The King of Fruits – the Mango

I’m here this weekend with my write-up on mangoes. Actually, I was planning to pen something about biryanis or kebabs or some more tempting and royal stuff but then I was terrified. Did you just ask, ‘Why?’ Well... after that piece on chaat my friends living elsewhere have threatened to beat me black and blue. Poor things can’t visit their hometown and hence the hell I put them through was too much. I’m able to reveal this to you because I’ve bribed them with a promise to host a chaat party for them whenever the situation allows.

Anyway, let’s dwell on mangoes today. A very safe at the same time royal topic... I mean fruit! This king of fruits is much loved by all. It has a wide variety that is relished by young and old alike around the globe. Be it the Alphonsos, Safedas, Dasheris, Langdas, Badamis, Totaparis, Chausas... “What’s in a name?” as William Shakespeare said, “That which we call a mango would taste just as sweet...” Err... I mean “... a rose would smell just as sweet.” The markets today are flooded with these beautiful yellow fruits - their fragrance tempting the roving eye (ahem... nose) of a mango lover. I don’t think even Katrina Kaif advertising for Mango Slice in Aamsutra could tempt a worshipper of this divine fruit more than the sight of its shapely, juicy presence on a plate at breakfast time. Please feel free to tell me if I’m wrong.

At this juncture allow me to narrate a very hairy... err... I mean funny incident from my childhood. It was breakfast time. The summer vacation was in full swing. Mummy had prepared aaloo paranthas for breakfast that morning. The dining table was laid out with the yummiest breakfast imaginable. There were those lovely aaloo paranthas, a pat of golden butter in a dish, hot fragrant tea, mummy’s special raw mango pickle and... a plateful of sliced, bright orangish yellow Langdas. We were all seated around the table in the verandah – my father at one head of the table and my grandmother at the other head. My mother sat on the left side of my father while my sister and me, we both sat on my father’s right. We were relishing each bite of the exquisitely spiced paranthas talking nineteen to a dozen, occasionally sipping the sweet tea when my father gave a loud exclamation. He slapped a hairy arm that had crept onto the table between him and mummy. My sister and me, we yelled loudly and stood up on our chairs. Any guesses who the arm belonged to? Why? A monkey, of course! Perhaps the guy had been watching our family enjoying the meal and thought of joining in. Only we didn’t know when he decided to seat himself under the dining table. The hullabaloo had him scampering away to his family sitting on a nearby wall. The others seemed to be sniggering at him. Poor fellow! He looked quite shame faced. But this incident has me checking under tables when having a meal in the open, even today. Not that I’ve found any monkey, in fact, not even an ant... but what’s the harm in being a little cautious. What do you say?

Well, the best part about mangoes is that you can enjoy them in a myriad ways. You don’t believe me? Alright... let me give your grey matter a quick exercise. We have the raw mango pickle with all those spices, which you can relish as sour or sweet. The choice is entirely yours! Then what about that mango chutney that tastes awesome with the khakras, pooris, and what not? Have you forgotten about the ‘longee’? Yummy stuff... sweet and sour with the right amount of spices and jaggery! Ahh... an absolutely divine experience for the taste buds! Then we have the deliciously chilled aam ka panna with the refreshing mint, black salt and roasted cumin powder. Here I mustn’t forget to mention the aam ras paired with puffed up, piping hot pooris. There was a whole episode of Taarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashmah which eulogised this humble yet delectable meal not many years ago. Many people I know had made sure to try out this delicious combination for breakfast, in those days. I can never forget the aam ka papad and aam ka chooran that were essentials to be purchased from the school canteen.

Ahhh.... and while we’re at it, let’s not forget the creamy mango shakes with dry fruits. I must add to the list, mango ice cream with tiny pieces of mangoes to tease the palate, mango cake made with semolina, mango kulfi, mango burfi, mango kalakand... Ohh... I can keep going on and on. But I’m in a great dread; triggering the wrath of those deprived of enjoying these innocent delights could be disastrous for my pocket... ahem... I mean purse. I may have to promise yet another party! But who cares...? Any get together with loved ones is a joy and can be celebrated with none other than the King of Fruits in attendance. Isn’t it?