FOREVER AND ALWAYS
It shouldn't have come as a surprise that the tiny tot of the Sarna mansion had been immediately wooed by the new daughter in law, Twinkle and yet it was. It was really not to get attached to the bubbly bride, in fact she could melt even the coldest of hearts if she tried enough, and Ishaan was just a kid.
Ishaan's love and fondness for Twinkle grew quickly and deeply. It started when she would prepare him his favorite banana milkshake as soon as he came home from school. Twinkle Chachi even added extra chocolate chips in it, which made it all the more special to Ishaan. Breakfast had become more fun too. Chachi would give him chocolate covered almonds. He really didn't care about almonds much, but everyone seemed to insist that they are essential for the proper development of his mind and crucial to become Superman. Twinkle Chachi struck up a compromise. And Lo and behold, he gets chocolate covered almonds. She is the best Chachi one could ever have.
Ishaan used to have a timetable too. Every evening at 5, he used to tune into his favorite TV show. But now, he thinks playing with Chachi is more fun. She pretends to be the villain while he pretends to be the Superhero. Chachi once came up with a brilliant idea of tying her red dupatta around his neck to function as a cape. That was something Ishaan thought was pure genius. She pretended to be the villain so well and whenever he could shoot at her with his gun, she would fall over dramatically and even stick out her tongue a bit. Sure Kunj Chachu was fun, but Chachi was even more fun. Kunj chachu couldn't pretend to be the villain this good. It seemed Chachi was now his favorite person in the whole house.
Working on Homework with Chachi was fun too. She made math cool, and that's an achievement, not everyone can make math easy and enjoyable. His daddy made math boring but now because of Chachi he can count upto 50! And she comes up with amazing ways to learn all the new poems. She enacts each poem with vivid gestures and soon the poem becomes the easiest thing he has learnt.
Chachi also puts on the best, funniest movies for him. Once they watched a Tom and Jerry movie and they laughed until her bellies ached. Lion King was great too and Chachi even danced with him on Hakuna Matata'. They even watched Cars. That was his favorite movie.
Occasionally he feels bad, because Chachu used to be his favorite person in the house but now Chachi is. He has to admit it, Chachi is pretty amazing plus Chachu is now always so busy with his office work. So he guesses it isn't so bad if he changes his alliances. Kunj Chachu and Chachi are married so he thinks Chachu wouldn't mind if he makes Chachi his new favorite person.
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.
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To think Kunj hadn't noticed the change in attitude his nephew had towards him would be a wrong assumption. He had noticed how Ishaan was favoring his wife over him. And he would be lying if he said he wasn't jealous. He was very, very jealous. He used to be Ishaan's favorite person and now Twinkle comes in and claims Ishaan's alliances. No, he can't keep this going on. Things have got to change. He has to re-establish himself as Ishaan's favorite person all over again.
After an entire afternoon of mulling over various ideas, Kunj had finally decided on one plan of action. It involved a sleepover, a movie projector and water-guns.
He texted his brother and Nikki Bhabhi asking them permission to let their son have a sleepover with him and Twinkle and they were more than happy to oblige. He broke the news of his idea to Twinkle when he reached home, so that she could arrange all the necessary items that they would need for a sleepover, like extra blankets and pillows. Also some kid friendly snacks.
"Itna pyaar Ishaan pe, achanak kyu? Kya baat hai, Mr. Sarna?" She asks him innocently, although there was nothing innocent in that tone of her.
When he didn't grace her with an answer, her doubts were cemented over. "OH! Ab main samjhi. Tum jealous ho rahe ho. Tum jealous ho ki Ishaan ke favorite ab tum nahi main hoon." Damn her observational skills. She had guessed it right. "So cute Kunj-"
"Oi, Siyapa Queen, main kuch jealous vealous nahi hoon. Who toh maine soocha ki bahut time hogaya, Ishaan ke saath time bitaye, toh saat mein sleepover hi sahi" He interrupted her. She didn't seem convinced, cheekily nodded her head and continues pulling blankets out of the cupboard while he connected the wires and cables to the projector.
