The summer holidays were just a week away. I knew that you’d
be here soon. Under the pretext of helping out my mom, I started visiting places you frequent – the malls,
the super markets, those small shops beside my home… I knew that you will be
there soon. It was almost a fortnight later, when I saw you finally though. When
I introduced you to my mom, she thought you were not good enough, but I managed
to convince her to let me bring you home. You changed for the good and she accepted you.
Somedays, you were just rotten to the core .Even I couldn’t stand you then. But otherwise,you were my
elixir from paradise. Until that fateful
day.
As usual, we were sitting at the table after lunch.” Good gracious!
Act like a lady! Where are your manners?”, my mom screamed at the top of her
voice. I can’t help it. With you, I become a 3 year old. My retort of “Who
cares?” didn’t go down well and I was prohibited from seeing you again until I
behaved like a lady! I knew she meant it this time and went to others for
consolation. But they were not you. They were
all mere impersonators.
You started appearing
at my neighbours’ place . Dressed in
shades of yellow, you sure were hard to
miss. I used to watched you from the corner of my eye. It was just another
summer afternoon. The sun was sweltering on my back as I worked on my vegetable
patch. And there you were, leaning majestically against the brick wall. Calling
me to you. There was no one around. I picked up some courage and slowly walked
towards the wall. Inching closer, I breathed in your scent. That unique scent, that
I can pick out anywhere. “God! How much I missed it!” Just then, my mom s face
loomed at the window and she called me in. I knew that you will be gone by the
time I came out again. With one last longing look, I left you.
The holidays came to an end. I hunted for you everywhere and
found you in the shadows at the end of my street. I realized that time was
running out. I pulled out my savings and smuggled you inside the house. I shut
myself inside my room and looked at you lovingly. One last time.
I let the sticky
juices flow down my arms as I bit into the juicy yellow pulp. I said to
myself- “Screw manners! This is how mangoes are meant to be eaten” . As I licked
my lips in satisfaction, a small tear left my eye, knowing that it will be
months before I see you again.
