Page 200 of Lawfully Yours
Kushal turned to Arundhati, who had made the gulab jamuns for them. It was his favourite dessert too.
“You fed her four?” he asked.
“She stole two!” Arundhati defended. “I turned around for one second and—”
Amaira raised one finger, interrupting.
“I did not steal. I borrowed. Mommy said borrowing is allowed.”
Raj slapped his forehead.
“This child will argue with God one day.”
Kushal froze mid-breath as Amaira continued, “So… I told Grandpa, since he didn’t give me today’s cookie… that means I get two cookies tomorrow. One of today’s. One of tomorrow’s. That is… fair.”
Arundhati finally laughed. “Oh my God…”
Amaira twisted around in Kushal’s arms, pointing a tiny accusing finger at Raj.
“And Grandpa said NO. But that is not okay. Because if you skip something, then next time it becomes DOUBLE. Everyone knows that.”
Kushal nearly choked trying not to laugh.
“That’s… a very interesting rule, baby.”
“It’s a TRUE rule,” she insisted. “I made it.”
Raj jabbed a finger at Kushal.
“See? She’syourdaughter. Both of yours. This debating… this arguing… this logic that sometimes makes zero sense but sounds like a High Court submission!”
“So, I want two cookies tomorrow. That is all. I rest my case,” Amaira concluded, hands on her little waist.
Arundhati lost it. She bent over laughing while Kushal was red, shaking with pride and amusement both.
Raj threw his hands up.
“Fine! Take ten cookies! Just leave your poor grandfather alone!”
Amaira gasped happily.
“Really! Ten? Yaaay!”
“No!” Arundhati corrected instantly. “Absolutely not.”
Kushal shook his head firmly. “You’re getting one. And maybe another half.”
Amaira pouted.
“But Daddy…”
He kissed her cheek again.
“No arguing with Daddy.”
Amaira sighed dramatically, as if she had just lost a hearing, then got down from Kushal’s arms to show them the drawing she had done today at school.
The moment she left, Kushal turned to Arundhati.
