The Unripe Mango




It was one of those typical days, when Harsh was determined not to go to school. Harsh, the five year, chubby nursery kid, hated to leave the comfort of his bed. School days seemed like a punishment for him. Holidays and Sundays were the most happy days for him, of course. 
Harsh's mother, Rama took him in her arms and carried him outside in the balcony where he could watch the pigeons flying and cooing. "See Beta, the sun is up and we should wake up".

But Harsh had caught another fancy that day. "I want 'Kacha Aam', mummy", he wailed, without being bothered about his mother's words.

Harsh's grandmother, who generally managed to get him ready for school, was listening to the conversation. "Unripe mangoes do not come in winter, dear", she told Harsh reassuringly. "We'll get some for you soon, when summer is around, Beta". But that did not appease Harsh.

Harsh was now wailing at the top of his voice, hot tears running down his cheeks. "I saw the 'kaccha aam' (unripe mango) near the temple, You are very bad, all, all are bad. You do not listen to me".

"Childhood is such a nice time! Do not trouble yourself too much. Let the boy have his day...!" Harsh's grandmother said. So Rama went to proceed with her work as usual. 
Evening came and she returned from office. "where is my kaccha aam, mummy?" said Harsha. His kacha aam fantasy returned. Rama eventually gave in to her kid's tantrums. "Come, let's go, tell me where you saw the unripe mango". In her mind, Rama imagined a mango tree in the compound of the nearby temple, and a mango fruit laden beneath its leaves.  For a moment, she was glad that her boy was insisting on going to the temple, even though it was only to see the unripe mango.

They all got into a rickshaw which took them to the nearby temple, where they often visited on the weekends. Rama held Harsh's hands tightly and tried to figure where he must have seen the 'unripe mango'. Now the suspense was growing darker.

"Mama, let's go there near the shops... I saw the unripe mango there, mother!", Harsh's words amazed Rama. Confused, she followed her child to the shop they had visited some days back. There on the counter were little bars of Aam-papad, neatly wrapped up in rectangular transparent packets. Now something lit in her mind. "Oh, we saw those snack items and toffees in this shop the other day, and Harsh had been tempted to buy that Aam-papad!".

Aam-papad (sun-baked mango confectionery) had been Harsh's favorite sweets since he was 3 years old, though he had forgotten this attraction more recently. Now Rama understood, what her son had been asking for. Harsh grabbed the packed bundle of  'Aam-papad' and began to unwrap it. His eyes gleamed with delight as he did so. "Wow...kaccha aam is yummy!" said Harsha, and Rama wanted to scream "Kachaa Aaam nahi, Aam-papad"!!!

Comments

eSenceDesk said…
Kachcha Aam gives taste from beginning. Aam Papad gives taste after completion of mangoes growth.
March 27, 2019 at 10:02 AM
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