Night of 25TH

Chap 5: Christmas Shopping Delights

Present :

Author

Shubman found himself shouldering the weight of numerous shopping bags, despite their heftiness, he navigated the bustling mall with the children. With pure delight, the twins clung to his sides, their small hands firmly grasping his shirt, their eyes gleaming with excitement. Their demands for the perfect Christmas decorations were selective, as they wanted to seek only the most exquisite decorations.

Shubman decided to shower them with gifts beyond measure, yearning to fulfil their every desire, although the twins were already content with the adornments festooning their home and the cherished presence of their doting Mamu during this festive season. Their innocent words resonated deeply within him, causing his heart to melt and his soul to be washed over with remorse for the years he had spent distanced from them, regretting the absence of their warm embrace. Now, in this precious moment, an ardent desire to make amends swelled within him, fueling his determination to compensate for those lost years in any way possible. Thus, he decided to shower them with gifts this festive season and happily bore the weight of the bags, regardless of their heaviness as he tirelessly ventured from store to store, solely for the sake of the twins' unbridled happiness. The least he could do for them now for the lost years.

Shubman

The three of us embarked on our quest for the perfect Christmas tree, strolling towards the section adorned with an array of the majestic Christmas trees. As we stood amidst the line-up of trees, I cast my gaze downwards, directing my attention to the kids, eager to hear their preferences. And there, before me, lay a sight that amused me to no end. Both of them placed their hands on their waists, pouting their lips, and narrowed their eyes, as if scrutinizing the trees lined up in front of them.

"Well, have you finished suspecting the trees so we can arrest one?" I quipped, mockingly arching an eyebrow.

"Yes, sir Shubman, this one," they exclaimed, pointing towards a tree that stood shorter than the rest but radiated unparalleled beauty, reminiscent of my dear Chucky.

Their response evoked hearty laughter from within me, and I affectionately ruffled their hair.

Having settled on a tree, we proceeded to complete the purchase, and afterwards, we sought solace in a comfortable corner of the restaurant. The kids gleefully swung their legs beneath the table, revelling in the anticipation of adorning our humble abode. As I scanned the menu, my gaze shifted towards healthier options, mindful of the need for balanced nutrition. Catching the waiter's attention, I signalled for him to approach our table, observing his eyes widen and his smile grow as he recognized me. With an air of professionalism, he cheerfully approached us, ready to take our order.

"Yes, sir, what may I assist you with?" he inquired, his demeanour polished.

"This," I replied, pointing to a particular item on the menu.

"Very well, duly noted," he responded with a cheerful tone.

Taking care to tie bibs around the twins to preserve their attire's cleanliness, we eagerly awaited the arrival of our food. My stomach emitted a growl when our food arrived, a consequence of the exertion during practice and our shopping spree. The children erupted into giggles upon hearing the sound, and I, attempting to suppress a laugh, pressed my lips together, feeling a tinge of embarrassment

"Okay, okay, mamu ka mazak banana hogya ho toh khana kha le?" I declared.

"Theka," they replied, their laughter lingering as they savoured their meals.

With joyous hearts, we indulged in a mouth-watering Punjabi lunch, a cuisine I had refrained from eating for quite some time, mindful of the demands of my cricketing career. However, this Christmas, I had granted myself the freedom to relish whatever culinary delights I desired. Amidst mouthfuls of food, memories from the recent practice session flooded my mind, vividly depicting Ahaan's determined play and the echo of a younger version of myself.

"Ahaan, do you enjoy cricket?" I inquired, swallowing a morsel.

"Immensely," he exclaimed, extending his hand in a gesture of enthusiasm.

"I'm currently learning Virat's uncle's cover drive and your iconic short-arm jabs," he continued, mimicking the shots.

"In that case, why not commence your training?" I suggested, pleased by the presence of promising talent.

"I was planning to discuss it with Mom, but I'm unsure whether she'll agree or not," he expressed his disappointment.

"Why wouldn't she?" I inquired. "I'll personally speak to her and your dad."

"Really, Mamu?" he asked, brimming with excitement.

"Yes, indeed," I responded, my smile widening as I witnessed his profound love for cricket.

"And what about you, Ahaana?" I turned to the other twin, who was engrossed in savouring her paneer and naan.

"Yes, Mamu, just as much as Ahaan, but I'd love to work behind the screens," she remarked, her attention fixed on her lunch.

"Ah, Chucky, you and your passion for food and the love for working behind the scenes," I uttered inadvertently, recognizing the shared inclinations.

"Chucky?" Ahaana interrupted, raising an eyebrow mid-bite. "Who is Chucky?" she inquired.

I choked on my food, caught off guard by their curious gazes.

"Here, Mamu, have some water," Ahaan offered, extending a glass.

"Thank you," I mumbled, gratefully accepting the gesture.

"So, who is Chucky, Mamu?" Ahaana persisted, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"Oh, I meant 'chubby,' and it's wonderful that you share a similar taste," I quickly improvised, playfully pinching her cheeks.

"I'm not chubby," she grumbled, resuming her meal.

"But she is," Ahaan whispered, covering his mouth, which elicited a giggle from me.

"I heard that," Ahaana declared, narrowing her eyes.

Without further conversation, we resumed our meal after listening to her words. I could hear Ahaana threatening Ahaan that she informed Shahneel about labelling her as 'chubby.' I sighed with relief, grateful for successfully masking my slip of the tongue. As we concluded our feast, the waiter attending us presented the bill, and politely asked for a selfie. However, mindful of the kids' privacy and protecting them from the perils of online negativity, I politely declined, perceiving a tinge of disappointment in the waiter's countenance which he concealed behind a forced smile.

"Mamu, you shouldn't make your fans sad," Ahaan remarked, his voice filled with wisdom. "Look how kind the waiter was; he gave us chocolates, and he gave them to other kids as well, not just us, all for a simple selfie."

A humble star of the future was already shining through his words, and his twin nodded in agreement, showing unwavering support.

"Uncle!" called out Ahaana, catching the waiter's attention.

"Yes, kiddo?" he responded.

"Mamu is now ready to take a selfie with you," Ahaan exclaimed, brimming with joy.

The waiter glanced at me hesitantly, and I blinked my eyes, assuring him that it was indeed fine. He pulled out his phone, and while clicking the selfie, two tiny faces photobombed the frame, perched on my shoulders. Expressing gratitude, the waiter departed with a beaming smile to attend to the other guests of the restaurant.

"I see the photobombers attempting to steal my spotlight," I teased, gently pinching their noses.

"Kya karein Mamu, itne khaas jo hai hum," Ahaana quipped, flipping her hair, while Ahaan playfully imitated the gesture with his imaginary long locks.