SUMMERS were setting in. Father came home a bit late that day. He seemed a bit excited and after a while he announced we are buying a ‘Fridge’, though a ‘second hand’, but in good working condition. We threesome jumped in joy. Didn’t know how to celebrate so we just kept jumping and yelling. Then he informed it’s ‘Alwyn’ a popular brand that time. We always longed to have Ice Cubes with every glass of water and make Ice creams. Frankly we had never dreamt of having a fridge in our home and drink ‘Ice Cold’ water every now and then. We talked till late trying to plan and ways to break this great news to our friends.

After all, having a fridge is no small and mean achievement. Our standard had risen up in our own eyes. None of us could sleep well through the night and first thing we wanted to know, in the morning ‘when will the fridge come’? Dad assured us to get the fridge by the time we return from school. Individual responsibilities were charted out by my meticulous sister. Father had to arrange for the ‘glass’ water bottles as colorful plastic bottles were not heard of in those days. Mother’s idea of bringing some Saline bottles from the Hospital was turned down by sister, as she opined, ‘they don’t suit the elite taste of a fridge owner’. My responsibility was, to fill the water bottles, my sisters had to do the cleaning of the fridge. At school, we had a tough time. Due to excitement three of us couldn’t focus on studies. Selectively, each one of us informed some of our friends and some of them even smiled sarcastically and retorted ‘so what’s the big deal?’ Candidly we enjoyed the jealousy of some and greetings of some. We had waited the whole day to hear the final ‘Bell’ and finally we walked back home in a great hurry. We had greatest disappointment of our life when we didn’t see the fridge at home. Mother came home at her usual time and had to face the ire of all three of us.

She calmed us down to inform that father hadn’t been able to arrange for the full amount of money for the purchase, so we have to wait. We didn’t go for the play in the evening as we were angry with father. Even didn’t want to go to the school next day, imagining the curiosity of friends and what to answer them but had to go and face the world. It was so embarrassing to tell fiends that father wasn’t able to arrange for the money. Somehow, the day passed off. Tears swelled in our eyes and we couldn’t look at each other as the ‘Fridge’ was still not visible. We had to learn to face the friends in the school next day again and then again as father had told us rudely to not to quiz him all the time. The whole week passed off and our excitement too vanished. ‘We can’t afford it’ had sunk in our heads by now. After the school, with no hopes of seeing a fridge in our lives, walked back home in silence, only to find a white colored Almira like fridge, on top of a wooden pedestal. We yelled with joy and hugged father clinging on to him. With a smile he told us to get ready as mother has kept Ice Cream in the freezer.

With smiles switched on, all three of us rushed to open the Fridge and Ohh! That beautiful light green colored interior of the fridge was so comforting and mesmerising. We were gleaming with ‘Delight and Ultimate Happiness’ as Mother had already kept some vegetables and fruits inside. Wonder if our children would ever enjoy such simple joys of life.