Kids say the cutest things - Can't fool a Gen Alpha

Arkin & Shrey - The little brats

I adore kids and love spending time with them (Till they aren’t my own). We learn a lot from their innocence and how they look at things. My best friend Anisha is blessed with two adorable brats Shrey (7 years) and Arkin (5 years) and am glad to have been a part of their life. My friend has given me the levy to pamper them and help them understand differences between good and bad. Anisha resides in Dubai and every year she visits Chennai for holidays. We (Anisha, Valar & I) plan such that three of us get time to spend with each other. Day times were usually spent with the children, taking them out, shopping etc. and once they are fast asleep, gossip till late night. During her 2019 visit; a specific incident which happened has remained fresh in all our memories.  

Anisha called us and informed her travel plan so that we could plan our trips accordingly. She also mentioned; Shrey and Arkin (6 & 4 respectively) have become a handful and requested us not to judge her in their upbringing. (Well that’s my friend who gets worked up on anything and everything). We asked her to relax since kids need to be naughty at that age and she is an amazing mother. Though I tried convincing my friend, she was still apprehensive. 

Finally, in August I made a one-week trip to Chennai. I reached her place and freshened up before sitting for a cup of coffee. The kids woke up and were all excited to see me and were not letting me go for even a minute. Both were updating me on what has happened in their life in the most animated way possible.   As the day went on, I could see the kids were troubling their mother by not eating food and not listening to her. Since am their favorite aunt and called with love as ‘Puri aunty’, I sat next to them and told them, if they listened to their mom and were well behaved, they would be rewarded. Both jumped in excitement and Shrey; the elder one asked what would happen if they did not behave. I said I would be disappointed, and I would take their mother along with me to Bangalore. Both the kids assured they would be at their best behavior.

For the first few days; they were at their best behavior or rather little elves who were behaving like saints. Anisha and her mom were amazed; that they could be good since they had promised me. We did our bit of visiting malls, shopping and catching up with friends, etc. That night, when we were tucking them in; Shrey asked if they were well behaved. I gave them a tight hug and told him all of us were pleased with them and hope to see them continue like this. With a lot of happiness; they gave us goodnight hugs and went to sleep.  

Arkin, the younger one is the notorious one. ‘Notorious’ might seem harsh for a 4-year-old, but once you read along you would realize that it’s an apt adjective to describe him. The following day started with a bit of crying by Shrey at the breakfast table, since he did not want to eat and was trying his best to wriggle out of it. My friend finally had to scold him to get him to eat. I sat in the other room, since I did not want to be present when Shrey was getting reprimanded by his mother. I noticed, Arkin had stealthily followed me and had this smirk on his face. I asked him what happened, since it was evident, he was up to something. He raised his eyebrow and complained that his brother was not a good boy; whereas he has. He wanted to know, if he would get his gift and his brother’s gift too. I burst out laughing and I told him the deal was both had to be good and even if one behaved badly, promise is broken. He rolled his eye and walked sadly. To ensure he does not get dejected, I told him he could ensure his brother also behaves like him. He mumbled an ‘ok’ and went playing. I was amazed on how his thought process was.

Over the next few days, both the kids started having temper tantrums; hurling stuff when they were displeased with something (a pretty natural thing). Finally, my vacation was getting over and I was getting ready to board my bus to Bangalore. Anisha had to leave for Dubai, the following day. I was helping her with packing her check in bags. Both the kids were loitering around with a lot of curiosity. Shrey approached me and whispered in my ear that they had been good and did not trouble their mom. I handed them their gifts and showed my disappointment with their behavior. Shrey hung his head guiltily whereas Arkin looked at the suitcases that were lined up next to mine and asked why his mother’s suitcase were lined up.

I decided to fool around with them and hence asked them what was promised on the first day. Both looked at each other and spoke that they would be good children and not trouble their mother. I asked if they kept up their promise for which both sadly nodded their head. I looked at them and informed if this was broken their mother would come along with me to Bangalore and not Dubai. They looked at me wondering, if I was capable of such cruelty. Immediate reaction of Shrey was to run to his mom hold her tightly sitting on her lap and begging her not to leave. He asked me not to take her away and, in the future, he would not break any promise. I decided to stop lying since I did not want to scare them any further, which is when I noticed Arkin was silently standing observing all our reaction. He paced towards his mom and asked her if she was off to Bangalore. (a reassurance from his mom on the entire thing). Anisha told him that he had troubled her a lot which meant they did not want her and hence she would be going to Bangalore. He stood there all teary eyed (Trust me not even a single tear drop was to be seen) and said his mom had to travel to Dubai with him and hence could not go to Bangalore. I informed him that I don’t break promises and it’s too late. During this entire conversation Shrey was holding on to his mom tightly without uttering a word. Arkin went near his mom and asked once again, if she was leaving with me for which Anisha nodded her head.  

We decided to stop the charade since we did not want to spook up the kids, when Arkin decided to scare us with his action. He went to his grandmother complaining against his mother since she was leaving for Bangalore. His grandmother acknowledged that she is aware of the decision; as they had broken their promise. He then asked her to help him take the flight to Dubai as he is alone. There was a minute of silence, as we trying to understand what just happened. His grandma looked at Arkin and asked him what he meant; for which he put across his request once again. He looked at all of us and said he is a kid and can’t be left alone and if grandma helped him take his flight, his dad would receive him at Dubai airport. As we sat there looking at each other’s face, Arkin walked towards the bedroom and called for us as he needed help in packing his belongings.

We all burst laughing and both the kids weren’t amused at our reaction to the situation. Finally, my uber arrived and I assured the kids, that their mom would be going with them to Dubai. Shrey hugged and kissed me; when he realized his mom was not leaving while Arkin had this weird grin (two horns and a tail missing) which spoke volumes. I was amazed on how he assessed the situation and reacted to it. His only thought was to reach Dubai as his father (another parent) would be able to look after him in his mother‘s absence. Guess, we ended up being fooled by a 4-year-old.