We have a mango tree at one end of our back yard. Behind our plot construction for a large hotel is going on. We have got used to loud noises like drill at all times of the day and night. There is no point in grumbling about them. They have to complete the building by end of next year. The mango tree was planted by the earlier owners of our plot decades ago. We were told by our neighbours that it had not borne any fruit. Two years ago we were surprised to see some mangoes on different branches. They extended into the plot behind. The plot was empty and we were able to pick the fruits once they fell to the soft ground. They were delicious. We were tasting such mangoes for the first time. Last year there were no mangoes. Early this month my husband saw more than ten, but now there are just two or three. Most probably the building workers had plucked them to make pickles or chutney 😊. There is a saying in Hindi which means that each grain of rice or wheat has written on it the name of the person who shall eat it. I told my husband our names were not written on the fruits 😊.
The days were cloudy last week. On the 23rd night we were happy to see that it was raining. It drizzled the whole night. The next morning the yard was wet. The plants were looking greener and happier😊. But now the weather has become hotter and will be so till the rains start in June.
Saturday evening my mother and I walked on the lanes near home. The mango tree by the road side just a little way off is full of mangoes. Many people have plucked raw mangoes. We were told they are very good for a type of pickle which we call ‘medi uppinakayi’ in Kannada. Small whole mangoes are salted. They shrink and their skin wrinkles after some time. Then the spicy masala is ground and added. I have not made this type of pickle. Last year there were very few mangoes and we were told one kg of mangoes cost Rs 400. This year there seems to be plenty.
We attended the wedding of our neighbour’s son yesterday afternoon. It took place in a function hall not far from home. There was a large crowd and most of the ladies were richly dressed. The food was good. Our next door neighbour came with us. She has started venturing out again after the pandemic has subsided. She missed going to her church. Before 2020 she used to attend the Saturday evening service. During the next two years the mass was telecast direct from her church, so she never attended. But now she is very happy that she is able to go. The pandemic changed the lives of people in different ways.
Mukhamani 
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