Chocolates & Chips

Chocolates and chips are great for kids nowadays. The same thing happened to me when I was a child. I remember as a child I used to eat chocolate and chips at three o'clock in the morning and in the evening then I did not know that they are harmful to my health. My parents then used a way to explain to me that shows in this story of mine.

I looked fondly at my Grandmother and said, “ Grandma, why can’t you extend your stay by just two days?”

Grandma smiled and said,” I would have loved to be here on your birthday tomorrow but I have an important work at home. I can’t miss it, my child.”

“ Don’t worry, Aman,” said Grandma lovingly. “Next year when you turn ten I will come over for a whole week.”

“ Now, Aman,” said Grandma, “ Smile and give me a tight hug.”

I rushed forward and hugged my Grandma. From her bag Grandma extracted a huge gift. It was covered in a bright pink wrapping paper and tied with a yellow ribbon. “ This is for you but the right to give it to you lies with your mother.”

“ Surely not this,” sad my Dad. “ You’ve already got so many things for her!”

“ This isn’t much, son – just toffees, chocolates and chips. All things that kids enjoy. But I leave it to you to decide hoe much to give her. I don’t want to indulge her.”

“ Did you hear that, Aman?” said my Mom.

“ Your Dad and I got to decide how many chocolates you eat.”

“ Aman,” my Dad emphasized, “ you relish something as long as you have it in moderation.”

I nodded my head absent – mindedly.

“Wow “, I thought,” this box is a goldmine!”

After my grandma left, I went quietly to my room but all I could think of was the gift waiting to be unwrapped. That night, when everyone was asleep, I tiptoed to the cupboard where my mother had kept the box. I unwrapped it eagerly and bit into a crunchy bar. I had one chocolate after another and three packets of crisp before going to bed.

The next morning, my parents were about to wake me up and wish me when they noticed the cupboard open and chocolates missing from the half – open box.

“ How could Aman have eaten so many chocolates without our permission!” exclaimed my Mom furiously.

“ Relax, “ said my Dad. “Instead of losing our cool let’s tackle this sensibly.”

They woke me lovingly. “ Did you enjoy the chocolates you had last night, Aman?” asked my mother.

I was perplexed. How come Mom was not angry?

“ Yes, I did. I love chocolates and toffees immensely. I feel there’s nothing better,” I elaborated.

“Is that so?” said my Dad. “ We didn’t know you liked them so much. From now on you will have chocolates and chips for every meal!”

I started unbelievingly. What had come over my parents?!

That morning I had a bar of rich dark chocolate and a glass of milk for breakfast. “perfect!” thought I happily. “ This is what breakfast should be like!”

When I opened my tiffin in school my friends looked on enviously. There was a packet of chips and a chewy chocolate. I relished every bit of my tiffin and shared it reluctantly with my friends.

Back from school, I was famished.

“you must be hungry,” said Mom. “ Here is your lunch.”

I looked at the plate of munchies and the bars of chocolate half – heartedly. I looked longingly at my mother who was relishing my Dal chawal.

Soon, it was evening and time for my birthday celebrations. There was a huge chocolate cake shaped like a yacht, Pao bhaji and chole bhature. While my friends gobbed the food, all I got was a large piece of chocolate cake and another packet of chips. When my friends left, I ignored my growling stomach and sat down to unwrap the gifts.

“You will love them,” said my Mom.

“I told all your friends to get chocolates and chips.”

Sure enough there were all kinds of chocolates and chips in different flavours. I began to sob.

“What happened, Aman?” Dad enquired.

“ Didn’t you like the gifts?”

“ I am sick of chocolates and chips.” I answered through my tears. “ I want to have normal food!”

My parents smiled affectionately as I took a bite of chapatti. “ Yummy!” I shrieked through a mouthful. “ I think I know what moderation means. Honestly, chapatti and subzi have never tasted better !“

-Amanpreet Kaur