“Money can’t buy happiness. But it can buy chocolate, which is pretty much the same thing.” – Anonymous
Chocolates are an inseparable part of human life – who can think of a life without chocolates? It seems it has different meanings in different stages of our lives – at least, in my life.
Childhood Nostalgia and Excitement
As a kid, chocolates were a source of great joy. I remember that I used to wait for the guests to come to our house and look at the packets they carried with bated breath. Then came the moment of the scavenger hunt of taking out the chocolates from the packets with much glee and finishing them all at once. The guests who skipped this were not very welcome the second time from my end 😊.
I had a big brother from the neighbourhood who was particularly fond of kids. He always made it a point to bring the latest sensational chocolates for me – the ones new and trending in the market at that time. I used to really wait for him to come, as with him came the treasure trove. I still remember how I kept those gem balls, puzzle maps with Poppins and small stickers tucked away as the best-kept secrets. Such were those times.
The greatest memory of chocolate distribution was the one we did at school during birthdays. The celebration actually began a few weeks earlier, which consisted of buying chocolates for the entire class. Then came the fun part of counting and re-counting them every day and deciding whether to give one or two per person. On the D-day, adorned in the finest of frocks and carrying the chocolate packet, made me feel nothing less than a princess.
Symbol of Love
The times changed, and so did the meaning of chocolates. The teenage and youthful fluttering hearts yearned for chocolates. I still remember my college days, when Valentine’s Day was gradually becoming a popular celebration in India. Almost overnight, chocolates became the language of love, and their sales soared during the season.
From heart-shaped marzipan and traditional Belgian truffles to dark chocolates, you had everything on display. What made them more attractive were the soft toy and bouquet combos, making it a perfect gift for “izhaar-e-mohabbat” (the declaration of love).
I remember that in college and hostels, girls were more excited and interested in the chocolates that came in various shapes and sizes than the suitors themselves 😊.
Anti-Depressant and Therapeutic
At this time, nothing gives the heart more satisfaction than sitting with a rich chocolate truffle topped with ice cream or a piping hot cup of chocolate. Dark chocolate is said to contain natural compounds like tryptophan and phenylethylamine that stimulate endorphin production, potentially reducing stress and depressive symptoms. Irrespective of trying to justify the benefits, a bar of chocolate lifts up the mood like anything.
As your age increases, you tend to find joy in the little things. I see my son always includes a chocolate bar with any card he makes for me – Mother’s Day, birthdays, etc. The more delightful ceremony is then sharing that between him and me and talking about our lives as friends, to bond over chocolate!
Another ritual that I find exciting and funny is for colleagues to wait for the one who has recently made a “phoren” (abroad) trip to come back with chocolates for the entire team. Although the same Bounties, Kisses, Snickers, and M&Ms are available in India, the folks gather at the desks in large numbers and fill their pockets. It supposedly tastes “different” when carried back from the airport.
At one point in my childhood, I used to think that when I grew up and became rich, I would have a fridge only stuffed with the chocolates I like. So technically, I am rich now – as my fridge more often than not is stuffed with chocolates – courtesy of my chocolate-lover son.
By Manjusha Dutta
Manjusha Dutta is a Senior Manager with a Software Insurance organization. A movie buff and an amateur dancer, she rocks in the videos that she creates for her YouTube channel. She can be reached at manjushadutta@gmail.com.