He hoped that by the end of tonight, Ishaan has a change of mind and make him his favorite person. He had 2 days to foolproof the sleepover plan.
.
.
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Ishaan came over earlier than expected as Nikki had to attend some other matters at hand. Twinkle and Kunj didn't mind. They started the night with a game of snakes and ladder'. Two games ended with Ishaan winning one and Twinkle winning the other. Kunj ended losing both. He was bit by snake after snake and had hardly crossed the 60s line. The winners celebrated by dancing and Kunj decided that this just wasn't his night. Fortunately he had other tricks up his sleeves.
Next came chor/police. It would have been fun for Kunj too but Ishaan somehow convinced him to let Twinkle and him be in one team, while Kunj play the Police. Next thing he knows, Twinkle and Ishaan have ganged up on him and drenched him using water-guns. Yup, it just wasn't his day.
They took a break when dinner time rolled in, ate burgers and settled in for a movie.
"Okay champ, kaunsi movie dekhni hai?"
They settled for Toy Story and Finding Nemo. Kunj was about to press play when Twinkle shouted "Wait hum ready nahi hai. Humhe pehle PJ's mein toh change karne do. Chalo Ishaan." The boy grabs her hand off they make their way towards the bathroom. Kunj decides to change into his pajamas too and uses the bathroom downstairs. He comes back within 2 minutes clad in his grey sweatpants and a white loose fitting tee only to notice Ishaan and Twinkle adorning matching Mickey Mouse and Minnie mouse night suits respectively. They were re-fluffing every pillow on the bed to make a sort of nest. Kunj silently curses himself. Why didn't he ever think of matching PJ sets? Stupid, Stupid Kunj.
Twinkle places herself on the far right side of the bed and Ishaan flops down in the middle, patting the empty side next to him as an invitation. Soon the movie starts.
Two bowls of buttered popcorn and tons of laughter later, the night draws to an end when Ishaan had yawned 3 times in a minute and could hardly keep his eyes open.
Even after the disaster of a night, Kunj yet expected his nephew to cuddle up against him. But no! The tiny thing wrapped his arms around his Chachi and was off quicker than a light bulb.
Oh, this was the last straw! He couldn't bare this anymore. His nephew no longer considered him as his favorite anymore. And now he wasn't even cuddling him. Kunj decided to sleep on the couch.
The sun rose bright bringing forward a brand new day. However the new day didn't bring a new refreshed mood for Kunj. Nope the man was still upset over the events of last night. He expected the present day to be no better than the previous night but then-
Then he saw the sight before him: His wife and nephew sharing a bed and cuddling way too adorably to be legal. Twinkle had a protective arm over little Ishaan's body while Ishaan tightly returned the embrace. Both of them were still deep asleep.
Despite everything that happened yesterday, Kunj knows that this is a sight he wouldn't mind waking up to everyday.
Later that day when he opens up his briefcase to catch up on some work, a paper falls out of it. He picks it up, looks over at it and a smile brighter than the sun breaks out on his face.
It's a drawing by Ishaan. In it is a little stick figure that he assumes is Ishaan, another taller stick figure with the word Chachu' written above it and a heart drawn over both of the figures. Below the cartoonish drawing were the words, "Love you, forever and Always."
The words were in Twinkle's handwriting but the drawing was clearly Ishaan's but the sentiment was very much appreciated none the less.
Another piece of paper falls out of his file. This one was clearly by Twinkle only. "Don't worry so much. Ishaan yet considers you his favorite. He loves you. I do too. Forever and Always."
Kunj decides it was stupid of him to be jealous over such a trivial thing-hey but at least now he knows, he has 2 people who love him very very much. Forever and Always.
THE END.
So how did you guys like this? Comment and let me know your thoughts. Thanks for reading J
CID
