Think of all the wonderful and delicious brands of chocolate that you've ever eaten Doesn't your mouth water at the mere thought? I was no different. As a kid, I was mom's pet. And she looked after me like a teddy bear. Yes, that did make me a plump teddy. Even today, I remember how mom used to feed me, most of the time forcibly. She would give me that stare that meant it all. "Eat, or else you'll get sick", she'd say. But when I often neglected her pricey speech, she would come behind me with the hot spatula; and needless to say I did get my share of hot pancakes on my palm! However, even though I did not like the healthy diet she planned for me, I loved chocolate, just like the Beast loved Cinderella...wait...was it Cinderella? or Sleeping Beauty? I don't remember now! Anyways, chocolate was beauty, and I just adore it.
Even-though I lived in a desert, there were not many storms that surged into my life. My summer vacations however ruined me. It was on one such quite-a-boring day when it all began. I was left alone at home without a playmate. My sister was not born at that time, and me being a loner had not much to do. I'd sit all day in front of the television and waste time on it till my heart oozed contentment, and my eyes found their pair of spectacles. Watching cartoons and playing video games was a part of my daily routine. This often clustered with the needless couch potato in me, attained a stage where I'd clumsily crouch onto the sofa, with my heavy foot on the edge, and a bite on my hand. A delicious hot bite was almost formidable to any decree. The inner animal within me had the instinct of a fox, and the capacity of a hippo!
In the beginning...
In the beginning...
It was my favorite hobby to hunt for stuff in my own home. The television show 'Finders Keepers' had a major role in motivating me, and my mom would often scold me for leaving the place in a huge mess, needless to say, after raiding her secret storage of goodies! Mom used to say, "Where will I hide these from you Anu? I guess I'd have to carry them with me wherever I go...". True story! Whenever someone came to visit us, there would be literally nothing to drink on the fridge, or a snack to offer; it'd all have happily churned in my stomach, or probably gone down the drain!
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| Once upon a time, this was Me!! Image Courtesy: drgullo.com |
This was a rather bad habit which I am not proud of. I was quite a boring guy back then because of my boring appeal, and extra ordinary boring life. I didn't do anything outside the box that made people go crazy about me. I did however try to learn Tae-Kwon-Doe, but once they told me I'd have to beat another guy down to earn another colored belt, I simply chose Ahimsa to enhance Gandhiji's path. Then for a while it was music gone ga-ga and la-la; I started off at the school choir as a male Tenor and also went for a year of Piano coaching. This did not change my habit of hogging onto almost anything sweet. Then it happened...
They warned me on TV,
I didn't bother to change.
Dentists and other doctors,
They all speak the same!
Homework and essays,
Pulled me back to my chair,
Headache and tooth decay,
It was starting to scare…!
Then one night it happened,
My gums slowly swelled;
I “ouch”ed with sour laughter
And ran to mom's lap.
Afterwards, all I could remember,
Was a fat solely syringe,
That stuck to my mouth,
When the dentist, he said:
“Brush your little soldiers,
Twice in a day,
And no more chocolate,
Or your teeth will sway!”
Teenage years...
Life had seen it's share of shimmers. Teenage meant the world to me. I joined evening tuition for the sake of learning my subjects. My good friends also accompanied me, and we took our creativity-home-wasting-time outside. The world looked better with bigger shopping malls and lots of nooks and cranny corners which kids of my age liked to explore. Of course, draining dad's pocket for more delicious goodies had become a hobby by then, and so did putting on weight. Weekend eat-outs at well known restaurants had become a thing of teenage passion. Whilst enjoying myself, I never cared for my health. Food bits would live unattended inside my mouth, and chicken flesh and chocolate spots would remain as memoirs in between my creaking teeth.
One fine night, I was having a feast with my family and a few relatives. We had arrived a little earlier than usual, and it was time for serving the buffet. I stuffed my plate with all the exotics I could find, until I got stares from everyone nearby. After achieving my goal of filling my plate, I returned to my seat and took a large bite off the mouth watering sheesh kabab. My gums started to ache. I mourned and run to my mom. She pulled me towards her and stared at my mouth. "I thought you'd take care of your teeth at-least when you're grown up. No. You're grounded!", she said, and off I went with her to the dentist. The dentist gave me a quick injection to relieve me off my pain, and left me with a warning to keep my teeth clean always - a warning that I never heeded to!
One fine night, I was having a feast with my family and a few relatives. We had arrived a little earlier than usual, and it was time for serving the buffet. I stuffed my plate with all the exotics I could find, until I got stares from everyone nearby. After achieving my goal of filling my plate, I returned to my seat and took a large bite off the mouth watering sheesh kabab. My gums started to ache. I mourned and run to my mom. She pulled me towards her and stared at my mouth. "I thought you'd take care of your teeth at-least when you're grown up. No. You're grounded!", she said, and off I went with her to the dentist. The dentist gave me a quick injection to relieve me off my pain, and left me with a warning to keep my teeth clean always - a warning that I never heeded to!
| mouth watering??? Image Courtesy: FanPop |
Years went by. Inspite of repeated advice from my mother, I never bothered to change my habits and neglected my body and it's needs completely - sometimes even half-brushing my teeth in a hurry! Life did change in the end. During my first year at college, I had to make a major visit to the dentist, following which I had to remove two messed up teeth, and wear a set of braces for almost three years of my college life! Food and water seemed worthless to me. So did the goodies! I hated everything neat and nice, as I was accustomed to all the raw and bad. Food tasted like shit. Even my mouth felt disgusting. I could not enjoy food like old times. I had lost my appetite, ruined my health, and ended up being slimmer. Life was kolaveri.
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| teeth killer!!! Image Courtesy: My Santiago Dentists |
Finally the day arrived, I got my teeth all set and shiny. However, my heart and tongue kept longing for old habits, but my mind kept reminding me to stay off. I failed again to the delights of taste. After an year, I was back again at the dentist's; and this time along with all the minor repairing, tuning, and paint jobs, I had to undergo a painful operation to remove my falsely paired wisdom teeth. It was almost graduation, and I could hardly sway. It had to be done. Over. I informed my mom about my experience, and guess what she told me; "This is what happens when you ignore warning signs...and your mom's advice", she said. I had learned my lesson! Now I brush twice a day and also use a mouth wash to keep my mouth clean. What a change huh?
Moral of the Story: "If thy tongue has no appetite, then thou must chew without wisdom!"
Free Advice: Learn to be healthy!
P.S.: Post is dedicated to Story about ignoring warning signs contest held at IndiBlogger.in
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