Aam baat

I was trying to pluck a mango. Not from neighbor's house. Nor from someone's house on the way. The mango had grown in our own garden.

Because my husband worked hard and built a beautiful house. Planted two mango trees. Religiously watered them. Fanatically protected them.  

 

Now the trees are 20 feet tall almost and have blossomed into hundreds and hundreds of sweet wonders. 

Which made me busy this year. Since the last 3 months, I have been screeching, roaring, shouting at little kids who love the taste of raw, sour mangoes, which are luring them while they innocently were walking like little angels. No, no, I still could not reach the decibels of news anchors of our nation. But almost there.

See, I would sit by the window, which was kept open for the sole purpose of keeping an eye on little thieves. The moment I see the leaves of the tree shake a little bit, I run to the window, strengthening my vocal cords. "Yaaradu" (Who is there). Children run away. With the sticks they had carried, some times with one or two mangoes too.  

Now that most of the mangoes have fully grown, and all the low lying ones have been robbed, I have to pluck the remaining ones. Almost. After my spouse with his friends and nephews, plucked around 800-900 of them. 

Do not cast an evil eye - or e-eye on the trees. This year is just an exception - normally we do not get such a good crop. Just one or two - hundreds.  

So now I go to the terrace even before I brush my teeth, detect a big mango, try to pluck it with hand, failing which I try the plucking stick. Bring it/them inside, and display it/them to my spouse, beaming with pride. 

Afterwards what do I do? Do I ripen the fruit and eat it? Give it to the rightful owner - my husband? Neither. Both of us suffer from acidity and he is diabetic too. So, I just ripen it and refrigerate it. Aage dekha jayega. I will decide later. 

Today the afore mentioned mango was on a branch on the road, in front of the house. Out came my pole and plucker. But the branch was too high for me to reach. 

I am an engineer (by education at least). Obviously I came with a plan.  (And I am  also my mother's daughter - she is more innovative than all of us put together). I Brought my step ladder, stood on it for the job. After a little circus, out came a big fat mango. 

Why am I boasting about plucking a mango - when all the work is done by some one else. Wait, wait, story abhi baki hai.

In the afternoon, I was standing outside, enjoying a rare non-rainy weather. A little kid, may be 7-8 years old, came and asked me in Hindi. He wants mangoes. I asked him where are the mangoes? The tree now has mangoes only in very tall branches, which not easily visible. He showed the neighbor's tree. 

I told him, it is not my tree and he has to ask them. He continued - 'kursi dedo'. I was surprised ' Why do you want a chair?'. He said his mom will stand on it and pluck the mangoes. 

Was his mother really standing in the corner, sending her little son to beg for the stool? Or was it his older sibling or friend? Have I taught a new way of stealing to these kids? 

And the child is not even from our street. Where and how did he watch my stool circus?  

Will the little krishnas wanting mangoes be bringing  stool next year? 

But they are innovative too. Yet another day, two kids - hardly 4-5 years old were throwing or rather trying to throw their school bags to the tree. I did not start 'Yaaradu'. As  it was neighbor's tree. I watched for awhile then told them to go home, 'maneg hogi makle, bag hal madkoteera'