BUT, IT IS NOT CHOCOLATE

"I HATE HIM!" Hamsa kicked her sandals out. They went flying in opposite directions, just like her mood-cross.

- Sarvamitra

"You fooled me. Ma, you promised me ice cream. You said that I just need to meet him, open my mouth and say, 'Aaaaaaa'. And what did he declare?

"NO CHOCOLATES. For the next two months, at least." Hamsa pulled at her curly hair.

"Can you straighten this? NO! Can I survive without chocolate? A BIG NO!"

 "What did you just say?" Harsh turned around from his game and asked, not caring that his Super Mario was going to dash into a wall of brick and lose his life. Something even more dramatic was happening here.

"I can have chocolates, right? I mean, my teeth are perfectly fine." Harsh showed off his pearly white, manicured-like-a garden teeth. He couldn't imagine being without chocolates. Not possible, no way!

Hamsa's eyes welled up. She was still clutching her hair.

"No," Ma stated firmly. "No chocolates you as well." for

"Whaaaatttt, whyyyy? I brush twice a day.

Up and down. Round and round. Front and back...till my whole mouth smells like mint.

And my teeth squeak, like a mouse.

I massage my gums and clean my tongue too. Why should I not eat?" Harsh was sure he had given a winning argument. His teeth were indeed cavity-free.

"We are family. And we support each other." Ma passed her judgment without even considering Harsh's argument.

"Hamsa can't eat chocolates till the doctor gives a go-ahead. We all can survive without chocolates for two months." Ma said sternly.

"Hey, what are you going to distribute next week?" When Raji Miss's back turned the other way, Sanjay nudged Hamsa, who gave him a puzzled look.

"It is your birthday next week, Miss Forgetful!" Sanjay said.

Hamsa really was 'Miss Forgetful'. She had forgotten about her birthday. How was she to distribute chocolates to her friends when she could not have them?

Hamsa's gloomy face didn't go unnoticed.