Promise Gone Awry

“Iam tired, I don’t want to study,” grumbled Sunaina. Her mother, Anjana, looked exasperated, but she said in a soothing tone, “There are only three tests left. We will go on a holiday to a place of your choice on the weekend after your tests, I promise!”

- Kanchana Rao

“Anywhere?” perked up Sunaina. “I want to visit Universal Studios in Singapore. My classmate Rishi went there last year and he said it was the best place on earth for amusement rides…”

Anjana hastily interrupted, “Yes, we will talk about it right after your tests.”

Cheered by the thought, Sunaina went back to studying. Soon, Sunaina's tests were over and her mother said, “It won't be practical to go all the way to Singapore just for the weekend, Sunaina. Why don't you think of an alternative?”

Disappointed, Sunaina said, “Let us at least go to the amusement park in Noida. Otherwise, we will again end up going to Agra as we always do,” she sulked.

As it turned out, Sunaina's prediction came true. That weekend, Sunaina and her parents Varun and Anjana, were in their car, heading towards Agra! It was all because Sunaina had braces fitted on her teeth, and her dentist warned that any fall or bump could damage them. She was advised to avoid risky adventures like amusement rides.

Grumpy and irritated, Sunaina curled up in the back seat of the car. Her parents tried to cheer her by pointing to the scenery outside the window, but she showed no excitement.

Ma sighed and said to Dad, “Sunaina cannot be blamed, poor thing. She had to miss out on all the fun we promised.”

“Promise gone awry!” Varun smiled, “Don't worry, she will cheer up when I stop at her favourite food court.”

“But she cannot eat any fast food either. Strict instructions from her dentist,” said Anjana. This fell on Sunaina's ears and her gloom worsened.

Varun stopped at a dhaba for a meal and got Sunaina a chana-bhatura platter. Sunaina began picking at it reluctantly but it was delicious and soon she gobbled it down, with a tall glass of