by Gulrukh Tausif

Created on: July 31, 2008   Last Updated: December 07, 2009

What Happened to Mom's Gift?

Rida and Hiba were very excited. It was their mother's birthday on Monday and with their father's help, they had chosen a perfect gift for her. Their mother loved gardening and knew a lot about plants and herbs. On Thursday, they had pretended that they were going out to buy eggs and bread with their father. Instead they had gone to the plants nursery where their mother often went to buy flowers and seedlings.

"Rida, look at this one. Oh, isn't it perfect for mother?" Hiba exclaimed.

Rida rushed over to see her twin's selection. The potted plant Hiba had chosen had beautiful yellow flowers that were tinged with pink and very bright green leaves. She was sure their mother would love it.

"Daddy, can we please buy this one," they implored Mr. Nadeem.

"Ok! Anything you say." Mr. Nadeen did not share his wife's knowledge or love for gardening and was feeling very uncomfortable in the nursery. "But it will be your responsibility to keep it safe and well hidden till Monday."

The twins whooped in delight. As the nursery owner handed them the pot, Mr. Nadeem asked nervously, "Er, how are we supposed to take care of it?"

The man grinned, recognizing the family. ""Missus will know what to do."

On their way home, they bought some cellophane wrapping sheets, ribbons and a birthday card. After making sure their mother was busy in the kitchen, they quickly transported the plant to their room and hid it behind the curtain. At night, they wrapped the potted plant in the crinkly cellophane sheets and covered it completely so that not even the pot showed.

They wondered where they could hide it so that their mother did not discover it before Monday.

"I know. Let's hide it the store cupboard. We can put it behind the old cartons. I am sure mother will not see it there." Hiba suggested.

So very quietly, the two young girls carried the plant to the store cupboard and hid it well. Nobody thought of watering the plant. They just treated it like any another gift package.

They quietly locked the door and put the key back, feeling very pleased with themselves.

Next day they were nervous in school. "What if mother goes to the store-room? What if she finds it?" As they were twins, they were in the same class. They kept whispering to each other until their class teacher made them sit apart.

When the school was over, they rushed home and had a sigh of relief when they found that their secret had not been discovered. Their mother smiled at their small, excited

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