I love mangoes. Ripe or unripe, it didn’t matter. Unripe ones are eaten with salt and chillipowder and the ripe ones are eaten right away. There were 12 mango trees in Chengannur house.
Ammachi was directing Kutten, who was on top of the tree plucking the mangoes.
Kutten was supposed to place the mangoes inside a sack and gently lower it to the ground. Suddenly he used his hands to scratch his body and the entire sack dropped to the ground with a thud.
“Kuttan, How many times did I tell you, these are meant for pickling and if there is a small blemish on the mango, it will spoil the pickle?. Now you see, I can’t use any of these mangoes for pickle.”
“aiyo Ammachi, I dropped them accidentally. This tree is full of red ants!”
“hmmm”Ammachi grunted. “You are a panjara that is why the ants are fond of you”
Kutten knows when to shut up. He carefully placed the mangoes in the sack and slowly lowered them to the ground.
Seeing Kutten balancing on top of the tree, I too felt the urge to climb.
“Ammchi,Can I climb the tree and pluck mangoes for you? I promise I won’t drop any of them.”
“You want to climb a tree?” Ammachi’s eyes widened. She looked very much like Goddess Kali on war path.
I suddenly hoped the earth would open and swallow me.
“You, Methran Thampi’s grand daughter wants to climb a tree?”
I shook my head vigorously, hoping my actions would be louder than the words.
“Orthodox Syrian Christian girls don’t climb trees and if I ever saw you climbing, Nina Thomas, I will break your legs”.
“have I made myself clear to you?”She asked
I nodded my head again
I looked up and saw Kutten covering his mouth and trying to control his laughter. I got so mad at him and the moment Ammachi turned I placed both my hands on my ears, moved my fingers and stuck my tongue at him. Before he could react and tell Ammachi, I walked away dignified.
After plucking and sorting all the mangoes meant for sale, Kutten and Ammachi counted the sacks. There were 15 sacks of mangoes.
“How much do you think we will get this time?”Ammachi asked Kutten
“may be about 100RS”. Kutten replied.
“hmm, Ammachi nodded her head, I hope we will get some money. I have to buy a new pump for the paddy.”
“What did the repair guy say?”Kutten asked Ammachi
“He said, the pump is beyond repair”
“hmm” Kutten nodded his head.
“I will go and call Hajiar”. Kutten said and he walked to the market.
Hajiar is our dealer in the market. He always pays on time.
Ammachi and I were sitting on the Veranda.
“Nina, bring me a mango and a knife”
I went to the kitchen and took one from the sacks. The mango skin looked nice and smooth.
Ammachi placed an old newspaper on her lap and slowly peeled the mango skin. The flesh looked beautiful ornage shade. Ammachi sliced the mangoes and that is when we saw the black spot on the seed.
“What is it Ammachi? I asked her
“They are worm eggs Nina, the fly lays the eggs when the trees were flowering and the worms will come out when the mango is ripe”.
“Nina, bring me another mango”
I ran to the kitchen and took another mango.
“Ammachi sliced the mango and we could see that it too had the black spot.
“Nina, run to the market and find Kutten, Tell him we are not selling the mangoes this time”
“Why are we not selling Ammachi?”
“Nina, because there are worms in it”
“But nobody will know it Ammachi.”
“true Nina, no one will know”
“But imagine a poor farmer going to the market to buy mangoes for his kids. May be he only had a few coins and he bought just one mango. If it is our mango and he goes home and find the worms in it, how upset he would be? We don’t need the money stained with curses Nina.
“Now run along Nina, find Kutten and tell him the message”
You really must compile these posts and publish a book. I will be the first one to buy it. You really are a good narrator. and these posts are a window to a bygone era. I feel like I am watching a B/W movie. In fact this can be made into a serial instead of the stupid serials we see on mallu TV nowadays.
Keep writing, you have one regular reader in me.
p.s. I had a nick name “maram keri” the champion tree climber he he. My ammachi thought it was a cute that I climbed trees, mom on the other hand,was horrified :))
Nothing like the mangoes you get in Kerala.
Silverine: I only spend 7 yrs in kerala..and the lessons I learned especially from Ammachi.. still stands today..
I did climb the trees when Ammachi wasn’t around.. got whacked too when she found me..
