Jalebis

A Short Story by G.S.Vasukumar

“I had yummy Jalebis in the town yesterday!” Somu told his friends. They were seated under the village banyan tree.

“Jalebis? How does it look like?” Raghu asked curiously.

“Jalebis are golden spirals, fried and then soaked in sugar syrup and pretzel shaped sweets,” Somu replied, “It has lip smacking taste…”

“Is it? why doesn’t Ramu Chacha sell them in our village?” Chandra asked.

“Let’s go and check with him!” Somu said.

Somashekar, Raghu and Chandra studied in the seventh standard. They were childhood friends.

They went to Ramu Chacha’s Sweet Shop. Then :-

“Ramu Chacha, why don’t you sell Jalebis?” Chandra asked.

“Jalebis? I never tasted them in my life…so how do you expect me to make and sell them in my shop?” He asked, scratching his head.

“Why don’t you go to the town and learn how to make them?” Raghu suggested.

“My other sweets are selling well! So why should I do that?” He asked.

“Because if you start selling Jalebis then your profit will surely increase.” Somu said.

“I am sure that many haven't even heard its name. I think I shouldn't take a big risk like that.” Ramu Chacha said, shrugging his shoulders.

They left the shop disheartened knowing that Ramu Chacha wasn’t willing to take the risk and launch that mouth watering sweet in his shop.

“Ramu Chacha will sell those stupid Ladoos and Mysore Paks which are so hard that they will test how strong one’s teeth are,” Chandru commenting, walking towards their home.

“Yeah, even our village dogs won’t eat these stupid sweets. I don’t know how people are still buying them?” Somu said.

“Because, there is no other sweet shop in the village. They can’t afford to go to the town every time they want to have some sweets.” Raghu replied.

Later, in Raghu’s home. While having his dinner with his family members :-

“Mother, did you have Jalebis anytime?” Raghu asked.

“Jalebis? I never heard about it in my life!” She said, with a frown on her face, “Who told you about it? What is it?” She asked

“Somu had it in the town yesterday!” Raghu said.

“It is a kind of sweet!” Raghu’s father replied. “I had tasted it in one of the marriages in the town long back.”

“How does it taste like?” She asked, looking at him.

“It is very delicious sweet!” His father replied.

Raghu started day dreaming about Jalebis from that day onwards.Also a plate of Jelabis appeared in his dream that night. His mother woke him up just before he could have a bite of Jelabis in his dreams.

"Raghu, wake up! You will be late for the school!" She cried.

"Mama, you could have waited for sometime...." He said, opening his eyes and looking at her annoyed.

"Why?" She aked.

"So that I could have finished my plate of Jalebis at least in my dreams!" He said, getting up from his bed and walking towards the bath room.

"I think your son has fallen in love!" She told her husband, who came just then.

"Fallen in love? with whom?" He asked surprised.

"Jalebis!!!" She said, smiling at him.

One day, when one of the distant relatives from the town came to their home and gave the wedding card.He invited them for the marriage...Raghu's joy knew no bounds.

He started dreaming that he would get to eat this sweet in this marriage. He even told his parents that they should give him their share too. They agreed smiling at him.

So when that day finally arrived. He waited eagerly for them to serve the sweet on the banana leaf during dinner. His father could see the clear disappointment on his face when the sweet turned out to be something else.

“Raghu, don’t get disheartened. I will get you Jalebis before we leave for the village. Now have food.” His father assured him.

“Really???” He asked, smiling finally.

“Yes.” He replied.

Later, his father bought Jalebis and samosas.He handed the packet to him. They started walking towards the bus stop to catch the last bus to their village. Raghu held the packet like a prize trophy in his hands. He decided to have them later after reaching his home.

They passed by a hungry beggar on the pavements.

“I haven’t had anything from yesterday. Please give me something to eat! Please..” He pleaded.

Raghu thought for a second or two...then he walked back towards the beggar.He opened the packet of Jalebis and Samosas and kept it in the beggar’s plate.

“Thank you very much, son! God bless you!” The old beggar said, with a broad smile on his face.

“Why did you do that?” His mother asked, annoyed.

“I felt like doing it!” Raghu said, shrugging his shoulders, “I can have Jalebis some other time…..but his hunger can’t wait!”

His father patted gently on his son’s back appreciating the good deed done.

The End