Choco Memories

They say best friends are inseparable. No matter what, nothing can break their everlasting bond. In this world of positivity and negativity, it always remains our choice so as to how we deal with our problems everyday.

Akhil and Sanjay had been the best of friends forever. From studying in the same school to playing on the streets, they had always been together.

One fine day, Akhil had happened to reach home from school, earlier than Sanjay.

"Akhil! Where had you been?" Sanjay asked, running towards him, with his school bag on. Akhil kept quiet, standing at the gate of his house, sulkily.

"We always come home together! I was searching for you everywhere and I have something to show you as well", Sanjay said, panting. He held out his palm and showed him a hand full of chocolates.

"See! It was Raj's birthday right? He gave me so many chocolates because I helped him do his homework yesterday", he said, his eyes wide with joy.

"My mommy scolded me", Akhil said as he started to cry.

"Huh? But why?" Sanjay asked, confused.

"I just got 12 on 25 in my test", he said, weeping.

"Oh..", he said, in a low tone. "Here, have these chocolates, it'll make you feel better", he continued, being more bothered about the chocolates than his weeping friend.

"No!" shouted Akhil and went inside, crying even more. Sanjay quietly went home, with the chocolates still in his hands. Later that evening, Akhil came out of his house, to find Sanjay sitting right outside.

"I was waiting for you to come out", he said. Akhil came and sat next to him, gazing away into the air. He still looked sad.

"I told you to have these chocolates", Sanjay said, spreading out his palms again.

"You brought them again?" asked Akhil, noticing his obsession for it. He remained quiet, waiting for him to pick one. Akhil did so.

"I'll help you study for your next exam. Don't worry. We'll score good marks together", said Sanjay. Akhil looked at him and smiled. "Thanks, dude!" he said.

"See! I told you the chocolates will make you feel better!" Sanjay said, happy and proud to prove his point.

Years passed by and the two kids grew up to luckily study in the same college. They soon graduated as, what else? Engineers! Weeks after that, Akhil shifted to Chennai and Sanjay remained in Bangalore. They turned into workaholics and became regular 9-5 workers.

"Hey, Sanjay! I'm coming to Bangalore!" came a text from Akhil.

"What? Seriously? Man, we should meet up!" Sanjay texted back. They both counted days and finally, the day arrived. They both knew exactly where to meet up. Akhil came out of his house and found Sanjay, sitting outside, waiting for him.

"Hello there!" Akhil said and gave him a hug. They had their usual chit chats, narrating all that had happened over the years.

"Akhil, you don't seem that happy with your life", Sanjay said, noticing his blank face.

"Well, it's just that I hardly get to live life. I can't even differentiate between my personal and professional life. I just get some time in the night which I mostly spend jumping into bed and falling asleep. I wish there was more to life", he said and turned to look at him.

Sanjay stared at him for a while and spread out his palms. Akhil looked at it and found a palm full of chocolates.

"Chocolate?" he asked, remembering how Sanjay, as a child was obsessed with them. He smiled, waiting for him to pick one. He did so and both of them enjoyed the sweet taste of caramel, in silence.

"I'm always there to add a bit of sparkle to your life. After all, it was the both of us that made each other's life so interesting a few years ago. Come home once in a while and I'll be waiting for you right here. Feel free to barge into my house anytime!" said Sanjay. Akhil started to laugh and thanked him.

"See, I told you the chocolates will make you feel better!" said Sanjay, in the same childish tone he had used years ago. Both of them looked at each other and burst into laughter!

Sometimes, to take a break from reality and focus on the small things which give us joy, doesn't do that bad either!