Mango Magic and Naani

 
I am currently visiting India for fieldwork, and visiting my family is a must when I am in the country. I am fortunate to be here during the much-awaited mango season this time. Believe me when I say that mangoes dominate our lives. We are a family of devoted mango enthusiasts spanning across all generations. There is always an eternal shortage of storage space for mangoes in our house, and our fridge often reaches its limits, forcing us to resort to storing the surplus mangoes in buckets of water. Yes, it's a sight to behold!

As kids, we would engage in intense mango-eating competitions because, really, what could be more thrilling than that? Sometimes we would even overindulge, resulting in stomachaches, but even then, not a single ounce of regret would cross our minds.

Speaking of regret, it reminds me of a lunchtime conversation revolving around mangoes (remember I mentioned how mangoes dominate our lives?). During this visit, I had the opportunity to spend time with my Mami, my maternal aunt, who shared fascinating stories about my Naani, my beloved maternal grandmother, and her undying love for mangoes. My Naani was an extraordinary woman—fierce, resilient, progressive, elegant, and brimming with boundless love. Life threw countless challenges her way, the most significant being the early loss of her husband, leaving her solely responsible for raising their children. But those challenges didn't deter her; they only made her stronger. While adversity toughened her exterior, her core remained soft, filled with love and an infectious sense of fun.

Mami recounted an incident when Naani's health was rapidly deteriorating. She required dialysis, which became more frequent over time, and her pre-existing ailments compounded the struggle by affecting her organs' function. Everyone in the family, including Naani herself, knew that her health might never fully recover. However, even in the face of declining well-being, her love for mangoes remained unwavering. Despite the doctors' advice to abstain from mangoes, she often turned a blind eye to their cautionary words. Immobilized by sickness, she would request Mami to feed her mangoes. Mami confessed that she experienced moments of conflict, torn between adhering to the doctors' guidance and fulfilling Naani's desires. She admitted, "At first, I would politely refuse, but later I realized it wasn't right. The sheer joy I witnessed on Ma's (Naani's) face as she savored those mangoes was absolutely priceless." Naani passed away a month later. The following year, as mango season arrived again, Mami found herself cutting the first mangoes of the season when an overwhelming presence enveloped her. She kept looking around to check, only to realize it was probably Nani. It seemed that even in spirit, Naani could not resist the allure of mangoes. 

You see, my Naani's love for mangoes was so extraordinary that it compelled even her spirit to manifest and relish the exquisite taste of the season's freshest mangoes!