Meaning: Very expensive. A large amount of money.
Once upon a time there lived a young couple named, Maria and Tom. They both belonged to a very humble background. Both worked very hard to manage their daily bread and butter. In spite of poor resources both were madly in love with each other and hence nothing else ever bothered them.
Maria worked in a daily store whereas Tom was in business of catering and often for his work he used to work late night in parties. He was very impressed with the high class social parties and often fancied that someday Maria and he too would be able to spend their evening like that. He often admired rich women in their expensive dresses and jewellery.
One day they both took a day off from their jobs and went out for lunch. Both were happy as usual and very excited for spending time together. After lunch, both decided to take a stroll in the market and in one of the stores Maria saw a beautiful necklace. They both went inside the store but the watchman drove them away seeing their clothes. They came out of store and Tom was more disappointed than Maria, who was trying to cheer him up.
Time passed and their wedding anniversary was coming close. Tom wanted to gift her the same necklace she saw in the store but knew it was beyond his reach. One day his colleague, Sim, was wearing the same necklace and gathering his courage Tom asked her to lend it to him for a day so that he can make Maria happy.
Sim was little reluctant to lend it as it was expensive and a gift from her boyfriend. However, seeing Tom feeling little low she agreed to lend him on one condition that he would return it on the very next day and not tell her boyfriend about it. To which Tom readily accepted.
Anniversary day came and Tom gave Maria the necklace. She was overwhelmed with this sweet gesture. Both went out for dinner and had a great time. Maria knew Tom had got that necklace from his friend and it belonged to her only for a while.
After dinner both were returning home late night when they were attacked by a gang of thieves. They snatched everything from Tom and Maria including the necklace. Both were heartbroken and did not know what to do next.
Tom went to the store and tried to buy the necklace for Sim as he could not forget that she helped him in his time of need. When he heard the price that was the point that he realized that it was AN ARM AND A LEG away. It was very a expensive piece and Tom could not afford it even in his dream.
© Ritanjali Hastir
