The Surprise In Summer

Rohit was a plump boy of nine. He loved all sorts of things, but if there was something he loved the most, it was definitely, undoubtedly, mangoes. Apart from his kith and kin, he loved feasting on mangoes. And he couldn’t wait for summer to eat them all.

Rohit loved the juicy yellow mangoes the most. He loved them so much he’d barely leave a couple of mangoes for his parents, gobbling up all the rest.

Right now, it was the middle of a scorching May. The mangoes might’ve come by now, thought Rohit. But it had been a long, long time. No mangoes had come home yet.

But occasionally, he could see mango vendors on the streets. Today was no different.

‘Mom,’ Rohit pleaded, joining his hands. ‘Mom, can we please buy a kilo of mangoes? Please?’

‘No,’ Mom said.

Rohit wouldn’t give in so easily.

‘Five hundred grams? Or maybe two-fifty? Or how about just one mango? Just one? I will not eat it; you can eat it.’

‘I said NO!’ Mom’s voice got angrier. ‘A NO IS A NO!’

Rohit had to give up the argument now. But he still did not see any reason why he could not eat any mangoes. Was he and Mom and Dad on a diet from mangoes? Or it could be the mangoes of this year was just as sour as lemons. Who knew…?

And on the very last day of May, which was twenty days later, fell Rohit’s tenth birthday. He already ate a thousand slabs of cake and as greedy as a monster for more. But he created enough space in his tummy for tonight’s special pudding.

‘What is the pudding tonight?’ Rohit asked curiously.

‘Not telling you,’ Mom said. ‘Wait ‘til it comes.’

Another half-an-hour passed, and the yellowish pudding was revealed. Rohit tasted it.

The sweetness of the pudding melted into his mouth, like ice would under a blazing sun. It tasted sweeter than chocolate.

‘A mango pudding, Mom?’

‘Yes,’ Mom grinned.

‘But I thought that…’

‘We kept it as a surprise for your birthday,’ Mom cut in. ‘We did not buy any as we had a ton of mangoes here. And that means they’ll last till August!’

Rohit jumped as though he won first prize in the running race. Mom and Dad smiled.