The Slice of Yellow

The house was indeed old and when there was no one to stay in it I thought of selling that to someone. The broker was fixed and he was dealing with everything. I just came back to India for a month and I wanted everything to be settled before I leave. Mom and Dad had pleaded to me numerous times, "Its your great grandfather's house, there are so many memories in it. You were born in it, the rooms , the garden, the back yard had innumerable memories, you played there, you grew up there "I did not pay any heed to them. When they had moved to the city and I no longer stay in the country why should I keep such a big house and pay for its maintainance each year without any gain plus the broker had quoted a good price and the money could be invested in some future planning.

So I set to my village on my car, at about noon I reached the village, Ramu our caretaker was very happy to see me and welcomed with warmth. He had set everything in the house for my stay. It would take around 4-5 days for the deal to finalise and until then I have to stay in this damn house. I stepped inside the courtyard.,,,, the smell of fresh jasmine in its full bloom welcomed me. The aroma was so great that the entire tiredness was taken off me. Ramu took my luggage and went inside.,, I followed him. The village still did not have electricity hence he had cleaned all the lanterns and kept aside to be lit in the evening. He asked me to freshen up while he would bring some food for me. I looked through the window of my room in to the backyard. The garden was still green as it was before. The neem tree stood strong and from the topmost branch hang a swing. I remembered, dad had tied that rope to make a swing for me, I used to love swinging in it. The small vegetable garden was full with fresh vegetables, tomatoes, lady's fingers, eggplant.,,,,, Memories lingered on my mom had the niche of gardening. She would often plant vegetable and flowering plants.

After I had showered, Ramu brought lunch for me. Hot boiled rice with fresh river fish curry, vegetables from back yard cooked with aromatic spices.,,, it seemed tempting.,,,,

After lunch I decided to take a look at the entire house. The broker was to arrive late in the evening.

While taking a round through the courtyard few memories flashed in front of my eyes which without my attention curved my lips in to a smile.,,,, I touched the wall, they happened to be happy on my return, the doors spreading out its arms to embraces me, the garden and the back yard called out to me as if unfolding all the memories of my childhood, I roamed in the garden, the same trees which were now a little older, the lush of green in the garden, the walls and roof were little plaster less but still I could find my own self in it, Unnoticed I leaned to a tree and all of a sudden something fell on the ground, a beautiful ripen mango, with reddish golden outer cover, I had almost forgotten, my grand father had planted the sapling and I as a child would take care , water and nurture the tree, now that it had grown it had started to bear fruits. I looked up, the tree was laden with the reddish golden fruit.

I plucked a few of them , they were at my reach, went back to the kitchen, washed them well and cut them in to slice.,,,, the yellow slices of the mangoes were tempting me,,,,,, I took a slice and took the first bite of the fruit.,,,, godly.,,, amazingly sweet and fresh.,,,, I devoured another slice and then another.,,,, by the time I had eaten all of them, I was licking my fingers, my mouth smeared with the juice.,,,, I looked myself in to the mirror and burst in to laughter.

The broker came to meet me as per the time, he had brought in the best deal for the house. "The paper works would be ready in two days ma'am, the buyer would pay 50% of the amount in cash and the rest in cheque, there would not be any hassle ma'am "he grinned. I sighed "Mr. Verma, I have decided something.,,, I am not going to sell this property.,,,, "I said sternly. "But ma'am this a best deal and what would you do keeping this house, its waste of money and time.,,,, "

"I think this is my paternal property and I have every right to decide what to do and what not to do.,,,,, and I have taken the decision "I said. The broker's jaws dropped in surprise, he might not have expected that.,,,, "Mr. Verma, whatever maintenance is required I will look in to it and you need not to take tensions rather you enjoy these sweet mangoes, these are from my back yard "I push a tray towards him which Ramu had previously placed on the table. This was decorated with the sweet aromatic slices of Yellow mangoes.,,,