My kids can’t relate to Kerala or to my roots..They never saw my grandmother.. In a way I am hoping I can take them to my childhood and make them feel home.. It is tough when you give them kaineettam and they think they got extra pocket money..I want them to know the story behind my culture and identify with it.. It is a long shot..But I am trying and i am glad you are enjoying the journey with me…
You were naughty?.. well your narration is too good.. as if we are seeing the story infront of us!.. and your ammachi is really good! that she did not sell the mangoes..! Something to appreciate..!
sujit
The “konjanam kuthi”..sticking the tongue out along with shaking your fingers..I was a master in tht..was I naughty?? Hmmm..u tell me
seems to be more of a poor things.. pavam pavam kind..!
somehow i remember arundathi roy when I read what you post.
very nice and homely writing
Sujit:you msut tell tht to my mother.
Maya:in a good way or bad way? Reminding you abt Roy)
Yeah, I agree with the others.. You should publish it. You are doing a good job narrating your past. I’m sure your children will get connected this way, even if they don’t experience it physically.. coz’ I can feel your childhood 🙂
Ammachi was so sweet… really sweet.
Geetha:thank you so much..Yes she was sweet..a paradox…
Living in the states makes me feel like the only syrian orthodox person from Chengannur. It is sooo good to know that there’s a person out there who can relate.
i will tell you another recipe of mangoe.
when the mangoe trees bud the flowers for its fruit and when the flower is tender – collect it and mix it with ripe tamrinid fruit. it taste amazing… this is one recipe we loved to do and eat in young days at villages.
— You are a panjara that is why the ants are fond of you — really liked this sentence. :p
btw as silver said, u shud compile this into a book..
me:I know wht u r saying.. it felt extremely weird when all the orthodox Syrian christians I know around here didn’t observe the lent and i was thee only one who obseverd the entire 50 days…
Known stranger: Thank you for visiting. how did you eat it? With chilli powder? Ammachi had a china bharani full of old tamarind mixed with salt..All the worms in my tummy must have drowned in the tamarind juice and died with the amount of tamarind i ate..
that is so emotional an account from your life. you put down all the humoros, nostalgic and meaningful essence here.. oh! i miss the ripe mangoes 😀 here mangoes are rare and if you see one or two in the market, they cost a fortune. so are all other tropical fruits!
am happy that you opened the doors to comment. i read the whole blog last week sometime and felt suffocated because i was not able to comment. was thinking of enquiring at the kerala blogroll for your email so that i can tell you to open the comments. will comment the rest in time.
you met my sarah too, my fiancee. we two have started thinking of things to do in life, with adoption as one of them. the details from blore were written by her. and thanks for coming in and letting us know your experiences. that helped me to write here as well!!
yes you should impart those aspects from your life to your kids. i dont think any wrong in you coming to kerala and living the essence if you would be able to support the family.
cheers,, roxy
Nice Post. As Maya said, felt like a mini God of Small Things. Do we have another Arundhati Roy here?
so when will the book be released ? :)… i wanna book it nowitself
yummy yummy mangoes..u make me drool over them.i can relate myself to all of ur posts bcos they are bonded with real life ..keep going..all ur posts are centered around ur ammachi no..you must have had wonderul times together..
yummy yummy mangoes..u make me drool over them.i can relate myself to all of ur posts bcos they are bonded with real life ..keep going..all ur posts are centered around ur ammachi no..you must have had wonderul times together..
Jithu;the orginal dialogue in malayalam sounded much better”nee oru panjara ya..atha neerellam ninte dehathu kadikkunathu”
Roxy:the kerala I left behind and the kerala now..is too different..I would be like a headless chicken if i go back!!
Dhanush: I don’t think I am even good enough to sit at Roy’s feet.. She is one of the greatest writer i ever met..
Monu:You inspire me
Flyawaymind:yes I did have a great time with her…she made me what I am
ohhh I am so afraid of Red ones…they emit some kinda smell, that so horrible…
Q8techdrive: chomanna neer urumbu ente mookinte attam vare kadichittondu..u r right abt the smell..i hate them
good way only hahahah maybe you’re even better
maya: Arundathi and I share a lot in common..Our family knew each other. and somehow it feels a bit scary to be compared to such a great writer.
beautiful post and a really honest grandma.
wow…then I must have seen that link in your writing.She is a great writer and so are you.Just put forth a book cos you write so stark beautifully.am telling you,just do it.
Maya:Don’t scare me..
Starry nights: yes she was honest, to the point tht, there is no money for the pump and the entire paddy harvest and her survival next monson depends on her to carry water and irrigate the paddy by herself!!!