The Aftertaste Of Sweetness

By Shibumi Desai

It was mid-morning and they were still in their pyjamas. One wore a pink striped top with grey shorts. The other wore a grey top with pink striped shorts. Two sets, mixed and matched. The weather was hot and the fans were off, but they’d gotten used to power cuts by now. Absent-mindedly they wiped the sweat off their faces as they stared at their phones. Open, half-packed suitcases were lying around.

One’s phone was opened onto a website where she was buying ten boxes of Nutties. Still looking at the screen she said, “You know why your Nutties always get over fast?”

The other didn't look up from her phone. She replied casually, without the slightest hint of annoyance, “It’s like that with things that taste amazing.”

The first one looked up from her phone. Then sheepishly at the other as she said, “Actually it was me. I’d often eat some.”

The other didn’t look up from her phone.

The first one was taken aback. She knew that Nutties had always been the other’s favourite.

“So you’re not even a little mad?” she asked.

The other finally looked up, said “Nope”, winked and went back to her phone. Then looked back up and said, “Where do you think all your Gummy Bears - only the red ones - went?”

The fan came back on. The other finally found what she’d been looking for online. She tapped on a button and ordered some packets of candy which had only red Gummy Bears.

The first one had always liked those the most and with time so did the other. They’d shared both their clothes and likes until both became jointly owned.

After being flatmates for three years, two only children had found a sisterhood in adulthood. When they’d first come to the city; they’d carried dreams, luggage and the sweets of their childhood. Graduation was round the corner and it would soon be time to leave.

The sweet account would be settled by then. The sweetness of the Nutties and the red Gummy Bears wouldn’t just vanish. And neither would the girls’ bond.

The aftertaste of a sisterhood lasts forever.

By Shibumi Desai