Raw Mangoes - Here and Now !!!

Naradaa was resting in the lazy chair under the mango tree to get some relief from the rising mercury almost touching 41 deg C which in this foothills of Himalayas, were unheard of. 

Suddenly, strong winds came trying to blow away everything in sight. Yes, a storm passing through right in front of my house. The trees all around shook fiercely including my mango tree. So, me with the lazy chair went inside the house.

Almost immediately there came sounds from the roof, sounds as if someone from top is pelting many stones.

It was after the storm subsided a little, I ventured out again to find to my surprise hundreds of raw mangos fallen from the mango tree which explained the roof-top sounds. Could not find ‘Shish’ around and picked up a few mangoes and brought home.

Nostalgia stepped in and opened up memories of a childhood. When the mango season comes, how we used to pick raw mangoes in the mornings from under about 6 or 7 mango trees. (A month or so later, we still used to pick mangoes but they were sweet ripe mangoes).

I took the raw mangoes in and a couple of them were washed and cut into pieces. Salt and red- chilli-powder were spread on it just as we used to do when we were children. I did consume those pieces though they were very sour and very hot.

‘Ssssss….Ssssss…..’ cried the mouth but it was so tasty and mouth-watering and it was difficult to stop eating.

Then after a couple of minutes the feeling is sublime as the sourness and hotness in the mouth recede slowly…..

                                       *                      *                     *

Naradaa: Hey, Shish! where had you been? see what I got for you? Raw Mangoes with salt and chilli.....

Shish: No, No! I don't want! The sourness will create havoc with my teeth! Then I have to shout 'sensitivity!!!' as in that toothpaste advertisement.....