It was exactly midnight when Rohan suddenly woke up. The reason wasn’t a nightmare—it was the strange growling coming from his stomach. He instantly realized that he was as hungry as a wolf. His stomach wasn’t just rumbling; it sounded like a full marathon was underway inside.
Earlier that evening, he had proudly announced that he was starting a strict diet. He ate nothing but salad and even delivered a motivational speech on fitness in front of his friends. Now, that very salad had vanished without a trace, and the empty space in his stomach felt like a playground where invisible creatures were playing cricket.
Quietly, Rohan tiptoed toward the kitchen. The house was silent, yet every step he took seemed amplified like it was being broadcast on loudspeakers. He opened the refrigerator, and along with a wave of cold air came a spark of hope. Inside, a leftover slice of pizza from the previous night seemed to glow like treasure.
Just as he reached for the plate, a voice behind him asked, “What are you doing?” He nearly jumped out of his skin, as if his hunger had been caught red-handed. His mother stood at the door, arms crossed.
“I… I just came for some water,” he stammered.
His mother pointed toward the fridge. “Is the water kept inside the pizza box?”
The situation was serious. Rohan made one last attempt. “Cheat days are allowed in a diet,” he argued weakly.
His mother smiled. “Your diet hasn’t even completed six hours.”
Finally, a compromise was reached. He was given a glass of warm milk and two biscuits. Rohan accepted them reluctantly, though the “wolves” in his stomach didn’t seem fully satisfied.
Back in his room, he decided that next time he would announce his diet plan in the morning—not at night. The memory of that pizza slice still lingered in his mind.
The next day, in front of his friends, he appeared just as confident. “My diet is going great!” he declared proudly.
His stomach let out a faint growl, almost like silent laughter. And Rohan realized that while fitness is important, midnight hunger can be the toughest opponent of all.
RAJEEV VERMA 