It was on 15th October 2002, that Mr Mohanty, aged 65, shut down the little chocolate shop his wife owned. It was on the death anniversary of his mother.
“Now, I can be sad for two reasons on the same day rather than letting another day be consumed by grief,” explained Mr Mohanty to the property dealer who would further proceed to sell the shop
The chocolate shop was Mrs Mohanty’s idea. She used to be a school teacher but her subdued wish of making homemade chocolates and selling them emerged once again and she decided to go for it.
“Sell chocolates? …and you want to leave your lifelong profession for it? Isn’t it a bit too much?” said Mr Mohanty when his wife told him about it for the first time
“I have done enough teaching for this lifetime. I think it’s time to try something else now. I have dreamt of doing it,” smiled Mrs Mohanty
“You really believe people will prefer expensive homemade chocolates more than the more affordable ones made by those big companies?” asked Mr Mohanty
“I prefer homemade, they taste a lot better and I think there are others like me who prefer them as well. That old watch shop that closed down, I think that is where I will set it up,” explained Mrs Mohanty
There was nothing more to be said, Mrs Mohanty was spending her own money and Mr Mohanty still had his job which paid well. They had no children and just each other.
When the shop opened, a few neighbours came to congratulate . A daughter of a neighbour even offered to make and manage a social media account for the shop.
“It is not about making profit. Of course, profits are important, no one can deny that, but this one is all about her happiness in selling chocolates in that shop,” Mr Mohanty told Mr Sahni, a friend from office who had come to see the shop
Everything was fine, Mrs Mohanty was happily busy with her little shop and Mr Mohanty began to join her in the evenings at the shop, after he came back from work.
“For the first one year the shop was not making any profits at all, in some months it was worse with it not even bringing in enough for the expenditures to be covered. Now, things are a little better. Some relatives said why waste the money, but what to spend on if not for our dreams,” said Mr Mohanty to Mr Saini in the office one day
The shop never made any huge profits, but what it made was more than enough and it had gained quite the reputation in the neighbourhood as well as online. But, one day it was realised that Mrs Mohanty had started having neurological issues and it was found she had a disorder; despite the treatment the situation was not getting any better but it was stable for a couple of years.
“Its about time we hire a helping hand for the shop,” said Mr Mohanty to Mrs Mohanty and she didn’t argue, it was evident by her failing health that a helping hand was needed, hence it was done. Slowly over the years Mrs Mohanty became confined to the house and another person was hired to look after the shop.
At 60, Mr Mohanty retired and he began to manage the shop the whole day. When after a few more years Mrs Mohanty was recommended more rest, the plan to close the shop was brought up for the first time. Although she herself couldn’t make the chocolates anymore, her recipe was used to make it, but the taste could not be replicated.
“Listen Bina,” one evening Mr Mohanty said to his wife, “we had some pretty good years with the shop and I think we should end it on a good note. Without you it is not the same anymore.”
Mrs Mohanty looked at her husband, unable to put her emotions into words.
“Besides, it’s time for my dream to be fulfilled,” said Mr Mohanty in a playful tone
“You had a dream? What is it?” asked Mrs Mohanty and Mr Mohanty could see in that moment that she had let go of the shop and had made his dream her priority
“I had thought when we would cross 60, we would move to a beautiful house near the mountains, with clean air and a good view. Spend most or the rest of our lives there,” said Mr Mohanty
“Do you have a place in mind?”
“I have a few. You want to see them?”
“Of course,” said Mrs Mohanty
Mr and Mrs Mohanty found a beautiful house for themselves, they closed the shop and moved away to the mountains to have a different type of life but more importantly to fulfil another dream.
Written by Anuran Chatterji
Early Morning Memories 
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