, "To the store? Why, Munchkin?"
"Because Mumma told me that Santa Claus is going to visit tonight, and my teacher told me in class today that we need to leave out milk and cookies for Santa and a carrot for the reindeer!" she said, before gasping in a big breath.
"She is so your daughter," Arnav said, looking over at Khushi. "Look at how she talks a mile a minute!"
Khushi poked her tongue out at him in reply.
*****
"There!" Arnav said, placing a carrot in a plate in front of the tree. He turned around, only to see a four year old looking like she was trying to solve the problem of world peace.
"Ali? What are you thinking about?" he questioned.
"If Santa has 8 reindeers, shouldn't we leave out 8 carrots, Papa?" Aaliyah expressed her doubts.
"That's...not necessary, Ali," Arnav said, looking at the only other carrot left in the bag. He didn't want to have to make another trip to the store. "They can share!"
"Par Papa," reasoned Aaliyah. "Won't they be hungry if they only get to have a small piece? We should leave out 8 carrots!"
"Ali," Arnav said in a cajoling tone, but she wouldn't have any of that.
"Please, papa. Please, please, please!" she said, pouting.
And Khushi's giggles joined his daughter's pleas, as he sighed in defeat.
*****
They sat in the living room, wrapped in a blanket and munching on the cookies and carrots Ali had left out, all 17 of them.
"What if the reindeer saw Santa eating a cookie and wanted one too!?" she had reasoned.
"She's so stubborn," Khushi said, smiling, remembering her daughter's antics.
"What was it you said, Arnavji?" Khushi asked, looking at him with a twinkle in her eye. "She is so your daughter! Bilkul lady governess jaisa!"
{350 Words}
Merry Christmas, Everyone! :D
Current Affairs
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
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