February has only begun, but the weather is already exhibiting its anti-social attitude. Dry, dusty and hot. Well, not so much when compared to other places. But to us from God’s Own Country, it is so.

Rain is nowhere in sight. And won’t be too, till quite some time to come. That in a way is a good thing too. The mango trees are all full in bloom. Rain would only wreak havoc if it fell now. I hear that the blooming of the mango trees all over the country is exceptionally high this year. Mangoes are expected to flood the market.

So, who is complaining about the heat and hoping for rain? Not me! You see, I love mangoes! I want all the mango blooms to turn into luscious mangoes and come dancing to the market. And then I’ll have a field day. Diabetes be damned.

The fact is, one day, the orthopaedist himself told me I should have lots of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Since it had been summer at the time, he told me to eat lots of mangoes.

‘But…I am a diabetic!’ I replied doubtfully. Mangoes were too sweet, weren’t they?

“Ha!” he said dismissively, giving me a look of disbelief. “As if that is stopping you from having double the share of payasam!”

By the way, payasam or kheer is a sweet dish made of rice or vermicelli cooked in thickened milk and sugar, and garnished with cashew nuts and raisins friend in clarified butter. Oh, I left out the cardamom powder that gives it that distinctive flavour. It is a staple dessert served at all weddings and made on most festive occasions like birthdays.

The good doctor wasn’t done.

“It’s always the same. Patients will gobble up two or three helpings of their dessert, but when the doctor tells them to have mangoes, they remember they are diabetic!” he scoffed.

“But… but… I don’t take two helpings of payasam!” I replied in all seriousness.

He had the grace to look a bit shamefaced for coming down on me without reason.

“In that case, it’s okay. But do have mangoes. It’s good for you, your bones, and also don’t worry about the diabetes!”

That’s all I needed. Permission from the doctor to eat mangoes! What he did not know was that I was the happiest woman that summer and subsequent summers too, or anytime mango season came around. I liberally hogged on mangoes. Naah. That’s stretching things a bit. I don’t hog. I am a responsible person and only partake as much as I am allowed to. That itself is a blessing.

Now, this here is what I call a true ramble. Where did the post start, and where did it go? Expect more of the same in the coming days. After all February is not just dry, dusty and hot, it is also the month of rambling.

In the meantime, here’s to all varieties of the King of Fruits flooding the market this year. I just can’t wait!

©️ Shail Mohan 2026