Chocolate

Before leaving, my mother-in-law had given me a bar of Cadbury Silk saying, “you’ll need it!”

The sudden arrival of chocolate in my hand the moment I stepped over my home’s threshold stupefied me!

But before I could even think of asking my mother-in-law what she meant, she laughingly winked at me and left!

In a daze, I first looked at the chocolate in my hand and then at her departing back a few times before reason prevailed.

Mother-in-law had left and the chocolate was not going to suddenly animate itself and solve my confusion.

That’s why I should first go inside the house and ask my family if they had any idea about the chocolate in my hand’s purpose.

But before the clueless me could even open my mouth to voice the question, the chocolate was almost gone!

Everyone in the house, dad, mom, grandmom, Madhu aunty, cousin Mahira, and even the maid and the cook had bites of it.

One look at the chocolate in my hand and everyone of them had gone, “Ooooo chocolate!” and taken an uninvited bite.

My query remained unasked while I collected thanks from the youngsters and blessings from my elders for the mysterious chocolate.

Oh and I also lost most of the chocolate along the way!

In my quest I didn’t see the one other person who could probably answer my question, so I decided to save at least a couple of bites and go directly to my room to look for my mother-in-law’s daughter and ask why the hell did I need this now-almost-gone chocolate?

Thankfully, I found her there; pacing the floor & running the poor floor carpet ragged!

As if sensing my arrival, she turned and found me standing there.

Her kohl filled gorgeous eyes kept me captive at the threshold. Her stare didn’t release me, not until she had looked me up & down, thoroughly!

I felt my skin itch and pinpricks follow, wherever her gaze fell. Her unblinking study was making my eyes heavy and breathing laborious.

But before I could take another step closer to her, her eyes widened and suddenly her whole body lit up like a christmas tree!

With the biggest smile I’d ever seen on her face, she flew towards me!

Her reaction surprised & delighted me at the same time...Without missing a beat, I just lifted my arms to gather her in them.

But she stopped just inches short of me, leaving my arms suspended midair.

Before I could cohere my thoughts, she dipped her head and licked my mouth in one sweep. Sucking on my lips she murmured, “mmm hmmm, chocolate, I love chocolate!”

Remembering the contemplative nibble I’d taken out of the chocolate on my way here, I deliberately popped the remaining piece in my mouth & waited…

My quest for finding the actual reason I was given the chocolate, long forgotten! Or maybe...umm mm...my brain was melting faster than chocolate.

Currently I was incapable of forming a cogent thought. Forget stringing words, I couldn’t remember my own name right now.

All I could see, smell, think, feel, and taste was her…..and…...the chocolate...