The Vanishing Lunchboxes Summary Class 7 Buzzword

Key Points of the Story

• Rother goes to Rampur, leaving Father in charge of the house and a new cook in charge of the kitchen.
• Father interferes with the cook's work, leading to arguments and the cook leaving.
• The narrator suffers through Father's terrible cooking.
• Lunchbox contents mysteriously vanish from school bags and reappear with tasty treats.
• Class 5B suspects a thief among them and devises a plan to catch them.
• The lunch thief turns out to be a kind person who disappears once Mother returns.
• Mother convinces Father to take a break from cooking, restoring delicious meals.
• The narrator, now a freelance artist, packs his son's lunchbox with care.

Detailed Summary

Rother's father, despite taking pride in his cooking, was far from being a proficient chef. Meal times turned into nightmares for Rother as they had to endure poorly cooked dishes like charred chapattis and watery dal. The father's attempts at cooking often resulted in inedible creations – potatoes turned into rocks, spinach into a mushy mess, and onions burned to a crisp. Whenever Rother dared to express dissatisfaction with the meals, they were met with lengthy lectures from their father about the values of gratitude and the significance of food. Rother's stomach no longer growled from hunger but rather from the unappetizing food they were served. 

The biggest source of distress for Rother was their lunchbox. Each day, as they opened it on their way to school, the contents found their way into the nearest garbage bin. Rother feared the possibility of a chemical reaction causing an explosion if they were to consume the contents. In the midst of these culinary woes, chaos unfolded at school in Class 5 B. The class monitor, Jatin Kochar, called a meeting to address the mysterious disappearance of lunchboxes from students' bags. Strangely, the missing lunchboxes would reappear the following day, filled with delicious treats. Jatin took the matter seriously and declared that there was a thief among them. 

The class, in unison, expressed concern over the situation. They decided to handle the case internally without involving any adults. The class brainstormed on how to tackle the issue, considering the possibility of multiple culprits stealing lunchboxes on different days. As suspicions and theories circulated within the class, Swati Kohli suggested the idea that multiple people might be involved in the thefts. This notion sparked a wave of questions and accusations from the students, leading to a lighthearted moment amidst the tension. 

To solve the mystery, the class devised a plan. They decided to take turns keeping watch in the classroom during empty periods, sacrificing playtime and breaks to catch the thief in action. Jatin appointed Rother to keep watch for a week, causing a mix of apprehension and determination in the young student. The class conducted a thorough search of everyone's bags, finding all lunchboxes intact except for one instance where a student's lunch had been eaten. 

The mystery deepened as the thief continued to strike, targeting different students each day and replacing the stolen lunches with treats. The lunch thief's actions ceased as abruptly as they had begun, coinciding with the return of Rother's mother. Upon her return, Rother's mother was displeased with the cook's desertion and the father's culinary disasters. She gently persuaded the father to take a break from cooking duties and focus on his office work. Rother's mother, in her nurturing manner, resumed cooking and restored normalcy to mealtimes. Rother's lunchbox no longer induced anxiety but became a source of joy once again. 

Years later, Rother, now a freelance artist, reminisced about the lunchbox incidents. Reflecting on their experiences, Rother, now a parent, ensured their own child's lunch was prepared with care and love, aiming to prevent any lunch thievery in the family. The story concluded with a touch of humor and a lesson learned across generations. In the end, the tale of the lunch thief served as a reminder of the importance of good food, family dynamics, and the impact of simple acts of kindness within a community.

Theme/ Message

Themes:

• The story humorously shows how family roles change when the mother, who usually cooks, is away, and the father struggles with cooking. His bad cooking affects his child's daily life. 
• At school, lunchboxes disappear and reappear, creating a fun mystery that the children try to solve together. 
• The narrator grows from a child enduring bad meals to an adult who cooks well for his own child, showing personal growth and learning from the past.

Message:

• The story highlights the importance of working together to solve problems.
• It emphasizes the value of trust, understanding, and communication in relationships.
• Appreciating the efforts of others and showing empathy can lead to positive outcomes.

Difficult Words

1. Decamped: Left suddenly or secretly.
2. Gulped: Swallowed hastily or in large amounts.
3. Lectures: Long, tedious, reprimanding talks or speeches.
4. Misery: Extreme unhappiness or suffering.
5. Furore: A state of excitement or confusion.
6. Accusingly: In a manner that suggests blame or fault.
7. Sulkily: In a gloomy, pouting, or resentful manner.
8. Symptom: A sign or indication of a condition or problem.
9. Kidnapped: Abducted or taken by force unlawfully.
10. Sombrely: In a serious, grave, or gloomy manner.