The Lunchbox

Ashwin looked at the clock hanging on the wall of his classroom. "Five more minutes to lunch" he thought even as Ranjan Sir who was wrapping up his class called out to him, "Ashwin, can you please do me a small favour? Can you please take these notebooks and keep them in the staff-room? You can then come and have your lunch. It will take you only five minutes." Ashwin readily agreed and collecting the notebooks from the desk proceeded towards the staff-room. Unlike other children, Ashwin didn't wait for the lunch break eagerly. He knew his lunch would be the staple combination of four pieces of plain bread with some sugar sprinkled over them. He didn't like eating the same and simple lunch everyday but he knew that this was the best his parents could manage. They were anyways going out of their way to get him educated in an English medium school. Ashwin was very well aware of their financial constraints. He never made a fuss or complained about this to his mother. What really bothered him was that he couldn't share his lunch with his friends, since he didn't want to offer them plain bread and have a share from the variety of food preparations they got for lunch. Though his friends would always tell him to share lunch with them, he would politely deny. Reaching the staff-room, he kept the notebooks inside Ranjan Sir's cupboard which was labelled with his name and started walking back towards his class. 

Even as he was engrossed in his thoughts, the lunch bell rang. He quickly entered his classroom and sat down on his bench to have his lunch. He chuckled in surprise and joy as soon as he opened his lunchbox. Inside the lunchbox, there were three sets of vegetable sandwich and a shining, red apple. He couldn't believe his eyes and was overjoyed at the surprise his mother had given him. With tears of joy in his eyes, Ashwin got down to enjoy the feast, telling himself to remember to give his mother a big hug when he reached home. Even as he took the first bite of the sandwich, someone called out from behind, "Ashwin, won't you share the lunch with me today also?" He turned around to find it was Ravi, his best friend. For once, Ashwin didn't hesitate to answer as he usually did. With a smile on his lips, he replied "Yes Ravi, definitely. Get your lunchbox and sit with me. Let's have lunch together." Ravi came and sat down besides Ashwin. "Here, have a sandwich and show me what you have got for lunch today" Ashwin said to Ravi excitedly. Ravi smiled and opened his lunchbox. One look at the content of Ravi's lunchbox and Ashwin was overcome with emotions. Inside Ravi's lunchbox was four pieces of plain bread with some sugar sprinkled over them! Realization dawned on Ashwin. Ravi must have switched the contents of their lunch boxes when he had gone to the staff room. Seeing him getting emotional, Ravi patted him and said, "If you say I am your best friend, then we have to share everything with each other. That's what friends are for. So, starting today, we share our lunch. It doesn't matter what you get for lunch. What matters is that we share and enjoy it together." Ashwin wiped away his tears and hugged Ravi in a tight embrace. Ravi looked at him, smiled and said "Can we finish our lunch now? I am damn hungry!"

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