The Adventures of the Little Indian Girl

Day 2: In my hand

When I first came to the US for college and landed in Hawai'i, I read somewhere in some guidebook that mango was classified as a poisonous fruit! I was flabbergasted! The king of fruits is poisonous?

Right! Love of mangos and childhood in India are so strongly intertwined! It's something that doesn't differentiate between caste, creed, religion. Doesn't matter if you are a city rat or rural kid, summer meant sucking over juicy mangoes.

Growing up we were surrounded by mango trees by the roadside and also orchards. Living on an institute's grounds, technically we couldn't pick them. If any were found on the ground then that was ok!

There was a tree right at the main intersection our school bus would pass. The teenagers would just stick their arms out of the bus window and see how many they could catch. It was easier apparently than climbing the tree!

Oh and climbing trees we did! I didn't. They did. In our group some would dare to climb the tree. But usually our slippers are sacrificed to break some fresh ripe mangos. Some times the slipper would get caught in the branch. Not willing to bear the brunt of mother's rap, the brave soul would risk being caught by campus security and climb up the tree to salvage his slipper and while he/she's at it grab a few mangoes too!

And we would eat some right there and then. Coming home to a lot of scolding from moms that would be heard everywhere. Some would pick the not ripe ones to eat and often would get bad burns on their lips. I think it's the acid in it? We weren't scared of the health effect on us, we were more scared of being caught red-handed by our mothers!

But it never stopped us from eating mangoes. And you sucked the stone dry! yum! The ripe mangoes were so juicy and succulent, they were eaten by hand, with juices flowing over your hands and all over your shirts. No forks, spoons, or cutlery could interfere in the enjoyment of mango eating. It was the best way to cool off in hot 90-100F summers!

As grown ups, we of course, cut it up a bit, but the fruit around the seed, no fork or spoon will clear it all and no wastage is allowed! mmm...so glad N found a crate of them brought home! They are so sour that D & I are loving it! N says his hair on his back is standing up! ha!