It was a fresh new morning. The deserted lanes of the market had just started to get lively with shutters coming up, hawkers resuming their day and the Thelawalas setting up their stalls. The fragrance of incenses mixed with mouth-watering smell of the chats and sweets had just started to spread.
In the center of the market, there was a shop selling all kinds of confectionaries. A jar full of toffees was lying lonely in complete silence in a difficult-to-reach corner in the front counter. The Toffee didn't appear as energetic and enthusiastic as always. Witnessing this, the Chocolate got little perturbed and asked the Toffee, “What’s up mate? How have you been?"
"Nothing dude" Toffee replied. "You look sad; something bothering you?" Chocolate asked inquisitively.
"Yes, but how does it matter to you? You are enjoying your life." said Toffee.
"What? I didn't get you. Am I the reason behind your sadness?" shocked Chocolate said.
"Why is that I am always discriminated and you are always a favorite with everyone?” said Toffee with moist eyes. “I do not understand your point.” responded Chocolate.
“Yes it is difficult for you to understand, because you don’t have to bother about your growth rate, sales turnover, pricing. Go and check yesterday’s Economic Times and you will understand. Chocolate market in India is pegged at Rs 2,000 crore and is growing at the rate of 18 - 20 per cent per annum. The global chocolate market is estimated around $80 billion. According to a recent study in Great Britain showed that 91% of females and 87% of males consume chocolate products. Does anyone talk about me? Where do I stand? My future seems bleak.” agitated Toffee answered.
“You come, most of the times, only in one colour-brown. I mean, there can be better and vibrant colours. Still everyone finds you tempting. You cost from Re 1 to anything. Still you manage to enjoy such a great success in market. You have all the luxuries in life. Your stock area is replenished daily on a religious basis. You are always kept in an air-conditioned area, so that you can take a nap whenever you wish to. You hardly think of making any attempt of selling yourself because there will always be somebody asking for you.” continued Toffee.
“What a crap have you been talking at the start of such a lovely morning, are you out of your mind, Toffee?” irritated Chocolate replied.
“And here I am in the front counter of the shop, toiling hard in the extreme heat and unfriendly environmental conditions, inviting every passerby’s eyes but all in vain. I never cost anything more than Rs 5. I am available in so many colours - red, green, orange; white - to name a few. Take the example of Poppins, can you ever offer so many flavours and colours in one small wrapper? Also, I am such a tiny-winy and easy to carry character; no inherent problem of melting like you.” expressed Toffee.
“You are loved by all generations whereas I am just a cheap alternative for the tiny kids, who are hardly of any help to me, apart from just consuming me in the most disgusted manner. To top it all, you enjoy huge fan following among girls. And I tell you, they have been my most serious concern in this regard. Be it any occasion-birthday, friendship day, Valentine’s Day or just another stupid day, they are just crazy for you. And it is not just that they will have you, they will throw all kinds of emotional dramas and tantrums to have more of you. This has influenced even the guys to buy more and more of you, for the obvious reasons. Somebody sends some gift to someone, it will always have chocolates. Have you ever heard of anybody sending a packet of toffees in the gift? Now you tell, isn’t it discrimination? Where shall I go and sell to whom?” continued Toffee. Suddenly he paused for a minute.
Chocolate had been listening very seriously all this while, and could sense a feeling of anger and rebellion erupting in his mate. Before he could make any attempt to calm his old friend down, Toffee started again, “It’s high time, and I am not going to stand this anymore. I have decided to fight against this discrimination, the way Nelson Mandela did for his people.”
“And how do you plan to do that?” asked chocolate, seeing a possible threat to his popularity.
“I, along with my other friends, will sit on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. We will seek a ‘Prevention of Discrimination Against Toffees’ bill be presented and passed as an Act for the cause of our community. This will have clauses to address unfair treatment towards Toffees, especially girls, reservation of at least 27% of share of toffees in total confectionaries sales” answered Toffee.
“An indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar?” said Chocolate with a little smile on his face. A huge sigh of relief had come to Chocolate after hearing his friend, though he did succeed in hiding his emotions to Toffee. Any chance of possible threat to his popularity and position has faded away as he was well aware of the outcomes of the recent protests of such kind.
“I extend full support to you and your community in this fight, my friend.” said Chocolate putting his hand on Toffee’s shoulder.
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