It is that time of the year when the rising temperature drives all but the most hardy souls indoors and the still afternoon suddenly comes alive to the mellifluous chant of 'Hapooooos', as men bearing their load of precious Alphonso mangoes make their way down the deserted roads. The shimmering haze of heat seen from behind fragrant and moist khus curtains makes one scurry in search of the cooled container of aam panna. Mangoes, round and oval, red and yellow are in season, along with sweet red lychees, tart purple jamuns and sticky jackfruits....a medley of colours and flavours that take me back to the summers of my childhood. School holidays and the mandatory trip to Calcutta, load-shedding and seasonal storms in the evening, sometimes accompanied by hail that would bring down the temperature dramatically. The smell of wet earth after a long, hot day, the heady perfume of summery tuberoses and jasmine and cologne dabbed on by the women after an evening bath. The lightest of cottons, Lucknowi Chikaan saris and kurtas, or a crisp white shirt with blue jeans to take on the world. Greta Garboesque shades, sunblock, umbrellas, all arsenal against the molten heat poured down by the sun. Tender coconut water, limbu pani and watermelon juice to soothe parched throats and gallons of iced water gulped down after a walk in the Horticultural Gardens. Languid evenings spent at the poolside and visits to the river and a boat ride on the Ganges during sunset were outings to look forward to. Salads and gazpacho soups, tonnes of ice-cream, all in a vain attempt to keep cool. And just when it seemed that summer would vanquish all, suddenly it is over and monsoon is upon us and the heavens are pouring forth their bounty.
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