THE FAVORITE FLAVOR

Aarav, a 6-year old boy, was very fond of eating. He loved to eat anything that he was given at home. One day, his parents decided to take him to a fine dining restaurant, with all his grandparents. Over there, everything was given in small, limited portions. After finishing his food, he complained to his parents that he was still hungry and was not full. Along with that, he also told that he liked the main course and wanted to try some more... and they didn't order it.

'Ma, this is not fair. Why do we have to eat little portions of everything when we can be full on just one course.'

'Well, ask my dad that question. When he was young, he used to love sweets. Wherever he got the chance, he would just jump at it. Now, he suffers from diabetes and is forbidden from having any sweets by his doctor.'

His dad then added, 'And my dad, your paternal granddad, loved spicy food. No matter how much heat there was, he would swallow it without almost any water. Now he has acidity and gas and has been told not to eat too much spicy food.'

'And then, of course, it's your grandmothers, who were best friends back in the day. They were the biggest foodies. People would say they are vaccum cleaners because they ate almost everything and anything till their stomachs were full. But because of that, they had a very big problem of indigestion. And today, whenever they eat, it reminds them of that day.'

'Okay, but why are you telling me this now?'

'To make you understand that you can never be fully satisfied on one course. Every one of the three courses in a restaurant plays an important role in your full meal. Similarly, in life, you have to have all the experiences. From the sweet victory, to the bitter defeat, to the spicy hot competition, to the cool and relaxed midset. Only then, can you be fully satisfied in life.', his dad replied.

'But why didn't you just tell it to me in the first place? Why did you have to bring me here?'

His mom, then explained, 'Even we were making those same mistakes when we were your age. Our parents too. And we didn't want you to go too far down that path that all of us took. But instead of just explaining, we wanted you to experience it, in an educating way. And you will have many more experiences in life. But whatever you do, you should always learn, and always remember to keep your balance.'

'And if in case you falter, we are always here to help you and guide you. So, do you want anything else to eat still?'

'No. But I will come back here again. When can we do that?'

'I guess next week.'

From that day forth, they went there every week. And Aarav ate as much as he needed. And after 20 years, he became the head chef and owner of the same restaurant. And the first ever patrons he cooked for, were his parents. And it was the same food that they ordered on his very first day, but in his own creative style and new flavors. His parents truly enjoyed the meal.

'Thanks to you both, I found all the answers. Back then, you made me choose what I want. Today, I want you to choose. Whichever dishes you taste and like, will be on the menu, starting now.'

After his parents chose the dishes that they liked, he opened his restaurant, and in just 2 years, his restaurant gained it's first ever michelin star. And after 10 years, it had earned and retained 2 stars in michelin. And even today, after their demises, he still remembers his parents' advice and lives his life in the same way, and inspires his kids to do the same.