AALOO

Mamma, Papa are still in office

Dhiraj is out playing

It's six o'clock in the yellow clock

or so its bells are saying.

---

Rinki has gone to music class

although she hates singing

Chhutki is at the neighbor's place

and the phone has been ringing.

---

Since nobody is answering the phone

it follows the coast is clear

the refridgerator stands majestic

and inside, there is no fear.

---

Everybody can now chit 'n' chat

without having to worry

"Are you really very tasty?"

the eggs ask the curry.

---

Mr. curry shrugs with no modesty

"Everybody says so!

But why is Rinki so fond of you?

"Oh tell me, dear Potato!"

---

Potato's pockmarked face glowed

and he puffed up even more

"Coz when boiled am healthy and tasty

so of me, she daily eats four"

---

"Oh! perhaps that is the reason,

that she looks much like you"

so saying, cucumber roared with laughter

and all laughed barring a few

---

The tomato girls did not laugh

since they were not in the mood

just before potato's ill fate

lady finger had been rude.

---

Lady finger was mighty proud

of her amazing figure

and so she had an edge too

over the fatso cucumber

---

"You are right, my dear fatso"

To cucumber, the lady said

"If diabetic Papa eats this potato,

he would never get out of bed!"

---

Potato's heart broke at this

he wasnt poison for sure

but he couldn't argue with anyone

his heart was so damn pure

---

Recovering from all the laughter

the beans got up and shared

how he thought that about Potato

no one really cared.

---

Why else would Mamma enter the house

with all of then in a big sack

and wouldn't remember to put out the potato

before dumping it into the veggie rack...

---

When beans concluded his argument

poor cold potato let out a sneeze

All thought it would be great fun

to watch Potato freeze

---

Pretty Carrot brought it to notice

that it was only a matter of days

and Potato would freeze to death inside

this, Mamma herself says...

---

Just then they heard the door open

and everybody quietened down

through the keyhole they saw Papa

answering the phone with a frown

---

What happenend thereafter they wouldnt find out

but the family had to go

No one said anything about it

even the kids didnt know

---

The family packed very little
and quickly left the house

the full fridge was left behind
its wire being attacked by the mouse

---

Inside the refridgerator
the atmosphere was the of gloom
Everyone restrained their greif
till there was no sound in the room

---

None of us will be eaten now
cucumber kept on saying
the tomato girls were crying now
the little peas had stopped playing

---

At one fateful moment
the mouse finished its meal
It became pitch dark inside
and lady finger began to squeal

---

One by one they began to rot
the smell too much for the rest
Curry wailed he didnt deserve this
after all, he was the best!

---

When it had been cucumber's turn
he had cried his heart out
So was the fate of so many more
the beans, the carrot, the sprout

---

Everyone was watching everyone
in grief and in despair
All were shouting or wailing
only Potato was engrossed in prayer

---

All of then were shocked at this
and whispered in each others' ear
why was Potato praying so much
when of rotting, he had no fear??!!

---

So when Potato opened his eyes for a while
they all rushed to find out
All were asking at the same time
and everyone had to shout!

---

When all finally quietened down
the Potato began to speak
he wrinkled up his little nose
the place had begun to reek

---

He said in a scared little voice
that he couldn't just see them rot
and would keep praying for what was left
though there wasnt left a lot

---

The cucumber started crying again
and lady was reduced to tears
now that they weren't good anymore
the pain had begun to pierce...

---

The subject of their wicked jokes
the one they had thought would die
He was now praying for the rotting ones
when he could laugh and score a tie

---

Days passed before the family returned
Only Potato was left by then
Mamma had to prepare dinner
yellow clock had said ten

---

Mamma opened the reeking fridge
to see what she could take
then she saw the potatoes
and blessed her own mistake

---

All pride was dumped in the dustbin
and it was quite a sight
dinner was boiled potatoes and rice
and Rinki had four all right!!